Titanium

Titanium (sym. Ti, eq. 48) is a comparatively rare metal, which, according to the method by which it is procured, occurs as a gray, heavy, iron-like powder, which burns with brilliant scintillations in the air, forming titanium dioxide and nitride. It decomposes water at the boiling-point and is soluble in hydrochloric acid. It never occurs native, but is present as the dioxide in the minerals Rutile (q.v.), brookite, and anastase. Commercially it is of little value, and its chief outstanding property is the readiness with which it combines with nitrogen under the influence of heat.—Titanite, or sphene, is a soft mineral, green, yellow, or yellowish green, has strong refractive and dispersive power on light, and has a brilliant play of diamond-like colour-effects. It is often present in Syenite (q.v.).