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THE

Blowpipe Manual
BY

DR.

THEODORE SCHEERER,

raORaSOR or CHEHISTBT in the royal SAXOX UIHING school at rSKIBXBO.

TRJlHSLATZD bt

WILLIAM

S.

CLARK.

FOlt COPIKS

OF THLS BOOK, APPLY TO

W.

S.

CLARK, AMHERST, MASS.

Price 75 Cents.

Translator's Preface.

This

little

manual has been prepared

for the

use of the

students of the Massachusetts Agricultural College.

Those who desire further information upon

important
subject are referred to Plattner's

this

most

" Art of

Assaying with the Blowpipe."

Contents.
USE OF THE BLOWPIPE IN QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS.

Introduction,
I.

The Blowpipe Flame and

qualitatively with the Blowpipe,

Oxidizing and Reducing Flames,

A.
B.

The Blowpipe, The Blowpipe Flame,

and Holders

...... ...... .....

.

Page.

Articles necessary in assaying

.

.13 .13
15 16 16
(3)

C. Supports

for the substances to be heated,

(2)

(1) Charcoal, p 16.

Platinum Foil, p 18. Platinum Forceps, p

D. Blowpipe Reagents,
(1) Soda, p 19.

Platinum Wire, p (4) Platinum Spoon, p

(6)

17.

18.

(6)

18.

Glass Matrasses, p 19.

.....
. . .
.

Glass Tubes, p 18.

(7)

19

(2) Borax, p 19.

(3) Salt of Phos-

phorus, p 20.
II. Qualitative

(4) Other Reagents, p 20.

E. Other Articles for use with the Blowpipe,

21

Examination with the Blowpipe,

. .

Order of the Tests,

1.

Test in Glass Matrass,

.22 .22
may

22

Substances which, under certain circumstances,

'

Water, Sulphur, Selenium, Tellurium, Arsenic, Quicksilver, Oxygen, Ammonia, Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Nitric Acid. 2. Test in open Glass Tube, Substances which, under certain circumstances, may bQ detected in this way Sulphur, Selenium, Tellurium, Arsenic, Antimony.
: .

be detected in this way

.25

CONTENTS.
3.

Test on Charcoal,
Substances which

may be

.....
:

VI
J6

determined by the IncrusSelenium, Telluri-

tation which they give to the coal

um, Arsenic, Antimony, Bismuth, Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, Tin, Molybdenum, Silver, Metallic Sulphides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides.
4.

cases,

Test in the Platinum Forceps, (as well on the platinum wire or coal,)

as, in
.

some
.

34

Substances which

may

be detected by the Color which

:

they communicate to the blowpipe flame

tassa, Caesia, Rubidia, Lithia, Strontia,

Soda, Po-

Lime, Baryta,

Molybdic Acid, Oxide of Copper, Tellurous Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Boracic Acid, Thallium, Arsenic,

Antimony, Lead, Indium, Bromide of Copper.

5.
6.

Selenium, Chloride

and

Test in the Borax Bead,

..

Test in the Phosphorus Bead, Substances which may be determined especially by the Colors which they impart to the Beads of Borax and Salt of Phosphorus Oxides of Cerium, Lanthanum, Didymium. Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, 'Nickel, Zinc, Cadmium, Indium, Lead, Thallium, Tin, Bis. . :

.42 .43

muth, Uranium, Copper, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Ruthenium and Gold, Titanic, Columbic,
Niobic, Antimonious,

Tungstic,

Molybdic,

Vanadic, Chromic and Tellurous Acids.

Table

I,

in

which the above substances are arranged accord.

ing to the Colors which they give the beads of Borax

and Salt of Phosphorus,

Table
II.

.44
.52
^''^^e

On

the Behavior of Metallic Oxides

;

when heated

with Carbonate of Soda on Charand in the Beads of Borax and Salt of Phosphorus on the Platinum Wire, Table III. On the Behavior of the Alkaline Earths and
coal
;

alone upon Charcoal

Earths Proper before the Blowpipe,

7.

Test with Soda,

70

Substances which, under certain circumstances,

may

Vn

CONTENTS.
be detected in this way
Silicic, Titanic, Tungstic and Molybdic Acids, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Tungsten, Molybdenum, Antimony, Arsenic, Tellurium, Copper, Bismufli, Tin, Lead, Thallium, Zinc, Cadmium, Indium, Nickel, Cobalt, Iron.
:

8.

Special Tests for the determination of certain substances,

These substances are Potassa, Lithia, Boracic Acid, Sulphuric Acid and Sulphur, Nitric Acid, Fluorine, Chlorine, (Chlorides and Chlorates), Bromine, (Bromides and Bromates,) Iodine, (Iodides and lodates). Magnesia, Columbic Acid, Alumina, Oxides of Zinc, Tin and Antimony, Titanic and Niobic Acids, Zirconia, Oxide of Magnesia, Tellurium, Arsenic, Phos:

......

71

phorus.

ABBREVIATIONS EMPLOYED IN TABLES

II.

AND

III.

Bx.

Borax or Biborate of Soda.

Charcoal.

Ch.
Ct.

Coating or Incrustation. OFl. Oxidizing Flame. RFl. Reducing Flame. Sd. Carbonate of Soda. SPh. Salt of Phosphorus or
loses
its

microcosmic

salt,

a phos-

phate of soda, ammonia and water, which

when heated

water and ammonia and becomes a monobasic

phosphate of soda.

CONTENTS.

VIII

Alphabetical List of Certain Substances which,

may

be

Detected with the Aid of the Blowpipe.

Alumina, p 44, 66, 80. Antimony, p 26, 27, 41,

71, 80.

Magnesia, p 44, 66, 80.

44, 52,

Manganese, p 45, 66, Mercury, p 23, 58.

81.

Arsenic, p 25, 27, 41, 52, 71, 81.

Molybdic Acid, p

30, 38, 44, 68.

Baryta, p 37, 44, 66.

Nickel, p 45, 66, 71

71.

Bismuth, p 28, 44, 52,

Boracic Acid, p 40, 73.

Niobic Acid, p 44, 81.

Nitric Acid, p 75.

Bromine, p

33, 78.

Pho.sphoric Acid, p 39, 83.

Cadmium, p 29, Cassium, p 35.

Clilorine,

44, 52.

Platinum, p 70.
Potassa, p 36, 72.

Cerium, p 45, 54.

Eubidium, p 36.
Selenium, p 23, 26, 26, 42.
Silica,

33, 78.

Fluorine,

p. 76.

p 44, p

71, 74.

Glucina, p. 44, 68.

Silver,

31, 44, 60.

Chromium, p

45, 64.

Soda, p 34.
Strontia,

Cobalt, p 45, 64, 71.

36, 44, 66.

Columbic Acid, p
Copper, p 38, Didymium, p
45.

44, 80.

Sulphur, p 25, 31, 74.

Tellurium, p 23, 27, 39, 44, 60,
81.

42, ^5, 54.

Fluorine, p 75.

Thallium, p 29, 44, 44, 60.

Tin, p 30, 44, 60, 80.
Titonic Acid, p 44, 62, 80.

Glucina, p 44, 68.

Gold, p 56, 70.

Indium, p

29, 42, 44, 86.

Iodine, p 33, 79.

Vanadic Acid, p 45, Uranium, p 45, 62.

Yttria,

62.

Iron, p 46, 66, 71.

44,^I9-

Lanthanum, p

44.
66.

Zinc, p 29, 44, 46, 80.

Ziiconia, p 44, 68, 80.

Lead, p 28, 42, 44,

Lithia, p 32, 35, 72.

Introduction.

'

The blowpipe

is

a simple instrument which has for

several centuries

been used by workers of metals in

various countries to produce suddenly an intense heat.

Its use

having been chiefly to melt the solder employed

in fastening together pieces of

is

more

infusible metals, it
pipe.
is

called

by the Germans soldering

tube, which at the

The

simplest

and most ancient form of the blowpipe

cal,

a hollow, coniis

metallic

small end

bent

without a sharp turn to a right angle.

larger end of this
is
it,

In using, the

taken into the mouth and a stream

of air blown into

which

is

applied as

it

issues

from

the point exactly like the blast from a bellows.

The

blowpipe may, therefore, be regarded as a small bellows

by the mouth, and its lieatinof the same principles. In this rude
fed

effect

depends upon

application

and form
This
it

the blowpipe was of no importance to science.

came

first to

possess

when

the careful study of several

it

scientific

men

had

converted
for the

into

one

of

the

most valuable instruments

gist, as

chemist and mineralo-

well as for miners and metallurgists.

The

fol-

10

INTRODUCTION.

lowing historical sketch shows how this was gradually

accomplished.

Anthony Swab, a Swedish counselor of mines, who

lived in the first half of the eighteenth centurj, was, so

far as

is

known, the
the

first

who undertook

to apply the

blowpipe to
minerals.
stedt,

chemical
to him, the

examination of

ores

and

Next

Swedish mineralogist Cron-

used the blowpipe for determining and distinguish-

ing minerals, with special reference to the chemical sys-

tem of mineralogy published by him in 1758. Engestroem, who in the year 1765 translated this system into
English, added a description of Cronstedt's method of

using {he blowpipe.

In the year 1773 this description

as

translated into Swedish,

and soon

after, into several

other European languages.

Imperfect as the application

attracted immediately great
its
it

of the blowpipe then was,

it

attention from the rapidity and certainty of

results.

Nevertheless, the

new

art,

which easy as

appeared

required long continued practice,

progress.
eflforts

made

at first

but

little

It

received

important assistance from

the

of Bergraann,

who employed how by

the blowpipe for

qualitative examinations in the whole province of inor-

ganic chemistry, and showed

its

aid very mi-

nute quantities of mineral substances could be detected,

the discovery of which in any other

way would be much

the results of his

more

difficult.

Bergmann published

experiments in a work, which was printed in Latin at

Vienna

in

1779, and was translated

Hjelm

in 1781.

Upon
after,

the death of (in 1784),

into Swedish by Bergmann, which

still

happened soon

Gahn pursued

INTRODUCTION.
further the path struck out

11
latter.

by the

He

attained

by persevering

zeal

to great skill in

the use of the

blowpipe, -without, however,

recording anything of his

rich experience, which would have been for the

part

lost

except

for
to

his

obliging

readiness to

most com-

municate the art

it.

any one desirous of acquiring

The young

Berzelius,

whom

Gahn

regarded

with peculiar interest as a student of science, was thus

enabled to possess himself of his knowledge, and upon
this foundation to

build

greater.

Gahn had made a

good selection

a person better adapted for this further

development of the art could scarcely have been found.

By him

the application of the blowpipe was not only in

a high degree perfected and extended, but at the same

time by his personal instructions and writings so widely
diffused

that

it

has

now

become

an

essential

part

of the knowledge

of every chemist and mineralogist.

In the year 1821 Berzelius published his excellent

''Use of the Blowpipe in Chemistry and Mineralogy,'*

of which since that time several editions have appeared

and which has been translated for the use of American

students by Professor J. D. "Whitney.

All the

efforts

of those

who thus

far

had used the

blowpipe in chemical experimentation had been directed

to qualitative analysis.

Harkort, however, seizing upon

in

the fruitful idea of employing the blowpipe also

quantitative analysis became the founder of a

new branch
number

of the blowpipe

art.

In 1827 appeared as the result

first

of his experiments made in Freiberg the

of his "Art of Assaying with the Blowpipe" containing

12
the article on silver.

INTRODUCTION.

He was

prevented from issuing

the second number, which was to contain the methods

of determining lead, copper and

tin,

by a

call to

Mexico,

where he died a few years

sor,

after.

Plattner, his succes-

perceiving the importance of developing the subject,

for

employed himself
tice

many

years in applying to prac-

the

idea of Harkort.

His perseverance and

to

in-

genuity enabled him to bring the art of assaying quantitatively with the blowpipe

a degree of perfection
Plattner

which had been previously thought impossible.

tive

has given the results of his experiments both in qualita-

and quantitative assaying

in his work,

"Art of
edition

Assaying with the Blowpipe," of which the

first

appeared in 1835 and the second in 1847, and which

has been translated and published in London.

The methods

of assaying qualitatively and quantita-

tively with the blowpipe, in the state of perfection to

which they have been brought by Berzelius and Plattner, are sciences so extensive that a considerable

amount

of time and practice are required to become familiar with

them.

Especially
is

is

this true of quantitative assaying,

is

which indeed

seldom acquired by chemists, but

almost exclusively employed by practical metallurgists.

The

following description of the apparatus, reagents

to be
is

and methods
beginners,

employed in qualitative analysis with

most of the students in the

the blowpipe,

believed to be sufficient for the use of

for

and even

scientific schools

and colleges of the country.

I.

THE BLOWPIPE FLAME AND ARTICLES NECESSARY FOR

ASSAYING QUALITATIVELY WITH THE BLOWPIPE.

The blowpipe

flame

is

produced when with the aid

is

of a blowpipe a current of air

driven in accordance

with certain rules

lamp.
oil

through the flame of a candle or

for this purpose is that

The best flame

of an prin-

lamp with a wide and rather thick wick.

The

cipal requisites to the production

first,

of a good flame are

the steadiness and sufficient durability of the blast

and secondly, the proper application and management of

the same.

The

first will

be treated of along with the

description of the blowpipe.

point,

In regard

to the

second

the flame

may

be made to

produce upon the

or a reducing

heated substance
effect.

either

an oxidizing

The

oxidizing and reducing flames are the principal

agents in the whole art of assaying with the blowpipe.

He who

understands how to

produce these flames of

the right kind and of sufficient permanence has over-

come one of

its

most

difficult points.

To form
the

reducing flame,
is

the

point

or

jet

of

blowpipe

held

parallel

with

the

somewhat

14

BLOWPIPE FLAMES.
and in such a way that
flame.
it

obliquely cut vrick

just

touches

the

side

of the

The

result

will be

a yellow, luminous flame.

An
jet
is

oxidizing flame

is

produced when the blowpipe

about one-third the
it is

introduced

into

the flame

width of the wick.

At

the same time

well to blow

little

harder than in the production of the reducing

flame.

The

oxidizing flame
little

is

of a blue

color

and
re-

possesses but

illuminating power.

The yellow

color

and luminous character of the

float in

ducing flame result from the

solid particles of carbon,

which unconsumed, but white-hot,

gases
flame.
till

the burning

they are burnt upon the outside of the conical

In the oxidizing flame, which exhibits the blue

color of

burning carbonic oxide

gas, these particles of

carbon are wanting.

It is not difficult to give the reason for the production

of these unlike flames.

In the reducing flame the

less

powerful blast from the blowpipe drives the whole flame

before
it

without causing a complete mixture of the com;

bustible gases with the air

while in the oxidizing flame

is

a more powerful stream of air

the flame, and
is

thrown directly into

a

thus more thoroughly mixed with the

burning gases.

In the

latter

case, therefore,

much
in the

more complete combustion must take place than

former.

If a piece of a substance capable of oxidation be held

directly before

the point of the oxidizing flame,

it

will

be heated by
atmospheric

it,

and

will be oxidized

by the surrounding

air.

If a powerful blast be used in this


THE BLOWPIPE.
operation,

15

a portion of tho air will pass unconsumcd

its

through the point of the flame and increase

ing
effect.

oxidiz-

Not only
for

is

the oxidizing flame

employed

for oxidation, but also, on account of the greater intensity of its heat,

determining the fusibility of sub-

stances.

