The Hickman courier., 1878-05-10
Some Rare Metals.
, -. Il sslsnces lAtef Diseoeenes

ago but seven metais nau Seeh ei7coV-
arsd while we are now acquainted with
,bseAistence of ffty-one, thirty of which, |
nesrly three-ffths, have been made
I,nown L to us since the beginning of the
nresent century. The properties of the
commoner metals are so generally known
.hst an account would be super.
auous; but as we are always
;,,erested in what is strange, and fre-
saentls Of no practical Use, we may give
brsef account Of the rsreF of these unfa-
nilfar Substances.
Cadmium is white, malleable and
ductiIe metal resembling tin. Tie sui
nbide, kneeh az cadmium yellow, is OF
Sery bright color, and has other qualities
of great value TO artists. The metal
( itself seems to be Of little use.
calcium is a yellow, ductile and mall
lesble metal; soltef thar gold. At red
heat it burns with dazzling white light
Erbium i. a very rsre metal at present,
and seems 10 resen bic aluminium iu its
I urOpcIllSH anu
Glucinum Is a white. mallesble and
moderately fusible metal, also resembling
aluminium.
Iridium is a very hard, white, brittle
and pdiniusible metal; when pure it is never
acted Upon by au acid, The uses to
which the metal can be applied seem to
increase rapidly as it is becoming more
c0mmOn.
4sithium is = eetrl resembling silver
in oolcr IL admit of being drawn out
into wire, but has very little tenacity,
II is remarkable for its extreme lightnesb
and the readiness with which it is acted
upon by oxygen.
Molybdenum is a silvery white, brittle
and iniusible metal. Ii never oecurs
native, and neither il nor its compounds
seem TO be of much practical use.
Osmium is chiefly remarkable for its
high specific gravity and infusibi'ity.
Palladium closely resembles platinum
in its properties. An alloy of twenty
per cent. OF this metal and eighty per
cent. Of gold, is perfectly white, very
hard and rot tarnished by exposure
This makes it admirably adapted for
scales for astronomical instruments, but
its high price st present prevents its
general use.
Rhodium is a white, very hard and
iniusible metal. 1t Is said that small
quantity of rhodium greatly improves
steel. As it costs considerably more than
osmium, the uses to which it is applied
are very limited.
Ruthenium in everything except
specific gravity resemb bles iridium. 1t is
rare and of little practical value.
S,rontium is Il yellowish, ductile and
malleable metal; burns in the air with a
crimson Aame.
ThslIium is a very soft and malleable
metal. 1t Is not very rare, but seems to
be Of very little use.
Thorium is an extremely rare metal,
remarkable for its property Of taking fire
below red heat, and burning with great
brilIisncy Neither the metal nor its
compounds are Of any practical use, but
its oxide is of interest for its high specific
gravity of %
Titsnium is a very rare metal, usually
obtained in the crystalline form. 1t can
be produced also as q heavy iron-gray
powder. The crystals are copper>colored
and Of extreme hardness
Tungsten is a hard, iron-gray metal.
very difficult of fusion. An alloy of ten
per cent. Of this metal and ninety per
cent of steel Is of extreme hardness.
Both the metal aud its compounds
proved of value
Uranium is a very heavy and hard,
but moderately malleable metal, resen-
bling nickle and iron; but for its rarity
would be of considerable use, as it is IN
altered at ordinary temperature by air
or water.
Nanadium is present in very minute
quantities in nearly all clays. 1t is, as
now produced brilliant powder.
Rubidium and caesium 80 closely re-
semble platinum that no ordinary test
viii distinguish which metal is present.
lndium is very soft mslleable and
fusible marks paper like lead.
Barium cerium, columbium (Or MO
bium(, didYmium, lanthanium, tanta-
lum, tesbium, yttrium and chromium
are all rare metals. Thei properties are
not very well known.
The discovery of new metal called
galljum has been announced recently,
but we believe il has not been isolated.