The table underneath gives the approximate fusing points of some of the metals (Centigrade Scale)—
| (Ice melts at 0°.) | |||||
| Platinum[21] | about 1500° | Zinc | ” | 400° | |
| Gold | ” 1200° | Lead | ” | 330° | |
| Silver | ” 1000° | Bismuth | ” | 265° | |
| Cast iron | 1000-1200° | Tin | ” | 235° | |
| Wrought iron | ” 1500° | Sodium | ” | 97° | |
| Copper | ” 1100° | Potassium | ” | 60° | |
| Antimony | ” 432° | Mercury | ” | 40° | |
There are some metals which, instead of fusing,—that is, passing from the solid to the liquid state,—go away in vapour. These are volatile metals. Mercury, potassium, and sodium, can be thus distilled. Some do not expand with heat, but contract (like ice), antimony and bismuth, for instance, while air pressure has a considerable effect upon the fusing point. Some vaporise at once without liquefying; others, such as iron, become soft before melting.
Alloys are combinations of metals which are used for many purposes, and become harder in union. Amalgams are alloys in which mercury is one constituent. Some of the most useful alloys are under-stated:—
| Name of Alloy. | Composition. |
|---|---|
| Aluminium bronze | Copper and aluminium. |
| Bell metal | Copper and tin. |
| Bronze | ” |
| Gun metal | ” |
| Brass | Copper and zinc. |
| Dutch metal | ” |
| Mosaic gold | ” |
| Ormulu | ” |
| Tombac | ” |
| German silver | Copper, nickel, and zinc. |
| Britannia metal | Antimony and tin. |
| Solder | ” |
| Pewter | Tin and lead. |
| Type metal | Lead and antimony (also copper at times). |
| Shot | Lead and arsenic. |
| Gold currency | Gold and copper. |
| Silver currency | Silver and copper. |
| Stereotype metal | Lead, antimony, and bismuth. |
Metals combine with chlorine, and produce chlorides,
Metals combine with sulphu, and produce sulphides,
Metals combine with oxygen, and produce oxides, and so on.
The metals may be classed as follows in divisions:—
| Metals of the alkalies | as Potassium, Sodium, Lithium, Ammonium. |
| Metals of the alkaline earths | as Barium, Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium. |
| Metals of the earths | as Aluminium, Cerium, Didymium, Erbium, Glucinium, Lanthanum, Terbium, Thorium, Yttrium, Zirconium. |
| Metals proper— | |
| Common Metals | as {Iron, Manganese, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Bismuth, Lead, Tin, Zinc, Chromium, Antimony. |
| Noble Metals | as {Mercury, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Osmium, Iridium. |
We cannot attempt an elaborate description of all the metals, but we will endeavour to give a few particulars concerning the important ones, leaving many parts for Mineralogy to supplement and enlarge upon. We shall therefore mention only the most useful of the metals in this place. We will commence with Potassium.