It should here be observed that the point is

the hottest part of the flame.

The reducing flame has the when the substance operated on

protected from
the

greatest reducing
is

eiSTect

introduced so far into

it

the flame as to be completely surrounded by

and thus

oxidizing influences of the atmosnot,

it

pheric air.

It

must

however, be introduced so far

into it as to allow

to

become covered with carbon,

which would diminish the heat, and sometimes produce

other injurious
efiects.

A.

The Blowpipe.
of the blowpipe
is

The most convenient form

vented by Berzelius.
are so fitted together
It

that in-

consists of five parts,

which

that

they can be readily taken

apart for cleansing or transportation.

These parts are a

mouthpiece, a narrow tube seven to nine inches long, an

air-chamber to collect the condensed vapor of the breath,

a small tube inserted into the air-chamber at right-angles

to the larger one, and a jet with a

minute

orifice for

the

escape of the blast.

The mouthpiece may be

against the
lips, in

either funnel-shaped to press

it

is made of horn, or a mere extension of the larger tube, formed of bone, ivory

which case

or

silver,

the tube itself being usually of brass.


16

SUPPORTS FOR ASSAY.

The
and

jet should be a conical piece of

fit

platinum pro-

perly bored and drilled to

the tip of the shorter tube

to allow the escape of a

very small stream of

be not too

air.

Care must be taken that the

orifice

much enupon

larged in removing the carbon which

may

collect

and obstruct
redness.

it.

This

is

best done

by heating the jet to

With

sufficient

practice

it is

possible

by using the
five to

wide mouthpiece to blow uninterruptedly from

ten minutes.

During

this continuous

blowing the ex-

perimenter must breathe through

the nose, using the

palate as a valve, and force the air out

by means of the

muscles of the cheeks.

B.

The Blowpipe Flame.

may
had,

The flame

for use with the blowpipe

be that of

coal gas, a candle, or a

fluid or alcohol.

lamp

filled

with

oil,

burning
it

Where gas cannot be

will be
oil

found convenient to have both an alcohol and an

lamp.
C.

These may be either of glass or metal.

Supports and Holders for the TO BE Heated.

For holding the substances which are

Substances

to

be exposed

must be employed, of course, materials which are not easily injured by heat.
to

the flame of the blowpipe

The
1.

following articles are

most commonly used

for
this

Charcoal.

The

best

purpose

is

a well

burnt, compact and dry coal of pine or other soft wood,

CHARCOAL.
free from knots,

17
as close

and having the rings of growth

Its

together as possible.
its clear,

good quality

may

be

known by
and two

ringing sound when struck.

This should be

sawed into parallelepipeds six inches in length

in width in

such a way that the rings of growth are

cut

oflF

at right-angles to

two of the long

edge of the
it.

sides of the coal are the ones for use.

sides. These The substance to

be heated

is

laid near the

coal,

sometimes in

a shallow depression made in

sides of the coal,

The other two long

these, are

which run parallel with the rings of

to

growth or rather with tangents

ture

unfit

for

use, since in consequence of their heterogeneous struc-

they

often

burn with
off.

very

uneven
is

surfaces

and sometimes snap

coal
ation, or

substance

heated upon

when it is intended to reduce it, to prevent its oxidwhen the unavoidable reducing effect of contact with coal can exert no injurious influence upon the desired result.
2.

Platinum Wire, about 0.4 of a millimeter

in thick-

ness,

A long piece of
The
of the

this is bent several times

around

in the form of a ring and the free ends bent

to

up

in-

small hooks.
left

ring

is

held upon

the

index
filled

finger

hand,

and one of the hooks,

salt of phosphorus, is

with the substance to be examined, exposed to the flame

of the blowpipe.

Borax, or

com-

monly melted first to a transparent bead upon the hook, and then the substance to be tested, in the form of small
pieces or as a fine powder, heated with
it,

in order to

observe

its

reaction with these fluxes both in the oxiflame.

dating

and in the reducing

Of

course,

care

18

PLATINUM AND GLASS.

to treat in this

must be taken not

substances which
tack the platinum
3.

way

metals or other
at-

under such circumstances would

wire.

Platinum

Foil.

This

is

used for

fusing

sub-

stances which must not be subjected to any reducinginfluence, as is unavoidable upon coal. The platinum
foil,

which should be about 2 inches long and 1 inch

wide,

may

be laid upon a piece of charcoal or held in

forceps.
4.

Platinum Spoon,

about

half an

inch

wide.

While

in use the handle

for the
it, ol*

may

be fastened to a holder

made
is

purpose and furnished with a screw for

securing

may

be stuck into a cork.

Such a spoon

used for melting certain substances with bisulphate or

with platinum points.
points

nitrate of potassa.
5.

Forceps,

Their form
arc separated

is

such that the two platinum

by

pressing upon the heads of rivets.

ties of the

Between the extremi-

platinum points

is

introduced a fragment of

the substance to be tested before the blowpipe either

with reference to
heated
it

its

fusibility or the

color Avhich

when

imparts to the blue flame.

The whole

forceps

are from 5 to 6 inches long.

6.

Glass Tubes, about 6 millimeters in diameter, and

from 5 to 6 inches long.

for

These are employed chiefly

arsenic,

roasting

substances containing sulphur,

selenium, tellurium or antimony,

which Avhen heated

with certain precautions in an open tube cilher deposit

various sublimates upon the inner surface of
off
it

or give

an odor by which they

may

be recognized.


BLOWPIPE REAGENTS.
7.

19

Glass Mattrasses, -which can be easily

made by

fusing together one end of a glass tube.

Their length

should be about 3 inches.

They

are used in heating

substances which contain volatile ingredients to protect them as much as possible from the influence of the air. The volatile substance driven off is deposited, in this case, upon the inner surface of the tube, but not in an oxidized condition as when heated in an open tube.

D.

The Blowpipe Reagents.

employed
quired

la most blowpipe experiments the number of reagents is very limited and the quantity of these revery small.
to

There are only three reagents

be extensively used.
carbonate of soda, which
free
for
acid.

which can be said

1.

Soda.

Anhydrous

certain

purposes

must be

from sulphuric

Soda

is

used principally

to assist in the reduction

of

metallic oxides and sulphides,

upon charcoal, to decomit.

pose silicates and to determine the solubility or insolu-

bihty of a substance
2.

when melted with

borax
freed

Borax.

Purified
its
it,

greater part of
ized.

by heat from the water of crystallization and pulverthe red-hot hook of

In using
is

the

platinum

wire

dipped into the powder and the portion adhering

to it melted in the flame of the blowpipe,

and

this

ope-

ration

is

repeated

till

the bend of the wire

is filled

with

a globule which both hot and cold must appear perfectly transparent

and

colorless.

The

still soft

bead of

borax

is the:i

dipped into the powder of the substance

to be tested, so that a suitable quantity of the

same ad-

20
heres to
it,

SPECIAL REAGENTS.

which can then be subjected

to the influence

of the melted borax glass in the flame of the blowpipe.

The

solubility or insolubility of the assay

is

to be ob-

served, and also the color of the bead in the oxidizing

in the reducing flame both while hot
3.

and

and

after cooling.

Salt of Phosphorus, the well

It

known double phosdifficulty,

phate of soda and ammonia.

cannot be melted to a

bead directly upon the platinum wire without

(since, so long as

ammonia and water are disengaged, it drops off easily), and must, therefore, first be freed from these by heating gradually upon charcoal, and then taken upon the wire. The use is exactly like that of
borax.

Besides these principal reagents, a few others are, in

certain cases, employed, viz
:

Saltpeter, for oxidizing

melted substances.

Bisulphate of Potassa, for expelling

certain
acid,

and

determining

volatile

substances,
acid,

(lithia,

boracic acid,

nitric

hydrochloric

bromine,

iodine), as well as for the decomposition of titanates,

tantalates

and tungstates.
solution,

Nitrate of Cobalt,

chemifor

cally pure and in

especially for testing

alumina,

magnesia, oxide of zinc,

oxide of

tin,

and

titanic acid,

which moistened with the solution of cobalt

characteristic colors.
Silica,

and heated assume certain

for various purposes.

Fluor-spar,

mixed with a

certain

quantity of bisulphate of potassa, for detecting lithia

and boracic

acid.

Oxide or Oxalate of Nickel, for de-

termining the presence of a large quantity of potassa

in salts containing at the same time soda and lithia.

Oxide of Copper, for detecting chlorine, bromine and


BLOWPIPE IMPLEMENTS,
iodine.

21

Tin, in the shape of

foil,

for assisting in thp

reduction of substances dissolved in borax, or salt of

phosphorus.

The

hot bead, resting upon charcoal,

foil,

is

to

be touched with tin

so ihat a portion of this remains

upon

it,

and then heated a few seconds in as powerful a

Silver, for detecting sulphur
acid.

reducing flame as possible.

and sulphuric

The blowpipe

reagents

may

be best kept in bottles,

well stopped Avith ground glass stoppers,

which

may

be packed in a wooden box constructed for the purpose.

In traveling, means should bo adopted

to

prevent the

stoppers from becoming loose and falling out.

E.

Other Articles nece=sary in assaying with

THE BLOWPIPE.

The method of using

planation.
tioned
:

these articles, of which some are

rather convenient than indispensable, requires no ex-

The

following are, therefore, merely

men-

a hammer, a small anvil, a steel mortar, an

files

agate mortar,

of various sorts,

a knife, scissors, a

magnet, a microscope, &c., &c.

II.

QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION

AVITil

TUE BLOWPIPE.

This consists of the performance of certain operations,

and the accurate observation of the resulting phenomena,

from which the presence or absence of certain substances

may be known.

These operations may be undertaken

:

most advantageously in the following order, viz

of the substance to be examined,
i.

Test

first,

in a glass matrass,

e.

in a glass tube closed at one end; second, in a glass

;

tube open at both ends

the platinum forceps
;

thii'd,

on charcoal

fourth, in
;

fifth,
;

in the

borax bead

sixth,

in the phosphorus bead

tgsts, it is often

seventh, with soda.

After these

necessary to
certain

make some experiments for

presence or

the detection

of

substances, the

absence of which could not be positively determined by

the preceding operations.

1.

Test in Glass Matrass.

The

clean

and perfectly dry matrass, containing a

is

small quantity of the Substance to be examined,

at the lower
spirit

heated

end at

first

gently over the flame of a

lamp, and then gradually more intensely before the

till

blowpipe,

the glass begins to soften.

TEST IN GLASS MATRASS.

It is to be noticed

^3

whether anything

is

sublimed or vol-

atilized, as ex. gr. water, quicksilver,

sulphur, selenium,

tellurium, arsenic.

nized from their well

The first three may be readily recogknown properties. In case water is

it

sublimed,

it

should always be noticed whether

gives

an

acid or alkaline reaction with litmus paper.

When organic

substances are present, the fluid

deposited on the walls

of the tube has a characteristic burnt taste and odor.

microscope

is

often necessary lo detect a small sublimate

;

of quicksilver

its

use should indeed rarely be dispensed

with in these operations.

Selenium gives a red

subli_

mate
is

if

a large quantity be present so that a thick crust

tlie

deposited, the color in

lower part of the tube

is

steel-gray.

Tellurium produces a gray sublimate.

Aris

senic yields a black deposit, which,

considerable, has a

when the
these

quantity
It

somewhat

metallic

luster.

must

not, however, be concluded, because

reactions do

not appear, that these elements are not present, since

sulphur,

selenium,

tellurium

and arsenic especially

may

occur in compounds from which they either can

be observed that two or
in a

not be liberated by such ignition, or at least not in a

pure condition.

It

is

also to

more of them may be present

ing them
is

compound and may

This
is

be sublimed together, by which the difficulty of recogniz-

more or

less increased.

very often

the case with

sulphur and arsenic.

These sometimes
red

give a sublimate, which below consists of metallic arsenic,

but higher up appears successively black, brown,

;

and yellow colors due to sulphide of arsenic, which is more volatile than the metal. Oxygen and ammonia,

24

TEST IN GLASS MATRASS.

licat,

wlieu tlisengagcd from a substance by

detected
in

may

also be

by introducing a burning splinter of wood the last, by the introduction of a strip of reddened litmus paper. Commonly, however, ammonia is not given off in a pure state but combined with an acid, and then a white sublimate of an
the

matrass;
;

the

first,

ammoniacal monia
and
this,

^alt is deposited.

By
it

mixing the assay with

lime or soda, and then healing

is

in a raattrass, fiee

am-

liberated

and

easily recognized.

Some
;

other

subslances. especially fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine

nitric acid,

can be detected

in

the matrass
Ite

since

however, cannot in most cases

done by heating

the substance under examination alone, but only by the

use of some particular reagent, the method avIH be given
in the eighth section, which treats of the performance cf
special experiments
stances.
It
is

for

the detection of certain sub-

to be observed, secondly, wlicther the substance

fieated is in

any way

altered, ex. gr.

it,

changes
its

its

color

and

jierhaps in cooling resumes

varies

form or state of

aggregation, exhibits a flash of light or phosphorescence,

decrepitates,

&c., &c.

To

treat in a special

manner
still

all

such cases

liere

would occupy nmch space, and

not

obviate the necessity of

more exact chemical knowledge,

which the

skillful

experimenter with the blowpipe must

always have at command.

The

test in the

matrass gives in

many

cases, as appears

from the preceding, no

dications of

distinct proof, but often only in-

the

presence of substances which can be

still

determined with absolute certainty only after

further


TEST IN THE OPEN TUBE.
experimentation.

25

The indications are nevertheless of importance, and afford much assistance towards the final
decision.
2.

Test in the Open Tube.

is

A portion

of the assay finely pulverized

introduced

about a half an inch into the lube, and this gradually

heated at the place -where the substance
lies.

The lube

should be held a

little

inclined, so

that the current of

heated air passes over the assay, and upwards through the

upper and longer part.

i.

In

this Avay the assay is roasted,

e.

exposed to an oxidizing heat, by which various subSulbe

stances are volatilized and rendered recognizable.

phur
easily
is

is

disengaged as sulphurous acid, which

its

may

known by
little

peculiar sufibcatiiig odor.

Selenium

but

oxidized,

and deposits a red or steel-gray

sublimate, at the same time giving the very characteristic

odor of selenium vapor

horseradish

resembling

that of decayed
its

ready and sure proof of

presence.

Arsenic

is

volatilized as arsenious acid,

antimony, as oxide
all

of antimony and tellurium as tellurous acid,

of which
is dis-

form a white sublimate.

That of arsenious acid

tinctly crystalline, while the others appear pulverulent.

Arsenious acid and oxide of antimony can be driven for-

ward by heat from the place where they have been

deposited, but
in

the case of tellurous acid, this takes

it

place only in appearance, since

fuses to small trans-

parent drops, whicli

may

be detected sometimes by the

naked eye, though better with the aid of a microscope.

The

roasting process

must be

carried on slowly with


26
TEST ON CHARCOAL.

a gradually increasing temperature and a good current

of
air,

produced by the inclination of the tube

unoxidizod
volatile

since

otherwise,

substances

might

be

sublimed, and the assay fused together so as to prevent

further oxidation.

To

roast a substance as completely as

some minutes, to and then to repeat the roasting. This alternate heating and grinding must be continued till nothing more is sublimed.
possible, it is necessary after heating it

grind

it

in an agate mortar,

3.

