Biography of Berzelius. 105 
to the preparation of the oxyd, or rather the acid of this metal, 
from the finer slags of the T'aberg iron, and the determination of 
its distinguishing characters. He then transferred his stock of 
vanadic acid to Berzelius, in order that he might investigate the 
characters and history of the new metal. ‘This investigation isa 
very extended one, and through it we have become acquainted 
with the new body in all its relations ; whilst, as these are mani- 
fold and interesting, and as the acid ‘has but little resemblance to 
other acids, it was difficult to assign to it its true position among 
them. In this respect the paper of Berzelius on vanadium may 
almost be compared with that upon selenium ; for both have this 
peculiarity in common, that by them we have become so thor- 
oughly acquainted with new and hitherto entirely unknown bodies, 
although in both instances but very minute quantities of rare 
material could be employed, that subsequent investigations have 
added but little to our knowledge, and nothing essential. Vana- 
ium was afterwards found at several places, although always in 
very small quantities. Wohler directed especial attention to the 
fact, that the acid of the new metal was contained in the lead ores 
of Zimapan, in Mexico, in which, as early as 1801, Del Rio discov- 
ered a new metal, and called it Erythronium ; but misled by the 
authority of Collet-Descotils, who declared it to be chromium 
(with which Vanadium has certainly some similarity, ) he after- 
wards admitted that his discovery was an error. 
is next researches, which were upon Tellurium, were of a 
similar nature. Berzelius had already instituted experiments with 
very minute quantities of this metal, in so many respects interest- 
ing, but he was compelled to discontinue them for want of ma- 
terial. When Wobler sent him a considerable quantity of this 
rare metal, which he had prepared from the telluric bismuth of 
Schemnitz, he again commenced the investigation. He first 
shewed how this metal can be prepared in its purest state. He 
then prepared all the compounds of tellurous acid (peroxyd,) as 
well as telluric acid, discovered by him, with bases, and ind 
the different isomeric modifications which these acids form. 
These researches were likewise so complete, that they fully de- 
veloped the history of this remarkable metal in all its relations. 
The last great investigation by Berzelius, is that upon meteoric 
stones. He undertook this with the intention of studying these 
Szoonp Szrims, Vol XVIL, No. 49.—Jan, 1854. 14 ae 
