334 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 54 



Another research, carried out under Gutbier by Janssen,' involved the 

 synthesis of bismutli snlpliate. Bismuth was first dissolved in nitric 

 acid, and then, witii snlplmiic acid, converted into sulphate. The latter 

 compound was freed from moisture and excess of acid by heating to 380°, 

 at which temperature its weight was constant. The results obtained were 

 as follows : 



Mean, 59.084, ± .0042 

 Hence Bi = 208.085. 

 The subjoined ratios are now available for discussion : 



(1). Bi,03:2Bi: : 100: 89.6683, ± .00044 

 ( 2 ) . Bi^ ( SO J 3 : 2Bi : : 100 : 59.084, ± .0042 

 (3). Bi,03:Bu(S0J;,: :100:151.729, ± .0099 

 (4). 3Ag:BiCl3::100:98.003, ± .090 

 (5). 3AgBr:BiBr,: : 100: 79.467, ± .0042 



To reduce these ratios we have — 



Hence, 



From ratio 5 Bi = 207.921, ± .0239 



" 2 208.085, ± .0260 



" 3 208.171, ± .0445 



" 1 208.295, ± .0095 



" 4 210.802, ± .2914 



General mean. Bi = 208.224, ± .0082 



This value is probably too high, mainly because of Classen's determina- 

 tions. Rejecting them, and also the worthless determination by Dumas, 

 the general mean becomes 



Bi = 208.062, ± .0096 



which value is to be accepted. It is also sustained by Braunor's ' state- 

 ment that Kuzma, by syntheses of bismuth sulphate from bismuth 

 oxide, has obtained the value Bi = 208.0,±.l. The details of Kuzma's 

 work are yet to be published. 



' InauR. Diss.. Erlangen, 1906. 



-In Abegg's " Handbueh," 3 (3), 634. 



