196  ME.  G.  GOEE  ON  THE  PEOPEETIES  OF  ELECTEO-DEPOSITED  ANTIMONY. 
perature  and  an  uninterrupted  electric  current,  by  suitable  adaptation  of  the  electric 
power,  and  by  keeping  the  cathodes  in  constant  motion.  The  adhering  liquid  was 
removed  by  washing  in  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  distilled  water,  and  drying. 
51.  The  amorphous  metal  invariably  contained  a small  portion  of  chloride  of  anti- 
mony, more  or  less  of  which  was  always  evolved  during  the  molecular  change,  according 
to  the  temperature  to  which  it  was  raised;  thin  pieces,  changed  under  water,  sthl 
retained  the  greater  portion  of  the  chloride.  A thin  specimen,  formed  upon  a copper 
wire  helix,  lost  by  change  in  air  0-337  per  cent,  of  its  weight,  and  a thick  one  lost  3-556 
per  cent.  The  grey  variety,  when  perfectly  prepared,  evolved  scarcely  a perceptible 
odour  of  burnt  tartrates  or  hydrochloric  acid  by  the  application  of  heat. 
52.  To  remove  the  chloride  of  antimony,  portions  of  thin  deposits  were  finely  pul- 
verized in  cold  water,  then  washed  either  with  distilled  water,  dilute  hydrochloric  acid, 
or  solution  of  caustic  potash,  finally  with  water  and  dried ; small  quantities  of  the 
chloride  were  removed,  especially  by  the  dilute  acid,  but  in  each  case  the  powder  still 
retained  its  thermic  property,  and  evolved  chloride  of  antimony  during  the  change. 
Other  portions  of  the  pulverized  metal  were  shaken  with  boiling  hot  dilute  hydi’ochloric 
acid,  also  boiled  in  similar  acid ; the  chloride  was  then  found  to  be  more  completely 
removed,  and  the  thermic  property  destroyed.  By  digesting  the  powder  in  one  part  of 
hydrochloric  acid  and  three  parts  of  water,  for  one  week,  less  chloride  was  evolved  duiing 
the  change  and  during  the  combustion  succeeding  it. 
53.  A solid  piece  of  amorphous  antimony,  weighing  774-0  grains,  was  placed  under  a 
bell-glass  filled  with  water,  and  the  change  induced  in  it  by  a blow ; a small  quantity  of 
chloride  of  antimony  separated,  together  with  a minute  quantity  (less  than  -^th  of  a 
cubic  inch)  of  gas ; the  water  was  then  strongly  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and 
allowed  to  rest  five  days ; the  gas  still  remained  unabsorbed. 
54.  By  fusing  well-washed  specimens,  either  of  the  grey  or  of  the  changed  dark 
variety,  perfectly  free  from  laminae  or  crevices,  in  a porcelain  crucible,  no  material 
alteration  occurred  in  them  until  at  a temperature  of  incipient  fusion ; they  then  swelled 
to  a large  pasty  mass,  evolving  volatile  matter,  and  finally  contracted  to  a cleai*  shining 
globule,  covered  with  downy  crystals  of  oxide  of  antimony.  Similar  results  were 
obtained  by  fusion  under  tersulphide  of  antimony  or  cyanide  of  potassium,  except  that 
in  the  latter  case  a minute  quantity  of  black  matter  separated,  which  I found  by  com- 
bustion alone,  and  with  nitrate  and  chlorate  of  potash,  to  be  carbon.  The  metal,  pre- 
viously powdered  and  placed  under  cyanide  of  potassium,  agglutinated  into  a pasty  mass 
before  fusion  or  evolution  of  vapour.  Five  specimens  of  grey  antimony,  fused  under 
the  cyanide,  lost  respectively  0-437,  0-618,  0-81,  and  0-88  per  cent,  by  weight.  Two  thin 
specimens  of  amorphous  antimony,  previously  changed  under  water  at  60°  Fahr.,  lost 
respectively,  by  fusion  under  cyanide  of  potassium,  5-1  and  5*2  per  cent.  A moderately 
thin  specimen,  previously  changed  in  air  at  60°  Fahr.,  lost  3-3  per  cent. ; a thick  one, 
similarly  changed,  lost  2-1  per  cent. ; a second  ditto  lost  2 '52  per  cent. ; and  three  other 
specimens  of  changed  antimony  lost  respectively  3-484,  3-92,  and  5-56  per  cent.  Two 
