[ 34 ] 
MERCURY. 
THERE is no body of an intermediate weight 
between gold and mercury ; and it is probable that 
a great part of the difference between their fpeci- 
he gravities depends on the Jhiidity of the one and 
the folidity of the other. 
Mercury is not capable of communicating any 
colour to glafs, being fo volatile that it will not 
bear the degree of heat neceffary to incorporate it 
with the glafs in fufion. 
But it is well known that it’s calx, either pre- 
pared per fe, or by diffolving it in an acid and 
evaporating the menftruum, is red, 
2 . A folution of mercury tinges the fkin, 6cc. red, 
as gold does. 
P L A T I N A. 
THE fpeci/ic gravity platinahtingntOivly equal 
to that of gold, it feems neceffary to examine whe- 
ther the colour of it’s preparations correfpond with 
thofe of gold. 
On looking into a differtation written by Dr. 
Lewis on that metal, in the Philof. Tranf. I find 
that the precipitates and cryjials obtained from 
folutions of platina are red: and that a folution of 
that metal in aqua regia to perfe6t faturation is of a 
dark red, though, when diluted, ; in the fame 
manner that ‘‘ a red liquor (as Sir Ifaac Newton 
obferves) in a conical glafs, looks of a pale and 
dilute 
