GLUCINA. — ■ZIRCONIA.— ^THORINA. 9^ 



which have a sweetish taste. Its specific gravity is 

 greater than that of any other earth. The base of 

 yttria has been supposed to be a metaUic substance, 

 which would receive the name of yttrium ; but it 

 lias never been exhibited in a separate state. Yttria 

 contains oxygen, and hence been inferred to be a 

 metallic oxide. 



GLUCINA. 



Ghicina, or Glucinej is an earth which has been 

 procured only from the beryl, the emerald, and the 

 euclase. 



It derives its name from its forming salts which 

 have a sweetish taste. It has no taste nor smell, is 

 infusible by heat, but dissolves in the acids, and 

 pure alkalies. It is insoluble in water. It is also 

 supposed to be a metallic oxide. 



ZIRCONIA. 



Zirconia is a very rare earth, found as yet only 

 in the zircon or jargon of Ceylon, and the hyacinth. 

 It is void of taste or smell ; is insoluble in water 

 and pure alkalies ; but is soluble in alkaline car- 

 bonates. Its base is supposed to be metallic. 



THORINA. 



This is another very rare earth, discovered by 

 Berzelius, who extracted it from a species of gado- 

 linite. It absorbs carbonic acid, and dissolves 

 readily in acids. It is not soluble by the pure 

 alkalies, but slightly so by the alkaline carbonates. 

 It is supposed to be the oxide of a metal. 



