CHEMISTRY — BASKERVII.LE. 



145 



of oxidation had been produced with consequent difference in conduct 

 of its compounds from the normal tetravalent thorium. To deter- 

 mine this the metallic thorium (99 per cent pure) was subjected to 

 the action of pure dr}- chlorine without the presence of any oxygen. 

 The total material was converted into the chloride in the apparatus 

 described in the original paper at a temperature of 500°, when no 

 appreciable amount of the volatile portion passed over. The temper- 

 ature was raised to 860° C. , and the residue in the boat so treated 

 three times a week each time — in fact, until no more volatile body 

 was observed. The distillation was carried out with great slowness 

 to avoid, as far as possible, the mechanical transportation of small 

 particles. 



A determination of the atomic weight of the residue, after it had 

 been subjected to the usual vigorous treatment for purification, gave 

 the value 241.2. The berzelium portion treated in the same way 

 gave a value, 216.3, assuming both as tetravalent. EfiForts so far 

 to determine the molecular weight, that the actual atomic equiva- 

 lence may be known, have not been successful on account of the 

 dissociation of the product used, or a question as to the actual com- 

 position and its freedom from the other constituents. 



SOME ORGANIC SALTS OF CAROUNIUM. 

 Charles Baskerville with S. Jordan. 



The following organic salts of carolinium have been prepared and 

 examined in part : Formate, acetate, oxalate, lactate, acetyl-acetonate, 

 malate, succinate, citrate, tartrate, and salicylate. 



ON THE COMPOSITION OF THORIUM SULPHATE IN SOLUTION. 

 Charles Baskerville and H. F. Sill. 



The specific conductivity of thorium sulphate solutions at 25° C. 

 was determined between the concentrations 2V to yi^^^o molar, as 

 per the following table : 



Ruer (Zeitsch. An. Ch., 42, 87) found that in solutions contain- 

 ing Zr(S04)j and H^SO^ in equi-molecular proportions the zirconium 



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