404f Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



arrived at the same result by using coloured liquors, and especially 

 by mixing a solution of cobalt with one of nickel, both perfectly pure, 

 and so diluted that their colour is nearly of equal intensity. The 

 rose-red colour of the cobalt is completely destroyed by the green of 

 the nickel, even in concentrated solutions, and the mixed liquid re- 

 mains colourless. — Journ. de Pharm. et de Chim., Mars 1850. 



ANALYSIS OF THE WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. 

 BY M. UZIGLIO. 



M. Marcel de Serres has made a report of the different memoirs 

 by M. Uziglio, relating to the analysis of the water of the Mediter- 

 ranean. 



A knowledge of the composition of the water of the Ocean and 

 of inland seas, is highly interesting in a geological point of view, on 

 account of the importance of these great fluid masses in the history 

 of the globe. It is not less interesting to the chemist and the ma- 

 nufacturer, who works upon the salts which these waters contain. 

 M. Uziglio rightly concluded that it was necessary again to analyse 

 the water of the Mediterranean, the chemists who preceded him not 

 having estimated with sufficient correctness the proportions of potash 

 and soda which are held in solution. 



The composition of the water of the Mediterranean cannot be com- 

 pared to that of the Ocean, since it is circumscribed in a basin which 

 is closed and limited, and hence it is more concentrated. In fact, 

 the saltness of the seas appears to be maintained by the salts sup- 

 plied from the water of the continents, and by the soluble substances 

 which mineral waters supply in their courses. Thus the water is 

 generally more salt near the coasts than in the open sea. On the 

 other hand, mineral waters, and particularly salt springs, greatly re- 

 semble sea-water. 



According to M. Uziglio, the principal substances contained in 

 the Mediterranean are sulphuric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic and 

 carbonic acids, MM. Figuier and Mialhe have also stated the pre- 

 sence of traces of phosphoric acid combined with magnesia. As to 

 bases, M. Uziglio has observed potash, soda, lime, magnesia and 

 oxide of iron, to which for the Ocean must be added oxide of man- 

 ganese. The best-known and the most abundant element of sea- 

 water is chlorine ; in fact 100 gramme? of the water of the Mediter- 

 ranean contain 2-0468 grs. of it, and only 00432 gr. of bromine, 

 which almost constantly accompanies the chlorine ; both occur com- 

 biiledwith sodium and potassium. 



The most important point in the researches of M. Uziglio into the 

 composition of the water of the Mediterranean, is the proof of the 

 quantity of potash which it contains. According to his analysis, this 

 quantity amounts to 0-0320 gr., or only 0-265 of potassium in 

 100 grammes. Notwithstanding the smallness of this quantity, M. 

 Uziglio presumes that before long the potash extracted from the 

 Ocean or the Mediterranean will replace the product of the lixivia- 



