Essais chimiques d’eckartshausen

Nature of metals

The metals are in themselves nothing other than phosphorus, bound to a compacted earth, analogous to talc.

The more phosphorus there is enclosed in a metal, the more noble it is. Gold, silver, platinum, therefore contain the most phosphorus and their soil is the one that contains the most compacting force (einschrankendekraft).

The diversity of metals depends, by that very fact, on the diversity of the quantities of phosphorus which they contain; shape and color are inherent in this condensation.

When analyzing all metals, compacted earth, or talc-like, coloring earth, and phosphorus are found.

In all metals, phosphorus is the allied part and what binds is the compacting and coloring earth².





<sup>1 That is to say of our . This therefore contains the three absolute substances of Light, Heat and Fire.

2 Phosphorus is the living Azoth, the universal Mercury or fire-Water. In the course of the work, the author speaks of it in various ways, considering it in itself, in its elements, or in the form of the sensitive support which virtually encloses it.</sup>

This is why phosphorus could well simply be the only dissolver of metals because it is the part which is allied with them. By it, all metals can be dissociated and, again, reconstituted.

All metals have the same basic elements and are only differentiated by their proportions.

By changing the proportions of their constituent parts, metallic substances can be transformed.

But, for this transformation, a radical dissolution is needed.

The proportion of the principles decides the form; quality is inherent in form.

Consequently there is an ascending and descending progression for ennobling or debasement The more phosphorus there is in a metal, the more noble it is. Hence, the most massive condensation of phosphorus is the condition of the greatest ennoblement.

Making glass and making gold have the greatest analogy. Glass consists of sand and alkali; the alkali spreads the sand and the extended sand constricts the alkali. And so results a product which is glass.

The phosphorus spreads the compacting earth, the latter constricts the phosphorus, and the result is a product which is metal.

When the glass is covered with alkali, it is allowed to break down into its different parts. When the metal is coated with phosphorus, it is allowed to decompose as well.