CHKMISTRY. (!57 



Sodium Orthovanadates and iheir Analogues (by Harry Baker). — 

 Doubts expressed by Mendelejeff and by Eamuiol.sberf? as to the strict 

 analogies between phospLiorus, arsenic, and vanadium prompted tbe 

 author to prepare and examine closely the sodium salts of tribasic 

 orthovanadic acid. Trisodium phosphate and trisodium arsenate crys- 

 tallize in hexagonal prisms with 12 molecules of water, and Roscoe de- 

 scribes the corresponding vanadate as acicul.ir crystals with 16 mole- 

 cules of water. The author finds, however, that a vanadate having 12 

 molecules of water (NaaVO^.l^H.O), and crystallizing also in hexa- 

 gonal prisms, can be obtained without difficulty. 



Besides the latter, there exist two salts containing 10 molecules of 

 water, one of whicih crystallizes in the isomeric and the other in the 

 hexagonal systems. A third salt, crystallizing in rhombic tables, was 

 obtained by the author, but owing to the great difficulties experienced 

 in separating it from its mother liquid the water estimation was not 

 satisfactory ; it probably has the formula NajVO^.Sn^O. Phosphates 

 anjl arsenates analogous to the three salts last named are not yet known. 

 Sodium- vanadio-sodinm-fluoride, 2Na3V04.NaF1.19H20, is also described 

 by the author and its contents in water accurately determined as given. 



In conclusion, the author finds the analogies between vanadium, ar- 

 senic, and phosphorus strongly confirmed by the results of his investi- 

 gation. [Liebig's Aimalen, ccxxix, 286.) 



Recovery of Gold and Silver from Metallic Iron (by Dr. J. C. Booth). — 

 In the course of an interesting article on the " Smelting Furnace of 

 the U. S. Mint." the author gives his experience as to the best plan 

 for recovering metallic gold and silver from the iron grate-bars, tools, 

 &c. Formerly the iron was alternately heated and hammered until the 

 precious metals scaled ott". This operation took the labor of one dozen 

 men during three or more days of ten hours each, for tbe gold 

 clings with great tenacity to the iron ; nor was the method without 

 loss. At present all the iron residues from the furnaces, even includ- 

 ing the grate bars, are melted, and whde quietly melted the heavier gold 

 and silver settle out of the iron. When the mass is cold the precious 

 metal is knocked oSi the bottom by a hammer as a single tough ring, 

 with scarcely a trace of iron in it, while the iron above has never 

 yielded a trace of gold or silver to the assayer. {Jour. Am. Chem. Soc, 

 VII, 159.) 



An Electrical Furnace for Reducing Refractory Orea (by E. A. and A. 

 H. Oowles). — These gentlemen, together with Prof. 0. F. Mabery. have 

 devised an electrical furnace on the incandescent ])rinciple. A column 

 of fragments of well-calcined charcoal is embedded horizontally in finely- 

 pulverized charcoal and covered by a layer of the same material coarsei.\' 

 broken, the whole being arranged in a box of fire-brick covered with 

 H. Mis. 15 42 



