Chap. 26.] ARion of Adas on Antimony. 145 



in rendering this calx lefs fufible, and depriving it of 

 colour. Thefe calces may be reduced, but mod 

 readily when little calcined, by adding an equal 

 quantity of black flux, or one-fourth of charcoal 

 or foap. 



The foffil fixed alkali brings antimony neareft to 

 the (late of the perfect metals. For this difcovery we 

 are indebted to Margraff, who melted'two ounces of 

 regulus of antimony with one of foffil alkali. He 

 repeated the fufion eight times, and every time he 

 ufed frelh alkali ; but the three or four lad times he 

 did not *ufe quite an ounce of alkali, but employed 

 a mixture of alkali and flint. Every time it was thus 

 melted the regulus loft fome of its weight, and the 

 alkali, having difiblved part of it, was tinged green. 

 The remaining metal was always whiter and brighter, 

 and acquired a fmall degree of toughnefs. The tex- 

 ture was much finer than before, and it would eafily 

 amalgamife with mercury. The weight of the regu- 

 lus was reduced to about one half by eight operations. 

 With the vegetable fixed alkali the effect was fimilar, 

 but not fo remarkable. 



The regulus of antimony is calcined with great rapi- 

 dity by the nitrous acid, but the muriatic and vitriolic 

 fcarcely act on it, unlefs affifted by heat. By the 

 union of antimony with all thefe acids, faline com- 

 pounds are produced, which are deliquefcent, and 

 which are decompofecl by water, or the fimple appli- 

 cation of heat. The oxygenated muriatic acid and 

 aqua regia diffolve the regulus of antimony with great 

 facility. 



But befides thefe methods of affifting the action of 

 the muriatic acid on antimony, there is another pro- 

 cefs-for combining the muriatic acid with the regulus. 

 A quantity of mercurial fublimate in powder being 



VOL, II. L mixed 



