1 58 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



The Committee appointed to superintend the preliminary arrange- 

 ments have already received notice of the intended presence of 

 several of the most eminent men of science in Europe. The Geo- 

 logical Society of France meets in the beginning of September at 

 Mezieres, and after examining the country there, and around 

 Namur, Liege, and Aix la-Chapelle, joins the German Association 

 at Bonn. The attractions of such an assemblage will be greatly 

 heightened by the beauty of the country around the place of meet- 

 ing ; and the neighbouring Siebengebirge, Laacher See, and Eifel 

 will present especial objects of interest to the geologist. 



There will be sufficient time to go to Bonn after the meeting of 

 the British Association in Dublin, and we hope that our own coun- 

 try will be worthily represented in all the departments of physical 

 and medical science. Those who mean to go will do well to give 

 notice in due time ; in order that they may not be disappointed as 

 to accommodations. We know that in the true spirit of German 

 hospitality, the Committee are anxious to provide comfortable 

 quarters for all strangers ; but the town is small, and therefore they 

 should have as early notice as possible. Letters should be ad- 

 dressed to Professor Noggerath. 



ON THOSPHURET OF AZOTE. BY M. LIEBIO. 



This compound is obtained by saturating solid chloride of phos- 

 phorus with dry ammoniacal gas : a white mass is formed, from 

 which cold water separates a great quantity of muriate of am- 

 monia. From this it appears that there is reaction and decomposi- 

 tion when these substances are mixed, and what especially proves 

 it is, that on cooling during the preparation, the quantity of mu- 

 riate of ammonia dissolved does not diminish. The water used for 

 this solution does not contain a trace of phosphate, so that it may 

 be concluded that all the phosphorus remains in the residue. 



The washing may be continued for several weeks, and the last 

 waters always give a precipitate with nitrate of silver; so that the 

 insoluble white substance appears to be a compound of phosphuret 

 of azote and muriate of ammonia, and which is indefinitely decom- 

 posed by washing. 



The muriate of ammonia is more readily dissolved when the sub- 

 stance is repeatedly boiled with a solution of potash, and afterwards 

 with dilute nitric or sulphuric acid ; when it is long boiled with po- 

 tash, ammonia is continually evolved, without the substance under- 

 going any change of appearance. A portion of it thus treated was 

 well washed and dried with much care: 0*738 gramme of it were 

 acted on by a mixture of carbonate of soda and a little nitre. The 

 matter treated with water was saturated with nitric acid, and ni- 

 trate of silver added to it, gave 0*015 of chloride =0-0037 of chlo- 

 rine, or 0*0005 per cent. This small quantity of chlorine which 

 the substance still retained, proves how difficult it is to remove the 

 last traces of muriate of ammonia. 



The white substance, purified by long ebullition with potash, is 

 not pure phosphuret of azote, for it contains a quantity of com- 



