The state herald., 1891-11-13
PROPERTIES OF GOLD.
ELECTRICALLY AND PoLIrIc-
ALLY INTERESTING.
somo OF Its Peouliarities s-Dinerent Col.
ora Produced Under Different Pro-
cosses-The Ancient Al
chomlsta.

From an historical and political
point OF view, gold is perhaps the most
interesting Of all the metals. Since
the earliest ages. mankind has had an
instructive attraction for 1t Some
years ago celebrated professor ad-
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 instinctively
stretched out their little hands towards
the gold ball. and did not appear to
take the slightest notice OF tho 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 OK
tends more or less over twelve con-
turtles, says the Saturday Evening
Post, and though modern chemistry
has since been established on a
firm basis, there still exist here md
there In Europe fow persons who
propagate the ideas OF the alchemists
and believe that 1t is not only possi-
bio to transmlte metals, but that as
chemical science progresses SO will
medical knowledge. But tho moderns
who speculate upon these medieval
ideas do 80 upon the strength OF GER
tain curious and hitherto unexplained
chemical phenomena, and appear to
have totally abandoned tho idea OF II
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 tho peculiaritios
which distinguish gold from all other
substances, and render it so valuable
in the arts. Let us glance Mt some
OF them here.
The color Of gold is brilliant yell
low; when the metal is pure. 1t is near
ly the orange-y yellow OF the solar spcct-
rum. When 1t contains little silver
it is pale yellow. or greenish-yellow;
and when alloyed to IL little copper it
takes reddish hue.
We do not always SEQ objects pro-
cisely in their natural coiors; the
white light which falls upon them Ia
composed OF tho seven tints Of the
solar spectrum (or rainbow, and
when body reflects yellow light, for
instance. It absorbs all tho other
colors. But this absorption is never
complete In n first reflection; so that
he light reflected from metallic sur
ace is mixed to n certain extent with
undecomposed white light
In order to SEQ the precise color OF
a metal. tho light OF the sun must be
reflected from II TO second surface OF
the same metal. and from this second
piece TO n third and so on. until wc
'btnin tint which does not change by
.ur,hor reflections. In this expert
ment the undccomposed white light is
all absorbed. and the true color OF the
metal is seen. In this manner gold ID
seen TO be OF brilliant orange color;
copper. nearly carmine red; tin, pale
yellow; lead blue. &c.
But gold can be beaten out so thin
that II allows light TO pass through IT.
in which case. though II still appears
brilliant yellow by reflected light II
is green rs viewed by transmission.
that is by tho light that passes
through IT, This curious effect can
easily DO observed by laying II piece
OF gold-lenf upon n plate OF glass. and
holding between the eye and the light
when the gold will appear semi-trans-
parent, and OF n peculiar lcck green
color.
We have not yet dono with the color
OF gold. When this metal Is pre-
cipitated from its solutions by means
Of phosphorus dissolved In ether or
by means OF chloride OF tin or sui
phatc OF iron. It is obtained In n very
fine state OF division Is as tho
finest possible OF powders; and though
II is In every case the Identical uncom-
bined or pure metal, yet It's color Is
according TO the substance employed
10 procipitate IL; thus we can obtain
gold OF n bright ruby color, OF blue
color OF n brown color and OF that
peculiar purple color which 1t also
takes when volatiliscd by an electric
discharge.