THORINA

is a primitive earth, with a metallic basis, discovered in 1828, by Berzelius. It was extracted from the mineral thorite , of which it constitutes 58 per cent., and where it is a ociated with the oxides of iron, lead, manganese, tin, and uranium, besides earths and alkalis, in all 12 substances. Pure thorina is a white powder, without taste, smell, or alkaline reaction on litmus. When dried and calcined, it is not affected by either the nitric or muriatic acid. It may be fused with borax into a transparent gla , but not with potash or soda. Fresh precipitated thorina is a hydrate, which di olves readily in the above acids, as well as in solutions of the carbonates of potash, soda, and ammonia, but not in these alkalis in a pure state. This earth consists of 74·5 parts of the metal thorinum , combined with 100 of oxygen. Its hydrate contains one equivalent prime of water. It is hitherto merely a chemical curiosity, remarkable chiefly for a density of 9·402, far greater than that of all the earths, and even of copper. IMG:4147767755307473660_illo1240.png:Thread-frame