Elements of the Theory and Practice of Chymistry, 5th ed.Macquer, Pierre Joseph
History
Elements of the Theory and Practice of Chymistry, 5th ed.
Macquer, Pierre Joseph
Chemistry -- Early works to 1800
Immediately over the Sulphur, or in the same square with it, might be
set a mark denoting the Volatile Sulphureous Spirit; because, like
Sulphur, it has less affinity than any other Acid with Fixed Alkalis.
Oils might also be ranked with Sulphur, because they unite with Fixed
Alkalis, and therewith form Soaps, which are decompounded by any acid
whatever.
The seventh column points out the affinities of Volatile Alkalis, which
are likewise the same as those of Absorbent Earths; and the Vegetable
Acid might be placed here also under the Marine Acid.
The eighth column specifies the affinities of Metallic substances
with Acids. The affinities of the Acids, which, with respect to Fixed
Alkalis, Volatile Alkalis, and Absorbent Earths, succeeded each other
uniformly, do not appear in the same order here. The Marine Acid,
instead of being placed below the Vitriolic and Nitrous Acids, stands,
on the contrary, at their head; because, in fact, this Acid separates
Metalline substances from all the other Acids with which they happen
to be united, and, forcing these Acids to quit possession, intrudes
into their place. Nevertheless, this is not a general rule; for several
Metalline substances must be excepted, particularly Iron and Copper.
The ninth column declares the affinities of Sulphur. Fixed Alkalis,
Iron, Copper, Lead, Silver, Regulus of Antimony, Mercury, and Gold,
stand below it in the order of their affinities. With regard to Gold it
must be observed, that it will not unite with pure Sulphur: it suffers
itself to be dissolved only by the Liver of Sulphur, which is known to
be a composition of Sulphur and Fixed Alkali.
At the head of the tenth column appears Mercury, and beneath it several
Metalline substances, in the order of their affinities with it. Those
Metalline substances are Gold, Silver, Lead, Copper, Zinc, and Regulus
of Antimony.
It is proper to remark on this column, that Regulus of Antimony,
which stands the lowest, unites but very imperfectly with Mercury;
and that after a seeming union of these two Metallic substances hath
been obtained, by a tedious triture with the addition of water, they
do not continue long united, but spontaneously separate from each
other in a short time. Iron and Tin are here excluded; the former
with great reason, because hitherto it hath not been clearly proved,
by any known experiment, that ever Mercury was united with Iron: but
the same objection cannot be made to Tin, which amalgamates very well
with Mercury, and might therefore be placed in this column nearly
between Lead and Copper. I use the word _nearly_, because the different
degrees of affinity between Metalline substances and Mercury are not so
exactly determined, as the other relations before considered; seeing
they generally unite with it, without excluding one another. We can
therefore scarce judge of the degree of affinity that belongs to each,
but by the greater or less readiness of each to amalgamate therewith.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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