16 JOURNAIv OF THE 



it was rapidly attacked, the action being about the same 

 as in the experiment just mentioned. An inflammable 

 gas was evolved. 



In conclusion, we would give due credit to Mr. W. R. 

 Kenan, who carefully verified some of the experiments 

 here recorded. 



University of North Carolina, 

 February. 1895. 



ZIRCONIUM SULPHITE. 



BY F. P. VENABIvK AND CHARLES BASKE^RVILLi:. 



Ver}^ little is recorded in the text-books on chemistry 

 with regard to this compound of zirconium. Berthier 

 is reported as having- examined it and found it to be a 

 white insoluble body, slio-htly soluble, however, in an 

 aqueous solution of sulphurous acid, from which it is 

 thrown down agfain upon boiling*. Whether this was 

 what is commonly known as the neutral, or the acid, 

 or a basic sulphite, is not recorded. It is hig^hly proba- 

 ble that with so weak an acid as sulphurous acid, zir- 

 conium would form under these circumstances only 

 basic compounds. We may state with reg'ard to our 

 own work that we have been unable with one exception 

 to form any sulphite corresponding- to the acid or the 

 neutral. Only very indefinite compounds or mixtures 

 of the sulphite with the hydroxide have come into our 

 hands, as a rule. 



The subject was first brought to our attention by 

 the study of the reaction utilized by Baskerville for the 

 quantitative separation of zirconium from iron and 



