Chap. 3 1 .] Lead Solder. 187 



exift in vinegar, the bafis of which is hydrogen and 

 charcoal, brought to the ilate of an acid by their union 

 with a large proportion of oxygen. The chief differ- 

 ence, therefore, between vinegar and alcohol is, that 

 the former contains much more oxygen. As part of 

 the oxygen, however, after this operation, is full re- 

 tained by the lead, which is not reduced to ks metal- 

 lic form, it is very natural to fuppbfe that part of the 

 fluid which paffes over fhould be reduced to the ftate 

 of alcohol. 



Nitre, heated with lead, calcines it into a yellow 

 fubftance, but without producing deflagration. Sal 

 ammoniac and common fhlt are decompofed by being 

 heated with the calces of this metal, but the neutral 

 falts, in general, are not acted on by it. Sulphur 

 readily diiTolves it by the affiftance of heat, and pro- 

 duces a brittle compound of a deep grey colour and 

 brilliant appearance. Phofphcrus may be united with 

 lead, and forms with it a malleable and foft com- 

 pound, not very different in appearance from lead 

 itfelf. 



Lead combines with bifmuth, and affords a metal 

 of a fine clofc grain, which is very brittle. The alloy 

 of lead with arfenic has not been examined. Nickel, 

 manganefe, cobalt, and zinc, do not unite with lead 

 by fufion. With antimony it forms a brittle alloy, 

 with fome brilliant facets. Mercury diflblves lead 

 with the greateft facility. Lead unites very eallly with 

 tin. Two parts of lead with one of tin form an alloy 

 more fufible than either of the metals taken feparately, 

 and which is, therefore, ufed by plumbers as a folder. 



Lead is ufed for a great number of economical 

 pnrpofes. Leaden vefiels, however, are very apt to 

 communicate injurious properties to all fluids which 

 are kept in them for any length of time, and fhould 



wholly 



