POPULAR SCIENCE 



449 



unsuitable that the elements of the zero group should find place 

 here with the alteration, good on philological grounds, of 

 " helium " to " helion." More alteration would be required 

 in the more electronegative elements, for which the termina- 

 tion " us " might be suitable. Thus " phosphorus " would be 

 associated with " nitrogenus " (the closest analogy -in Latin 

 being such words as Trojugena). To these would be added 

 " oxygenus," and the " halogenus " group " fluorus, chlorus," 

 etc., which would form adjectives " chloridus, chloratus," etc., 

 or nouns " chloridum," etc., according to the convention 

 chosen. The classical word " sulfur-is " might have to remain 

 as an exception. 



The following specimens, almost literally translated from 

 plain descriptive chemistry, are presented, not as models of 

 style, but as showing how freely such familiar Latin could be 

 read by chemists who retain a few shreds of school Latin and 

 have the occasional aid of a dictionary. 



Properties of fused Silica. 



It does not crack on subjection to the 

 most violent and sudden changes of 

 temperature. 



It is unattacked by the volatile acids 

 with the exception of hydrofluoric acid. 



It has a melting-point approximately 

 equal to that of platinum. 



It is harder than ordinary glass. 



Above 1000° C. it is permeable to 

 hydrogen and certain other gases. 



Its coefficient of expansion is o - Oe59 

 per degree centigrade (about tt of that 

 of platinum). 



Its expansion up to iooo* C. is re- 

 gular; above 1200° C. it contracts. 



As far as is at present known, it 

 shows no tendency to devitrification. 



Its density is 2'2 (approximately). 



1 This hydrocarbon is apparently iden- 

 tical or isomeric with that obtained by 

 Liebermann ... by reduction of the 

 i-pimaric acid of Bordeaux colophony 

 with hydriodic acid. It was suggested 

 by Liebermann, who assigned to it the 

 formula CaoHja or CaoH 3 4, that it was 

 probably identical with the colophene 

 (or colophene dihydride) obtained by 

 Deville by the action of concentrated 

 sulphuric acid upon turpentine. 



Siliccz propria vitrosa. 



Non rimatur etiam per maximam aut 

 subitam temperaturse mutationem. 



Nullo aceto volatili corroditur excepto 

 hydrofluorico. 



Punctum liquefactionis paene idem 

 est ac platini. 



Durior est quam vitrum commune. 



Supra iooo°C. permeabilis est hydro- 

 genio et quibusdam aliis asribus. 



Expansio valet o'o 6 59t°C. (id est, 

 circa septimam decimam partem ex- 

 pansions platini). 



Usque ad 1000° C. aequaliter expan- 

 ditur, supra 1200° C. contrahitur. 



Quoad adhuc compertum est nulla 

 devitrificatio apparet. 



Densitas valet fere 2"2. 



Hoc hydrocarbon, ut videtur, aut idem 

 est ac illud quod Liebermannus confecit 

 per hydrogenationem aceti 3-pimarici 

 ex colophonio (Gallico) cum aceto 

 hydriodico, aut cum illo isomericum. 

 Putabat Liebermannus, qui ei formulam 

 C2oH3 2 vel CaoHj* assignaverit, fieri 

 posse ut idem fuerit ac colophen illud, 

 vel colophen dihydridum, quod Devillius 

 confecit per interactionem aceti sulfurici 

 fortis et terebinthi. 



