tion.

Carbonate of soda does not dissolve cadmium oxide in the oxidation
flame. In the reduction flame, upon charcoal, it is reduced to metal,
and is volatilized to a red-brown or dark, red sublimate of cadmium
oxide upon the charcoal, at a little distance from the assay the
charcoal presenting the characteristic iridescent appearance. This
reaction is still more sensitive if the cadmium oxide is heated _per
se_ in the reduction flame.

_Antimony_ (Sb).--This metal is found in almost every country. It
principally occurs as the tersulphide (SbS^{3}), either pure or
combined with other sulphides, particularly with basic sulphides.
Sometimes it occurs as the pure metal, and rarer in a state of
oxidation as an antimonious acid and as the oxysulphide.

In the pure state, antimony has a silver-white color, with much
lustre, and presents a crystalline structure. The commercial and
impure metal is of a tin-white color, and may frequently be split in
parallel strata. It is brittle and easily pulverized. It melts at a
low red heat (810 deg.), is volatilized at a white heat, and can be
distilled. At common temperatures it is not affected by the air. At a
glowing heat it takes fire, and burns with a white flame, and with
white fumes, forming volatile antimonious acid. Common acids oxidize
antimony, but dissolve it slightly. It is soluble in aqua regia
(nitro-hydrochloric acid).

_Sesquioxide of Antimony_ (Sb^{2}O^{3}).--In the pure state this oxide
is a white powder, is fusible at a dull red heat to a yellow liquid,
which, after cooling, is greyish-white and crystalline. If it is
heated excluded from the air, it can be volatilized completely; it
sublimes in bright crystals having the form of needles. It occurs
sometimes in nature as white and very bright crystals. It takes fire
when heated in the open air, and burns with a white vapor to
antimonious acid. It fuses with the ter-sulphide of antimony to a red
bead. It is distinguished from the other oxides of antimony by the
readiness with which it is reduced to the metallic state upon
charcoal, and by its easy fusibility and volatility.

The sesquioxide is the base of some salts--for instance, the tartar
emetic. It is not soluble in nitric acid, but is soluble in
hydrochloric acid. This solution becomes milky by the addition of
water. A part of the salts of the sesquioxide of antimony are
decomposed by ignition. The haloid salts are easily volatilized,
without decomposition.