384 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



obtained, if afterwards a sufficient quantity of acid be added, to 



decompose the carbonate of manganese formed. These alkaline 

 carbonates are modified, therefore, like the radiated natron of 

 Tripoli, which I have ascertained to be composed as follows : 



Bi-carbonate of soda, 1 = 30 soda + 41.4 carbonic acid 



Carbonate of soda . 1 =: 30 h 20.7 carbonic acid 



Water . . . . 4 



The same compound, is formed, if one part of bi-carbonate of 

 soda, and four of water, be boiled until gas ceases to be libe- 

 rated. I have not as yet been able to obtain the radiated crys- 

 talline structure. — Bib. Univ. xxii. 123*. 



17. Formation of Calcareous Spar. — Mr, Haig, on pouring 

 out the contents of a bottle of Saratoga water, which had stood 

 several years in a cellar, found the bottom to contain well- 

 defined crystals of calcareous spar, which, on being split, ex- 

 hibited the usual appearance of that substance. — Edin. Jourii. 



18. Action of Animal Charcoal on Lime. — Animal charcoal 

 is not only capable of separating colouring matter and extrac- 

 tive from solution, but will even remove lime from them. This 

 may be proved according to Payen, by boiling 100 parts of 

 lime-water for a few seconds with 10 parts of animal charcoal, 

 and then testing the clear liquor by oxalate of ammonia ; not a 

 particle of lime will be found in it. Vegetable charcoal, or 

 lamp-black, do not produce this eftect. 



19- Bizio on Virgin Wax. — Sig. Bizio has separated wax into 

 two substances : it is to be boiled in alcohol until the whole is 

 dissolved, and the solution then allowed to cool, and its tem- 

 perature lowered 10° or 20° below the freezing point; a large 

 quantity of white matter then separates, which is the wax; and 

 there remain in solution the colouring principle, and an acid 

 substance, which strongly reddens tincture of turnsole. The 

 solid precipitate being separated by a filter, the fluid was eva- 

 porated, and left a fatty substance, of the consistence of butter, 

 of a yellow colour, having the odour of honey, and melting at 

 a temperature of 1 16° F. — Giornale di Fisica, v. 374. 



20. Separation of Elaine from Oils. — This process is due to 

 M. Pictet, and is founded on the property possessed by stea- 

 rine, of being saponified by cold strong alkaline solutions, 

 which does not belong to elaine. In order to separate these 

 two substances, a concentrated solution of caustic soda is 

 poured on to oil, and agitated with it; it is then slightly 



• See Mr. Phillips on Alkaline Carbonates. 



