Augustus Beauchamp Northcote
Published: 2017-09-13
Total Pages: 462
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Excerpt from A Manual of Qualitative Chemical Analysis The bodies which constitute this class are those elements known by the name of metals, together with the gas hydrogen. The metals are for the most part solid bodies, although one, mercury, is liquid, and thus forms a link between the solid basic elements and the gaseous one, hydrogen. From its close resemblance to the other basic elements, this gas also is expected, if ever sulfi ciently condensed, to appear in the metallic form. The metals are characterized by peculiar physical properties, the Chief of which are metallic lustre, and power of conducting heat and electricity; but the first of these properties, although frequently quoted as an unmistakeable proof of 'the metallic character of a body, is so dependent upon the state of aggregation of its par ticles, being entirely lost if the metal is reduced to a fine powder, as to be of little value; while the power of conducting electricity and heat is to be considered but doubtful evidence of metallic character. Chemical characteristics are the best criteria of the basic nature of a body; that is to say, it must possess properties powerqy opposed to those of the acid elements. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