Test on Charcoal.

The same
coal' as in

things are to be observed in heating on char-

using the matrass.

Especially important

is it

to

become familiar

with the color

and certain other pro-

perties of

the incrustations which different substances

charcoal.

deposit

when heated on

These are more parfrom

ticularly treated of in tlie following synopsis taken

Plattner's

"Art of Assaying with the Blowpipe."

easily,

Selenium melts

and gives

in the oxidizing

or reducing flame brown fumes, and deposits an incrustation which at a little distance from the assay is steel-

gray, with a slight metallic luster,

distance, dull

and

at

greater

and dark-gray, inclining

to violet.

This

incrustation

is

readily driven from one place to another

by the
ful

oxidizing flame, but, if touched with the reducing

flame, vanishes, coloring the flame at the

moment

beauti,or

ultramarine.
it,

When
is

selenium fused on coal

deposit from

touched with the blowpipe flame a

is

strong odor of decayed horseradish

perceptible,

due

TEST ON CHARCOAL.
to the gaseous,

27
is

colorless

oxide of

selenium "which

thus produced.

Tellurium melts very

easily,

gives

oflf

fumes and

deposits on the coal, not far from the assay, both in the
oxidizing and in the reducing flame, tellurous acid.
deposit
is

The

white, with red or dark -yellow edges, and

may

be driven from place to place

by the

oxidizing flame, but

in the reducing flame vanishes, coloring the same time green, or,
green.

the flame at

when selenium

is

present, bluish-

Arsenic

volatilizes

without fusing, and deposits upon

the coal, in the reducing as well as in the oxidizing

flame, arsenious acid.
ers, grayish,

The
It

deposit

is

white, in thin lay-

and

at

some distance from the place where

is

the

assay was

laid.

removed

instantly

when

merely warmed by the blowpipe flame.

denly in the reducing flame,
a feeble light-blue color.
strong alliaceous odor, which
of arsenic.
it

If heated sud-

vanishes, giving the flame

volatilized
it

When
is

gives a

peculiar to the suboxide

Antimony

fuses readily,

and incrusts the coal with

incrustation
is

oxide in both flames.

thin layers, bluish,

The

white,

in

and nearer the assay than that of

a gentle heat from the oxidizing
exposed to the reducing
with a slight greenish-

arsenious acid.
flame,
it

By

may

be driven from one place to another withif

out coloring the flame, but,

flame
it

changes

its

positions

blue color.

The oxide

of antimony being

much

less

28
volatile

TEST ON CHARCOAL.
than the arscnious acid
it.

may

bs easily distin-

guished from
charcoal

If metallic antimony be melted on

to redness,

and heated
it

and then allowed

to re-

main undisturbed,

continues a long lime red-hot, and

^ives off dense white fumes, which are partly deposited

upon the

coal,

and partly around the globule of metal

This phenomenon depends on

in wh.itc, penrly crystals.

the fact that the red-hot fluid globule of metal absorbs

oxygen
thus so

fi-om the air, oxide of

antimony
is

is

formed, and

much

heat liberated as

rfecessary to keep the

for

very fusible antimony in a melted state

till it

some time,

becomes covered with crystals of the oxide.

fuses very easily, and deposits on the coal

Bismuth

oxide of bismuth, both in the oxidizing and in the re-

ducing flame.
yellow,

The
cold,

deposit

is,

while hot, dark orange-

when

lemon-yellow, and in thin layers,

deposit consists of pure oxide
is

bluish-white.

The yellow

of bismuth, and the bluish-white, which

farthest

from
in-

the assay,
crustation

of carbonate of bismuth.
is

The bismuth

deposited a
It

little

nearer the assay than that

of antimony.

may

be driven from place to place by

is

either flame, since the oxide

reduced on the coal at a

in the reducing

red heat, and the metallic bismuth then volatilized and

reoxidized, but does not,

when heated

flame, impart to

it

any

color.

Lead

melts easily, and gives the coal in either flame

an incrustation of oxide at the same distance from the

assay as that of bismuth.

The

deposit while

hot, is

dark lemon-yellow, after cooling, sulphur-yellow, and in

TEST ON CUARCOAL.
thin layers,

29
is

bluish-white.

The yellow crust

pure

oxide of lead, and the bluish- white, carbonate of lead.

The

yellow deposit when heated in the oxidizing flame

its

changes

place for the same reason as the oxide of

;

bismuth, and without coloring the fiaine

in the reduc-

ing flame

it

changes

its

position, tinting the flame with

ultramarine.

Thallium

melts, volatilizes

and deposits a brown

in-

crustation, coloring either flame a brilliant green.

Cadmium
and

melts readily, takes

fire

in the oxidizing

flame, burns with a dark-yellow flame

and brown fumes,

deposits on the coal near the assay oxide of cad-

mium.
yellow.

This
;

exliibits its peculiar color best

it is

when comsince
flame,

pletely cold

reddish-brown, in thin layers, orange-

The
is

deposit of oxide of

cadimum may,
by either

the oxide

easily reduced, be volatilized

it

but without imparting to

any

color.

Around

the outer

edge of the incrustation the coal sometimes exhibits pavonian

tints.

ing brown while hot, and yellow

Indium fuses readily, forms in the oxidizing flame a coatwhen cold, and which
it

touched with the reducing flame colors

blue.

Zinc

fuses easily, takes fire in the

oxidizing flame,

burns with a very luminous, greenish-white flame and

dense white fumes, and gives the coal an incrustation of
oxide.

This

is

rather near the assay

while warm, yel-

low, and

when completely

cold, white.

Heated in the

30
oxidizing flame
it

TEST ON CHARCOAL.
glows, but
is

not volatilized because

it

cannot be reduced by the heated coal on which

it rests.

Even

in the reducing flame

it is

volatilized but slowly.

Tin melts without

puff of air

difficulty,

and

in the oxidizing flame

becomes covered with oxide, which

;

may

be removed by a

in the reducing flame the fused metal pre-

sents a brilliant surface and incrusts the coal with oxide.

The
it

incrustation

is

while hot, slightly yellow, and some;

what luminous
on
all sides.

in the oxidizing flame

It is so

but,

upon cooling,
it

becomes white.

near the assay as to touch

It cannot be volatilized.

Molybdenum,

in metallic

form,

cannot

be

fused

before the blowpipe,

but when heated in the exterior

little
is

flame gradually oxidizes, and covers the coal, at a

distance from the assay,

with

molybdic

acid,

which

deposited in some places, especially nearest the assay, in

transparent, crystalline scales, but elsewhere in a pulverulent form.

The

deposit has while hot, a yellowish color,

,

but on

cooling becomes white.

The

crystalline scales

are best produced, by heating the assay as far as possible

from the point of the blue flame.

lybdic acid can be driven about

The pulverulent moeither flame, but the

it is

by

place which

it

leaves appears, after

completely cold,

dark copper red and has a metallic

of molybdenum, which
is

luster,

from oxide
effect
Iii

formed by the reducing

is

of the coal on the acid, and which

not volatile.

the reducing flame, metallic molybdenum remains un-

changed.

TEST ON CHARCOAL.
Silver, held for sometime in a
fluid condition

31

by a pow-

erful oxidizing flame, gives a very slight deposit of dark

red oxide.

In combination -with a small quantity of lead,

first,

there appears,
afterwards,

a yellow deposit of oxide of lead, but

it

when
a

the silver contains less lead,

colors

the coal outside the yellow crust dark red.

silver contain
little

If the
first,

antimony, there appears,

white incrustation of oxide of antimony, which,

if

the

blowing be continued, becomes red.

An

alloy of silver,

lead and antimony gives, after the latter metals are mostly
volatilized,

copious,

carmine red

deposit.

Such a

deposit

may

also

sometimes be obtained by heating alone

on charcoal a

rich ore of silver.

Sulphides, Chlorides, Bromides, and Iodides of

THE Metals.

In assaying with the blowpipe,

not only

are pure metals found, which being somewhat volatile,

may

be detected by the incrustation which they give the coal

when sublimed, but

off

deposit a white crust

there are also compounds which upon the coal, that may be driven by the oxidating flame, and very often resembles

closely a deposit of oxide of antimony.

Here belong of
which

the sulphides,

those

of potassium

and sodium,

while forming from the sulphates in the reducing flame

on

coal, yield a white,

and not very

volatile

incri^station
volatiltill

of sulphates, produced
ized sulphides.

by the reoxidation of the

This, however, does not occur

the

sulphates have sunk into the coal, and given off their

oxygen.

Sulphides of potassium being

more

volatile
earlier,

than sulphides of sodium, the former are deposited

and in greater quantity than the

latter.

This deposit,

82

TEST ON CUARCOAL.

when touched by the reducing flame, disappears, impart-

ing to the flame,

when

consisting of sulphate of potassa,

a bluish violet

color, and,

when of sulphate
is

of soda, a

reddish yellow.

Sulphide

of lithium, formed by the

also volatilized

reduction of sulphate of lithia on coal,

by an

intense heat, but

more

difficultly

than sulphide of

sodium, and gives, instead of a pure white, a greenish

white, thin crust, which touched with the reducing flame
vanishes, coloring the flame caimine red.

of lead and bitmuth also belong here.

The sulphides Each of these

sulphides, both in the oxidizing and the reducing flame,

affords
is

two

diflfereiit
is

deposits of whicli the most volatile

white,

and

a sulphate.

When
to

these deposits are

heated in the reducing flame, that of lead disappears,

communicating a blue

tinge

the

flame

that

of

bismuth vanishes, but does not color the flame.

metal, and

The

incrustation nearest the assay consists of the oxide of the

may

be recognized from

its color,

both while

hot and after cooling.

There are indeed several other

sulphides of metals which incrust the coal,

when

thorless

oughly heated before the blowpipe, with a more or

abundant white
sulphide of zinc

deposit,

ex.

gr.

sulphide of antimony,
tin
;

and sulphide of
is

but the deposit

consists only of the oxides, and

either volatile or fixed.

in the

oxydating flame

Among
property,

the chlorides of the metals, several possess the

when heated

before

the blowpipe on coal, of

incrustation, viz

volatilizing

and depositing a white

the chlorides of potassium, sodium and

lithium,

after

sinking into the coal in a fluid state, volatilize and give

TEST ON CHARCOAL.

33

a white deposit near the assay, (chloride of potassium

yields the most abundant, and chloride of lithium the
least,

which also instead of being pure white,

of

is

grayish)

chlorides

ammonium,

quicksilver
;

and

antimony,
zinc,

which

volatilize

without melting
tin,

chlorides of
first

cadmium,

lead,

bismuth and

which
:

melt and

then afford two incrustations, viz

a white, volatile one

of chloride, and a

less volatile

one of oxide.

These in

the reducing flame disappear, a part of them with a colored flame.

That of chloride of potassium

is

bluish, in-

clining to violet, and that of chloride of sodium, reddish-

yellow, of chloride of lithium, carmine red, and that of

chloride of lead, blue
fl
;

the remainder do not color the

ime.

Chloride of copper fuses and colors the flame

If the blowing be long continued,
is volatil-

intense ultramarine.
it

may

be observed that one part of the assay

ized with white

rine,

fumes having a strong odor of chlowhich the one nearest the assay

and another deposits on the coal three rings of

is

different colors, of

dark-gray, the next dark -yellow to brown, and the third

bluish-white.

In the reducing flame a portion of these

at

may

made to change position, coloring the flame the same time ultramarine.
be

Of
,

the bromides and iodides of metals which appear

similar to the chlorides, should be particu-

on coal very
and sodium.

larly noticed here the bromides and iodides of potassium

These melt and arc absorbed by the

volatilized with

coal,

and are then

white fumes, a part of

which formy at some distance from the assay a white

crust on the charcoal.

This when touched with the re-


34
TEST IN FORCEPS.

ducing flame disappears, the bromide and iodide of potassium coloring the flame bluish, inclining to
violet,

and

bromide and iodide of sodium, reddish-jellow.

4.

Test in the Platinum Forceps.

It

having been settled by previous experiments that

taken in the forceps and exposed
Substances -which

the assajr docs not vfhan heated attack platinum, a small

fragment or splinter
to

is

the point of the exterior flame.

attack platinum
ble,

may

be heated on coal, or, if easily fusi-

on the platinum wire.

The

object

is

not only to

determine the fusibility of the assay, but also the presence of certain substances which under these circumstances impart

more or

less distinctly

a color to the blue

flame of the blowpipe.

low, others a violet,

Some

substances impart a yelor blue color.

carmine

red, green,

Plattner, in bis

work

previously quoted, gives on this

:

subject the following particulars

Yellow. Soda and its salts, when fused on the platinum wire in the point of the blue flame, possess the
property of incrpasing the size of the exterior flame,

and coloring

it

intense reddish-yellow.

This reaction

is

not prevented by the presence of a large quantity of

other salts, whose bases also color the exterior flame,

though not so intensely as

coal, see

soda.

For the appearance on

page 32.

If a small splinter of a silicate con-

taining soda be igniti-d or fused in the point of the blue

flame,
it

increases more or less the outer flame, according

less

as

it is

more or

fusible

and contains more or

less

TEST IN FORCEPS.
i-oda,

35
If

tinging

it

at the

same time reddish-yellow.

intense.

the blowino' be long continued, this color remains unchan'^ed, or

becomRS more
Potassa,

Violet.

Caesia and Rubidia,

their salts, except

the

borate

and most of and phosphate, when

fused in the point of the blue flame, color the exterior

flame distinctly violet.

If,

however, the salt be mixed

with only a very minute quantity of a salt of soda, the reaction is so changed tliat while near the assay a slight
violet tinge

may

be perceived, further

from
It'

it

appears

the intense reddish-yellow of the soda.

contain several per cent, of a salt
tion of potassa
is

the mixture

of soda,

the reac-

wholly suppressed, and only that of

soda can be perceived.

The

reaction of potassa

is alsoi

prevented by the presence] of a small quantity of a salt

of lithia.
coal, see

For the appearance of some

page 82.

salts

of

lithia

on

Many

minerals containing lithia and fusible in the

point of the blue flame communicate a red color to the

exterior flame.

This

is

especially true of the micas from

wliicli

Altenberg and Zinnwald,

very strongly
;

color the outer flame

this color diminishes,

is

however, in intento

sity, as soon as the thin strip

melted

such an extent

that

it

can no

longer^,

be kept perfectly

fluid in the flame

of the blowpipe.

There are

also minerals

which give

along with the red of

mixed.

lithia still

another

color,

and in

such a manner that both appear either separate or

If, for

instance, a minute quantity of pulverized

triphyline, (phosphate of lithia, iron

and maganese), be

36

TEST IN FORCEPS.
wire
in the blue

fused on the platinum

flame, there

appears in the outer flame a carmine-red streak from

lithia,

surrounded by a green flame resulting from the

acid.

phosphoric

In the forceps
is

this

is

difficult

to

observe because the triphjline

too easily fused.

If a

small piece of amblygonitc from Cursdorf, which consists

chiefly of phosphates of lithia

and alumina, be fused in

the forceps in the point of the blue flame, there appears

in the exterior flame a yellowi^^h-rcd streak, which

is

suri'ounded by a reddish-yellow flame resulting from the

presence of soda.
portion of the assay

This color continues as long as a

is

kept in a fluid state.

