A new system of chemical philosophy, Volume 2, Part 1Dalton, John
Science
A new system of chemical philosophy, Volume 2, Part 1
Dalton, John
Atomic theory; Chemistry, Inorganic
Considerable difference of opinions exists with regard to the oxides
of antimony. Proust finds two oxides which he determines to consist,
the first, of 100 metal + 22 or 23 oxygen; the second of 100 metal +
30 oxygen. Thenard finds 6 oxides: J. Davy two oxides, namely, 100
metal + 17.7 oxygen, and 100 + 30 oxygen. Berzelius infers from his
experiments that there are 4 oxides of antimony, the first containing
4.65 oxygen, the second 18.6, the third 27.9, and the fourth 37.2 of
oxygen on 100 metal. He admits however that the oxide obtained by
boiling nitric acid on antimony and expelling the superfluous acid by
a low red heat, consists of 100 metal + 29 to 31 oxygen, as determined
by Proust and others. This is certainly the most definite of the
oxides, next to that which is obtained from the solution of antimony
in muriatic acid. This last may be had by pouring water into a solution
of muriate of antimony; a white powder precipitates, which is the oxide
with a little muriatic acid; the acid may be abstracted by boiling
the precipitate in a solution of carbonate of potash. This oxide is a
grey powder, and fusible at a low red heat. It enters exclusively into
various well known compounds, as the _golden sulphur of antimony_,
_antimoniated tartrate of potash_, &c. Its constitution, according to
Proust, is 100 metal + 23 oxygen; but J. Davy finds only 17.7 oxygen,
and Berzelius 18.6. As this oxide possesses the most distinct features,
and besides is the most important, it is desirable its constitution
should be ascertained without doubt. From several experiments I made on
the precipitation of antimony by zinc, I conclude the oxide contains
about 18 oxygen on 100 metal. I took the common muriate of antimony
with excess of acid, and immersed a rod of zinc into it, covering the
whole with a graduated bell glass. Hydrogen gas was produced by the
excess of acid, and its quantity was ascertained; the antimony was in
due time precipitated, and when the operation ceased, the loss of zinc
and the weight of antimony were found. For instance, to 50 measures
of 1.69 mur. ant. 60 water were added, no precipitation was observed;
a zinc rod was put in and the whole covered by a bell glass, over
water; in a few hours the operation had ceased, and there appeared 3480
grain measures of hydrogen gas generated; the dried antimony weighed
25½ grains, and the zinc had lost 29 grains. Now 3480 hydrogen require
1740 of oxygen = 2.3 grains in weight. But 29 zinc require 7 oxygen;
therefore the zinc must have got 4.7 oxygen from the antimony; that
is, 25.5 antimony were found united to 4.7 oxygen; this gives 100
antimony + 18.4 oxygen. I conclude then that the error is with Proust;
and this appears to be confirmed by the consideration that Proust
himself obtains only 86 oxide of antimony from 100 sulphuret, which
he allows to contain 74 antimony; now if 74 ∶ 12 ∷ 100 ∶ 17 nearly. I
am therefore inclined to adopt 18 for the oxygen which combines with
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