CHEMISTRY. 451 



change lieretofore haviug been deceptive, ou account of impurities in 

 the atropine examined. (Berichte, xxi, 3065.) 



Coloring matter from Drosera Whittal-eri. — From the tubers of this 

 South Australian plant Eennie has isolated a magnificent red coloring 

 matter which dyes silk brilliantly. It crystallizes easily from solution 

 in hot alcohol or glacial acetic acid, and has the formula CuHsOs. From 

 experiments upon the oxidation and reduction of the compound, Een- 

 nie infers that it may be a trihydroxymethyluaphthaquinone. (Jour. 

 Chem. Soc, li, 371.) 



The supposed identity of rutin and quercitrin. — These two tinctorial 

 substances appioximate to each other so nearly in properties and com- 

 position, that the question of their identity or distinctness has not 

 hitherto been settled. By the action of strong acids both are decom- 

 posed into qnercetin and isodulcite, they dye similar colors, and have 

 many properties in common. Schunck now points out a number of 

 differences in physical characteristics and reactions, and by careful 

 analyses shows that whereas quercitrin contains two molecules of iso- 

 dulcite to one of qnercetin, rutin has three of isodulcite to one of 

 qnercetin. The differences and similarities are thus easily explained. 

 (Jour. Chem. Soc, liii, 262.) 



The fluorides of the paraffin radicles. — Several of these compounds 

 have been prei^ared and described by Moissan, partly in co-oi)eration 

 wfth Melsans. They are produced by acting on silver fluoride with the 

 parafiBn iodides, and up to isobutyl llnoride they are gaseous at ordi- 

 nary temperatures. Methyl fluoride is a colorless gas of extreme sta- 

 bility, which is saponifiable only with difficulty. It can be liquefled in 

 Cailletet's apparatus. The ethyl compound liquefies at— 48, under 

 normal pressure, and isobutyl fluoride becomes liquid at -f lO*^. The 

 gases are combustible, and burn with a blue flame. (Compt. Kend., cvii, 

 260, 992, 1155.) 



The action of fluoride of silicon upon organic bases. — By acting upon 

 aniline, orthotoluidine, paratoluidiue, diphenylamine, dimethylauiline, 

 and chinoline with silicon fluoride, Comey and Jackson have prepared 

 II series of compounds which they designate silicotetrafluorides. In 

 these compounds the nitrogen appears to be quinquivalent, one of its 

 bonds being satisfied by fluorine and another by silicon. (Am. Chem. 

 Jour., X, 165.) 



Other organic fluorine compounds, substitution derivatives of the 

 aromatic series, are described by AVallach and Ileusler. Among them 

 are difiuobenzene, parafluoanilin, fluonitrobenzene, parafluoi»henol, fluo- 

 pseudocumene, fluodipbenyl, etc. (Ann. d. Chem., ccxLiii, 219.) 



Organo-metaUic com2)ounds.-;-The question as to the valency of bismuth 

 is settled by the researches of Michaelis and Polls on bismuth triphenyl. 

 This compound unites directly with two atoms of chlorine or bromine, 

 to form halogen salts in which the metal is definitely pentavalent. (Be- 

 richte, XX, 5-4.) 