Silicates containing lithia,

which alone impart no red

so,

tinge to the exterior flame, do

according to Turner,
potassa,

when melted with

fluor-spar

and bisulphate of

on the platinum wire in the point of the

will be explained in section 8.

l)lue flame, as

Strontia.

Chloride of strontium
ex.

fused on the

pla-

tinum wire

in the point of the

blue flame produces in-

stantly an intense red color in the outer flame.

Many
tine),

other salts of strontia,

gr.

carbonate of

strontia, (strontianite),

and

sulphate of strontia, (cocles-

when exposed

to the point of the blue

flame in

the forceps color the outer flame at

ish,

first slightly

yellow-

but afterwards carmine-red.

The

presence of baryta

prevents the reaction of strontia.

Lime.

Chloride

of calcium tinges the exterior flame

red, though not so intensely as chloride of strontium.

Most pure

calcites as well as massive carbonates of lime

TEST IN FORCEPS.

37

produce at

first

a feeble yellowish color in the exterior

flame, but afterwards

oiF,

when

the carbonic acid

less intense

is

driven

a red, which
of
lime.

is,

however,

than that from

strontia.

The presence of baryta prevents the reacFluor spar, while fusing, colors the Gypsum and flame as deep red as calc-spar. outer
tion

anhydrite produce at

first

only a feeble yellowish tinge,

but afterwards a rather intense red.

Phosphate and

borate of lime do not give a red, but a green color.

Of

the sihcates, none afford the reaction of

hme

ex-

cept table-spar,

which imparts to the exterior flame a

slight reddish tinge.

Green".

There

are seven substances

:

which color the

exterior flame green, viz

baryta, molybdic acid, oxide

of copper, tellurous acid, phosphoric acid, boracic acid

and thallium.

Baryta.
which at

Chloride

of barium

when

fused on the pla-

tinum wire produces in the exterior flame a green color

first

appears only light-green, but afterwards

becomes an intense yellowish-green.

beautiful
used.

The

color

is

most
is

when only a very

small quantity of the salt

Carbonate of baryta, (witherite), and sulphate of

baryta,

(heavy spar), when held in the forceps and

strongly heated in the point of the blue flame also tinge

the exterior flame yellowish-green, though not so deeply

as

chloride

of
the

barium.
reaction

The presence
of
baryta.

of

lime

does

not prevent
baryto-calcitc,

For
of

instance,

consisting

of

carbonates

lime

and

baryta, cau83s in the exterior a greenish-yellow color

38
ifj

TEST IN FORCEPS. however, the blowing be long continued,

is

it

may

be

perceived that the point of the flame

also sometimes of

a reddish

tinge.

MoLYBDic Acid.

Molybdic
to the

acid, or oxide of

molyb-

dtoum, when attached

moistened platinum wire

colors the exterior flame

and ignited in the blue flame,

same time
phide of
volatilizing.

bluish-green, exactly like baiyta, molybdic acid at the

If a thin scale of natural sulforceps

molybdenum be held by the platinum

it

in the point of the blue flame,

does not fuse, but im-

mediately imparts to the outer flame a yellowish-green

tinge, resulting oxidization.

from the molybdic acid formed by

its

Oxide of Copper.

Oxide

of copper, alone as well

as in combination with certain acids which do not themselves give a colored flame, for instance, with carbonic,
acetic, nitric

and sulphuric
in

acids,

communicates
color.

to the

exterior flame
per,

an emerald-green
*.oal

Metallic cop-

when heated on
The

the flame of the blowpipe,

is easily oxidized,

and then tinges the outer flame emeriodide of copper causes also a very in-

ald-green.

tense emerald-green color in the exterior flame.

Ores of

lead containing copper color the outer flame in the center blue from the lead, (see below), and
side,

upon the outSili-

especially near

the point, emerald-green.

cates containing copper,

when

heated in the forceps with

the point of the blue flame, sometimes impart to the exterior flame

a very intense emerald-green

color, ex. gr.

dioptase, and chrysocolla.

TEST IN FORCEPS.
This color
is

39
in

also produced

bj those

which the oxide

of copper constitutes an unessential, and only the coloring part of

tlie

mineral, ex. gr. turquoise.

Tellurous Acid.

Tcllurous

acid,

suspended on th
tlic

moistened platinum wire, and heated in

point of the

blue flame, melts, gives off fumes and colors the exterior
flame gre3n.
If the tellurous acid, deposited on coal

from heating an ore of tellurium, be touched with the

point of the blue flame,
it

vanishes with a green, or

when selenium

is

present, Avith a bluish green flame.

Phosphoric Acid. According to Fuchs and Erdmann, phosphoric acid, phosphates and minerals containing phosphoric acid, sometimes alone, and sometimes
after being pulverized

and moistened with sulphuric

a bluish green color.

acid,

impart

to the exterior flame

is

This

reaction

so reliable that with suitable care very

minute

quantities of phosphoric acid

als,

may

be detected in miner-

when a little of the paste, formed by moistening the powder of the mineral with sulphuric acid, is taken
on the platinum wire and exposed to the point of the
blue flame.

The same

is

true also of compounds, which

in-

from containing a large admixture of soda or other

tion of phosphoric
it

tensely coloring substance, do not alone give the reacacid.

If the salt

contain

water,

must

first

be driven off

by heating on

coal before the

blowpipe, and then the anhydrous substance pulverized,

moistened with sulphuric acid, and exposed to the blue

flame on the platinum wire. outer flame
is

If soda be present, the

tinged very distinctly bluish green at the

40

TEST IN FORCEPS.
the phosphoric acid
is

moment

liberated

by

the action of

the sulphuric acid, but afterwards assumes the intense

reddish yellow of
in
tlie

soda.

As

the
it

bluish green lasts

some cases but a short time,

is

must be observed

Tvhether the outer flame

colored bluish green or not, at

the instant the assay

is

touched

with the point of the

blue flame.

Phosphate of lead as well as pj'romorphite,

heated alone, tinges the edges of the blue flame of oxide

of lead with a permanent green.

acid,

BoRACic Acid. Both natural and artificial boracic when melted on the platinum wire in the point
it

of the blue flame, impart to

(siskin-gieen.)
If,

a deep yellowish green,

however, the acid be not perfectly free

color,

from soda, there results in the outer flame a green

which

is

more or

less

mixed with yclbw.

Borax alone

produces no green, but only the yellow of soda.

Anhy-

drous borax, however, when pulverized and moistened

with sulphuric acid, and exposed to the point of the blue
flams, gives for a short time an intense

green, which

changes

to

yellow as sooiv as the suit

is

decomposed and

the free sulphuric acid expelled.

boracic acid,

Minerals containing

when heated on
sulplmric

the platinum wire with

the point of the blue flame, after being pulverized and

moistened with

acid,

almost

all

communiin miner-

cate to the exterior flume a green color.

Another and

very reliable method of detecting boracic acid

als

from the

siskin green

color of the outer flame has

8.

been proposed by Turner, and will be found in section

Thallium.

Substances

containing

thallium,

when

TEST IN FORCEPS.
Strongly heated, color the flame bright green, which

41
is

changed to yellow and thus obscarcd by the presence of

much

soda.

Blue.
blue,

There

are some substances which

when

igni-

ted or fused in the inner flame, color the exterior flame

viz:

arsenic,

antimony, lead, indium, selenium

iodine.

and compounds of copper with chlorine and

Arsenic.

Metallic

arsenic

and .the arsenides of

cabaltine,

those metals which do not communicate any color to

the exterior flame, as ex. gr. copper-nickel,

&c.,
&c.,

when

heated by the blue flame on coal, are

If the

surrounded by a blaze of a light blue color.

be touched suddenly by the blue flame,
volatile

incrustation of arsenious acid deposited on the charcoal

it

being very

may bo

distinctly observed to disappear with the

same

light blue blaze.

When

arseniates

whose bases
gr. nickel

impart no color to the exterior flame, as

ex.

bloom, cobalt bloom, iron sinter, &c., arc exposed in

the forceps to
tlie

blue flame, they communicate an in-

tense light blue to the outer flame.

In many cases a
base
possesses

blue color appears even

when

the

the

property of coloring the

lime, (pharmacolite,)

flame, as

ex. gr. arseniate of

Antimony.

When

metallic antimony

is

fused within
is

the blue^flame on charcoal, the fluid globule of metal

surrounded by a scarcely perceptible blue blaze

if the resulting white

but,

crust of oxide of

antimony be
it

touched with the blue flame of the blowpipe,

pears tinging the flame greenish blue.

disap-


42
TEST IN THE BORAX BEAD.

Lead.

When

metallic lead

is
is

melted on coal within

the blue flame, the fluid

metal

surrounded by a blaze
is

of an ultramarine color, and the coal

oxide of lead.

incrusted with

The oxide of lead may be driven by the

blue.

blue flame from one place to another, tinging the flame

at the

same lime with

communicate to
with

Salts of lead, whose acids

do not themselves impart a deep color to the exterior

flame,
this

an intense ultramarine, when

fused

the point of the blue flame, either on the

platinum wire or in the forceps.

Indium.

Selenium.
flame,
it

Compounds of indium the flame If selenium be molted on

color

blue.

coal in the blue

volatilizes,

coloring the flame

intense

ultra-

marine.

deposit of selenium on

charcoal

presents

the same appearance in the reducing flame.

Chloride of Copper. Natural

or artificial chloride

of copper, ignited on the platinum wire in the blue flame,

tinges the external flame at first intense ultramarine, but

afterwards green from the oxide of copper formed.

in the

Bromide of Copper. Bromide of copper, same way as the chloride, colors the flame

treated
at first

greenish blue, but afterwards imparts the green of oxide

of copper.
5.

Test in the Borax Bead.

Since this test serves especially to detect the oxides of

metals,
to be
it is

of the

first

importance

that, if

the substance
it

examined contain unoxidized metals,

i-hould

be

roasted to oxidize

them

Metals combined with sulphur,

arsenic, &c., are not only difficultly soluble in borax, but


TEST IN THE PHOSPHORUS BEAD.

43

present appearances differing more or less from those of

the oxides.

The

roasting of the pulverized substance

It

may

be performed on coal or in a glass tube.

must

be repeated several times to produce the most complete

oxidation and volatilize perfectly sulphur, arsenic, etc.

Before every
in

new

roasting the substance

must be ground

an agate mortar.

Sulphides and arsenides of metals

may

be advantageously subjected to alternate oxidating

roastings.

and reducing

The

latter are effected

by mix-

ing the pulverized assay with coal or plumbago powder,

and then heating

it

in a glass tube or on charcoal.

The

same

directions apply to the next test.

6.

Test in the Phosphorus Bead.

the preceding,
it

In

this case, as in

is

important to

observe accurately the colors which the beads present

while hot, while cooling, and when
oxidizing and reducing flames.
cold,

both in the

Beads, in which certain

substances are dissolved, possess the property of becom-

ing cloudy or opaque, when treated with an intermittent flame.

result

This process
also generally

is

called flaming.

The same
bead.

may

be produced by a slow and

cooled

gentle

heating of

the
is

previously

The

cloudiness of the bead

also often caused

merely by the

addition of a larger quantity of the assay.


44

TABLE
1.

I.

Oxidizing Flame.

A.

Borax.

Colors of

Substances which Exhibit thesk Colors.

In the Hot Bead.
Silica,

TDK Beads.

In the Cold Bead.

Silica,

Alumina. Oxide of Tin,

Tellurous Acid, Baryta,
Strontia,
,

Alumina. Oxido of Tin,

s^
Is
"=

Lime, Magnesia,
Colorless.

Gluoioa,
Yttria. Zirconia,
Tlioria,

a "1- Strontia, Lime,

s a
-:

Tellurous Acid, Baryta,

Mas;nesia, Glucina,
Yttria, Zirconia,

~A^
Sa

Oxide of Lanthanum, Oxide of Silver, Col umbic Acid,

Niobio Acid,

;?

1
^S.
3

Titanic Acid, Tungstic Acid,

Molybdic Acid, Oxide of Zinc, Oxide of Cadmium, Oxide of Indium, Oxide of Lead, Oxide of Tiiallium, Oxide of Bismuth, Oxide of Antimony.

Thoria, Oxide of Lanthanum, Oxide of Silver, Columbio Acid, Niobic Acid, <?o Titanic Acid. r. 3 Tun<;stic Acid, '5 Molybdic Acid, s-S Oxide of Zinc,

~^

^1
^

o.

>

^
a
S^v

3s

-33 Oxido Oxide '*"2 Oxide Oxide o s Oxide ^ 2". Oxide

of Cadmium, of Indium,
of Lea<l,

of Thallium, of Hisinulh, of Antimony,

Titanic Acid, (yellow). Tun-xstic Acid, (yellow), Molybilic Acid, (darkyellow).) Yellow, red- Oxido ot Zinc, (slightly yellowish), dish yellow to red and .Oxide of Cadmium, (sli'Xhtly yellowish), reddish Oxido of Lead, (yellow), brown.

1-'^^

||
!i 8 s
" ~-

Oxide of Bismuth, (reddish yellow).

'Oxide

rff

Antimony,

(yellowish).

-^

45

TABLE
1.

I CONTINUED.
A.

Oxidizing Flame.

Borax.

Colors of
THE Beads

Substances which exhibit these Coloks.

In the Hot Bead. In the Cold Bead.

Oxido of Corium, (by flaming,

eniimel-white).
(red). Oxifloof Iron, (dark red), Oxido of Uriniuin, (red), yellow,

Oxido of Corium,

Red, or purple.

Viinadio Acid, (yellow), Oxide of Chromium, (dark-red),

Oxide of Iron, (yellow). Oxido of Uranium, (by flaming, cnamfl-yellow). Vanadic Acid, (yellow). Oxido of Nickel, (reddish
brown).

Oxido of Manganese,
inclined to violet).

(red,

Color of Amethyst.

Oxide of Nickel, Oxide of Manijanese, Oxido of Didymium.

Oxido of Didymium.

Blue.

Oxide of Cobalt.

Oxide of Cobalt, Oxido of Copper, (bluo to

greenish-blue).

Green.

Oxide of Copper.

Oxide of Chromium, (inclined

to yellow).


46

TABLE
2.

L CONTINUED.
A.

Reducing Flame.

Borax.

Colors of

Substances which exhibit these Coloes.

In the Hot Bead.
Silica,
Silica,

THE Beads.

In the Cold Bead.

Alumina, Oxide of Tin,

Baryta,
Strontia,

Alumina, Oxide of Tin.

Lime.
Maginesia, Uluclna,
Yttria, Zirconia,

Baryta,
Strontia,

.^-^-n

Lime,
Ma:;nesia,
tilucina, Yttria, Zirconia,

51 0,

g^^
q 3

Thoria, Oxide of Lanthanum, Oxide of Ceriutn, Columbic Acid,

J-

"i?
g*
of

Oxide of Didymium, Oxide of Manj^ancse.

Niobic Acid, in small quantity.
Colorless.

Thoria, Oxide of Lanthanum, Oxide of Cerium, Columbic Acid.

^^^^

Oxide of I'idymium, Oxide of Manganese.

Niobic Acid, tn small quantity.

of Nickel, Tellurous Acid,

Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide

of of of of of of of of

Silver, Zinc,

Cadmium,
Indium,
Lead, Thallium, Bismutli,

^ S" "^ .^ go

Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide s g Oxide

5"

of Silver, of Zinc,
of

sl*
1^ |-

Cadmium,
Indium, Lead. Thallium, Bismuth, Antimony,

^ n

Antimony,

^^ S.

of of of O.tule of Oxide of

5^
J

S:

S
5

Sg
S

g;

*? S"

Oxide ol Nicliel, Tellurous Acid.

