3^7)9 Scientific Intelligence. 



racic acid. It has little taste ; is sparingly soluble in cold water, and less 

 soluble in alcohol. The aqueous solution of it reddens litmus, and does 

 not precipitate solutions of the acetate of lead, nitrate of silver, muriate of 

 baryta or lirae, sulphate of magnesia, salts of iron, sulphate of copper, cor- 

 rosive sublimate, protosulphate of manganese, or emetic tartar. It forms 

 with magnesia a very soluble salt, which has an alkaline reaction. 



According to tliese researches of M. Plisson, the new alkali althein does 

 not exist. We believe he has established this point ; but some of his ob- 

 servations on his new acid it would be desirable to have confirmed by other 

 experiments. 



21. Analysis of a newly discovered Mineral Spring at Stanley, near 

 Wakefield. By Mr W. West. — {(Quarterly Journal of Science for July 

 1827.) 



An imperial gallon contains of 



Dry bicarbonate of soda, 56.0 grains. 



Sulphate of soda, 5.8 



Muriate of soda, 8.75 



Muriate of lime, 2.1 



72.65 grains. 



The gaseous contents of the water consist of variable proportions of car- 

 bonic acid, sulphuretted hydrogen, and carburetted Jiydrogen. The last 

 is continually emitted from the spring in larger quantity than the water 

 can absorb ; and a portion of the other two also escapes from its surface. 

 The spring was discovered in consequence of boring for coal, and the 

 water appeared at a depth of eighty yards from the surface. It runs in 

 all seasons at the rate of six gallons per minute. 



22. Test fur the presence of Nitric Acid. By Dr Ltebig. — The liquid 

 to be examined must be mixed with a sufficient quantity of a solution of 

 indigo in sulphuric acid to acquire a distinct blue colour, a few drops of 

 sulphuric acid added, and the whole boiled. If a nitrate is present, the 

 liquid will be bleached, or, if the quantity is very small, rendered yellow. 

 By this process nitric acid may be detected though diluted with 400 times 

 its weight of water ; or, by adding a little muriate of soda to the liquid be- 

 fore applying heat, l-500th part of nitric acid may be discovered. — Journal 

 of Science for July 1827, P- 204. 



23. Separation of Arsenic from Nickel or Cobalt. By M. Woehler. — The 

 following process is perhaps the most convenient for procuring nickel and 

 cobalt from arsenic. It is founded upon the circumstance, that many al- 

 loys, when heated with sulphuret of potash, are changed into a mixture 

 of sulphurets, and that sulphuret of arsenic is very soluble in sulphuret of 

 potash. One part of copper nickel, fused and reduced to fine powder, is to 

 be mixed with three parts of carbonate of potash and three of sulphur, and 

 heated in a Hessian crucible. The heat is to be gradually raised to redness, 

 and until the mass is just entering intp fusion, but by no means so high 



