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Show METALS HAVE ODORS. Prominent German Scientist Has Mado Some Very Important Finds. Water chemically pure, Is a colorless, 'tasteless, odorless fluid; but In combination combina-tion witli other forms of matter it acquires ac-quires each and all of these characteristics. characteris-tics. Similarly It has been asserted by scientific authorities that metals free from alloys are odorless. In combination with other metals they frequently develop a strongly marked and sometimes a disagreeable dis-agreeable smell, as in the case of copper alloys. Still the major premise was declared de-clared to hold until recently, when, according ac-cording to report, ns the result of exhaustive ex-haustive experiment, It has been established estab-lished that all metals have their distinctive distinc-tive odors which, under set circumstances circum-stances can be very perceptibly demonstrated. demon-strated. The proponent of the new theory Is llerr Karl Gruhn, a Berlin metallurgical metallur-gical chemist and mineralogist, who has devoted much time and attention to the elucidation of his subject, and claims to have fully ascertained the origin and characteristics of the metallic odors. As a primary result of his experiments he asserts that even in its normal state each of tho metals has Its distinctive emanation, emana-tion, which Is, howovor. so faintly perceptible per-ceptible ns to have Induced tho assertion respecting its non-existence. This effluxion increases with the iu-creaso iu-creaso of temperature to n remarkable degree, and the rule applies equally In tho royal as to the industrial metals. It is, however, most noticeable In connection con-nection with the latter, tin, copper, zinc, lead, and iron furnishing similar evidences evi-dences of its application; and the odor Is not at all affected by the oxidizing of tho metal, 1-Ierr Gruhn found that each and all of tho metals named when subjected to a high and sustained temperature tem-perature giveo out its odor In fullest strength after about an hour's treatment, treat-ment, but. It then deoreanes, even when tho temperature is Htlll sustained, till the smell becomes ao faint. a- before the temperature was raised. Then when the heat Is withdrawn and the metal is allowed to cool, all rrace of Ihe odor disappears, dis-appears, ns if it had been utterly driven oil'. An immediate return to high temperature tem-perature redevelops the smell In only a faintly perceptible dpgreo, but if a few hours are allowed to elapse before the motnl is again heated It repeats in full strength all the phenomena altendlng the first test. It appears to have recovered from the exhaustion of Its emanation and to have recharged itself with the agents producing the odor. From these facts nnd the other data collected, I-lerr Gruhn arrives at a conclusion con-clusion which challenges another commonly com-monly accepted belief, lie disputes the theory that smells In their Infinite variety are all produced by tho effect upon the olfaciory nerves of volatilized atoms from the effiuxlng substance which mix with the atmosphere, and so excites the sense. He snys this Is most decidedly not so In the" caso of metallic odors, which he affirms to lr a property stored up by the substance and retained In a state almost, quiescent till under the heat stimulus stim-ulus it Is given ofT as are the radio-active properties of other minerals, and that as In the case of radium tho emanations emana-tions are unaccompanied by chemical change or loss of weight. The difference is that In the caso of tho odor there Is un exhaust, which Is repaired by re-nbsorptlon, re-nbsorptlon, which In Its turn Is unttc- companlcd by chemical change or increase of weight. This relation to the radio- , active properties of the urnnlan group and other allied minerals is indeed the I asserted fact upon which llerr Gmihn I lavs chlcfest stress, for he claims to ; have separated and Isolated a metallic odor, and to have found thai In its manifestations man-ifestations It establishes a strong affinity to tho radlo-nctlve emanations of tho rarer minerals, The Australian Mining StanihLrd. |