Elements of chemistry, in two volumes / by John Murray.

  • Murray, John.
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of chemistry, in two volumes / by John Murray. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    76/768 (page 64)
    on the metal: it is not very soluble in water, but it gives a taste similar to that of the other alkalis. The Nitrate crystallizes in four-sided prisms, and is very deliquescent. The Sulphate crystallizes readily, and the crystals contain no water of crystallization ; it is fused by a heat inferior to l’edness. The Chloride of Lithium, when di’y, or Mu- riate of Lithina, when moist, is also deliquescent, and like the former liquefies at a tempei’ature much below a red heat. Lithina combines with sulphur, forming a yellow coloured sulphuret very soluble in water. BOOK V. OF EARTHS AND THEIR BASES. The earthy aggregates which occur in nature are usually heterogeneous or compound ; but by analysing them, che- mists have arrived at the knowledge of a few substances, of no lustre or transparency, having a loose texture, inso- luble in water, or sparingly soluble, uninflammable, diffi- cultly fusible, and of moderate specific gravity. These resisting farther analysis, they regarded as simple sub- stances, distinguishing them by the name of Earths. Four substances of this kind were known to the older che- mists, silex, alumina, magnesia, and lime: barytes and strontites were afterwards made known ; and more lately, zircon, glucine, and yttria have been added to the number. The important discovery was made by Sir H. Davy, that the Earths are not simple substances, but compounds of oxygen with bases somewhat similar to those of the al- kalis, potassium and sodium. From the similarity of the