Chap. 1 8.] FuftWty of Metals. 1 1 1 



From thefe facts it is probable that the malleability of 

 metals, as well as fluidity and elafticity in general, de- 

 pends on the particles of bodies being kept at a dif- 

 tance by the prefence oflatent heat. 



Metals are of all bodies the beft conductors of elec- 

 tricity. 



Metals are fufible by heat, and one of them (mer- 

 cury) is well known to exift in a ftate of fufion in the 

 ordinary temperature of the atmofphere. The par- 

 ticles of metals have a remarkably ftrong attraction for 

 each other, which is evinced by fmall portions of metal, 

 when in a ftate of fufion, having a tendency to aflame 

 a globular form. 



Moft metals will uniformly mix in all proportions 

 with each other ; the fpecific gravities, however, of 

 thefe compounds is fcarcely ever fuch, as would be 

 mathematically deduced from the fpecific gravities 

 of the metals employed, on the fuppofition of their 

 junction by fimple contact. Mixtures of metals are 

 more fufible than might be expected from the degree 

 offufibility of their component parts, and are therefore 

 conveniently ufed as folders. 



It is found that metals which, after having been fufed, 

 are fuffered to cool gradually, evince a tendency to 

 aiiume a regular figure, and to eryftallize in general 

 in an octahedral form. 



Metals, in their fplendid or reguline * ftate, have a 

 confiderable attraction for oxygen, and are in this re- 



* This is the ftate in which metals ufually appear when 

 wrought. The ftate of a calx or ore is eflentially different, they 

 then appear like coloured earthy fubltances. 



The name rrgulus was given by the fanciful alchemifts to the 

 metallic button, found in the bottom of the crucible after an aflay,- 

 from the idea that this button contained gold, which they called the 



king of metals. 



4 fpect 



