Chemistry. [Lecture 32. 



and is often deliquescent. Where the propor- 

 tion of acid is small, there is little or no solu- 

 bility, the metal being only oxidized by taking 

 some of the oxygen from the acid. 



Every metal is not disposed to unite with 

 every acid, though some unite with all : others 

 only with one acid. The order also in which 

 they attract them is different from that of alka- 

 lies and absorbent earths. Metals attract the 

 muriatic acid most strongly, next the sulphuric, 

 and last the nitric. The metals which dissolve 

 in the same acid differ very considerably in the 

 force with which they attract it, so that they 

 may be employed to precipitate one another. 

 Thus, if we add to the solution of silver in nitric 

 acid, quicksilver, it precipitates the silver; this 

 is again precipitated by copper, and copper by 

 iron or lead, and these by zinc, which may also 

 be, precipitated by an alkali. 



The solution of metals in the acids is attended 

 with an elastic vapour and effervescence resem- 

 bling that of acids with alkalies or absorbent 

 earths. This arises from the decomposition of 

 a part of the watery matter of the acid, and the 

 fumes that are emitted are commonly hydrogen 

 gas, which you will remember is one of the con- 

 stituent parts of water. 



The compounds of metals with acids in ge- 

 neral are corrosive. There are several com- 

 binations of the mineral acids with metals, such 

 s\& silver, mercury, copper, and antimony, almost 



