Essentials of chemistry : inorganic and organic, for the use of students in medicine / by R.A. Witthaus.

  • Witthaus, R. A. (Rudolph August), 1846-1915.
Date:
1879, ©1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essentials of chemistry : inorganic and organic, for the use of students in medicine / by R.A. Witthaus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    434. Stale the principal physical properties of silver. Of all metals, it is the whitest, the most lustrous, aud takes the highest polish. It is the best known conductor of heat and of electricity; it is harder than gold, and softer than copper; it melts at 1000° C., and distils at the temperature of the oxy- hydrogen flame. 435. Mention some of the chemical properties of silver. It is not oxidized in dry or moist air at any tem- perature ; if the air contain traces of sulphuretted hydrogen or of sulphur dioxide, the surface of the metal becomes tarnished by the formation of the black silver sulphide. It is attacked at ordinary temperatures by CI, Br, I, and S, with formation of corresponding compounds. It is not attacked even at high temperatures by the caustic or car- bonated alkalies; silver vessels are therefore used in the laboratory for heating these substances, which act upon glass, porcelain, and platinum. Silver acts readily upon nitric acid, with forma- tion of silver nitrate ; with boiling sulphuric acid, argentic sulphate is formed; with hydrochloric acid, a coating of the insoluble silver chloride forms upon the metal, and prevents further action. 436. How is impure nitrate of silver obtained? By dissolving coin silver in nitric acid. 437 With what substa,nc e is this contaminated? With nitrate of copper. Coin silver is an alloy of silver and copper, and the nitrates of both metals are formed. 438. Horn is pure silver nitrate obtained ? Add to the solution of the impure nitrate diluted