Important: Safety Warning
This page contains instructions involving gunpowder or other explosive or pyrotechnic compositions. Preparing explosives as described has caused severe injuries and deaths, and is illegal in most places.
In addition, this page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Purification of Zinc
Granulate zinc by melting, and pouring it, while very hot, into a deep vessel filled with water. Place the granulated zinc in a Hessian crucible, in alternate layers, with one-fourth its weight of nitre, with an excess of nitre at the top.
Cover the crucible, and secure the lid; then apply heat. When deflagration takes place, remove from the fire, separate the dross, and run the zinc into an ingot mould. It is quite free from arsenic. is to be rubbed on the surface of bright steel, volatilized metal is collected. Zinc may be iron, brass, or other metal, requiring protection from rust.