Formerly, when science was much less advanced than at present, the metals constituted a well-defined class. The properties which were regarded as specially characteristic were physical, and were not founded on chemical relations; thus, lustre and high specific gravity were considered to be essential characters of all metals. But we are now acquainted with metals which have a lower specific gravity than water (lithium, sodium, &c.), and with so-called non-metallic elements which present a strong metallic lustre (carbon in the state of graphite, crystallised silicon). It will therefore be seen that the term ‘metal’ is rather conventional than strictly scientific. By far the greater number of elementary bodies at present known are metals. Their physical characters and leading chemical properties are noticed under each of them in its alphabetical place. The following table exhibits some useful particulars:—
Table of some of the properties of some of the metals.
| Names arranged in the order of their | |
| Ductility. | Malleability. |
| Gold. | Gold. |
| Silver. | Silver. |
| Platinum. | Copper. |
| Iron. | Tin. |
| Nickel. | Platinum. |
| Copper. | Lead. |
| Zinc. | Zinc. |
| Tin. | Iron. |
| Lead. | Nickel. |
| Names arranged in the order of their | |
| Power of conducting Heat. | Power of conducting Electricity. |
| Silver. | Silver. |
| Copper. | Copper. |
| Gold. | Gold. |
| Tin. | Zinc. |
| Iron. | Iron. |
| Lead. | Tin. |
| Bismuth. | Lead. |
| Antimony. | |
| Bismuth. | |
METANTIMON′IC ACID. H4Sb2O7. The name given by M. Fremy to that variety of antimonic acid obtained by decomposing pentachloride of antimony with excess of water. It differs from common antimonic acid in being tetra, and forming two different classes of salts with the acids. The acid metantimoniate of potassium is the only reagent which yields a precipitate with the sodium salts, and is therefore of great value in chemical analysis. It is prepared by fusing antimonic acid with excess of potassa, in a silver crucible, dissolving the fused mass in a little cold water, and allowing it to crystallise in vacuo. The resulting crystals (metantimoniate of potassa), by solution in pure water, are resolved into free potassa and the acid salt. See Antimony.
METAPEC′TIC ACID. See Pectin.
METAPEC′TIN. See Pectin.
METAPHOSPHOR′IC ACID. See Phosphoric acid.
METHEG′LIN. Syn. Hydromeli, H. vinosum, Mellis vinum, L. Prep. From honey, 1 cwt.; warm water, 24 galls.; stir well until dissolved; the next day add of yeast, 1 pint, and hops, 1 lb., previously boiled in water, 1 gall.; along with water q. s. to make the whole measure 1 barrel; mix well, and ferment the whole with the usual precautions adopted for other liquors. It contains on the average from 7% to 8% of alcohol. See Mead.
ME′THYL. CH3. The hypothetical radical of PYROXYLIC SPIRIT (WOOD-SPIRIT, METHYLIC ALCOHOL) and the methyl series. It forms a number of compounds analogous to those of ethyl.
METHYLAMINE. Syn. Methylia. CH3H2N. A colourless gas possessing a very powerful odour of ammonia, and a strongly alkaline reaction. It differs from ammonia, however, in being non-inflammable. In other respects it bears a considerable resemblance to it. Water at 55° Fahr. dissolves more than eleven hundred times its bulk of methylamine. It may be easily condensed to a liquid by means of a freezing mixture.