BISMUTH. 203 



Hence B = 215 in round numbers, a value now known 

 to be much too high. Lagerhjelm also oxidized bismuth 

 with nitric acid, and, after ignition, weighed the trioxide 

 thus formed. Ten parts of metal gave the following quan- 

 tities of Bi2 03 : 



II. 1382 



II. 1275 



Mean, 11.132S5 



Hence, if O = 1(3, Bi = 211.85, a figure still too high. 



In 1851 the subject of the atomic weight of bismuth was 

 taken up by Schneider,* who, like Lagerhjelm, studied the 

 oxidation of the metal with nitric acid. The work was 

 executed with a variety of experimental refinements, by 

 means of which every error due to possible loss of material 

 was carefully avoided. For full details the original paper 

 must be consulted ; there is only room in these pages for the 

 actual results, as follows. The figures represent the percen- 

 tages of Bi in BijO, : 



89.652 



89.682 



89.644 



89.634 



89.656 



89.666 



89-655 



89-653 



Mean, 89.6552, i .0034 



Hence Bi = 207.523, ± .082 ; or, if = 16, Bi ^ 208.001. 



Finally, we come to the results obtained by Dumas. t 

 Bismuth trichloride was prepared by the action of dry 

 chlorine upon bismuth, and repeatedly rectified by dis- 

 tillation over bismuth powder. The product was weighed 

 in a closed tube, dissolved in water, and precipitated with 

 sodium carbonate. In the filtrate, after strongl}' acidulating 



" Poggend. Annal., 82, 303. 1851. 



f Ann. de Chim. et de Phys., (3,) 55, 176. 1859. 



