CERIUM. 379 



Of all the substances hitherto examined, man- 

 ganese is capable of uniting with the greatest 

 number of doses of oxygen. 



SECT. V. 



OF THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF CERIUM. 



CERIUM has not hitherto been obtained in the 

 metallic state ; but it has been ascertained that 

 it combines with two proportions of oxygen, and 

 forms two oxides ; both of which possess Alka- 

 line properties, and are capable, of consequence, 

 of combining with acids, and of constituting the 

 bases of a variety of salts. 



The only person who has hitherto attempted Muriate of 



* * ri 



to determine the atomic weight of this metal and 

 its oxides, is M. Hisinger. His deductions were 

 made from an analysis of the protomuriate of 

 cerium. A quantity of this salt was dissolved in 

 water, and the muriatic acid thrown down by 

 nitrate of silver. The chloride of silver, after 

 fusion, weighed 1*819, equivalent to 0-4609 parts 

 of muriatic acid. The solution having been freed 

 by muriatic acid from the excess of silver which 

 it contained, was mixed with carbonate of am- 

 monia to throw down the protoxide of cerium. 

 This oxide, after being heated to redness in a 

 close vessel, weighed 0-684 parts.* From this 



* Annals of Philosophy, IV. 355. 



cerium ana. 



ty*** by 



