404 RECORD. OF SCIENCE FOR 1886. 



(9) The properties of the three sulphides are fully described and 

 compared. (Am. Chem., ccxxxiv, 257.) 



Occurrence of Titanium in Eruptive Rods and Clays. — The work done 

 in the division of chemistry and physics of the U. S. Geological Survey 

 during the year 1884-'85 forms Bulletin No. 27 of the series issued by 

 the Survey. The chemical papers include one on topaz from Stoneham, 

 Maine, by F. W. Clarke, the chief chemist, a method of separating 

 titanium and aluminium, by F. A. Gooch, a method of filtration, by the 

 same author, and a number of miscellaneous analyses of minerals, 

 rocks, soils, ores, and water. Analyses of several eruptive rocks and 

 of clays show a considerable percentage of titanium : 



Rock. 



Per ceut. 

 TiO.,. 



Horublende-andesite, from Hague Volcano, Bogosloft' Island, Alaska 



Eruptive rock from New Mexico 



Another specimen from New Mexico 



Basalt, from New Mexico 



Clay, Henry County, Illinois 



Another sample from Illinois 



Clay from Dodgeville, Wisconsin 



1.24 

 0.92 

 2.67 

 2.76 



0.79 

 0.64 

 0.45 



A New Oxide of Zirconium and its Utility in the Determination of this 



Element, Bailey. — By the action of hydrogen peroxide on zirconium 



sulphate the author obtained a white bulky precipitate, which proved to 

 have the formula ZrgOs. This is a perfectly stable and definite body, 

 less readily soluble in dilute sulphuric acid than ZrOz, and of positive 

 utility in analytical determinations. Hydrogen peroxide does not pre- 

 cipitate iron, aluminium, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tin, nor silicon 

 and the zirconium can be separated from all or any of these. With a 

 moderately concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide the precipita- 

 tion is complete. (J. Chem. Soc, XLix, 149.) 



Researches on Uranium, by Clemens Zimmermann ; Third Paper, pub- 

 lished after the author's death by George Alibegoff" and Gerhard 

 Kriiss. — A careful examination of the reactions of the oxide of uran- 

 ium, U3O8, has led the author to the conclusion that the oxide U2O5 of 

 Peligot is a mixture, and that a body having this composition does not 

 exist. Peligot's results were based on the behavior of UsOg when ig- 

 nited in the air. Zimmermann finds that U:i08 ignited in the air loses 

 varying quantities of oxygen, but if ignited in an indift'erent gas, like N 

 or CO2, the uranic oxide is gradually and completely converted into UO2. 

 UaOa is only absolutely stable when ignited in a current of oxygen. 

 The color of the UsOa varies with the method of preparation, and there- 

 fore can not be used to control itvS purity, 



