The Placer herald., 1856-01-19
The New Metal Aluminium,

When in 1907, Humphrey Davy applied
the galvanic current to piece of moistened
potash, and produced therefrom the peculiar
metal, potassium" chemistry passed with q
single leap from a narrow into boundless
circle. People were astonshed at the dis
covery of metal in substance which had
long been employed for making soap. and
which was obtained from the ashes of the
very wood used for heating their rooms and
boiling their kettles. On the heels of this,
there followed the no less memorable dscov-
cry of the metal sodium" in the very salt
used for seasoning food, and the lime used
for making mortar; in short, it was made
evident by Davy that much of the materials
of our globe, previously known as "earthy
substances" were nothing less than the rust
of various metals. Among the various
earths, few would have thought that COM
mon clay, used for making bricks and pud-
ding embankments, contained a metal; but,
like potash, soda and lime, it was submitted
to the erperimentum crusis by Wohler, and
gave up its secret, also. 1t was found to be
the oxyde of the metal "alumnium." This
is the metal which has recently been brought
so prominently before the public, in France
| ny W. OcNlIlc, dS uOlCcu w us III our IdSl
volume. Although its existence has been
known for many years, still it never was OBJ
taned before, except in spongy, and very
subdivided state, and it really may be called
new metal, so far as its application to the
arts is concerned.
Its properties are peculiar. 1t is two and
a half times heavier than water, only one
eigh that of platinum, and one third that of
iron, so that it is exceedingly light. 1t is
white, like silver, but has a slight blush
tinge. 1t is malleab!e, and very ductile; it
can be drawn out into the finest wire, or
beaten into the thnnest plate, and in this
respect it resembles gold. 1t is superior
conductor of electricity and is stated to sur
pass copper in this respect. The melting
point of it is little higher than that of zinc;
it does not easily oxydise; water appears to
exert no action upon it, and it is nearly unal-
terable in the atmosphere. 1t appears to
hold a position between the precious metals
platinum, gold and silver-and the com
mon ones-iron, copper, lead and zinc. Its
chemical properties are, therefore invaluable,
and if it could be produced in large quant-
ties, and at a moderate price, it would revo-
lutionse the arts. 1t has already been form
ed into delicate watch wheels, and watches
made with them have been presented to va
rious high dignitaries by the French Empe-
ror. We fear however, that it cannot be
produced in large quantities, nor at a mod
crate price, because it has to be reduced by
acids, and then precipitated with an alkali,
like the precious metals, and these processes
are slow and expensive. Thus far, it has
been obtained by NJ. Dcville, of Paris, alone,
in the form of ingots, capable of being
worked into articles of use and ornament;
there is therefore, wide door still open for
improving the process of its reduction. Two
things are absolutely necessary for producing
it at a moderate price; first, an abundance of
rich raw materials, and secondly, simple
and cheap reducing process. Aluminous
shales, in comparison with iron, copper, zinc
and lead ores, are not abundant, and thus, at
the very first step, there appears an insur
mountable obstacle to its cheap manufacture.
If the processes of obtaining it, however,
were improved, more attention would be de-
voted to prospecting for rich deposits. Some
valuable discoveries of these might reward
our own, as well as other countries. These
hints we throw out for the benefit of all
whom they may concern, viz: the whole
scientific world.
The great chemist of the Universe has dis
played his wisdom power and skill. in va
rious combinations of alumnia. 1t occurs
almost pure in those two precious stones, the
sapphere, the ruby--the one blue, and the
other red in color-whch possess hardness
but little if any, inferior to the diamond, it
is also found in the topaz, in the lapis, luzuH,
and in corundum. In the arts, alumna forms
the basis of some of the most beautiful col
ors, such as the Adrianople red, and the AL
kanet-root lilac. 1t forms the basis of the
beautiful porcelain from which we quaff the
Chinese nectar, and of it is made the pyro-
meter, for measuring the highest degrees of
temperature in furnaces. AS the compounds
of alumnia are so abundant and useful, it is
to be hoped that the pure metal itself will
vet become as common, as its excellent and
peculiar qualities will enable it to fill space
in the arts for which there is no substitute.
Scientific american.
To PREVENT METALS FROM RUsr1NG.-
Melt together three parts of lard and one of
rasin powder A yory thin toatino aDn|ied