2 S: f: S*

Yellow to hrowH.

Titanic Acid, Tuuiistic Acid, Molyt>dic Acid, Vanadic Acid.

Titanic Acid,

Tungstic Acid,

Molybdic Acid.

Oxide of Cobalt,
Blue.

Oxide of Cobalt.

Titanic Acid.
{

f^^^J.

47

TABLE
2,

LCONTINUED.
A,

REDuciNa Flame.
In the Hot Bead.

Borax.

Colors or
THE Beads.

Substances which exhibit these Colors.

In the Cold Bead.

Green.

Oxide of Iron, Oxide of Uranium, Oxide of Chromium,

Oxide of Iron, (hottle-green). Oxide of Uranium, " Oxide of Chromium, (emeraldgreen).

Vanadio Acid, (emerald-green).

Ox'de of Silver,
Oxifle of Zinc,

|:

* Oxide of Silver,
g.

S
!?

>

Oxide Gray and Oxide of Cadmium, of Lead, cloudy. Oxide of Bismuth, {The cloudiOxide cf Antimony, ness oft e n Oxide of Niclvcl, appeas first Tellurous Acid.
distinctly

^ S 2: 5

n s'S
S.** S.

.- s

S M

fa.

Oxide of Zioc, Oxide of Cadmium, Oxide of Lead, Oxide of Bismuth, Oxide of Antimony, Oxide of Nicl<el, Tellurous Acid.

g.

g|
S J o 3'3
S." S.

3.- 3 Z c

R.

during the
cooling.
C

By long

contin-

By long contin-

Niobic Acid,

<

ued blowing and

Niobic Acid, < ved blowing and

( in large quantity.

( in large quantity

Red

to

hrownish-

Oxide of Copper.

Oxido of Copper.

reda-d
cloudy.


48

TABLE I. CONTINUED.
1.

Oxidizing Flame.

B.

Salt

of Phosphorus.

Colors of

Substances wnicn exhibit these CoLons.

In the Hot Bead.
Silica, (I'ery little soluble.)

THE Beads.

In the Cold Bead.

Silica, {very little soluble.)
/^-^^

Alumina. Oxule ol' Tin, Tellurous Acid, Baryta.

Strontia,

h e
s
S'

Aluiuina. Oxide of Tin, Tellurous Acid,

Lime.
Mav.ncsia, Glucina,
Yttria, Zirconia,

So
n s
V^V^

Baryta,
Strontia,

'?l Lime,

A Maine sia.
Ulucina,
Yttria, Zirconia,
Tlioria,

Thoria. Oxido of T-anthanum, Wiobic Acid.

Colorless.

if ol.
"9

I'fi

SI.
S"'

Oxide of Lanthanum, Oxido of Cerium.

-^

=0

Columbic Acid, Titanic Acid. Tun^stic Acid, Oxide of Zinc, Oxide of Ciidinium,
Oxidu Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide
of of of of of

Niobic Acid,

Indium,
I-cad,

Tlinllmm, Bismuth,

Antimony.

^^

Columbic Acid, Titanic Acid. Tuu;iStic Acid, ^ Oxide of Zinc, O.Nido of Cadmium, ? c Oxido of Indium, 5-3 Oxido of Lead. S-2Oxide of TItallium, Oxide of Uiginuth, Oxido of Antimony.
at
--

re

=S

Columbic Acid, Titanic Acid, Tunjistic Acid,

Oxido of Zinc, Oxide of Cadmium, Oxide of Lead, Oxide of IJismuth, Tellow, red- Oxide of Antimony.

^
5
c s
57"

dish yellow to red and

V^V*.

Oxide of Silver, Oxidn of Iron, Oxido of Nickel, Oxido of Uranium,

{yclln wsh gree n).

reddish itrown.

Oxido of Silver, Oxid'jof Cerium, Oxide of Iron. Oxuh' of Nicljel,

Vanadic Acid,

Uranium. Vaoadic Acid, Oxido of Ciiromium.

Oxl.'p of


'49

TABLE I. CONTINUED.
1.

Oxidizing Flame.

B.

Salt

of PnosPHORUS.

Colors of
THE Beads
Color of Amethyst.

SUBSTANCES WHICH EXHIBIT THESE COLORS.

In the Hot Bead.
Oxirte of ivran.iranee,

In the Cold Bead.

Oxide of Didyinium.

Oxide of Marisranese, Oxide of Bidymium.

Oxido of Cobalt, Oxide of Copper,

Blue.

Oxido of Cobalt,

(.to

greenish

blue.)

Molybdic Acid,
Green.

(slight yellowish gre'^n).

Oxido of Uranium, (yellowish Oxide of Copper, green). Molybdic Acid, (yellowish green Oxide of Chromium, {emerald
green).


50

TABLE I. CONTINUED.
2.

Reducing Flame.

B.

Salt

of Phosphorus.

Colors of
THE Beads.

StTBSTANCES WHICH EXHIBIT THESE COLORS.

In the Hot Bead.

Tn the Cold Bead.

Silica, (vert/ little soluble).

Silica, Ivenj little soluble).

Aluiuiua.

Alaiiiina Oxide of Tin,

Oxide of Tin.

Haryta,
Stroutia,
LiiDO,

Baryta,
Stroutia,

Magnesia,
Uluuiua,
Yttria. Zirconia, Tlioria, Oxiilc (if Lanthanum, Oxide of Cerium, C'llimibic Acid.
Colorless.

Lime,
AJaKneaia, Uluciua, Yttria, Zirconia, Tboria.

Oxide of Didymiura, UxiUe of Mau;;aneso.

Oxide of Lantlmnum, Cerium, Oxide of J):dyuiium, Oxide of Wani^anesc,

Oxiile of

Columbic Acid.
Oxide of Silver, Oxide of Zinc,
Oxi<leof Cadmium, of Indium, of Lead, of Tliallium, of Bismuth, of AntMiiony, of Nicltel. Tellurous Acid.

Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide Oxide

Oxide of Silver, Oxide of Zinc, Oxide of Cadmium, Oxide of ludium, Oxide of Lead, Oxide of Tliallium, Oxide of Bismuth, Oxide of Antimony, Oxide of Nicl<el, Tellurous Acid.

Oxide of Iron,
Yellow to
b'ood-red

Titanic Arid, Titanic Acid, Niobic Acid,

(red). (i/etlow),
1

containin;; ylron. {blood.

mnd brown.

TunCTtlc Acid, red). Vanadic Acid, {brownish).

|

Oxide of Iron, Titanic Acid, (containing Iron). " " Niobic Acid, " " Tungstic Acid,

Oxide of Chromium,

(reddish),


51

TABLE I. CONTINUED.
2.

Reducing Flame.

B.

Salt

of Phosphorus.

Colors

of

Substances which exhibit these Colors.

In the Hot Bead.

THE Beads.

In the Cold Bead.

Violet.

Niobic Acid

(in large quantity).

Niobic Acid, (in large quantity.)

TiUnio Acid.

Blue.

Oxido of Cobalt, Oxido of Cobalt, Tun^stic Acid Tuny:.tic Acid, Niobic Acid, {in very large quan- Niobic Acid, (in very large quantity
)

tity.)

Green.

Oxide of Uranium, Molybdic Acid.

Oxide of Uranium, Molybdic Acid.. Vanadic Acid, Oxide of Chromium,

Gray and Oxide of Silver, cloudy. (The cloudi- Oxide of Zinc, Oxide of Cadmium. vess often appears first Oxido of Lead, Oxido of Bismuth, distinct y while the Oxide of Antimony, bead is cool- Oxide of Niclicl, Tellurous Acid. ing).

Red

to

red-

dish and cloudy.

Oxide of Copper.

Osido of Copper.

52

TABLE
Metallic Oxides in Alphabetic Order.

II. BEHAVIOR
On

OF THE METALWith Carbonate of Soda

Charcoal alone.

OFl

It

is

displaced

1.

Antimonious Acid.

without change, and deposited upon another part of the Ch. Rf'l It is reduced and volatilized. A Ct of an.

On Ch very readily reduced in OFl and RFl. Tlio metal fumes and coats
the

Ch with antimonious

tinionious acid

is

deposit-

acid.

ed on the Ch, and a greenish blue color imparted to the flame.

2.

Arsenious
Acid.

Volatile below rod heat.

On Ch reduced, with emission of arsenical fumes, which are characterized by a strong garlic
odor.

OFl
it

-.

On platinum
mass,

foil

fuses rea<lily to a dark-

which on bruwii cooling becomes pale yel3.

Teroxide
OF Bismuth.

low.

reduced

muth,
in>;

in OFl and RFl to metallic biswliich, with long blowing, vaporize?, coat-

On Ch

tallic

Easily reduced to mebismuth.

the oxide.

Ch with yellow The Ct, when

with
tiie

touched

RFl,

disaijpears without coloring the flame.

OFl: On platinum unchanged.

foil

RFl 4.

On Ch

it

disap-

Oxide of Cadmium.

pears in a short time and deposits all over the Ch a (talk yellow or reddish brown powder; the color can only 1)0 clearly discerned after cooling.

OFl: Insoluble. RFl On Ch readily

:
;

re-

duced tlio metal v.ipordeposits a dark ize.s and

vcUow

or reddish

brown

Ct on the Ch.

53

Lie OXIDES
mth Bx

BEFORE THE BLOWPIPE.

With S Ph on Platinum Wire.

on Platinum Wire.

to

OFl: Dissolves with effervescence a limpid j;hi.-<:i, which while hot

yellowi:<h.
:

OFL: Dissolves in lars;o quantities t<) a limpid -rlass. wliicli wliile liotrtppearsyulluwisli, but after coolin:i ciiiorius.-.

18 ^ll;;lltly

Kfl On Ch the saturated bead becomes at fiirt cloudy, but alterwardj clear ajjain. owinj; to the
Volatilization

Tlio slass when treated only fiTHstiort time in tlicUFl becomes oji t'li grayish and cloudy from particles i.f reduced antimony. With tiu it becomes t;iay or black.
:

RH

mony.

ot the reduced antiTreated with tin, the j^lass

becomes alter cooling iir"y even but very liiile antimonious acid present. With strouj; blowiuj; becomes clear a^ain.

if

is

it

on A
:

disstdved to a clear

email quantity is easily yellow i;las,

which (m

cooling-

becomes

c<dorle^'8.

lar^e addition of oxide the 11 glass while hot is yellowish red, becomes ytllnw on cooling, and when cold is opiileKcent. RFl On Ch the glass becomes at firi-t jjray ai.d elomly, the oxido is
:

On

OFl: Readily dissolved to a limpid yellow glass wliich on coiding becomes culorle.-.-s. When a greater quantity ot oxide is present the glaf.-' luay be inado enamel-white by Ihiming, and on a still larger addition
it

becomes by

itself

euumel-

reduced to metal with

efl'ervefceni-e,
tiie

and the bead becomes clear a^ain.

addition of tin accelerates rt^ction.

An

white on cooling. RFl On Ch, particularly when tin i-i aildcd, the glass remains cidorless and limpid when hot. but becomes on cooling darX-gray and opaque.
:

OFl Scdubie in larjre quantity to OFl: Soluble in large quantity t a limpid ielh'Wifh ;:la!!!-, becoming a limpid glass winch woile hot is almost cidorless on cooling. When yellowi.-h. but Cido'less when cold ; elijshly .saturated it may be made when saturated it becomes euatoelen.imel-white by flaming, and when wliite on cooling. ftill more oxide is present it beRFl: On Ch the osido becomes comes by itself enamel-whito on slowly and imperfectly reduced. cooling. The reduced metal deposits a very RKI Placed on Ch it enters into feeble Ct oi dark yelhiw color. The eliullitlon the oxide is renucejj only clearly seen when the i(dor
: : ; ;

i.<

the reduced metal vaporizes immedi- ma.'S is ciild. An addition ol tin ately and deposits a dark yellow Ct- cilitates the reduction.

fa-

54

TABLE IL CONMttallir.

Oxides in Alphabetical Order.

On

Charcoal alone.

With Carbonate of Soda.

5.

SesquioxIDE OF Cerium.

Insoluble.
;

TheSdpa'ses

Not changed.

into tlie th the Scsquioxide is redueeil to protoxide wiiieh remains on tlie Ch as a liglit gray powder.

OFI:

On platinum wire

6.

Sesquioxide of guroMIUM.

Not changed.

soluble to a dark yellowish l)rown ^Ihss, wliicli uncoolini; becomes opiique and yellow. The glass becomes Rl'
1 ;

opaque ami sreen on cooling On C'h it eannot be

reduced to metal; ilie Sd passes into tlie Ch. and the oxide remains behind as n L'reen powder.

OFr:

NotcTianscd.
It
is

OKI On platinum wire a very Jmall quantity is dis:

7.

Oxide of
Cobalt.

re'iuced to fiolved to a trantiparent inetiit, but does not fusu: uKijs of a pale rediii?h oJthe mass is attnieted l>.v tiie or, wli'.ch (.n cooling b>

IIFI

iua;;net,

and, hy

iriotioii, c'lines

assumes metallic

lustre.

^ray Kl'l: On Ch reduced to a gray magnetic powder.

8.

to metal Oxide" OF atKFI: Reduced below tht a temperature

OFI xlohule. wliich becomes re soluble to a lim^i glass of lined where it is in contact ireen cidor-, on cooling it witli the t'h. opuque and white.
: 1 I

OFI

Fuses to a Mnck

On platinum wire

becomes
riKl
:

On Oh

easily
is

re-

Copper.

ineltinu; point of copper the vViien the heat is increased

duced to metal, which when

teinpcrnture
buIII-

isrlobule of metallic copmore globules. per isobtalucd.

conlly

hi;:h f liea to

one

oi

55

TINUED.
JTith

Bx on Platinum

JT.re.

mih S

Ph.

on Platinum Wire.

-cliiinsics on coolin'4 to )il>;lily saturated with

Soluble to a limpid glass of or red color, which yellow. Wlien OFl: As with Bx,but on coolins oxid^ ttie 4'l:ui.- Mlorless. becoincd mi ooulin;;; enamel white. RFl: Perfectly colorless, hot and IlFl: Tne ycllovr jjiasd hecouie.- ;old. Never becomes opaque on coolcolorie;!!*. A liiijtily gaturiitc<I iiean .n;^, however largo the amoupt of ox:

OKI

darl<

yellinv

becomes oncouliajf cnamul-white ami ide. crystalline.

OFl: Dissolves but slowly, hut colors intensively, if little of the oxide is present tiic ^^lits.", while hot. is yellow, when colJ, yellowisli green: with more oxide it is dark OFl: Soluble to a limpid 'loss red, iraile hot, becomes yellow on coo'iii-. and when perfe.t.y cold ha.s* "<=''' V '?". ''t. appears reddish ; ",""!'' 1' '"'5,* '^"" -'' *'"^'"^a floo yellowish green color. I^^'lf RFl: Th :rlass is yrreen, hot and| RFl: As in OFl. cold. The intensity of the color depends on the amount of oxide present. Tin causes uo change.

