190 Scientific Intelligence. 



on the instant, acting with the same rapidity as prussic acid. From thfc 

 volatility and noxious qualities of this substance, great care is necessary in 

 making experiments upon it. This circumstance, together with a deficient 

 supply of bromine, prevented M. Serullas from continuing the investiga- 

 tion of its properties. 



16. New Sources of Bromine, Poggendorffs Annals, 8th volume. — 

 The discovery of bromine in the water of the Dead Sea, made by Professor 

 Gmclin of Tubingen, has been confirmed by M. Hermbstaedt. This in- 

 teresting substance has also been found in several salt springs in Germany. 

 Thus it has been detected in the mother water of the salt works at Theo- 

 dorshalle by Professor Liebig, as mentioned in the last Number of this 

 Journal ; at the salt works at Rappenau in Baden by Professor Geiger ; 

 at those of Diirrheim, Schweningen, Wimpfen, and Jaxfeld, by Professor 

 Frommherz of Freyburg; and at those of Halle by Dr Meissner; of 

 Schonebeck by M. Hermann ; and of Rosenheim in Bavaria by Vogel. 



1 7. Supposed Chlorate of Manganese in the native Peroxide. Philos. Mu' 

 gazine, and Annals of Philosophy for April. — Mr MacMullin having ob- 

 served, (^Institution Journal, vol. xxii. p. 231,) that when sulphuric acid 

 is added to peroxide of manganese chlorine is evolved, he conceived it 

 might be derived from an admixture of muriate of manganese, iron, or 

 copper; but as, on washing some of the peroxide with water, he did not 

 find that any chloride of silver was precipitable from it, he concluded that 

 the peroxide in question contains no salt of muriatic acid. On continuing 

 his experiments to discover the source of the chlorine, he inferred that 

 the chlorine combined with the black oxide is in the state of chloric 

 acid ; and that the native oxide is, at least in part, and probably in 

 proportions varying with the diflferent specimens of the ore, a native chlo- 

 rate of manganese. 



This point has recently been examined by Mr Phillips, who has ar- 

 rived at a conclusion totally different. He procured first some common 

 peroxide of manganese, a second and pure specimen from Warwickshire, 

 and a third crystallized variety from Germany. These were reduced to 

 powder, and on the addition of sulphuric acid, chlorine was evolved from 

 each. Separate portions of them were then washed with distilled water; 

 and on the addition of nitrate of silver to the washings, the chloride of 

 silver was immediately precipitated ; whereas sulphuric acid being poured 

 upon the washed peroxide, no chlorine whatever was evolved. But being 

 unwilling to trust merely to his own observation, Mr Phillips added sul- 

 phuric acid to an unwashed portion, and to one which had been washed ; 

 — a bystander immediately deteqjed the odour of chlorine in the former, 

 but not in the latter case. 



To determine the nature of the salt which furnished the clilorine, Mr 

 Phillips evaporated a portion of the washings very low, in order that, if 

 any common salt were present, it might crystallize. He was however 

 unable to procure any of it : sulphuretted hydrogen indicated no appear- 

 ance of any metallic muriate, but oxalate of ammonia gave proof oi the 



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