5S8 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



of the greater part of its water by gentle heat, and then powdered 

 and moistened, and heated on charcoal, it gives no traces of arsenic, 

 although arseniate of copper is associated with it in the specimens. 

 The residue is a dark reddish slag or globule. 



The crystals are njjt soluble in boiUng water, but dissolve entirely 

 and pretty readily in nitric or muriatic acid, especially by the aid of 

 a gentle heat. The solutions have the colour belonging to copper 

 solutions ; and in the act of dissolving a very few bubbles of gas 

 may be observed to arise, indicating probably the presence of a mi^ 

 nute quantity of carbonate. The solutions yield, with barytic salts, 

 a white precipitate insoluble in acids ; and the nitric solution gives, 

 with nitrate of silver, a white and curdy precipitate insoluble in acida 

 or water, but soluble in ammonia. Ammonia in excess, added to 

 the original solution, gives the fine deep blue of copper. 



These appearances, in conjunction with the blowpipe reactions, 

 are sufficient to show that the constituents of the mineral are sul- 

 phuric acid, chlorine, copper, and a little water ; but Mr. Connell 

 had not sufficient of the mineral to determine the proportions of its 

 constituents. The chloride is apparently more abundant than the 

 sulphate. — Jameson's Journal, October 1847. 



ON THE FORMATION OF VALERIANIC ACID. BY M. THERAULT. 



The author remarks that it has been long known that the oil of 

 potatoes yields valerianic acid under the influence of the caustic alka-* 

 lies; and it has also been stated that the oil of valerian gave analogous 

 results. M. Therault thought it would be an interesting subject of 

 inquiry to determine in what manner this transformation occurs, and 

 whether it is complete or only partial ; and in the latter case to ex- 

 amine into the nature of the non-acidifiable product ; whether the 

 alkalies directly produced a true chemical reaction on the elements 

 of the oil ; and lastly, whether the intervention of other agents is not 

 requisite to effect the transformation. 



In order to resolve these questions, the following experiments were 

 performed, care being taken to operate with oil perfectly deprived of 

 any trace of acid. 



1 . A portion of oil was mixed with distilled water, and divided 

 into two parts, one of which was exposed to the contact of the air, 

 and the other put into a bottle to prevent its action. 



2. Another portion of the oil was mixed with caustic potash, per- 

 fectly dry and reduced to powder, and divided as in the preceding 

 experiment. 



3. A mixture was prepared of six parts of oil and three parts of 

 potash, previously dissolved in one part of water, and the mixture 

 was divided as in the foregoing experiments. 



The following observations were made on these mixtures. After 

 the contact of a month, that portion of the mixture of the first ex- 

 periment which had been submitted to the action of the air, had 

 become sensibly acid ; in the second portion no change had occurred. 

 In the second experiment no sensible trace of valerianic acid was 