OFl: Color.s Tcry intcn?ivcU'. , . .. t> v ir ^u -Thet-lass appears pure smalt-blud OFl As with Bx, hut for the Jiot Snd cold. An esce.ss of oxidHllu^nt^y,"' "-'"'1 *^ '^^*>^ imparts to the head a deep bluisu;i",i'',^,'''"'*''-''^-^, '
:

same
"^o^

"

black color.

^^^-

Asm OFl.

RFl: Asia OFl.

A small addition of oxide| the irhiis appear green wliile but blua when cold. A liirgt-' quantity imparts to it a very deep
OFl
:

makes
liot,

OFl

As with Bx. but

for the

same

t>n,

becomes on cooling brownish

red;

oooiin^.

and opaque.

66

Table II. CONMetaUie Oxides in

Alphabetical

Order.

On

Charcoal alone.

IFith Carbonate

of Soda.

9.

Teroxide' OF Gold. -li.t.ule.

:

to i;;nitii)n Does not, fii!'>()lve in tlie It becomes red uci'il lo inct Sd, but easily reduced, al in OKI :ind RKl. The in hoth flames, the uieUI metal Juscs easily to ii'lnC8 readily to a "iloliiile VVIien lieateil

Tlito

Sd
:

piu'.-'es

into the Cli

10.

RKl Oxide of a yellow

Is

reduced and forin8

Indium.

.and when l, RFl Is reduced to soft stnm^ly heated colors tlic,n)etttIlioglobule8, likclcad

tiame intens'e

I'lui*.

on
RFl

: :

Insoluble.

On Ch

It is

reduced

11. Sesquiox-

IDE OF Iron.

the inafrs. when ))laced in a OFl Not clianjred. mortar, pulverized and re}kFl ISecomes black and peatedly vtafhed with wauia<:uetio. ter to remove the adherent Ch particles, yields a siray
: :

inutalliu

powder

wliicli

k*

attracted by the magnet.

12,

BiNOXIDE

At a rcd-hent becomes the Sd, but

re

OFl: Doe.'not dis.'^olve in becomes re-

duccd

OF Iridium.

IS

the reduced metal duced; tlia metal cunuut infusible. l)e fused to a }i lobule. OFl. RFl:
;

Asm

Minium, when heated on

platiuiii foil, hla'^kens; on increa!(in<; the temperature

itohanves into yellow ox OFl On platinum wire ide, which finally fuses to a readily dissolved lo a liin yellow iilass. pid iiU\9^ wliii:h, on coolOn Ch in OFl and RFl in oecomes yellowish and
:

aliiiii.st

in.stantaneously ro

:i-,

13.

Oxide of dujsd to uietiil wliiuti, with uoiitinucd l)li)Winjr, vapcir

Lead.
iZfS,

i))aque.

RFl: On Ch reduced
witu uxido.

to

yellow

metal whieli, with uontin and covers the Ch with ued blowinjj, covers the Ch
o.xide,

surrounded

ly a taint

white

rinjjcd' car-

bonate. The Ct. when touched with the RFl diy:ippear.i, iinpartlnu; to the flamo an azure-blue tiD<:c.

57

TINUED.
frith

Ba n Platinum

IVire.

With S

Ph on Platinum

Wire.

As with Carbonate of Soda.

As with Carbonate of Soda.

Bead oolorless, and opquo.

after flainini; ;;ray

Bead
tin

colorless, turns

gray

when

u added.

Obi. When at a certain uuiut uf <aturation the ^las., while hot, ippcars yellowi;-h reil, anfl heciaei in cooliu'X at first yellow, tiiea OFl: small amount of oxidt causes the jjhiss to look i'ellow creenish and, finally, colorlecs. On very lar<ie iidclition of oxide it I wltile hot, colorless, when colil while hot. deep red, becomWhen more oC tlio oxide is present ippeiirs, cooling, brownish red, then the gla^s, while hot, appears re<l. ng, on if a dirty green color, and finally and yellow, when cold. A ftil: irowniih red.

Jarp:cr

dark
KFl:

red.

quantity makes while hot,

Tlie
tjlrtss

the

ghisr

and dark
bottU

KFl
if

)!;lass

cnntainins hut littlo

suffers

yellow,

of tho oxida it red, while hot. and, eroen. Treat-d on Ch with tin it s m coolin;^, becomes at first yellow, becomes, iit first. botc:e screen, but 'hen sireenish, and finally, reddish. afterwards pure vitriol-green. Treated with tin on Ch tho glass, m coolinsc, becomes at first green,

when cold.

the

oxide
is

no

risihlo

becomes

:lian'!;e.

When more

present

md

finally coloi IcfS.

As with Carbonate of Soda.

As with Carbonato of Soda.

OFl yellow

E;isily soluble to
j;l;iss

a limpid
cooling:,
r.ain

which,
If

on

become:*

colorle.-s.

is jjresent, it

by

flainin.^

may Ih; A still lar>;er ad Jiiioi:

to

much oxidimade cloudx

becomi

'liile

OFl: As with Bx. But to oba glass which appears yellow, hot, a large addition of the
is

iX'de

of oxide causes the head

naine'-yellow, on cooling,

RFl:

required. On Ch tho

gl.oss

becomes

jrayish and cloudy. This phenomeThe ^lass diffuses itself ovci lon is belter observed when tin IS the Ch and hecouies cloudy. Witl idded hut the glass can never be continued blowiii;^ tlin o.xide i; iiade quite opaqu**. If much of reduced to metal, with cfferv-cs -,he oxide is present, the Ch becomes iiDce, and tho glass becomes cleai ioatcd.

RH

again.

68

TABLE IL CONMetallic Oxides in Alphabetical Order,

On

Charcoal alone.

With Carbonate of Soda.

OFl
or
foil

On platinum wire a very huiall quan-

14. Sesquiox-1|-

IDE OF MaNGANESE.

transsuffi- parent screen mass, wliicli the Hu^- on Cooling bccom'is opaque ((Uioxido iind tliK puroxide and Iduisli sjieen ail! converted into a reddish RFl On Cli it cannot be brown |)owder. reduco<l to metal the Sd passes into the Ch ami IIFI ; Tue same effect leaves the protoxide behind.
tity

OFl:

In soluble.
r\turo
)i

When

dissolves to

,/;-;;

l)iitli

Heated

in
it
is

15,

ProtoxIr.stantly volatilized.

redne.s,

a matrass t<. reduced and

vapor.^ connecit of tiie

ide OF Mercury.

reduced

and vaporized. The

den.se in
coaiin!;.
tlie

matrass and form a metallic

16.

molybdic orl>ss.
Acid.

becomes ru.sei?. OFl brown, vaporizes, and de- OFl On wlatinum wire poMts on the Cli a .\elloW|dissolves with effervescence nearest to tlie to a limpid u;lass which, C"t, which On 'on cooling, becomes milk assay is cry.stailinc. coolin"; the Ct becomes white white and the crystals col-| RFl: Fusion with cfHsr"
:
:

lve>cenco. The fu.sed mas RFl The greater part of is al>sorlied by the C'h. and the assay is absorbed bylpart of the acid is reduced the Cli. and may be reduced to metal whicti may bo obto metal at a sufTieienfly tained as a steel-jjray powhigh teinpcialure the met der. al IS in the shape of a gray
: :

powder.

17.

Oxide of
Nickel.

OFl Not changed. RFl On Ch reduced to OFl: Insoluble. Easily reduced to metal; the spongy ma.-^.s RFl cannot be fused tu a glo- metal in the shape i.fliright bule, but a.'jsumes metallic white scales, winch are atlustre by Iriet.on; it is at tracted by the magnet. tracted by the magnet.
: :

59

TINUED.
ff'itli

Bx on Platinum Wire

With a

Ph on Platinum

Wirt.

OFl: Ciilors very intensively. The OFl: A considerable addition of glass, wlitlu Imt, is viule';. on coollii;:; man>;anesc must be luadv tu produce When a colored ;;lass; it tiien appears, it ussumes a roddisli tiB:;e mue!i iiiiinsiancso is adJed, th' u:ia-<s vliile liot, browinsli violet, and beoi>i?iej quite black and opaque: redili.-'h violet when cold, but never but the color can be seen when tliu opaque. ]f tlio ^lass contiiins so irlass. Willie solt, is tlatcencd witli the .small .a quantity of inau;^anese that It appears colorless, an addition of Ib'ceps. RKl Tlio slass becomes colorless. nitre will produce the c'iarac:eristie If tlie color wa.s very dark, the phe- coloration nomenon 13 best observed uu Ch with RFl: Becomes very soon color:
I

addiiion ot tin.

ile^s.

OFl: Easily soluble to a limpid ^luss; if but little of tiie acid is Dissolved in large quanti- present it is yolloWHh ^reen, whila ties to a limpid <;lass w.iich. vvtiile li'>l, but when cold almost colorless. hot. appears yellow, liut culorle.-'S on Oil Ch the gla.ss becomes very cooliuj;. A very lar^o amount of dark, and on coolinj; assumes a acid causes the gla:js to appear dark beautiful i^reen color. yellow, while hot, i..nd opaline when UFl: The };lass assumes a very cold dar<, diriy ;;recii color which, on RFl: A highly saturatoi bea/t cooling, iieoomes beautiful brr^ht beciuies brown and opaque when ^reen. The same on Ch tin deepen* btill more acid is present. the color a little.

OFl:

OFl: A small quantity colors the OFl Soluble to a reddish glass bead violet, wliile hot; when cold which, on c 'olin:, becomes yel'ow.
:

pale reddisii t)rown.

tnake.s

Mure
opaque.
tlio

oxide

Vm
:

RFl

The
or

coloration dcepur. ^lass become;-- ^Tay and

clcjily,

even
l>l..win":

coiuioued

With minute

particles of re'i'iced metal collect together and the ^lass bec>>ines Ci>lorle.4s. This takes more readily pUccd on C.i, especially when tin a^ain and colorless. IS added. The nickel then unites with Iho tin to a i;lot>ule.

larger addition causes the glasi to appear brownish red, while hot, and reddish yellow wlien Cold. RFl: On i'latiiiuni wire not elianj,ed. Oil Ch with tin itbecames, at first, gray and opaque; witte blowing continued the nickel becomes reduced, and the glass clear

60

TABLE
JHetallic Oxide in

II. CON-

Alphabetical Order.

On

Charcoal alone.
or.
(h;-

ffit/i

Carbonate of Soda.

OFI: Cnnrerted into mio acid, wliicli witliout

positiM'^
IV

Ct.

volatilizes

18.

BiNOXIDE with its peculiar pungent Eifily reduced to an Inodor. fusible metallic powder. OF OiMIUM. RFl: Ea-'ily reduced
t<>

a dark brown and infusible metallic powder.

19.

Protox-

ide OF Palla- but llio metallic are infusible. dium.

20.

Reduced at a red heat:

Insoluble: TlieSd passe?

particles. into tlio Ch, an<i leaves the

Palladium behind

BiNOXIDE
I'lke Palladium.

OF Platinum.

Like Palladium.

Ol

PrOTOX*

Easily reduced to mcfavl

ilic

silver,

IDE OF biLVER.

one or more globules.

which unites tu the metal unites

Instantly reduced. The pusses into tlie Ch, and to one or more globules.
S't

22.

TelluRous Acid,

Fuses, and is n OFl duced with efforvcsaonc Soluble, on platinum Tlie reduced mctnl becuines and wire, to a limpid and colorinstantly vaporized overs the Cb with tellu- le.s ^lass, which on cnalin rous acid; the Ct usually ticcomes white. Ch reduced and volalias a red or dark yellow tilized, depo-'iting a Ct of ed"je. RFl: As in OFl; the outer tellui'ousacid. Haino appears bluish j^reen
: 1

colored.

23.

Oxide of Thallium

Volatizes coloring:
'reen.

flame

The color of Soda ob scures the green color.

OFl: The proto.xide burns,

like

tinder,

to

binoxi<lu.

24.

BiNOXIDE while
OP Tin.

The binoxido becomes vcrjuaiinous and ap pears,

hot.

OFl:
it

yellowisfi.

but
|

vojicence,

On platinum wire forms with Sd, with elTor an infusible comto

tin

lissnmcs on cooling a dirty

whir.c, color.

pound RFl: On Ch reduced

RFl: With a powerful metallic and continued flame it mayl

be reduced tu metal.

61

TINUED.
With Bx on Platinum
fVirt,

With S Ph on Platinum Wire

OFl and RFl:

'diiuolvf^d
:

Relueed, bnl not

metallic

the

partlcl

As with Bx.

caunut be fused

to a;{;lubule.

Like Palladium.

Like Pallndium.

colorless.

OPI: In part dis.-<olved, and in Imparts to the bead a OFl pnrtre.luccd. Oi cooUjis the sla&s ,. Yi Ji i^r When much of tho become;* opalescent cr mllkwhite.lf,^ I," ";" ,,L.ln the iclass, whea i'rt-?n t according to tho amount of oxide "^h " and appears t)|)Mlescent '''"'" luiiiu, IS p-fiit present RFl The iiloss at fir.t bccoracs'^lT'illi,;" '^'^>-^'''' '^'^'"^ *' p-ay, hut afterwards limpia and n i-i 'V' with nx
i

^^''^-

A3 Wlin UX.

OTl:

Soluble to

coloi le-s slas-t wh'ch. on Cli, grnv Irom reduced m^-tal

:

limpid and becomes

RFl On Ch iiecomes at first ijray. The colorless. Uli afterwards becomes coated irith tcllurous acid

As with Borax.

Glas!'.

Colorless

vhen

saturated,

opaque on cuolia^.

As with Borax.

OFl on

very
glass,

dissolves colorless

slowly

to

small quantitj' a limpid ami

so

which remains

OFl

:
:

As with Borax.
'J'he

coiilin;:.

RFl
soflors

^lass,

containing oxide,

RFl
gla-i-i

From a bi^bly saturated

no change.

a part of the oxide reduced on Cn.

may

b<

62

TABLE
Mrtallic Oxidrx in Alphabetical Ordr.r.

II. CON-

On

Charcoal alone.

With Carbonate of Soda.

OFl:

25. Titanic

Assumes, on heat- OFl On Ch it dissolves with cffcrvcsisence to iiiiiii'l<

:

Acid.

in-.

Suffers

no

ther

clinn-ie.

'"-'^'^i-''^''"'"'^^?- WI.encold it is srrajisli wliite

RFl: As

in OFl.

KFI

As

in

OFl

cannot

be reduced to metal.

OFl
it

On

(iissolvcj to

platitiun wire a iinipKl and

26.

tungstic
Acid.

at a deep yellow iln.-'s, wliieli ver.v liis'i teinponitarpcun-'on coolmi;liecoinos cr.v.>i.ilverted into oxide, but dooi line and npnqiie. and of n<it fuse Aliite or vellowisli color. RFI: With very little Sd IlFl : Blackens, beinij converted into oxide, but on Ch it IS reduced to metwith more Sd it tonus a al docs not fuse.
;

OFl: Not changed

yellow compound of metal lie lu>tro, which passes into the Ch.

OFl
,
.

In-iolu>)le.

With a

OFl lafusililo nuc as-,.,^^ .,u. Sesqut- suines a dirty yellowish ,,,_^ becomes yellowii<li ' and with more |Orown, ,,;,;,y^ reenco oxiDE OF Ura- >. r. ' 'passes int.. the Ch. RFI: B.;ickens,owin2:tot'n^,. ^^ ; oFl no renium. theJormation of protoxide. Uujin to metal takes

certain

amount of Sd the

27.

