PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 397 
A glass tube, containing a rod of pure zinc, so arranged as to: 
allow the passage of the spark, was filled with pure, dry hydrogen 
gas, and then hermetically sealed. 
On passing the ordinary induction spark, the lines w./. 6362°5, 
4809-7, 4721°4, 4679°5 were the only ones seen. With the 
condenser in circuit the line spectrum of hydrogen was beautifully 
shown, together with the zinc spectrum, which was now seen to 
consist, principally, of the lines w./ 6362°5, 6102°8, 6022-7, 
5893°6, 4809-7, 4721°4, 4679-5, the lines 4923-8, 4911:2 not 
appearing. After sparking some time they graduad/y made their 
appearance, and finally were seen as strongly as in air. 
Unfortunately, a minute crack was discovered in the side of the: 
tube, and whether the gradual appearance of these lines occurred 
simultaneously with the crack, it isimpossible to say. Up to the 
present the author has not succeeded in definitely settling the 
question, but experiments are in progress, and if successful, will 
be communicated at another time. 
10.—NOTE ON THE PRECIPITATION OF ZINC 
SULPHIDE. 
By J. B. Kirxianp, F.C.8., Assistant Lecturer and Demon- 
strator of Chemistry, University of Melbourne. 
THE author, being engaged in an analysis of a peculiar looking 
zinc blende, was much perplexed at the following circumstance. 
The ore under examination had been dissolved in the usual 
manner, 7.é., In aqua regia, excess of acid being removed by 
evaporation ; the residue was dissolved in 100 ¢.c. of 40 per cent. 
hydrochloric acid, and the whole diluted to 800 cc. with water. 
The above solution was next submitted to a rapid current of 
sulphuretted hydrogen for about two hours in the cold, until no 
further precipitation occurred. The precipitate consisted mainly 
of arsenic, copper, and lead sulphides; these, after being filtered 
off, were well washed with sulphuretted hydrogen solution. The 
filtrate in the first instance came through perfectly clear, but on 
continued washing, an opalescence or milkiness appeared, 
resembling sulphur. That this should be sulphur seemed unlikely, 
considering the excess of precipitant used in the first instance. 
On treating the opalescent solution to a further action of the 
gas, a white crystalline gritty powder was thrown down in 
considerable quantity. Could this be zine sulphide? This seemed 
highly improbable, for it is generally understood that zine is not 
precipitated from solutions strongly acidified with mineral acids. 
Upon making a qualitative analysis of the white powder, the 
result indicated that it consisted chiefly of zinc and sulphur in 
combination. However, it is well known how one substance may 
