“], /})} ; ‘ s 
{\ yD I ¢ / f j pu { ry 
LUEDEKING—ANOMALOUS DENSITIES OF FUSED BISMUTH. 297 
eters used by Vicentini were not sensitive enough for solution of 
the question concerning anomalous expansion of fused bismuth. 
I now proceed to compare his co-efficient of expans‘on of fused 
bismuth with that obtained in my experiments. It is nearly three 
times as great. In the extensive series of experiments made by 
Vicentini, his results agree very well with one another. I pre- 
sume, therefore, that the difference is due to a constant error in 
the method, which I think is to be found in his mode of filling 
the dilatometers. We know how tenaciously air adheres to glass 
vessels, and how difficult it is to get rid of it. Even that dila- 
tometer par excellence, the mercurial thermometer, contains air 
in appreciable quantities in most cases. Vicentini in simply 
filling his dilatometers with bismuth, and without resorting to 
the known methods of freeing them from air, must have quite 
a constant error in his absolute results. His co-efficient would 
be too high from this cause, whilst mine must be comparatively 
free from such influences. 
Chemical Laboratory Washington University. 
