TSmgsten and Tellurium, 409 



12. Other experiments were made upon the metal, (not the 

 oxyd.) It gave to strong sulphuric acid, (simply by standing 

 in it in the cold) an amethystine colour, which disappeared as 

 the acid grew weaker, by attracting water from the air. 



13. With nitric acid it formed a colourless solution, not de- 

 composed by water. 



14. It did not dissolve in muriatic acid, till a few drops of 

 nitric acid were added. 



1 5. The white oxyd heated with charcoal in a small coated 

 recurved glass tube, afforded brilliant metallic globules, which 

 rose by distillation, collected in the bend of the tube, and re- 

 sembled drops of quicksilver, except that they were solid. 



C. REMARK. 



The above facts having induced the conclusion that the 

 metal, thus unexpectedly discovered in the ores of tungsten, 

 was tellurium,* we were led to search for external characters 

 by which to judge what specimens contained it. The ores 

 from Transylvania, (the only telluric ores with which we are 

 acquainted,) bearing no analogy in appearance or composition 

 to those before us, we were led to inquire whether the tellu- 

 rium in these latter ores was in combination with tungsten, or 

 merely in mixture. The external characters detailed in part 

 II, tend perhaps to fortify the latter opinion. If we mistake 

 not, we there found a proper ore of tellurium mixed with a 

 proper ore of tungsten, but we have also by chemical means, 

 found tellurium where similar external characters were not 

 apparent. Before the appearance of our next Number, we 

 hope to obtain purer and better specimens. In the mean time 

 we add the following facts. 



1. A crystal, and a massive piece of the kind described 

 under part I, and specimens of two varieties of those described 

 under part II, were digested in nitro-muriatic acid. 



* Several of the facts, we are aware, accord with the properties of bismuth, be- 

 tween which and tellurium there are several strong points of resemblance, but « 

 number of other facts appear irreconcileable with the properties of that metal, 

 «nd of erery tfther except tellurium 



