CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES. 
133 
ami heating this mixture in a small glass retort. The reduction Combinatiom 
was accompanied with some detonation, and I obtained a black tellurium, 
and carbonic mass, which would not liquify. I removed it 
into a small glass decanter, into which I poured waier, which 
instantly assumed a purple colour, and, in a few minutes, the 
deep colour of port wine. There remained a portion not dis- 
*ol\ed, of black powder, which, beirg separated from the 
liquid and heated, took fire, and continued to burn, forming 
on its surface htile globules of metallic tellurium. As the 
same thing happened with carburet cf lead, I concluded, that 
the powder under the experiments was only a carburet ef tel- 
lurium, As in that experiment there was more tellurium than 
was necessary for the formation of the hydro-tellurium of kali, 
it seemed to follow that, in this latter the tellurium was to the 
kalium in a ditferent proportion than in the tellurate. The dia- 
•olntion of the hydro-tellurinm of kali was lost by soir.e acci- 
dent, and I procured myself a new quantity in the follow ing 
manner : I mixed some metallic tellurium with kalium in a 
small phial, and heated them together j their combination was 
attended with a lively combustion, as if there had been sulphur 
or oxigen employed, and the alliance of these tw'o metals pro- 
duced a metallic ball. I'his ball 1 put into a small decanter 
filled with water, and from which all the atmospheric air had 
been driven by means of a continued ebullition j alter which 
I closed the decanter. The metal was dissolved by the water, 
without parting with its gas, and leaving a little overplus tel- 
lurium not dissolved. The liquor had a colour of red, tinged 
with purple, very beautiful. To analyse it, 1 poured it into a 
little glass, where I left it exposed to ttie action of the air, 
Almost in an instant it was covered with a silvered pellicle of 
metallic tellurinin, which augmented in thickness until it fell 
to the bottom by its own weight, and was immediately replaced 
by anotber. In this manner hydro-tellurium ol kali was com- 
pletely decomposed in less than twelve hours, without the 
least disengagement of any difi'erent substance. From which 
I think myself authorised to conclude, that, in this analysis 
there couid not have been any Joss of teiiurium, except the 
ex- 
