1887.] 4:2J [Smith. 



to estimate eleclrolyticallj^; cousequently, many suggestions have been 

 oifered, as to the best course to pursue in determining it in this manner. 

 In this note I purpose giving some results obtained by using an alkaline 

 solution of lead containing a phosphate. Employing a lead solution witli 

 an unknown quantity of lead, I took from it, 5 c.c, to which I added an 

 excess of disodium phosphate, dissolving the precipitate formed in sodium 

 hydroxide, then subjected the liquid to the action of a current derived 

 from three small Grove cells, for a period of two hours, after which the 

 action was interrupted ; the deposit of metallic lead was washed with 

 water, alcohol and ether, then carefully dried and weighed. In tliis man- 

 ner I obtained .0105 grs. Pb. A second experiment conducted under like 

 conditions gave a similar result. With 10 c.c. of the lead solution the 

 following amounts of lead were obtained : 



1. .0210 grams Pb. 3. .0213 grams Pb. 



2. .0215 " " 4. .0210 " 



The same current strength was used in all these determinations, but the 

 time varied from two to four hours. In all instances, the precipitated 

 metal showed a regular, compact appearance. 



I analyzed another lead solution of unknown strength, using, as before, 

 sodium phosphate and hydroxide, and obtained : 



.0225 grams ) p,^ 

 .0217 " / 



The current was from three small Grove cells. Time, 3^ hours. 

 Subsequently, I dissolved 8.7815 grams of lead nitrate in 350 c.c. water, 

 and treated as follows : 



1. One c.c. of the solution was precipitated by sodium phosphate, the 

 precipitate dissolved in sodium hydroxide and the solution exposed to the 

 action of a current from two Grove cells for two hours. In this way I 

 obtained a lead deposit equal to .0215 grams Pb. The metal, after being 

 ■washed with water, was dried in a current of hydrogen. This seemed 

 necessary and was done in the following determinations : 



2. Same as in 1 ; obtained .0220 grams Pb. 



3. Same as in 1 ; obtained .0213 grams Pb. 



4. Same as in 1 ; obtained .0220 grams Pb. 



The theoretical amount of lead in the electrolyzed solution was .0219 

 grams. 



These experiments indicate that the metal can be deposited in good form 

 from an alkaline phosphate solution, but to insure satisfactory results, 

 great care must be exercised in the drying, as the moist metal oxidizes 

 readily. 



II. Experiments in the Determination of Boric Acid. By E. B. Enerr. 



It was observed that a considerable quantity of uranium nitrate could 

 be added to a borax solution containing potassium ferrocyauide before the 



