The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-06-12
WHOLE NO. l4O5.

are so generally known that an ac-
count would be supsrfuous; but ss
we are always interested in what is
strange, and frequently Of no prscti-
cal use, we may give brief account
of the rarer of these unfamiliar sub
stances.
Cadmium is white, malleahle and
ductile metal resembling tin. The
sulphide, known as cadmium yellow,
is OF very bright color, and has 9TH
er qualities of great value TO artists.
The metal itself seems to be of little
use.
Calciam is a yellow, ductile and
malleable metal, softer than gold. At
a red heat il burns with a dazzling
white light.
Erbium is very rare metal at
present, snd seems 70 resemble alum.
inium in its properties and COM
pounds.
Glucinum is a white, malleable and
moderately fusible metal, also resem-
bling aluminium.
Iridium is q very hard, white,
brittle aud infusible metal; when
pure it is never acted upon by an
acid. Tne uses to which the metal
can be applied seem to increase rap
idly as it is becoming more com
mon
Lithium is metal resembling sill
yer in color. II admits Of being
drawn out into wire, but has very
little tenacity 1t is remarkable for
its extreme lightness and the readi-
ness with which it is acted upon by
oxygen.
Molybdenum is a silvery white,
brittle and infusible metal 1t never
occurs native, and neither it nor its
compounds seem to be of much prac-
tical use.
Osmium is chiefly remarkable for
its high specific gravity and infusi-
bllity.
Palladium closely resembles plati-
mum in it's properties An alloy OF
twenty per cent. of this metal and
eighty per cent. of gold, is perfectly
white, very hard and not tarnished
by exposure This makes it admi-
rably adapted for scales for astro-
nomical instruments, but its high |
price ct present prevents its gener-
al use
Rbodium is a white, very hard
and infusible metal. 1t is said that
a small quantity Of rhodium greatly |
improves steel. As it cists eonsid-
drably more than osmium. the uses
TO which it is applied ar, very linn
tied.
Ruihenium in everything xcept !
specific gravity resembles iridium. 1t
is rare and Of little prsctic vtlle
Strontium is a Yellow h, dlctile
and malleable metal; burns IN the
air with crimson flame.
Thallium is very soft aud malle-
able metal. 1t is not very rare, bat |
seems to be of very little use.
Thorium is an extremely rare met
al, remarkable for its property Of TAX
ing fire below red heat, and burning
with great brillianey. Neither the
metal nor its compounds are of any |
practical use, but its oxide is of in
teresG for its high specific gravity OF !
"a.
Titanium is a very rare metal usu-
ally obtained in the crystalline form.
1t can be produced also as a heavy
iron-gray powder The crystals are
copper-colored and of extreme hard
ness.
Tungsten is hard, iron-gray met
al, very difficult Of fusion. An alloy
of ten per cont. Of this metal and 80
per cent. of steel is Of extreme hard
ness Both the metal and its COM
pounds proved of value
Uranium is a very heavy and |
hard, but moderately malleable met
al, resembling nickle and iron; but
for its rarity would be of little use,
as it is unsltered at ordinary tenn
perature by air or water
Vansdium is at present in very
minute quantities in nearly all clays.
1t is, as now produced, a brillisnt
powder
Rubidium and caesium so closely |
resemble platinum that no ordinary
test will distinguish which metal is
present.
Indium is very soft malleable and
fusible; marks paper like lead.
Rarium cerium, eolumbium Cor
niobium), didymium, lanthanium,
tantalum, terbium, Ittrium and zir-
conium are all rare metals. Their
properties are not very well known.
The discovery Of new metal call
ed gallium has been announced re-
Gently, but we believe it has not
hoen isolereo