Warwick.] ■*- ^4 [Nov. 6, 



acid and glj'cerine, through which a current of steam was allowed to pass 

 in order to prevent too great a rise of temperature, with the consequent 

 production of decomposition products ; the salt was allowed to crystallize 

 out by spontaneous evaporation in a current of warm air, and recrystal- 

 lized. An abundant crop of large, blue, monoclinic crystals was obtained, 

 having the composition Cu (C H0 2 ) 2 -f 4 H 2 0, efflorescing in dry air, solu- 

 ble in eight parts of water and changed by boiling to the sparingly soluble 

 basic salt Cu (C H0 2 ) 2 . 2 Cu (HO) 2 . 



Zinc Formate. 



A solution of ordinary crystallized zinc sulphate was treated with an 

 excess of sodium carbonate, heated almost to boiling, freed by decantation 

 from soluble impurity and dissolved in hot formic acid. The solution 

 was evaporated down and allowed to stand, after filtering off a slight 

 precipitate that formed on boiling, and which gave the iron reaction with 

 potassium sulphocyanate. 



Monoclinic prisms having the formula Zn (C H0 2 ) ? + 2 H 2 separated 

 out, isomorphous with the cadmium salt, permanent in the air and solu- 

 ble in twenty-four parts of water at ordinary temperature. 



Cadmium Formate. 



This salt was prepared by dissolving cadmium obtained by distillation 

 in vacuuo, in nitric acid, neutralizing with a hot solution of potassium 

 carbonate, washing by decantation until free from soluble carbonate and 

 dissolving in formic acid. Large monoclinic crystals separated out, hav- 

 ing the composition Cd (C H0 2 ) 2 -f 2 H 2 0, permanent in the air, readily 

 soluble in water. 



(Note. — The formulas of copper and cadmium formates are given as 

 follows : Cu (C H0. 2 ) 2 and Cd(CH0 2 ) 2 in the last edition of AVatts' 

 Dictionary of Chemistry, differing from all other authorities. Experi- 

 ments made to settle the question resulted in the formulas assigned, 

 which is in accordance with the ones usually given.) 



Lead Formate. 



Solutions of lead acetate and sodium formate were mixed and allowed 

 to stand. Large white anhydrous rhombic crystals gradually separated 

 out in radiating needles, sparingly soluble in cold water, more readily in 

 hot, but with partial decomposition into free acid, and a basic salt of 

 variable composition. 



Coealtous Formate. 



A hot solution of cobaltous sulphate was neutralized with caustic soda 

 solution, washed by decantation until free from all but traces of the pre- 

 cipitant, dissolved in formic acid, filtered, and allowed to evaporate in a 

 current of warm air. The salt separated in crusts, consisting of indistinct 

 crystals, having the composition Co(CH0 2 ) 2 -f 2H 2 0, dissolving with 

 difficulty to a reddish-colored solution. 



