[ VI ] 



XIX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



SEPARATION OF ELAINE FROM OILS. 



MPECHET has proposed a new process for the above purpose, 

 • which is founded upon the property possessed by a stron^^ 

 solution of soda of saponifying stearine in tiie cold, without acting- 

 upon elaine. Shake the alkaline solution with the oil, then warm it 

 slightly to separate the elaine from the soap of stearine; it is then 

 passed through a cloth, and the elaine is then separated by decan- 

 tation from the alkaline solution. This process always succeeds, 

 except with rancid oils or such as have been heated. — Ann. de Chim. 



SULPHURET OF CERIUM. 



Dr. Mosander has succeeded in forming this compound by two 

 different processes. 1st, When the vapour of sulphuret of carbon 

 is passed over carbonate of cerium heated to redness, a sulphuret 

 of cerium is obtained which resembles minium in appearance, but 

 it is porous and light, and suffers no change either by exposure to air 

 or water. 2diy, By fusing oxide of cerium with sulphuret of po- 

 tassium [de Ihepar) in large proportion, at a white heat, and 

 afterwards separating the hepar by water. The sulphuret of cerium 

 remains in the form of small brilliant scales, resembling aurmn mu- 

 sivum in powder ; when examined with a lens they appear trans- 

 parent and of a yellow colour. 



These two kinds of sulphuret of cerium, differing in appearance, 

 are readily dissolved by acids with the evolution of sulphuretted 

 hydrogen gas, without any residuum of sulphur. The sulphuret of 

 cerium is composed of T* cerium, and 26 sulphur. — Ibid. Sept. 1826. 



OXIDE OF CARBON. 



M. Dumas has proposed the following method of preparing this 

 gas: he mixes salt of sorrel with five or six times its weight of con- 

 centrated sulphuric acid; the mixture when heated in a proper ap- 

 paratus yielded a considerable quantity of a gas composed of equal 

 parts of carbonic acid gas and oxide of carbon ; after absorbing the 

 carbonic acid gas by potash, the oxide of carbon remains in a state 

 of purity. 



This result will be easily comprehended by supposing that the 

 sulphuric acid seizes the potash and the water, and that the oxalic 

 acid being incapable of existing under these circumstances, is re- 

 solved into carbonic acid and carbonic oxide. 



This process may be successfully employed for examining the 

 salt of sorrel of commerce. Bitartrate of potash treated in the same 

 manner gives oxide of carbon, carbonic acid and sulphurous acid, 

 and the liquor becomes black by the deposition of carbon. The 

 salt of sorrel on the contrary, never yields sulphurous acid, and the 



sulphuric acid employed remains perfectly limpid and colourless 



Jdid. Sept. 1826. 



ARTIFICIAL 



