ANTIMONY. 115 



gas is disengaged, and this is one of the best modes 

 of procuring that gas. 



The nitric and muriatic acids also act upon zinc. 

 Zinc combines with phosphorus and sulphur. 



It can be alloyed with most of the other metals. 

 With copper, it forms brass, 



ANTIMONY. 



Antimony is rarely found native. It is procured 

 from an ore called crude antimony, which is a sul- 

 phuret of antimony. 



Antimony is of a silvery white colour. It is so 

 brittle, that it may be pulverised in a mortar ; and 

 its interior texture appears to be scaly or lamellar. 

 It requires 800° to fuse it. It does not change in 

 the air, but when kept in fusion at a red heat, it 

 emits white fumes, consisting of an oxide formerly 

 called^oa;er5 of antimony. 



There are two oxides of antimony. The protox- 

 ide is procured by precipitating the muriate of 

 antimony by potash. It is of a grey colour. The 

 peroxide is formed by causing the nitric acid to act 

 upon the metal, or by collecting the fumes already 

 mentioned as the flowers of antimony. It is white. 

 The oxidesof antimony are very valuable medicines. 

 Tartrate of potash and antimony form emetic tartar, 

 Jameses powder is composed of phosphate of lime 

 and antimony. Kermes*s mineral is made from sul- 

 phuret of antimony by potash. 



Antimony is also used in printers' types ; and in 

 specula for telescopes. The sulphuret has been 

 used for staining hair black. 



