ANTIMONY. 
Sp. 2. Sutpbite of Antumony. 
SULPHUROUS ACID has no action on antimony while 
cold, but when hot it changes it into an oxide. The 
sulphite of antimony is precipitated in the state of an 
insoluble white powder when sulphurous acid is pour 
ed into the solution of antimony in muriatic acid. It 
has an acrid and astringent taste, melts when heated, 
and is volatilized and decomposed. When distilled in 
close vessels, it yields sulphurous acid ; and there re 
mains a reddish brown mass, consisting probably of 
hydrosulphuret of antimony *. 
Sp. 3. Nitrat of Antimnony. 
NITRIC ACID attacks antimony with great violence. 
Both the acid and water are decomposed, abundance of 
nitrous gas is emitted, and a considerable portion of 
ammonia is formed and combines with the acid while 
the metal is converted into an insoluble white oxide. 
It does not appear that any combination takes place 
between this acid and the acidulous oxide of antimony, 
the oxide which is formed by this process ; and no at 
tempt has hitherto been made to combine it with any 
of the othér oxides of antimony. Probably it does not 
combine even with them, in consequence of the facility 
with which it converts them into the acidulous oxide. 
Sp. 4. Muriat of Antinony. 
MURIATIC ACID has no effect upon antimony at 
first ; but the metal is gradually dissolved when it is 
kept long in contact with that acid. The solution is 
* Fourcroy, v. 231. 
E 3 
69 
Chap. III.