...,-

place.

28.

Vanadic
Acid.

Fusihlo. Where it is in conMct vith the Ch it ho yj^M^s to a fusible mass comes reduced and parses ,^,,J2^ jg absorbed by the intii the Ch. The rcs-t a-i-(;i, sumes tlie lustre and color
of

graphite.

63

TINUED.
With Bx on Platinum Wire. With S

Fh on Platinnm

Wire.

Easily soluble to a limpid OFl: Easily dissolved to a limpid when <jontainin<c a silass which, when-containlnsj a lar^e appears yellow, quantity, appears yellow, while hot, JiiriTrt while hot. but becmne.-t colorless on but becomes colrle.s on coolini;. cooling. When containinj; a very RFI: Appears yellow, wliile hot, lar;;e quantity it is enamel-white, hut. on coolin<.r. reddens and finally when cold. asshmes a violet color. If iron la RFI: When containing but little present the s'ass, on cooling, titanic ncid witli tin oa the glass becomes becomes brownish red yelliiw, when more, dark j-eliow to Ch the glass becomes violet, unless brown. A faturated glass becomes the amount of irou bo very consid-

OFl

elass

whicii.

quantity,

enamel-blue by tlaming.

erable.

OFI Like titanic acid RFI: A f;las3. containing

:

OFl: Easily dissolved to a limpid and colorless bead, which, wlien hisrhly saturated, appears yellow,

little tunrstic acid,

is

notchang,eil

J?'^c"oo/,'nr^
Willi

'i:i^Z?t: II ure'sifme'Teac'Iloa

^Z

RH: With little blowins the ^"o'JS-n -V- .'.lue'lm "cooliig^ %'^l

buti

while hot.

a less saturated deepens the colors.

i'To"duc''ed r!-"r...l'!r'"J-' '' produced bluish green. On Ch with tin, bead. Tin deep green. If iron is present, the glass, on cooling, becomes brownish red; with tin on Ch the glass

"^^'l^'l^^

becomes blue
iron
is

or. if the amount of considerable, green.

OFl
Iron.
gla.-'S

Behaves like se^quioxide of

:

saturated the Dissolves to a limpid yellow OFl enamel-yellow gWs which, on cooling, becomes by llaniiuz yellowiili-green. Behaves like =csqiiioxide of RKl: The glass n.sumes a dirty RFI Iron The green bead, when at a green color which, on cooling, certain point of saturation, may be changes to a fine green, With tin made bliick by llaming. On Ch on Ch the color deepens, with tin it becomes dark yellow.
:

When highly may be made

OFl: Dissolved to a limpid glass which. when the qumtity of OFl: Soluble to a limpid glass Tanadio aoicl is small, appcarsiwhiih. ifsu.Tioient vanadid acid Cnlnrlcss, when larger, yellow, and present. ap|<ears dark yellow, while which, on cooling, becomes green- not. and becomes light yellow on
ish.

cooling.
:

RFI The glas.s, while hot, appears brownish, and assumes a fine green
color on cooling.

RFI;

As with Borax.

64
Table IT. CONMetallic

Oxiden

Alplutbetical

in Order.

On

Charcoal alone.

With Carbonate of Soda.

^^

isy.

Oxide
Zinc.

^^

OFl When Iieated hccomes yellow and, on cool

:

OFin^, wtme u^aln.

'''"""
:

OFl Insoluble liFl On Ch it becomes '""' reduced "'T.\;;'n,etaU aporris"' RFI is slowly reduee'I; izes and coats the Ch witli with oxide. With a powerthe reduced metal becomes
It fuses
:

^"^

characteristic rapidly re-oxiilized and the ful flr.rae the oxide deposited on another zinc tlamo is sometimes pro(luued part of the Ch.

65

TINUED.
With Bx on Platinum Wire.

WUh
in

S Ph on Platinum Wirt.

OFl:
lar^e

Dissolves

readily and

vrhicli appciirs on cooliti'i It

quantity to a limpid ^la.s yellowish while hot Wlien is colorless.

of the o.\i1o is [iresent the KlUfS may 1)0 made enamel-white flaminji; and on a still larjcer addition it becomes enamel white on

much
hy

As vith Borax.

coolin-;.

RFI:
at

The saturated

glass beoomcf

first jrray and cloudy, and finally transparent a^ain. Un Ch the oxide heooracs reduced, the metal vaporizes and cuata the Cli with

oxide.

TABLE

III. BEHAVIOR

OF THE ALKALINE BEFORE THE

With Carbonate of Soda on Ck.

On Ch

alone and in the Forceps.

The Hydrate
sorlied

fuse*,

boils,

1.

Baryta.

intumescex, nnd is finnlly nbby the Cli. Tho Carhunate fuses readily to a Fuses with Sd to a honiotransparent ^las.-, which on jeneou3 ma.-<s, which u ab coiiliD^ becuaies enauiel- sorbed by the Cb. white. In tho forceps it color* the outer flame yellotr
iiih

;;reeD.

2.

StronTIA.

The Hydrate behaves like hydriite of baryta. The CarCaustic Strontia is insnlu t>unat fuses only at the bio. The C.irbonato mixed svrells edjjes. and out with its own volume of Sd in arborescent ramifications fuses into a limpid <!:la.s, which eirrit a brilliant li.-;lit, which becomes enamel-white
and when heated witli tin; on coolinji- At a greater RFl impart to it a reddii<1i heat the mnss enters intt lin>^e sliows alter coolin;: ebullition, and caustic Stronalkaline r 'actiDii. Jn the for- tia is formed, which is ab ceps, colors the outer flame; sorbed by the Ch.
;

purple.

Caustic
alteration.

Lime The

suffers

Carbonate

8.

Lime.

loses carbonic acid, bccomc.Insoluble. Tho Sd passec whiter an<l more lumiaous, into the Ch and Icavus the and shows aller coolinj; al- Lime unaltered on its feurkaline reaction, lit the for face.

ceps it colors the outer flame pale red.

4.

Magnesia.

Uudergoca no alterations

The Carbonate becomes stic and luminous.

cau-

It

beharei like Lime.

5.

Alumina

Kot changed.

Forms an infusible com' pound, with sliu;ht intumes Tho excess of Sd is absorbed by tho Ch.
cence.

67

EARTHS AND THE EARTHS PROPER,

BLOWPIPE.
JFitk

Bx on Platinum

Wirt.

With S Ph on Platinum Wire.

The Carbonate dissolves with eft<> a liinpiil sila-x, vliich whi;n in a certain ."tate of Siituralion may he inailo opaquo hy fiatnin;;; when still more saturated it hecotnen opaque oa cooling, even
fervescPiice

As

witli

Borax.

Withuutflauiiai;.

Like Baryta.

Liko Baryta.

Readily dissolved to a limpid wliieh heoomfS opaque hy jrliiss. flaming. Tlie Carlxinate dL^jjolvcs with etlerve^conce. On a lar^e aiiilition of L'ine the tcl'vss crystallizert on coolinK. hut does not become
enamel-white.

limpid glass

Lime

Solulile in largo quantitie* to a wliiuli, when sufiioient h present, becomes opaque by

liuiuing.

When

saturated,

tlio

glass

becomes enamel-white un

coolinj;.

It behaves lilte Lime, but does not crystallize so well.

wliich

Readily soluble to a limpid irlass. become* op.ique liy llaraing. saturated, it becomes ou cooling enaml-white.

When

Dissolves slowly to a limpid Soluble to a limpid glas.^. which glass, which remains so on conlin^, and wliich cannot he made cloudy remains clear unJerall circuui tiinby flauiinj;. A ir^e quantity of ces. -irtoo mucli Alumina is added, Alum'na m:ikes the };l>'*s cloudy; the undissolved portion becomes on cooling, it asiumes a crystalliuo translucent.
1

surface.

C8
Table III. CONOn Ch
alone and in the
Forceps.
ff'iih

Carbonate of Soda

on Ch.

6.

Glucina.

Not hanged.

Insoluble.

7.

Yttria.

Not

chan-'od.

Insoluble.

8.

Zircoxia

Infusible, but omittiDS a rury bnliiaat li^bt.

Insolublo.

69

TINUED.
mth Bx
on Platinum Wire.

With S

Ph on Platinnm

Wire.

Soluble in lar^re quantities to a limpid jrlass, which becouies opaque by lliiuiing When Glueina is piuFent in excess it becomes enamelWhite ou coolinjj.

As with Borax,

Like Glucina.

Like Glucina.

Like Glucina.

Dissolves

more slowly than with

Borax.

7.

Test with Soda.

examined
little
is

The substance
"with soda,
first it

to be

pulverized,

mixed

moistened a

and spread on
aftci-

coal.

At

should be heated gently, but

(he moisture is

driven off the temperature should be raised as liigh as

possible.
It

should
reduced

now
;

be observed,

first,

-whether the
;

assay eflfervesces, anxl fuses with the soda

or second,

whether

it is

or third, whether neither one nor

the other occurs, in which case the melted soda sinks

gradually into the coal, and the assay remains unchanged.

Silicic, titanic, tungstic

and molybdic acids

effervesce,

and fuse with the soda.

Silicic

and

titanic acids

under

these circumstances melt to a bead.

gives,

The former only

employed), a bead

(when not

too

much

soda

is

which remains transparent after cooling, -while that of

the latter becomes, in cooling, opaque and crystalline.

Tungstic and molybdic acids are absorbed by the coal as

tungstate and molybdate of soda.
ticed here that salts of baryta
It should also be nostrontia form,

and

when

fused with soda, compounds -which are absorbed by the

coal.

All the oxides of the noble metals, as well as the oxides

and

acids

of molybdenum,

tungsten,

antimony,


TEST WITH SODA.

71

arsenic, tellurium, copper, quicksilver, bismuth, tin, lead,

zinc,

cadmium,
with soda,

nickel, cobalt

and iron are reduced on

flame.
volatilized,

coal

when heated by the reducing

Arsenic and quicksilver are instantly

and

sometimes leave behind a scarcely perceptible deposit on

the coal.
zinc,

Antimony, tellurium, bismuth,

the
coal
distinct

lead, thallium,
volatilized,

cadmium and indium are partially

and

form on
metals,

incrustations.

The

fixed

when thus reduced,

in the soda,

are found either melted or

unmelted

and arc best detected by grinding

lias

the part of the coal into which the soda

sunk

in

an

agate mortar, and carefully washing off the particles of

coal with water.

Those metals which are

flat pieces

fusible

and

malleable remain in the mortar as

and

scales,

and the

infusible

and unmalleable as a powder with a

Instead of soda,
it is better,

metallic luster.

according

to Plattner, to use with those oxides

which are reduced

with

diflBculty,

oxalate of potassa.

Soda

is,

moreover,

employed as a special reagent

especially

for detecting

manganese,

when

present in very small quantity.

is

When
a

a substance containing manganese

foil

fused on platinum

in the. oxidizing flame with soda, or better with

is

mixture of soda and saltpeter, a mass

is

obtained which

colored green, or

when

cold bluish green,

by manga-

nate of soda.
8.

Special Tests.

By
upon

the methods thus far given for assaying with the

it is

blowpipe,
all

not always possible to decide with certainty

the substances which

may

appear, but

it is

often

72

SPECIAL TESTS.
still

necessary to undertake for this purpose

periments.

further exi'or

These experiments, which have

their

object the special determination of certain substances, or

serve to confirm results previously obtained, are briefly

given below.

PoTASSA.
whi
;

The

presence of

potassa in

substances,

besides this contain so

its

much soda

or lithia as to

prevent

reaction on the blue flame of the blowpipe,

(see Test in the

quantity

is

Platinum Forceps), can, when the saffi3iently large, be proved by dissolving in

nickel, a

a bead of borax, colored brownish by oxide of

portion of the assay, and observing the color of the bead

when

cold.

more or

less distinct bluish tinge

denotes

the presence of potassa.

course,

Since the reaction depends, of

in the bead,
it

upon the quantity of the assay

to

must be gradually increased

the required amount.

The bead must be

oxidating flame.

heated on the platinum wire in the

LixniA.
of lithia,

Silicates

which contain only a small quantity

as, for instance,

many

turmalines and scapolites,

either do not redden the exterior flame at all or only

very

slightly.

In this case

it is"

necessary to adopt the

method proposed by Turner, by which even a small

amount of lithia may be detected. The process is as The silicate is pulverized as finely as possible follows and made into a paste with a mixture of one part of fluor-spar with one and a half parts of bisulphate of potassa and a little water, and fused on the platinum wire
:

in the blue flame, the color of the exterior flame being

carefully
noticed.

According to Merlet,

it

is

often

SPECIAL TESTS.

73

necessary in order to be positive in regard to the reaction

to use

two parts of the mixture with one part of tho

If the silicate contains a small quantity of lithia,

assay.

the outer flame will be colored red, though not so brightly

as from lithia alone, the color inclining strongly to the
violet of the potassa.

If the silicate be free from If

lithia,

only the violet color of the potassa appears.

tains soda,
it is

it

con-

not always possible to obtain a distinct

If boracic acid be present in
first

reaction from the lithia.

the

silicate, as

in turmilino, the outer flame exhibits

green tinge denoting the presence of the acid, bat

lithia.

afterwards a wine or less intense red from the

Another method of detecting

is

lithia

when mixed with soda

it

Slid to be to dip tho assay, mDistoned with hydrochloric

acid, into

melted wax and then heat

at the first

in the blue flame,

is

by which,

moment, a red color

prodaced.

Bdracic Acid. Turner has proposed the following method of testing for boracic acid in salts and minerals The assay is to be pulverized as finely as possible and made into a paste with water and a flux consisting of four and a half parts of bisalphate of potassa and one
:

part of fluor-spar, which

acid,

is

perfectly free fi'om boracic

in the blue flame.
is

and fnsed on the platinum wire

the
is

While
which

mass
oflf

is

fusing fluo-boracic acid

formed

driven

and colors the exterior flame a deep

yellowish green, (siskin-green.)

The green

color of the

flame continues, however, only so long

acid gas
is

as fluo-boracic

disengiged.

If,

therefore, the

quantity of

boracic acid be small, strict attention

must be given,

74

SPECIAL TESTS.

since the color lasts only the few seconds in which the

materials of the bead are operating on each other.

Acassay

cording to Merlet,

it is

often necessary, in order to obtain

ot the

a reliable

result, to

employ with oae part

three or four parts of the flux.

Silicic Acid.
silicates

This may be
The
less
is

most

easily detected in

by

lieating a small splinter or fragment in a

silicic

bead

of salt of phosphorus.
insoluble in the
salt, is

acid, being

nearly

separated from the soluble parts

and forms a more or

transparent mass of the form

called a siliceous skeleton.

of the assay used, which

Sulphuric Acid and Sulphur. In sulphates, sulphides, and inde3d in all substances containing sulphur,
the smallest trace even of this element

may be

detected

by mixing

the assay with two or three parts of soda, or

according to Plattner, with the same quantity of oxalate

of potassa, (which
is

perfectly free

from sulphuric acid),

on char-

and heating the mixture

coal.

in the reducing flame

The melted

mass,

part of the coal into

when cold, is laid, with that which it has sunk, on a piece of

If sulphur be

bright silver and moistened with water.

present and has accordingly formed sulphide of sodium,

there appears sooner or later a black or brown stain of

sulphide on the silver.
It

must, however, be observed

that selenium gives the same reaction.

