The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-04-28
From the Literary Journal.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE LECTURES.
GOId-Silver-Mer and Lead.
WASHINGTON, March q, l,
BY PROFESSOR SMITH.

/ he last lecture but one Of the course on Chem
Istry was delivered this evening at the Smilhson
an Institute, by Prof J. Lawrence Smith, Sub
Jfct-'' Some OF the properties of Gold, Silver
| Mercury and Lead, with the manner of their oc
curreDce in nature"
Before proceeding 20 discuss the subject proper
! of<iiie lecture, Pre s. stated that there were
many present who did not listen 10 the last lecture
he desired to review briefly his remarks upon AIu.
mnum, metal which destined, in his opin.
ion, to effect most decided change in the arts
from the fact that there is great probability tha
1t may eventually act substitute tor silver, in
the manifold uses to which that metal is applied
| The properie,ies possessed by aluminium might be
said 10 resemble those Of silver in many respects,
the metal being white, maIIeab bic, ductiIe, quite as
| unalIerab!e in its character, and resisting 10 a
greater extent the attacks Of acids 10 addition 70
these qualities, having only about one fourth the
weight OF silver, its specific gravity being nearly
the same that of glass.
From This subject he would pass 10 the consid.
Grafton OF that which they had assembled TO hear
treated Gold, said he, is the most valuable Of all
metals, not only on account OF its rarity, but for
lis Intrinsic worth. 1t is found in most countries,
yet II Is disseminated so sParingly and the sepa-
ration of it from the rocks Of the river sand in
which ii exists, is attended with much labor,
that it s rendered the most costly of all our met.
ais. Its value is estimated to be fifteen times
greater than that Of silver. Its unchangea bleness
its high ustrc, its beautiful col Or and great density
have stamped il as the nobesl Of all metals the
king Of all metals.
Gold Is found in two prominent conditions,
which may be dcnominaied vein gold and de.
post gold. In many Of the rocks in the north
western section Of our country, and particularly
in the S ates Of North Carolina South Carolina
and Georgia. al appearance is presented as il, by
some covulsion of nature, they had been rent in
twain, and melled matter had been projected be.
tween them. acting cement to close the seams.
This cement is the common quartz, with which
oil are so familiar, composed of nothing more nor
less than The sands of the shore in state of
induration. Il is in these veins that we fnd Of
ten, in common with other useful metals, that one
in questioD-gold
The other form in which this metal exists. is that
famiiiarly known by the term placer gold. consist
ing OF particles vary ing from the size of pins
head to a lump Of several ounces in weight the
action OF water upon the surface of the country
producing separation of the quartz in the veins
of the rock, and flowing their valuable contents to
the bosom Of the rivers and valleys below. Vari.
Gus methods for obtaining gold in state of purity,
have been resored to-sonle Of which were alIud.
ed to by the lecturer-but the most ample method
oil separating it from the sands or from the ore is
either by washing with water, ANAL gamaton
with mercury. 1t is most singular fact, that
we have been working for four or
five thousand years in bringing this valuable ar
tlcle into use il we would collect all that there is
at this moment circulating in the world, it would
not occupy space greater than fifteen feet square.
Could the same thing be done with the golden pro.
products of California and Australia combined,
since their discovery, they could all be confined
In box nine feet square
OF the properties of Gold: 1t has well known
yellow color; the most malleable and ductile OF
al! metals, capable Of being reduced to such a
stale of thlnness to be transparent, and is tar.
nIshed nelthe: by air moisture, the coins Of |
thousand years ago beng as clean and bright as |
our own Of the present day. II is insouble in |
sulPhurlc, nitric and muriac acid, but readily
yields AMI dlssolves in aqua regia or solution OF
chlorine, combination of the two last. 1t IS dif I
icuIt TO oxidze gold, much less to burn it, though
10Th can be accomplished. Gold untes, also,
With chlorine, iodine, bromne, sulphur, Lhospbo.
us and arsenic. The standard gold coin of our
country is composed of about ten per cent. OF cop.
Der and silver The object of the two latter being to
Increase its hardness.
" SttUer. Silver occurs in nature more abun.
liant than Cold. but is not so much diffuspd, there
'eing but few localities where it can be said 10 ex
81 IN workable qualities. 1t exists in combination
With gold and other metals. and also with chlorine
nd sulphur, the principal means of separation
eing those OF amaIgamaton with quicksilver and
nsIon. We can throw dollar of pure silver into
ne water, allow it to remain exposed to the air,
ury IN the earth. subject it to the greatest heat
r change its form, but it will not rust Silver
lay be oxydized by employing acids :; it dissolves
lost readily in nitric acid, forming lunar caus.
c which is much employed IN medicine Tor {
'any purposes. as we'll as for turning The hair
nd various other substances black. Nitrate of 6
liver also forms ndelihe ink, used for wiring I
n linen. The ink may he removed, however, by II
ashing the linen marked IN solution of the evan.
% OF potassium. Silver is exceedingly malIeable, f
nd may be beaten into leaves so thin as 600. e
JOlh OF an inch. 1t antics with chlorine, bromine
dine, sulphur, seIrnium, phosphorus and arsenic Il
OF QuickSalUef or Mercury This metal oc. Il
Irs in South America and S pain in great abun e
'nce, and until the discovery of California, the u
arket was controlled almost exclusively by the t,
othschilds, OF Europe. 1t is the only metal s.
hIch exists in fluid state, the reason being thai o
Poln! of fusion is very low-39 deg. below zero.
hen solid, it may be beaten with hammer, or
Il with knife in The same manner as lead - n
iorms two compounds, extensively used in medi. H.
ne and the arts, corrosive sublImate and calo. m
FL the first containing just double quantity of
lorne contained IN the latter. r.
" Lead.-This metal is found in large ouan.
les IN various sections of the country, and
neraIly IN combination with silver or all ,he &
etals, II is the softest and mos, lusbIe i, is {,
so very maiiea1le and duc:lc, but If possesses m