CHEMISTRY. 499 



Six analyses gave results varying between .026 and. 043 per cent, carbon. 

 {Am. Chem. Journ.^ vi, 153.) 



Researches on Titanium Compounds, by Otto Freiherr v. d. Pfordten. — 

 Ebelmen obtained TiS? by heating together titanium chloride and sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen; the anthor obtains TiS in small crystals by heat- 

 ing the disnlphide in a cuirent of hydrogen, carefully excluding oxy- 

 gen. The former is yellow, the latter black in color. Attempts to 

 reduce TiO^ in a similar way yielded only the indigo-blue oxide TigOg 

 discovered by Deville. The anthor noticed the formation of gelatinous 

 titanic aeid, analogous to the silicium compound, noticed by H. Rose in 

 his investigations. {Berichte d. chem. Ges., xvii, 727.) 



Extraction of C cesium- and BuMdium from Hebron Lejndolite, by F. C. 

 Robinson and C. C. Hutchius. — The authors recommend mixing the 

 powdered mineral with an equal weight of fluor spar and heating the 

 mixture for some hours in a sand-bath with strong sul[)huric acid. 

 When cold the mass is broken up, lixiviated and filtered. The filtrate 

 contains the Cs, Rb, and K as alums, w'hich are easily separated by their 

 great differences in solubility at 17°. One thousand grams lepidolite 

 yielded about 30 grams csesium and rubidium alums. {Am. Chem. 

 Journ., VI, 74.) 



Electrolytic Magnesium. — Adolph Gratzel, of Hannover, Prussia, has 

 devised a method of preparing pure magnesium on a large scale by the 

 electrolysis of carnallite. This mineral, which abounds in the upper 

 part of the salt formation at Stassfurt, consists essentially of the chlo- 

 rides of magnesium and potassium with water, and contains from 31 to 

 36 j)er cent, of MgCl2. At the session of tLe German Chemical Society 

 in Berlin held March 10, 1884, Dr. Gratzel exliibited a bar of magnesium 

 weighing one-half kilogram and of great purity. The absence of sodium 

 is especially noted, a metal present in all commercial magnesium hith- 

 erto made. The electrolytic magnesium does not decompose water at 

 ordinary temi^eratures. If the new process will furnish magnesium in 

 abundance at a low price, the importance of this discovery will be very 

 great. {Berichte d. chem. Ges.) 



Magnesium Hydrosulphide ISolniion as a tSource of Hydrogen Sulphide., 

 by E. Divers and Tetsukichi Sbimidzu. — The authors wishing to obtain 

 a regular stream of pure hydrogen sulphide found that this could be 

 effected by gently heating a solution of magnesium hydrosulphide. 

 Ordinary hydrogen sulphide (from ferrous sulphide and hydrochloric 

 acid) is passed into water containing magnesia in suspension. The gas 

 is absorbed and the magnesia dissolves. On heating the colorless so- 

 lution to 60O-659 it gives out a steady current of hydrogen sulphide, 

 free from hydrogen and from hydrogen arsenide. The magnesia which 

 is precipitated during the evolution of the ga? may be again used in the 

 preparation of th'e magnesium hydrosulphide. {Chem. N'ews, L, 233.) 



