Intelligence and Miscellaneoiis Articles. 4G9 



To determine the quantity of water of crystallization, I heated 

 200 grains of the salt to redness ; they lost 42 grs.; consequently 

 158 of carbonate of potash are combined with 4-2 of water : there- 

 fore 70 = 1 atom give 18-6 of water, so little exceeding two atoms, 

 that we may safely consider the crystallized carbonate of potash as • 

 composed of one atom of carbonate of potash .= 70 

 two atoms of water =18 



Weight of the atom . . 88 R. P. 



ACTION OF iETHERS ON VARIOUS BODIES. 



M. Henry, senior, has made numerous experiments on the above- 

 named subject, and has arrived at the following conclusions :— first, 

 with respect to sulphuric aether. In this the easily oxidable metals 

 and oxides, capable of combining with acetic acid, give rise to the 

 formation of acetates, probably by decomposing, Jiot the sulphuric 

 aether, but the acetic aether which is always found in it. The author 

 concludes also, that it is owing to the saturation of the acetic acid 

 set free in consequence of this decomposition, that sulphuric aether 

 during evaporation does not redden litmus paper, whilst it acts 

 differently when exposed to a gentle heat ; this small quantity of 

 acetic aether with which it is mixed is decomposed by the action of 

 the air, when it has not been combined with oxides. 



Phosphorus and sulphur dissolve in sulphuric aether at common 

 temperatures, especially the former, and in considerable quantity ; 

 protomuriate of iron is also soluble in it, and crystallizes from it 

 in rhomboids of an emerald green colour. Nitric and acetic others 

 are readily decomposed by keeping, by many substances without 

 the assistance of heat, so as to occasion among other products the 

 formation of their respective acids and acetates, and also alcohol 

 which dissolves the salts formed : this is a fresh proof that their 

 elements, though recently combined, may be very readily se- 

 parated. 



The results yielded by acetic aether have great analogy with 

 those obtained with sulphuric aether, which is a reason for sup- 

 posing that the opinion stated with respect to the acetification of 

 the latter is very probable. 



Muriatic aether dissolves phosphorus and sulphur to a certain 

 extent.- Jowra. de Pharm. March 1827, p. 130. 



CHLOUIDE OF BORON. 



M.Dumas prepares this compound by passing dry chlorine gas over 

 a mixture of charcoal and boracic acid, heated to incandescence 

 in a porcelain tube. The tube was first heated to expel all moisture 

 from the mixture, and the gas was then passed over it. When 

 it had passed for about a quarter of an hour, an adopter and bent 

 tube were attached, and the chloride was received over mercury. 

 It is a gaseous body, and corresponds in composition with fiuoboric 

 acid ; it is colourless, denser than air, fuming in contact with it, 

 decomposable by water, and resists a high temperature. M. De- 



spertz 



