Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-11-26
PROPERTIES OF GOLD.
HISTORICALLY AND POLlTlC-
ALLY INTERESTING.
Some of its Peculiarities-Dife Coli
ors, Produced Under Different Pro-
ccsses--Tho Ancient Al
chemists.


point of view. gold is perhaps the most
interesting of all the metals. Since
the earliest ages, mankind has haG an
instructive attraction for it. Some
years ago celebrated professor adj
mltted three little children, who could
only Just walk. into room where
there was gold ball and silver ball.
each exactly OF the same size. upon
the floor. They all instinctiyely
stretched out their little hands towards
the gold ball, and did not appear to
take the slightest notice of the other
The attempts of the alchemists to
convert other metals into gold form an
interesting and not altogether unim-
portant period in the history of the de-
velopment OF science. This period on
tends more or less over twelvA CEN
turtles. says the Saturday Evening
Post. and though modern chemistry
has since been established on
firm basis there still exist here and
there in Europe n few persons who
propagate tho ideas OF the alchcmists.
| and believe that it is not only posi-
| BILE to transmute metals, but that as
chemical science progresses SO will
| medical knowledge. But the moderns
| who speculate upon these medieval
! ideas do so upon the strength OF cer-
tain curious and hitherto unexplained
| chemical phenomena. and appear to
have totally abandoned the idea OF q
| philosophers stone endowed with the
property of transmitting metals and
prolonging life.
1t is astonishing how little attention
is paid in general to this extremely
remarkable metal. and how few per-
sons reflect upon the peculiarities
which distinguish gold from all other
substances. and render it so valuable
in the arts. Let us glance ut some
Of them here.
The color Of gold is brilliant vel
low; when the metal Is pure, 1t is near.
ly the orange-yellow OF tho solar spect
rum. When 1t contains u little silver
it is pale yellow, or greenish-yello
and when alleged to IL little copper il
takes reddish hue.
We do not always see objects pre-
cisely in their natural colors; ths
white light which falls upon them il
solar spectrum Cor rainbow ant
when body reflects yellow light TO
instance, ii absorbs all the othe
colors. But this absorption is never
complete in a first reflection; 80 tina
, the light reflected from n metallic sur
, face is mixed to a certain extent will
) undecomposed white light
In order to see the precise color G
metal, the light OF the sun must b
reflected from it to q second surface Q
the same metal. and from this socon
piece to third. and so on, until W
obtain u tint which does not change b
further reflections. In this expert
ment the undecomposed white light
/ all absorbed. and the true color Of tn
metal is seen. In this manner gold
. seen to be OF brilliant orange color
"copper" nearly carmine red; tin. pal
yellow; lead blue &c.
= But gold can be beaten out so thi
: that it allows light to pass through i
in which case. though it still appear
brilliant yellow by reflected light
is green as viewed by transmission
q that is by tho light that passt
through it. This curious effect Ca
easily be observed by laying q piee
of gold-leaf upon plate OF glass, an
h holding between the eye and the ligh
when the gold will appear semi-tran
parent and of peculiar leek gree
color.
We have not yet done with the colt
n OF gold. When this metal is pr
l. cipitated from its solutions by meal
a OF phosphorus dissolved in ether.
n by means of chloride OF tin or su
plate Of iron, it is obtained In a vel
\. fine state of division that is. as Il
- finest possible of powders; and thong
it is in every case the identical uncor
bined or pure metal. yet its color
, according to the substance employ
# to precipitate it; thus. we can obta
20 gold OF "a bright ruby color, of a BIZ
c. color, OF brown color and of til
peculiar purple color which it al
. takes when volatilised by an electr
- discharge.
nuinns for hi mn thcrla.