Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 467 



in the fluid from which it was separated by boiling, and the solution 

 has acquired its original properties. The dry mudarine is readily 

 soluble in rectified spirit, and is not precipitated from the alcoholic 

 solution by the addition of water. As long as any considerable por- 

 tion of spirit remains, it is not coagulated by increase of temperature; 

 but on allowing the spirit to evaporate by exposure to the air, it re- 

 mains dissolved in water, and has re-acquired its original properties. 



It would therefore seem that its tardy solubility, after being con- 

 tracted, is owing to the state of increased aggregation ; for when this 

 is removed by alcohol, its solubility is quickly restored. Mudarine 

 is also extracted by the action of cold water from the powder, but it 

 is not so easily separated from a gummy matter also dissolved, as 

 from the resin extracted along with it by rectified spirit. Its pre- 

 sence is, however, sufficiently demonstrated by the cold infusion gra- 

 dually losing its transparency as its temperature is increased, and in 

 this case it regains its former transparency, even after having been 

 subjected for some time to the boiling temperature. 



We therefore see, that, in this instance a very active principle is 

 more readily dissolved by cold than by boiling water 5 and it is pro- 

 bable that there are other instances in which heat is improperly em- 

 ployed, with the view of extracting the active principles of vegetable 

 8ubstancest 



PREPARATION OF OXICHLOKATE OF POTASH. BY M. SERULLAS. 



When chlorate of potash is heated in a glass tube or a porcelain 

 crucible, it (uses, boils,, and yields oxygen gas. When the fire is 

 properly managed, and after ebullition has taken place for a certain 

 period, the mass thickens, and a moment arrives at which no more 

 oxygen is given out without increasing the heat : if the operation be 

 then stopped, and the salt dissolved and filtered, a great quantity 

 of oxichlorale of potash is^ obtained in small brilliant crystals ; 40 

 parts of chlorate yielded in this way 17'.5 of oxichlorate. It appears 

 from the experiments of M. SeruUas, that chlorate of potpsh requires 

 a temperature higher than that of boiling mercury for its decompo- 

 sition, and the oxichlorate a temperature considerably greater. 



The moment at which chlorate of potash is converted into oxichlo- 

 rate, is ascertained by occasionally putting a spatula into the salt, 

 and withdrawing a small portion of it. This is to be powdered, and 

 treated with a Jillle muriatic acid ; if it gives a yellow colour, then 

 some chlorate still remains unconverted. — Ann. dcChim. etde Phys. 

 Mars 1831. 



SEPARATION OF ANTIMONY AND TIN. 

 M. Gay-Lussac employs tin as a precipitant of the antimony, when 

 the mixed metals have been dissolved in muriatic acid, with a small 

 quantity of nitric acid ; muriatic acid being in excess, the antimony 

 is deposited as a black powder, when the tin is immersed in the solu- 

 tion. It re(iuircs the a|)plication of a moderate heat to produce the 

 separation perfectly ; tlie antimony is to be wasiied, and dried on the 

 water bath. If the two metals are in solution, and their weight is 



?, O 2 not 



