466 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



coloured blue by iodine, and obtained A compound which gave two 

 distinct colours with starch, one brown, the other yellow ; the differ- 

 ence of colour corresponding- with the two bromides of iodine de- 

 scribed by M. Balard. These compounds of iodine and bromine, 

 dissolved in a solution of starch, were subjected to the voltaic pile: 

 immediately the yellow solution became blue about the negative 

 pile, and orange about the positive pile, indicating the separation 

 and places of the iodine and bromine. Thus the smallest quantity of 

 iodine may be discovered in bromine ; but when the experiment was 

 resorted to, to prove whether the idea thrown out, that bromine 

 was a compound of chlorine and iodine, was founded in fact or not, 

 it gave no such indication, and a solution of bromine in starch elec- 

 trified for a long time together, gave no appearance of iodine. 

 Hence M. de la Rive concludes, that bromine contains no iodine, 

 but is an element analogous to iodine and chlorine. 



When bromine and iodine are combined, the former passes to 

 the positive pole, and is consequently more negative than the latter ; 

 which accords with the observation of M. Balard, that it should 

 occupy a place between chlorine and iodine. 



According to the Bulletin Universelle, when the letter to M. Arago, 

 containing an account of the facts above referred to, was read to 

 the Academy of Sciences, that body decided that the assertion of 

 M. Dumas that bromine was a compound of chlorine and iodine 

 should be considered as retracted, and that it should be so entered, 

 upon the proc^s-verbal of the sitting. — A. viii. 209. 



6. Quantity of Bromine in Sea- Water. — One hundred pounds of 

 sea-water, taken up at Trieste, treated by chlorine, ether, &c., ac- 

 cording to M. Balard's process, produced five grains of bromide of 

 sodium, or 3.278 grains of bromine. It would appear that, in the 

 sea-water of Trieste, the bromine is unaccompanied by any iodine, 

 and the same is the case, according to M. Hermbstadt, with the 

 waters of the Dead Sea. In the water of the Mediterranean^ on 

 the contrary, iodine always appears with the bromine. 



7. Sale of Bromine. — The discoverer of bromine, M. Balard, has 



been enabled, by his improvements, to prepare that peculiar body 



in quantities sufficient to permit its sale. It may be obtained at his 



shop. Rue Argenterie h Montpellier, or at M. Quesneville's manu- 



actory of chemical substances at Paris. The price is four francs 



the gros (about 60 grains), fourteen fraiics the half ounce, and 

 twenty-three francs the ounce. 



8. Preparation of lodous Acid. — M. Pleischl says that, in pre- 

 paring this acid, three parts of chlorate of potash with one of iodine 

 are to be used, and not equal parts according to M. Sementini ; and 

 also that it is indispensable to cool the receiver considerably during 

 the whole operation* 



