INSTIir.MKNTS AM) ( II I :.M K '\L TKSTS 571 



Illustration. For above t-~t u>e n>luml>ite ( Ke, Mn)Cb2O. 



Tantalum, Ta. Atomic weight, is 1.5. Fusing point, 2250 C. 



There is no blowpipe (<-t. 



<i. Wet test. T:mt:ilinii is always associated with columbium, 

 from which it is separated with difficulty. It does not, however, 

 yield the blue solution on reduction with tin. Columbium and 

 tantalum may be extracted from minerals and separated from each 

 other by the following method. The finely ground mineral is 

 fused with 5 parts of acid potassium fluoride, the fusion is pul- 

 veri/ed and extracted in a platinum dish with boiling water, con- 

 taining a little hydrofluoric acid, evaporated nearly to dryness, and 

 dissolved in the least possible quantity of boiling water ; on cooling, 

 taut alum will separate as needle-like crystals of potassium tantalum 

 fluoride, K 2 TaF 7 , which are brownish when dry. Columbium will 

 separate as potassium columbium fluoride, K 2 CbF 7 , from the solu- 

 tion on concentration as tablets. 



Zirconium, Zr. Atomic weight, 90.6. Fusing point, 1500 C. 



Blowpipe tests, none. 



a. Wet test. The mineral is fused with 4 parts soda, the fusion 

 dissolved in a few drops of concentrated HC1, diluted with three 

 volumes of water. A piece of turmeric paper is moistened with this 

 diluted solution, and then gently dried, when if zirconium is present, 

 it will turn the paper reddish brown to orange-red, the depth of 

 color depending upon the amount of zirconium present. Titanium 

 if present must be reduced with tin, or Ti also will yield a reddish 

 brown color. Molybdates and boric acid also yield, under similar 

 conditions, a brown color with turmeric paper, and must be distin- 

 guished by their special tests from zirconium. 



Illustration. Use powdered zircon, ZrSiC>4. 



Beryllium (Glucinum), Be. Atomic weight, 9.1. Fusing point, 

 960 C. 



Blowpipe tests, none. 



a. Wet test. Beryllium is separated from silicates in the same 

 way as aluminium, 6. After treating the hydroxides with sodium 

 hydroxide and filtering, beryllium will be found in the filtrate with 

 the aluminium and is separated from it by diluting the solution with 

 water and boiling, when beryllium is reprecipitated as a white floc- 

 culent hydroxide, Be(OH) 2 ; the aluminium stays in solution. 



Illustration. Beryl, Be 3 Al 2 (SiO 3 )6, maybe used for this separa- 

 tion. 



Cerium, Ce. Atomic weight, 140.25. Fusing point, 623 C. 