Von Kobell

gives

the following directions for determining whether the

sulphur in a mineral belongs to a sulphide or to a sulphate.

of potassa in a platinum spoon before the blowpipe.

The finely pulverized assay is fused with hydrate The

SPECIAL TESTS.
platinum spoon with
substance
if
its

75
then placed "with a

contents

is

bright piece of silver in a small porcelain dish of water.

If

the

contains

a sulphide,
it

the

silver

is

blackened, but

a sulphate,

remains perfectly bright.

firet

In the

latter

case, the

sulphur must

be proved

present on coal with soda, and, of course, that portion

which

is

melted in the platinum spoon must not have

to

been exposed

any reducing influence.

Nitric Acid.
first

Nitrates heated in a matrass give

acid,

oflf

oxygen, and then nitrous

its

which may be

recognized from

yellow color as well as peculiar odor.

Nitrates of potassa and soda deflagrate

charcoal.

A small
little

quantity of nitric

when heated on acid may be de-

by heating a portion of it in a more than an equal weight of biThe color of the nitrous acid gas sulphate of potassa. may be most distinctly seen by looking directly into the
tected in a substance

matrass with a

open end of the matrass and thus through as thick a stratum as possible of the mixed gases.
Fluorine.

When

hydrofluoric acid in small quantity

occurs in minerals with any of the heavier metals and a

small quantity of water,

it is

only necessary, according

to Berzelius, to heat the assay in a glass tube closed at

one end, and into the open end to introduce a strip of

moistened Brazil-wood paper.
Hydrofluosilicic acid
is

driven off by the heat and deposits not far from the assay

a ring of

silica,

and the Brazil-wood paper

is

turned

straw-yellow by the action of the resulting hydrofluoric

76
acid.

SPECIAL TESTS.
This reaction

may

bo obtained, when as in some

micas the lijdrofluoric acid amounts to no more than

three-fourths of one per cent.
If the substance, whetiier

a mineral or a

slag, exhibits

no reaction of hydrofluoric
it

acid either on the glass or the Brazil-wood paper,

should, according to Berzelius, be treated as follo^YS

Th3

pul\'eriz3d assay

is

mixed with

salt of phospliorus,

which has been previously melted on coal and then pulveriz3d,

and heated

at

one end of an open glass tube, so

it

that the current of hot air shall puss over

and through
treated in

the tube.
this

Minerals containing no
off

silicic acid,

way, give

water and hydrofluoric acid, which

passing through the tube

its

may
its

be recognized as well by

sufibcating odor as by
is

power of attacking the glass

its

which

rendered

dim throughout

entire
is

length,

especially in those places

where moisture

deposited.

If a strip of moistened Brazil-wood paper be held before

the current of air at the upper end of the tube,
it is

turned yellow by the hydrofluoric

stance contain
silicic acid, fluoride

acid.

If the subis

of silicon

given

off,

which

is,

however, decomppscd by the water formed by

oil,

the combustion of the alcohol or

and the

silica re-

mains dissolved in
tube
is

it.

When the
silica

water condensed in the

evaporated, the

remains behind and

may be may be

distinctly seen.

If the tube be washed with Avater and

acid

dried, the etching cfiectof the hydiofluoric

observed on the glass.

A strip of moistened

Brazil-wood

paper introduced into the tube at the beginning of the

experiment

is

colored yellow.

Since in such experiit

ments

it

is

necessary to fuse the substances,

often

SPECIAL TESTS.

77

happens in using glass tubes that the glass becomes so

soft that the
difficulty,

blowing must be suspended.

to

To

avoid this

Smithson fastens

one end of the glass tube

foil

by means of a metallic wire a piec3 of platinum

that
it

so

forms a half-tube or canal outside the glass tube.

is

The

assay

now

laid

on the

foil

and the blast so directed

as to drive the products of the ignition into the tube.

Tiie use of the wire

may

be dispensed with by cutting

foil

down
len^Tth

the sides of a strip of

for

two

thirds of its

and then

rollino; it tocrether

and introducing; the

other third into the glass tube.

This has the advantage

of preventing the assay, during or after the fusion, from

coming
and

in

contact

with the

glass.

Plaltner always

obtains in this
slags,

way satisfactory

results with both minerals

whether the fluorine constitute an essential

part of the substance or be present only as an accidental

ingredient.

According

to

Merlet, substances which do

not contain too small a quantity of fluorine

may

be tested

by heating them,

after being finely pulverized, in

a mat

rass with equal parts, (according to Berzclius with four

parts), of fused bisulphate of potassa,
till

sulphuric acid
be that of a

begins to be set free.

spirit

The

heat,

which

may

lamp or of the blowpipe

the mass

flame, should not be ap-

plied to the bottom of the matrass but to the side, since

otherTV'ise
is

apt to rise in the tube.

The empty

part of the matrass b2com33 thus lined with silica which

is

deposited by the decomposition of fluosilicic acid gas.

The tube may then be

cut off just above the melted mass,

rinsed with water and dried with bibulous paper.

If the

quantity of fluorine be considerable, the walls of the

78

SPECIAL TESTS.
;

tube are etched throughout

if

the quantity be small,

they show only here and there a dim spot.

is,

This melhod

however, not so good for detecting minute quantities of

hydrofluoric acid as that with salt of phosphorus in the

open glass tube.

Chlorine, (Chlorides and Chlorates).

pounds
phorus
is is

Accordits

ing to Berzelius, the presence of chlorine in

detected as follovTS
:

com-

bead of

salt of phos-

heated in the oxidizing flame and a sufficient

quantity of oxide of copper added gradually to render

it

nearly opaque.
is

portion of the substance to be

still fluid

tested

attached to the

bead, which

is

then

heated in the reducing flame.

If chlorine be present, the

bead

is

surrounded by a flame of a beautiful blue in-

clining to purple, which continues as long as chlorine

remains.
reaction.

A
by

fresh

portion

of the

assay renews

the

No

other

acid

found in minerals, except

bromine, produces a similar flame.

also given

second method,

Berzelius, for detecting clilorine in the

is

metallic chlorides, which are soluble in water,

to lay

upon a bright
place in
after
it

piece of silver a little sulphate of iron or

copper, moisten with a few drops of water,

a portion of the chloride.

st lined

The

silver

and then to becomes

According

a while

of a deep bronze color.

to Merlet, the insoluble chlorides

may

be tested for

chlorine in the same

way by
to

first

melting them with soda

on the platinum wire so

form soluble chloride of sodium.

to

Bromine.

Accordino;

Berzelius,

the

metallic

SPECIAL TESTS.
bromides give with
salt

79

of

phosphorus and oxide of

;

copper the same reaction as the chlorides

color imparted to the flame

but the blue

by bromine

inclines not to

purple, but to green, especially on the edges.

To

dis-

tinguish with certainty the bromides and bromates

from

the chlorides and chlorates,

Berzelius, to fuse
potassa.

it

is

necessary, according to

them

in a matrass with bisulphate of

off

When

thus treated, the former give

acid,

bromine

and sulphurous
vapors which

(and the

latter, chlorine

and

sul-

phurous acid), and

fill

the matrass with reddish-yellow

may

be distinctly recognized

by

their of-

fensive odor resembling that of chlorine, notwithstanding

the presence of sulphurous acid.

If the quantity of

bromine in the assay

bs employed,
it

is

small and the foregoing method

is

important when the color cannot be

If

observed from the side of the matrass, to look directly

into
it

through the thickest possible stratum of gas.

is

the assay contain chlorine, this

also given off

is

under
also

these

circumstances, but the yellow color

scarcely
perceptible.

in small
is

quantities

When

iodine

pressnt, a mixture of yellow vapors of bromine and violet

vapors of iodine

is

obtained.

Iodine, (Metallic Iodides

tallic iodides,

according to

and Iodates). MeBerzelius, when tested in the

bead of

salt of

phosphorus and oxide of copper, commu-

nicate to the exterior flame of the blowpipe a beautiful

deep green

color.

When fued with bisulphate of potassa

fills

in the matrass, they give off sulphurous acid and iodine

which

is

partly sublimed and partly

the tube with

80
violet vapors.

SPECIAL TESTS.

To

discover a small

amount of

iodine in

mineral water which has been freed from iho greater

part of
its

chloride of

sodium by evaporation, a solution

of starch in boiling water and water saturated with

chlorine
is

generally employed, an insoluble

compound

bjing thus formed, which possesses a remarkably fine

blue color.

Heine

uses,

with better results, instead of

:

chlorine water nitric acid, and tests as follows

The

neutral

fluid to

be examined for iodine

is

mixed with a

small quantity of a solution of starch in hot water, and

stirred with a glass rod while a few drops of nitric acid

are added.

If iodine be present even in very small

quantity, there appears directly

an intense blue

color.

Magnesia, Columbic Acid, Alumina, Oxides op Zinc, Tin and Antimony, Titanic Acid, Niobic Acid, Zirconia. All these substances, when moist-

ened with a solution of

assay should be

nitrate of cobalt
colors.

and ignited,
pulverized

assume certain characteristic

The

made

into

stiff

paste with

water,
is

spread on coal and gently heated.

After the water

is

evaporated a drop of the solution of cobalt

to be

added, which

is

absorbed by the dry porous mass.

This

should then be gently heated to decompose the nitrate

of cobalt, and afterwards strongly ignited by the oxidating flame.

When

the assay

is

perfectly cold, these

substances exhibit the following colors

Magnesia, rose red, (not intense)

similar to magnesia.

Columbic Acid,

Alumina, beautiful blue, (smalt blue).

SPECIAL

TE'STS.

81
(siskia

Oxide of Zinc, boautiful

green)
;

yellowish-green,
;

Oxide of Tin, bluish-green

;

Oxide of Anti-

mony,

dirty green

Titanic Acid, yellowish-green, (less

;

beautiful than oxide of zinc)

Niobic Acid, dirty green.

Zirconia, dirty violet.

Tiie purity of the substances

is

an important

requisite

to the proper production of these colors.

Impurities

from other oxides give

dirty colors
;

ris3 to

more or

less indistinct,
silicic

the presance of the alkalies and of

acid causes, (by their melting with the oxide of cobalt,)

a blue

color.

Oxide of Manqanese.
tities

Exccpdingly

of the oxide of manganese

by fusing the finely pulverized assay in the oxidating flame on platinum foil with two parts of soda and one part of salttenth of one p3r cent.
detested

miy be

even

minute quanless

than one-

The fused mass is more or less intensely colored by the mangaiiate of soda when hot, it appears green, when cold, bluish-green, (turquois-color).
peter.
;

Tellurium.
zelius, is to

test for tellurium,

proposed by Ber-

grind the assay with soda and coal, and heat

it

the mass to fusion in a matrass, and drop upon

when
This

cold a small quantity of recently boiled water.

after a little time
is

colored

more or

less

intensely pur-

plish red from the dissolved telluret of sodium.

Arsenic.

A small quantity

of arsenic in a metallic

compound,

as for instance, in nickel, cobalt, or

any

alloy

containing arsenic, can often be detected with suflScient

82

SPECIAL TESTS.
Plattner

certainty neither in the matrass nor on coal.

employs

for this purpose the following

method: One part,

(50 to 75 milligrams), of the- finely pulverized metallic compound is heated in a platinum spoon as hot as possiThe metals are ble with five or six parts of saltpeter. The thus oxidized and arseniate of potassa formed.
spoon
is

then boiled with water in a porcelain vessel

is

till

the melted mass

perfectly dissolved from

it.

After

the metallic oxides have settled to the bottom the solution

is

poured off into a pore j lain

i

dish,

mixed with a few

to drive off all

drops of sulphuric aci

aud evaporated,
if too

nitric acid, to dryness, o:,

much

sulphuric acid
remains,
is

has been added,

till

t>nly bisulphato of potassa

which on cooling
in

solidifies.

In either case, the mass

an agate mortar with about three parts of oxground The alate of potassa and a small quantity of coal.
mixture
is

then put into a matrass,

warmed

at first gently

to drive off all moisture,

which

may

be removed by
to redness.
is

means of a

roll of bibulous paper,

is

and heated

The
rass.

arsenic acid

reduced to metallic arsenic, which

sublimed and deposited in the narrow part of the matIf,

when

the quantity of arsenic present

is

is

very

small, the sublimate of metallic arsenic

not distinct,
file

the neck of the matrass should be cut off w^ith a

the part, in which the sublimate
is,

and

heated in the flame of

it is

the spirit lamp.

tilized

If this consist of arsenic,

vola-

and

may

be detected

by the

odor.

According to Plattner's experience, the oxalate of potassa

and coal may be advantageously employed

arsenic.

also in

other cases for the detection of

Compounds

SPECIAL TESTS.

83
are,

which contain arsenic and arsenioua acids

treated as above, completely reduced
metallic arjenic.

when
pul-

and give a ring of

arsenic,

Even sulphuret of

when

verized with four or five parts of oxalate of potassa

and

little

coal,

and the mixture heated

sulphide

in a matrass, is

completely

decomposed,

of potassium

being

formed and metallic arsenic sublimed.

A similar result
containing arsenic

is

obtained, according to Fresenius

finely pulverized substance

and Von Babo, when the

is

put into a matrass with six parts of

a mixture of equal parts of cyanide of potassium and dry

soda and heated gradually to redness.
It is particularly

important to the success of these tests that the mixture

to be heated be perfectly freo from

water, since a small

quantity of this not only causes the mass to swell up and

pse in the matrass, but may also easily produce the oxidation of the sublimated arsenic.
is

The following method

is

also adapted to
:

the detection of a small quantity of

arsenic
five

The
The

finely pulverized substance

ground with

or six parts of saltpeter and fused in a platinum

fused mass
is

spoon.

treated with boiling water as

solution
filtered

given

above,
is

and

to

the

from
acid.

the

residue

added a slight excess of acetic

The
and
If

fluid is then boiled to drive oif all the carbonic acid,

a crystal of nitrate of
arsenic be present,
it

silver

laid in the solution.

having been oxidized by the previacid,

ous treatment to arsenic

which
is

forms arseniato of silver

easily recognized from its reddish

brown

color.

Phosphorus.

Small quantities of phosphorus, which

84
it
is

SPECIAL TESTS.
impossible to detect by the test in
tlie

platinum
is

forceps,

may
silicic
is

be discovered as follows

mixture

prepared of one part of saltpeter, three parts of soda and

one of

acid.

The
i:i

substance

to

be tested for
five parts

phosphorus

ground

an agate mortar with

is

of the above mixture and the w!iole fused in a platinum

spoon.

The fused mass

then boiled in water and the

solution poured off from the re3idu3 and treated with a

solution of carbonate of ammonia.

boiling, the silicic acid

By

long continued

which

Avas dissolved in the carfiltered

ofi".

bonate of

sodii is precipitated
is

and

The

fil-

tered fluid

rendered slightly sour by acetic acid,

boiled to expel all the carbonic acid, and the phosphorus

then tested for with nitrate of silver as in the preceding

method.

The appearance of a yellow

precipitate

of

phosphate of silver denotes the presence of phosphornr,

which,
if originally

present in an unoxidized condidon,

has by the above treatment been oxidized to phosphoric

acid.

THE END.

UCSB LIBRARY