458 Chemical Descriprion of (JUNE, 
earth, throws down a white precipitate, which is completely re- 
dissolved by muriatic acid. 
Caustic potash and ammonia have no action on this earth newly 
precipitated, not even at a boiling temperature. 
The solution of carbonate of potash or carbonate of ammonia 
dissolves a small quantity of it, which precipitates again when the 
liquid is supersaturated with an acid, and then neutralized by 
caustic ammonia; but this earth is much less soluble in the alkaline 
carbonates than any of the earths formerly known that dissolve in 
them. 
A portion of this earth weighing 12 parts was exposed in a char- 
coal crucible to the heat employed to reduce tantalum, and the fire 
was kept up for an hour. When withdrawn, it did not appear to 
have undergone any other alteration than to have contracted in its 
dimensions, and to have acquired a slight transparency, having pro- 
bably been near the fusing point. It exhibited no appearance of 
reduction, and was dissolved by boiling in muriatic acid. As it is 
at present generally known that the salifiable bases are metallic 
oxides, it may appear indifferent whether we say earth or metallic 
oxide. But these substances being divided into alkalies, earths, and 
metallic oxides, the proper method seems to be to attach every new 
link of the chain of oxides to those with which it has the greatest 
analogy. And since the earths are distinguished chiefly by being 
colourless, and by being irreducible when heated with charcoal 
without the assistance of a foreign metal, I consider the substance 
which has been just described as belonging particularly to the class 
of earths. 
Although the experiments of which I have just given an account 
cannot certainly be considered as more than preparatory to a more 
complete examination of this earth, when a greater quantity of it is 
found, I have thought that it would be convenient to give it a name, 
that it might be pointed out more easily. A part of these experi- 
ments having been made in the laboratory of Mr. Gahn, at Fahlun, 
we were accustomed to speak of it to each other under the appella- 
tion thorina, from Thor, an ancient Scandinavian deity. It may, 
therefore, not be unsuitable to distinguish it provisionally by this 
denomination. 
Thorina does not fuse before the blow-pipe. With borax it melts 
into a transparent glass, which, when exposed to the exterior flame, 
becomes opake and milky. With phosphate of soda it fuses into a 
transparent pearl. It is infusible with soda. When soaked with a 
solution of cobalt, it becomes greyish-brown. 
Thorina differs from the other earths by the following properties : 
From alwmina, by its insolubility in hydrate of potash; from 
glucina, by the same property ; from yétria, by its purely astringent 
taste without any sweetness, and by the property which its solutions 
possess of being precipitated by boiling when they do not contain 
too great an excess of acid. It differs from zirconia by the following 
properties: i. After being heated to redness, it is still capable of 
3 
