Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 77 



same takes place with regard to alcohol ; the temperature, beginning 

 at 140, rises at last to the boiling point of the liquid. When this 

 takes place, the greater part of the alcohol burns ; but before the 

 burning commences, light blue flames are visible, which Drcbereiner 

 also observed upon the vaporization of aether dropped on hot platina. 

 Mr. R. F. Marchand wishes to guard against the inference that might 

 be drawn from this experiment, that he considered that the liquids 

 used were decomposed. The formation of lampic acid is based upon 

 the fact, that the undecomposed vapour of alcohol passing within a 

 certain distance, immediately over the hot metallic surface, is oxidated, 

 which is also the case with platina wire. If the vapour were in ac- 

 tual contact with the metallic surface it would inflame. 



Both experiments are a confirmation of Buff's explanation of the 

 repulsion in Poggendorff's Annals, xxi., which is so full and satis- 

 factory that it is unnecessary to look for any further elucidation. 

 Journal fur Pratische Chemie, 1840. No. 1. 



ANALYSIS OF THE ASHES OF THE Sdlsola TragUS. 

 M. Guibourt has analysed the ashes of this plant from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cherbourg. He found that it consisted, independently 

 of some silica, of 



Carbonate of potash 29*04 



Chloride of potassium 17'89 



Sulphate of potash 4'93 



Carbonate of lime 40*26 



Phosphate of lime and oxide of iron 7 '88 



100. 



M. Guibourt observes, that it is curious that the salts of the ashes 

 should contain potash as the alkali, and that it constitutes an ex- 

 ception to a maritime plant containing no soda. Journ. de Chim. 

 Med. Mars, 1840. 



UNCOMBINED HYPOSULPHUROUS ACID. 



M. Langlois, professor of chemistry at Strasburg, has succeeded 

 in isolating hyposulphurous acid ; he obtained it perfectly pure by 

 decomposing hyposulphate of potash, with oxichloric acid, which 

 forms an insoluble salt with potash. 



The acid thus obtained is liquid, colourless, and of a slightly 

 syrupy consistence. A period arrives when its density cannot be 

 increased without partially decomposing it. Its taste is strongly 

 acid and bitter ; it does not appear to be very caustic. When ex- 

 posed to the air, it attracts moisture, when heated in a glass tube 

 to 176 Fahr., and there are produced a deposit of sulphur and sul- 

 phurous acid gas. It does not render the solutions of the salts of 

 lime and strontia turbid. It produces no effect upon the solutions 

 of the salts of iron, zinc, or copper ; but with the salts of lead it 

 yields a white precipitate which becomes black when heated. In 

 the solution of nitrate of silver it forms at first a yellowish preci- 



