154; Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



trogen. When metals are dropped into this liquid, they produce a 

 noise like that of red-hot iron immersed in water. Quicksilver 

 causes the same noise, instantly freezes, and affords a hard brittle 

 mass, white like silver, which it perfectly resembles in appearance. 

 Potassium floats upon the liquid, and experiences no change ; the 

 same is the case with charcoal, sulphur, phosphorus and iodine. 

 Ignited charcoal floats upon the surface of the liquid, and burns 

 with considerable brilliancy, and frequently until the whole is con- 

 sumed. Ordinary sulphuric acid and concentrated nitric acid freeze 

 immediately, i^ther and alcohol mix with the liquid without 

 freezing. Water is instantly converted into ice; but it produces 

 such a sudden evaporation of a portion of the liquid, that it causes 

 suddenly a kind of explosion, which would be dangerous if merely 

 a few grammes of water were poured at once into the liquid. — 

 Comptes Hendus, Nov. 6, 1848. 



ON THE URATES. 



MM. Allan and Bensch have examined several of these salts. 



Neutral Urate of Potash is obtained with greater facility than has 

 been supposed. It is prepared by saturating a cold dilute solution 

 of potash, free from carbonate, with uric acid diffused in water, and 

 then concentrating the solution by ebullition in a retort. At a cer- 

 tain point of concentration the salt separates in fine needles ; the 

 matter is allowed to remain a few minutes, the liquid is poured off 

 and the crystals are washed, first with weak and afterwards with 

 stronger alcohol. 



The salt thus obtained is very soluble in water, has a strong caustic 

 taste, attracts carbonic acid from the air quickly, and is gradually 

 decomposed by boiling in water. 



The crystals are anhydrous, and gave by analysis a composition 

 corresponding to C^ N* H^ O^, KO. 



This salt is soluble in 44 parts of cold and 35 of boiling water. 



Urate of Soda. — The preparation of this salt succeeded by adojjting 

 a process corresponding to the preceding. One part of it dissolved 

 in 77 parts of cold and 75 parts of boiling water. 



Neutral Urate of Ammonia and Neutral Urate of Magnesia. — 

 Neither of these salts could be obtained. Attempts were made, but 

 also in vain, to prepare double salts of magnesia and ammonia, potash 

 or soda. 



Neutral Urate of Lime. — ITiis is readily obtained by adding, 

 drop by drop, a neutral solution of urate of potash to a boiling solu- 

 tion of chloride of calcium, \mtil the precipitate, which at first re- 

 dissolves, begins to be permanent ; the limpid liquid is then to be 

 boiled for an hour ; the neutral urate is then deposited in the state 

 of anhydrous grains at 212° ; they contain C^ N'' H^ O^, CaO. One 

 part of this salt dissolves in 1500 of cold water and 1400 of boiling 

 water. 



The acid salt of lime is more soluble than the neutral salt ; it re- 

 quires only 603 parts of cold and 276 of boiling water for solution. 



