1823.] ' the Alloys of Steel. 203 



may be engaged on similar experiments ; and further, may enable 

 every one to detect any attempt at imposition. It would be very 

 desirable at present to possess a test as simple, by which we 

 could distinguish the wootz, or steel of India, from that of 

 Europe ; but this, unfortunately, requires a much more difficult 

 process of analysis. 



To ascertain if platina is in combination with steel, a small 

 portion of the metal, or some filings taken from the bar, is to be 

 put into dilute sulphuric acid ; there will be rapid action ; the 

 iron will be dissolved, and a black sediment left, which will 

 contain carbon, hydrogen, iron, and platina ; the carbon and 

 hydrogen are to be burnt oft", the small portion of iron separated 

 by muriatic acid, and the residuum dissolved in a drop or two of 

 nitro-muriatic acid. If a piece of glass be moistened with this 

 solution, and then heated by a spirit-lamp and the blowpipe, 

 the platina is reduced, and forms a metallic coating on the 

 glass. 



In analysing the alloy of steel and silver, it is to be acted on 

 by dilute sulphuric acid, and the powder boiled in the acid ; 

 the silver will remain in such a minute state of division, that it 

 will require some time to deposit. The powder is then to be 

 boiled in a small portion of strong muriatic acid;* this will 

 dissolve the iron and silver, and the latter will fall down as a 

 chloride of silver on dilution with water ; or the powder may be 

 dissolved in pure nitric acid, and tested by muriatic acid and 

 ammonia. 



The alloy of steel and palladium, acted on by dilute sulphuric 

 acid, and boiled in that acid, left a powder which, when the 

 charcoal was burnt from it, and the iron partly separated by 

 cold muriatic acid, gave on solution in hot muriatic acid, or in 

 nitro-muriatic acid, a muriate of palladium ; the solution, when 

 precipitated by prussiate of mercury, gave prussiate of palla- 

 dium; and a glass plate moistened with it and heated to redness, 

 became coated with metallic palladium. 



The residuum of the rhodium alloy obtained by boiling in 

 diluted sulphuric acid, had the combustible matter burnt off", and 

 the powder digested in hot muriatic acid : fehia removed the iron; 

 and by long digestion in nitro-muriatic acid, a muriate of rho- 

 dium was formed, distinguishable by its colour, and by the 

 triple salt it formed with muriate of soda. 



To analyze the compound of steel with iridium and osmium, 

 the alloy should be acted on by dilute sulphuric acid, and the 

 residuum boiled in the acid ; the powder left is to be collected 

 and heated with caustic soda in a silver crucible to dull redness 

 for a quarter of an hour, the whole to be mixed with water, and 

 having had excess of sulphuric acid added, it is to be distilled, 



• Although it is a generally received opinion, that muriatic add does not acton 

 silver, yet that is not the case; pure muriatic acid dissolves a small portion of silver 

 very readily. 



