Chap. 30.] Aurum Mufivum and Pewter.- 179 



composition of the oxygenated muriatic acid and tin ? 

 When water is added to this fuming liquor in a cer- 

 tain quantity, it becomes folid, and ceafes to emit 

 fumes. It is found that this concrete fubftance, when 

 rendered fluid by an increafe of temperature) is capable 

 of diffblving more tin without the efcape of hydrogen 

 gas. Hence it appears that the oxygen neceflary for 

 the folution of this additional quantity of metal is not 

 derived from the water but the acid, and that the 

 acid to impart it muft be in an oxygenated Mate. 

 The experiments of M. Adet have thrown much light 

 on the nature of the fuming liquor of Libavius, and are 

 publilhed in the Annales de Chemie. 



Tin is capable of decompofing all the vitriolic neu- 

 tral falts. Tin has a confiderable attraction for ful- 

 phur, and eafily unites with it, when in a ftate of fu- 

 fion, into a black mafs. Aurum mufivum is a com- 

 bination of tin and fulphur, obtained by a particular 

 procefs. Arfenic cannot eafily be united to tin, on 

 account of the volatility of the former metal. Cobalt 

 unites by fufion with tin^ and forms an alloy in fmall 

 clofe grains of a light violet colour. Bifmuth in fmall 

 quantities as well as zinc, impart a firmnefs and white- 

 nefs to tin. Mercury diffolves tin with great facility, 

 and in all proportions. 



The ufes of tin are very numerous. It is applied 

 to many purpofes in the arts. Its amalgam with 

 quickfilver or mercury is applied to filver looking- 

 glafies. The ufe of tin in covering plates of iron has 

 been already - fpecified , and it is alfo employed in 

 lining the infide of copper vefiels. It enters into the 

 compofition of bronze and bell metal. It is the chief 

 ingredient in the compofition of pewter. Pewter cen- 

 fifls of tin united to fmall portions of other metallic 

 fubftances, fuch as lead, zinc, bifmuth, and antimony. 

 N a \Ve 



