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PROOFS OF THE PROPERTIES OF ZINC.

Experiment II.

Zinc unites with phosphorus ly fusion.

Put into an earthen retort two parts of filings of zinc and oneof phosphorus, and having adapted a receiver to the neck of theretort, proceed to distillation.

The product will be a little phosphorus in the receiver; theneck of the retort will contain, 1. zinc in a metallic form;2. a sublimation of a red efflorescence; 3, white oxid of zinc;4. a sublimation in needles, having a metallic appearance, witha slight tint of blue, and prismatic. Or,

A phosphuret cf zinc may be obtained by projecting smallpieces of phosphorus well dried, upon zinc broken also intosmall pieces, and brought to a red-heat in a crucible. As thezinc enters into fusion project the phosphorus, and at the sametime small bits of resin, to prevent the oxidation of the zinc.When the crucible is taken from the fire its contents will be ametallic substance, which is phosphuret of zinc.

Exferiment III.

Zinc decomposes nitric acid readily.

Put granulated zinc into a Florence flask, and pour over Itweak nitric acid: a strong effervescence will take place, and ni-trous gas will be disengaged in a large quantity.

The solution of nitrate of zinc has a yellow colour, and whennewly made is somewhat turbid, but becomes gradually trans-parent.

By evaporation it furnishes crystals in tetrahedral prisms, ter-minated by pyramids of four faces, which are striated and attractmoisture from the air.