S57- 
on the Allays of Steel. 
to be produced with the different metals, a judgment may be 
formed even of the particular one present. 
The order in which the different alloys stand with regard to 
this action, is as follows : steel, cromium alloy, silver alloy, gold 
alloy, nickel alloy, J’hodium alloy, iridium and osmium alloy, 
palladium alloy, platina alloy. With similar acid the action on 
the pure steel was scarcely perceptible ; the silver alloy gave 
very little gas, nor was the gold much acted on. All the others 
gave gas copiously, but the platina alloy in most abundance. 
In connection with the analysis of these alloys, there are some 
very interesting facts to be observed during the action of acids 
on them, and perhaps none of these are more striking than those 
last referred to. When the alloys are immersed in diluted acid, 
the peculiar properties which some of them exhibit, not only 
mark and distinguish them from common steel, and from each 
other, but also give rise to some considerations on the state of 
particles of matter of different kinds, when in intimate mixture 
or in combination, which may lead to clearer and more perfect 
ideas on this subject. 
If two pieces, one of steel, and one of steel alloyed with plati- 
na, be immersed in weak sulphuric acid, the alloy will be imme- 
diately acted on with great rapidity and the evolution of much gas, 
and will shortly be dissolved, whilst the steel will be scarcely at 
all affected. In this case, it is hardly possible to compare the 
strength of the two actions. If the gas be collected from the 
alloy and from the steel for equal intervals of time, the first por- 
tions will surpass the second some hundreds of times. 
A very small quantity of platina alloyed with steel, confers 
this property on it: increased the action considerably; 
with and j it was powerful ; with 10 per cent, of platina 
it acted, but not with much power ; with 50 per cent, the action 
was not more than with steel alone; and an alloy of 90 platina 
with 20 steel, was not affected by the acid. 
The action of other acids on these alloys, is similar to that of 
Sulphuric acid, and is such as would be anticipated : dilute mu- 
riatic acid, phosphoric acid, and even oxalic acid, acted on the 
platina alloy with the liberation of more gas than from the zinc ; 
and tartaric acid and acetic acid rapidly dissolved it. In thi^ 
yoL. VII. NO. 14. OCT. 1822. a a 
