Volume 1

Elements of the theory and practice of chymistry / Translated [by Andrew Reid] from the French of M. Macquer.

  • Macquer, Pierre Joseph, 1718-1784.
Date:
1758
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of the theory and practice of chymistry / Translated [by Andrew Reid] from the French of M. Macquer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    180/464 (page 154)
    fadtion only, the reducing flux employed in their full on may be made up with a quantity of iron filings, which being incapable of any union with lead, and having a much greater affinity than that metal with fulphur, will on this occafion be of great fervice by interpofing between them. Of Quick fiver Ores, Running Mercury is fometimes found in cer¬ tain earths, or grey, friable Hones ; but mod com¬ monly in a mineral Hate. It is always mineralized by fulphur, and by fulphur alone : fo that cinabar is the only ore of quick-filver that we know of; and a very rich one it is, feeing it contains fix or feven times as much mercury as fulphur, Reading can be of no ufe towards decompo- fing the ore of mercury, and feparating its ful¬ phur ; becaufe mercury being itfelf very volatile would be carried off by the fire together with the fulphur. In order therefore to part the two fub- ffances of which cinabar confifts, recourfe muff ne- ceffarily be had to fome third body, which will unite with one of them, and by that means feparate it from the other. Now all the metals, except gold, having a greater affinity than mercury with ful¬ phur, inch a body is eafily found : any metal but gold may be employed with lliccefs in this decom- pofition ; but as iron hath a greater affinity with ful¬ phur than any of the red, and is moreover the only one that cannot unite with mercury, it mull: on account of thefe two qualities be preferred to all the reft. Fixed alkalis are alfo well qualified to abforb the fulphur of cinabar. Cinabar mu ft be decom- pofed in dole veffels, and by the way of diftilla». tion j otherwife the mercury, as foon as it feparates from