232 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



lamellar and crystalline ; it dissolved readily in water without im- 

 parting colour to it. The solution precipitated nitrate of silver of 

 a bright yellow colour, and by chlorine bromine was extricated from 

 it; it was protobromide of iron. 



In another experiment a platina wire was substituted for an iron 

 one; but this metal was not acted on, and the bromine lost none of 

 its properties: lamp-black under the same circumstances did not 

 act upon bromine. 



By putting water and bromine into contact with iron filings, 

 proto- or perbromide of iron are formed according to the proportions, 

 and the mass becomes very hot. 



Very pure bromide of potassium may be obtained by pouring a 

 solution of potash into one of bromine in alcohol until the alcohol 

 begins to be discoloured; this salt, evaporated to dryness and 

 heated to redness, becomes black. 



Bromide of silver dissolves readily in ammonia; after some time 

 white brilliant crystals are deposited, which evolve ammonia when 

 heated, and leave bromide of silver. 



2.521 grammes of bromide of potassium gave by decomposition 

 with nitrate of silver, 4.04'1 gr. of bromide of silver; which gives 

 94.11 for the atom of bromine, oxygen being 10. — Ann. de Chim. 

 et de Phi/s. Nov. 1826. 



COMPOUND NATURE OF BROMINE. 



In opposition to the above-stated opinion as to the elementary 

 nature of bromine, M. Chevreul announced to the Academy of 

 Sciences on the 10th of October, that M. Dumas had discovered a 

 chloride of iodine which had all the properties of bromine. — Ferus- 

 sacs Bulletin, Dec. 1826. 



ACTION OF THE ALKALINE CHLORIDES AS DISINFECTING SUB- 

 STANCES. 



M. Labarraque having stated it as his opinion that the chloride 

 which he prepares as a disinfecting substance is quickly converted by 

 exposure to the air into a muriate, M.Gaulthier de Claubry has made 

 some experiments to determine the changes which actually occur. 



Some well-saturated chloride of lime was dissolved in water and 

 subjected to the action of a current of carbonic acid gas ; in a very 

 short time chlorine was evolved, and by continuing the operation 

 for three hours, a gramme (154 grs.) of the chloride was completely 

 converted into carbonate of lime, which did not contain a trace of 

 chlorine. It is difficult to obtain chloride of lime quite free from 

 muriatic acid, but the quantity was perfectly the same after as before 

 the action of the carbonic acid. 



A solution of chloride of lime was exposed to the air from the 13th 

 of August till the 10th of October; it then contained no chlorine, 

 and a precipitate of carbonate of lime was obtained. Chloride of 

 soda is decomposed by carbonic acid like chloride of lime, but more 

 slowly, because it does not form an insoluble salt. It is easy to ex- 

 plain why chlorides are preferable as disinfecting substances to the 

 fumigations of chlorine ; the carbonic acid derived from the decom- 

 position 



