(d.) Zirconia (Zr^{2}O^{3}).—­This substance resembles alumina in appearance, though it occurs only in a few rare minerals.  It is in the pure state infusible, and at a red heat produces such a splendid and vivid white light that the eyes can scarcely endure it.  Its other reactions before the blowpipe are analogous to glucina.  Microcosmic salt does not dissolve so much zirconia as glucina, and is more prone to give a turbid bead.  Zirconia yields with nitrate of cobalt, when ignited, an infusible black mass.  To recognize zirconia in compounds we must resort to fluid analysis.

(e.) Thorina (ThO).—­This is the rarest among the rare minerals.  In the pure state it is white and infusible, and will not melt with the carbonate of soda.  Borax dissolves thorina slowly to a colorless, transparent bead, which will remain so when heated with the intermittent flame.  If overcharged with the thorina, the bead presents, on cooling, a milky hue.  Microcosmic salt dissolves the thorina very tardily.  By ignition with nitrate of cobalt, thorina is converted into an infusible black mass,

CLASS II.

FOURTH GROUP.  CERIUM, LANTHANIUM, DIDYMIUM, COLUMBIUM, NIOBIUM, PELOPIUM, TITANIUM, URANIUM, VANADIUM, CHROMIUM, MANGANESE.

The substances of this group cannot be reduced to the metallic state, neither by heating them per se, nor by fusing them with reagents.  They give by fusion with borax or microcosmic salt, colored beads, while the preceding groups give colorless beads.

(a.) Cerium (Ce).—­This metal occurs in the oxidated state in a few rare minerals, and is associated with lanthanium and didymium, combined with fluorine, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, silica, etc.  When reduced artificially, it forms a grey metallic powder.

(a.) Protoxide of Cerium (CeO).—­It exists in the pure state as the hydrate, and is of a white color.  It soon oxidizes and becomes yellow, when placed in contact with the air.  When heated in the oxidation flame, it is converted into the sesquioxide, and then is changed into light brick-red color.  In the oxidation flame it is dissolved by borax into a clear bead, which appears of an orange or red while hot, but becomes yellow upon cooling.  When highly saturated with the metal, or when heated with a fluctuating flame, the bead appears enamelled as when cold.  In the reduction flame it is dissolved by borax to a clear yellow bead, which is colorless when cold.  If too much of the metal exists in the bead, it then appears enamelled when cooled.

Microcosmic salt dissolves it, in the oxidation flame, to a clear bead, which is colored dark yellow or orange, but loses its color when cold.  In the reduction flame the bead is colorless when either hot or cold.  Even if highly saturated with the metal, the bead remains colorless when cold.  By fusing it with carbonate of soda upon charcoal in the reduction flame, the soda is absorbed by the charcoal, while the protoxide of the metal remains as a light grey powder.