GOLD, PLATINUM, PALLADIUM, &c. 



was thrice repeated with very nearly the same 

 result. 

 chloride of 5^ j ma d e three attempts to ascertain the ato- 



palladium. 



mic weight of palladium, by forming a chloride. 

 My method was* to dissolve 7 grains of palla- 

 dium in muriatic acid, to evaporate the solution 

 to dryness, and to expose the muriate to heat in 

 a covered platinum crucible. 



The first trial gave 11 -9 10 grains of chloride 

 The second . 12-133 

 The third . 12-231 



Mean . . 12-091 



These weights are too high, if 7 be the atomic 

 weight of palladium j for if we subtract 7 from 

 12-091, the remainder is 5*091, which some- 

 what exceeds the weight of an atom of chlorine. 

 Perhaps the salt was not exposed to a heat suffi- 

 ciently high to decompose the muriate com- 

 pletely. The experiment is scarcely susceptible 

 of accuracy ; because at the heat necessary to 

 decompose the muriates, a portion of the chlo- 

 rine is apt to escape. 



The preceding experiments, imperfect as they 

 are, lead to the conclusion, that the atomic 

 weight of palladium is 7, and that of its oxide 8. 

 These numbers are certainly very near the truth. 



