nish-blue color. Antimonious acid is
infusible, produces a strong light, and is diminished in volume when
heated in the external flame, during which time a dense white vapor
sublimes upon the charcoal. It is not, however, in this manner reduced
to the metallic state like the sesquioxide.

_Antimonic acid_, when first heated, becomes white, and is converted
into antimonious acid. Hydrated antimonic acid, which is originally
white, appears at first yellow while giving off water, and then
becomes white again, while oxygen is expelled, and it is converted
into antimonious acid.

The oxides of antimony produce, with blowpipe reagents, the following
reactions: borax dissolves oxides of antimony in the oxidation flame
in considerable quantity to a clear bead, which is yellow while hot,
but colorless when cold. If the bead is saturated, a part of the oxide
is volatilized as a white vapor. Upon charcoal, in the oxidation
flame, it is completely volatilized, and the charcoal is covered with
a white sublimate. Heated upon charcoal in the reducing flame, the
bead is of a greyish color, and partially, if not wholly opaque, from
the presence of reduced metallic particles. A continued heat will
volatilize them, and the bead becomes clear. The addition of tin
promotes the reduction.

Microcosmic salt dissolves the compounds of antimony in the flame of
oxidation with intumescence, to a clear light-yellow colored bead,
which when cold is colorless. Heated upon charcoal in the reduction
flame, the bead is first turbid, but soon becomes transparent. The
addition of tin renders the bead greyish while cooling, but a
continued blast renders it transparent. Soda dissolves the compounds
of antimony upon platinum wire in the oxidation flame, to a clear
colorless bead, which is white when cold.

Upon charcoal, both in the oxidation and reduction flames, the
antimony compounds are readily reduced to the metal, which is
immediately volatilized, and produces a white incrustation of oxide of
antimony upon the charcoal. If the antimony compounds are heated upon
charcoal in the flame of reduction, with a mixture of carbonate of
soda and cyanide of potassium (KCy), there are produced small globules
of metallic antimony. At the same time, a part of the reduced metal is
volatilized (this continues after the assay is removed from the flame)
and re-oxidized. A white incrustation appears upon the charcoal, and
the metallic globules are covered with smal