REMAINING AFTER THE SOLUTION OF PLATINA. QQ 



becomes blue by acids. It produces no effect on a folution 

 of platina or gold ; but precipitates lead of a yellowilh- 

 brown, mercury of a white, and muriate of tin of a brown 

 colour. 



The oxide of ofmium becomes of a dark colour with — alcohol; 

 alcohol, and after fome time, feparates in the form of black 

 films, leaving the alcohol without colour. . The fame effect is 

 produced by ether, and much more quickly. 



This oxide appears to part with its oxygen to all the metals, — the metals, 

 excepting gold and platina. Silver being kept in a folution 

 of it for fome time acquires a black colour; but does not 

 entirely deprive it of fmell. Copper, tin, zinc, and phof- 

 phorus, quickly produce a black or gray powder, and de- 

 prive the folution of all fmell, and of the power of turning 

 galls of a blue colour. This black powder, which confifts 

 of the ofmium in a metallic ftate and the oxide of the metal 

 employed to precipitate it, may be diffolved in nitro-mu- 

 riatic acid, and then becomes blue with infufion of galls. 



If the pure oxide of ofmium, diffolved in water, is Amalgam with 

 fhaken with mercury, it very foon lofes its fmell ; and the mercurjr * 

 metal, combining with the mercury, forms a perfect amal- 

 gam. 



Much of the mercury may be feparated by fqueezing it Pure ofmium 

 through leather^ which retains the amalgam of a firmer off th b £ y ^™ ng 

 confidence. The remaining mercury being diftilled off, a 

 powder is left, of a dark gray or blue colour, which is the Icis gray, and 

 ofmium in its pure fiate. By expofing it to heat with aceefs volatile 1 uniefiT 

 of air, it evaporates, with the ufual fmell ; but, if the oxi- oxided. 

 dation is carefully prevented, it does not feem in any degree 

 volatile. Being fubjedted to a ftrong white heat, in a cavity 

 made in a piece of charcoal, it was not melted, nor did it 

 undergo any apparent alteration. Heated in a fimilar fitua- Alloy*, 

 lion with copper and with gold, it melted with each of thefe 

 metals, forming alloys which were quite malleable. Thefe 

 compounds were eafily diffolved in niiro-muriatic acid, and, 

 by diftillation, afforded the oxide of ofmium with the ufual 

 properties. 



The pure metal which has been previoufly heated, does not Pure ofmium 

 feem to be aaed on by acids ; at leaft I could not perceive Sf.'"^ ^ fi! 

 any effect produced by boiling it for fome time with nitro- with aJkali. 

 muriatic acid. By heating it in a diver cup with caufiic 



alkali. 



