396 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



The editor of the Annalesde Chimie observes upon this analysis, 

 that the acid is composed of the same elements and in the same 

 proportions, as that described by MM. Liebig and Gay-Lussac, as 

 fulminic or cyanic acid ; but that, as the two substances differ 

 entirely in their properties, one must be obhged to admit that the 

 elements are combined in difierent ways. I'he subject, however, 

 he observes, requires further examination. — Ann. de Chim. 

 xxvii. 190. 



1 5. Boron, its preparation, &c. — The readiest method of obtaining 

 boron, without losing too much potassium, is to heat the potassium 

 ■with fluo-borate of potash*. Boron and silicium resemble each 

 other in their properties nearly as sulphur and silicium, or as 

 phosphorus and arsenic. I have produced sulphuret of boron ; a 

 white and pulverulent substance, which dissolves in water, yield- 

 ing sulphuretted hydrogen gas. Boron burns in chlorine. The 

 chloride of boron is a permanent gas which is decomposed in 

 moist air, producing a dense vapour ; and in water giving muriatic 

 and boracic acids. It condenses one and a half times its volume 

 of ammoniacal gas. Berzelius — Bib. Univ. xsvi. 277. 



16. Action of Alum on Vegetable Blue Colours. — It is commonly 

 stated in chemical works, that a solution of alum has the property 

 of reddening vegetable colours. With the exception of litmus, 

 where the effect is very decided, and of tincture of cabbage, 

 where the effect is trifiing, a contrary effect is experienced ; the 

 solution has turned the colours (which were generally obtained 

 from the blue petals of flowers) green. H. B. Lekson. 



17. Preparation of Lithia. — -M. Berzelius says, the most econo- 

 mical way of preparing lithia is to mix the triphane, or spodu- 

 mene, in powder, with twice its weight of pulverized fluor spar, 

 and with sulphuric acid ; then to heat the mixture until the fluoric 

 acid with the silica is volatilized, and afterwards to separate the 

 sulphate of lithia by solution.— ^£26. U7iiv. xxvi. 279. 



18. On Sulpho-iodide of Antimony, hi/ MM. Henry and Garot. — 

 When very dry iodine and sulphuret of antimony are mixed in 

 equal parts, and sublimed in dry vessels by the moderated heat of 

 a sand-bath, red vapours appear, which condense on the upper and 

 cooler parts of the vessels, whilst a greenish-grey mixture of 

 protoxide of antimony with a little iodide and sulphuret remains. 



The condensed volatile substance appears in brilliant translucid 

 plates, resembling fern-leaves in form, of an intense poppy-red 

 colour; if the vessels in which the sublimation has been made 



* See Preparation of Silicium, p. 1j7. 



