200 Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



quarter of an hour the tube is filled with solid hydrate. — Annalen 

 der Physik, xiv. 485. 



2. Detection of Iodine. — M. Balard's process for the detection 

 of iodine, which consists in mixing the fluid to be examined with 

 starch, sulphuric acid and chlorine, is the most delicate that is 

 known. M. Casaseca has remarked that when the quantity of 

 hydriodate is very small, the blue indicating ring cannot be seen 

 at the part where the solution of chlorine is in contact with the 

 water containing the starch and acid ; then the whole should be 

 strongly agitated and left for a while, when the starch acquires 

 a distinct violet colour. One part of hydriodate of potash was 

 dissolved in 2 parts of distilled water; a drop weighing 0.0455 

 grammes was put into 14 litres of water, to which were added 2 

 grammes of starch, a little sulphuric acid, and 8 drops of a solution 

 of chlorine: in 14 hours the starch became slightly coloured, in 

 24 hours strongly tinted of an amethystine or violet hue. Hence 

 it appears the test thus applied is able to detect 0.0000008 of a 

 part of iodine in solution. — Jour, de Pharmacie. 



3. Preparation of Hydriodic Ether. — A method proposed by 

 M. SeruUas for obtaining this compound is as follows : Put 40 

 parts of iodine and 100 parts of alcohol into a tubulated retort, 

 and add 2^ parts of phosphorus in fragments, at the same time 

 shaking the retort j distil nearly to dryness, then add from 25 to 

 30 parts more of alcohol, continue the distillation, and cease at 

 the same point as before. Add water to the product, the ether 

 will immediately separate and sink ; it is to be washed in the 

 usual way, and rectified from off some fragments of chloride of 

 calcium. — A7in. de Chimie, xlii. 119. 



4. Chlorideof Phosphorus and Sulphur. Serullas. — Bypassing 

 a moderate current of dry sulphuretted hydrogen into a vessel 

 containing perchloride of phosphorus, muriatic acid was evolved 

 and a liquid compound produced ; the latter, being collected and 

 rectified by distillation in a small retort, was obtained as a limpid 

 colourless liquid, heavier than water, with a sharp aromatic odour, 

 mingled with that of sulphuretted hydrogen j producing vapours 

 in the air, and boiling at 257° F. 



This substance was found to contain nothing but chlorine, 

 phosphorus, and sulphur, in the following proportions : 



3 Proportionals Chlorine . . . 10.194 

 1 Ditto . . Phosphorus . . 3.010 

 1 Ditto » . Sulphur . . , 3.080 



16.284 

 Ann. de Chimie, xlii. 25. 



5. On the Effect of Ammonical Gas upon Heated Metals, — It is 



