INDUSTEIAL PKOGRESS DURING THE YEAR 187G. Ixxvii 



Laspeyres has investigated the chemical constitution of the natu- 

 ral and artificial oxides of manganese, called brauusteins, with a 

 view to determine the equivalence of the metal manganese. 



Mermet has proposed a very delicate test for the so-called sulpho- 

 carbonates, now coming into extended use among grape-culturists as 

 remedies for the phylloxera. If to an extremely dilute solution of 

 a salt of nickel in ammonia a few drops of the solution to be tested 

 be added, a characteristic currant-red color is developed. Tliis test 

 is extremely delicate, showing co o o o ^^' even go o o o of sulpho-carbon- 

 ate in a solution. Braun had proposed some time before the sulpho- 

 carbonate as a very delicate test for the presence of nickel. 



Lecoq de Boisbaudran, the discoverer of the new element gallium, 

 has given laboratory methods for the extraction of this metal from 

 the blendes in whicli it occurs. A list of blendes is given, together 

 with their relative values as sources of gallium. The best one is that 

 called the black blende of Bensberg. 



He has subsequently communicated additional facts concerning 

 his new metal, gallium. He has prejDared the metal itself electro- 

 lytically, and a piece of it weighing 3.4 milligrammes was presented 

 to the Academy by M. Wurtz. The siDCctrum consists of only the 

 two lines already mentioned, of wave lengths 417 and 403.2 respect- 

 ively. He has succeeded finally in obtaining a grain and a half 

 of the metal in the pure state, and has determined that it melts at 

 85.1 Fahr., so that it liquefies when held in the hand. Its specific 

 gravity is 4.7, water being 1. 



Guyard has thrown considerable light on the formation of aniline 

 black by the discovery that the salts of vanadium have a marked in- 

 fluence in producing it. This he attributes to the facility with 

 which this metal passes from one state of oxidation to another. 



Bedson has made a series of experiments on compounds formed 

 by the union of ether with certain chlorides of the metals. He has 

 succeeded in forming such compounds with vanadium oxychloride 

 and with titanium tetrachloride. Titanium trichlorhydrin is also 

 formed. 



Aronheim has suggested the use of molybdenum pentachloride as 

 a most eificient chlorine carrier. While endeavoring to find a sol- 

 vent for this substance, the fact appeared that even benzene when 

 heated, after dissolving this body, evolved torrents of hydrochloric- 

 acid gas. Further experiment proved its great sui^eriority to iodine 

 in this respect, because (1) it is more energetic and rapid, (2) carries 

 the chlorinating more uniformly from one stage to the next, and (3) 

 can be removed, after the reaction is finislied, much more easily. 



Terrell has communicated to the French Chemical Society the 

 analysis of the magnetic platinuui of Nischne-Tagilsk. The mag- 

 netic metals present are iron (8.18 per cent.) and nickel (0.75 per 

 cent.). There is also given in the analysis 3.13 jjer cent, chrome iron. 



