Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 155 



which accords with the formula S O^. K O + S O^, C^* H«+ + 



They have also obtained a compound of chlorine and cetene by 

 distilling together ethal and perchloride of phosphorus; the hydro- 

 chlorate of cetene is composed of 



Carbon 73-67 = C^* 



Hydrogen .. 12-32 = H«« 



Chlorine 13-70 = Ch- 



These chemists consider spermaceti as a compound of margarate 

 and oleate of cetene, in the {Jroportions of 



2 eqs. margaric acid, 

 1 eq. oleic acid, 



3 eqs. of cetene, 

 3 eqs. of water^ 



and give the following extraordinary formula, founded on an ana- 

 lysis of Chevreul : 472 eqs. of carbon, 445 eqs. of hydrogen, and 

 14 eqs. of oxj'gen. — L'lnstitut, May 4th. 



VOLATILE OIL OF THE BARK OF THE PRUNUS PADUS. 

 This oil is a hydruret ofbenzule analogous to oil of bitter almonds: 

 it affords by analysis 



Carbon.... 79-34 = 14 eqs. 

 Hydrogen. . 5-68 = 6 eqs. 

 Oxygen . . 14*98 = 2 eqs. 



10000 

 M. Lowig observes that when this oil is placed in contact with 

 potassium on mercury, the potassium darts rapidly about and 

 soon disappears, the oil becomes deeper-coloured and at last viscid 

 without any visible disengagement of gas. — Ann.de Chimie, March, 

 1836. 



ON THE ACTION OF OXALIC ACID ON THE SULPHATES OF 

 IRON AND COPI'ER. 



When a concentrated solution of oxalic acid is poured into one 

 of protosulphateof iron, the liquid assumes ayellow colour, and pre- 

 cipitates after standing for some time. This precipitation does not 

 occur in a solution of the persulphate by the addition of oxalic acidj 

 and in general ferruginous salts are not precipitated either by ox- 

 alic acid or by oxalate of ammonia. 



These phaenomena have already been noticed by M. A. Rose ; 

 but M. Vogel of Munich wishing to know whether the decom- 

 position was complete or only partial, instituted a series of expe- 

 riments, from which he concludes that oxalic acid entirely decom- 

 poses the sulphates of iron and copper, setting at liberty the whole 

 of the sulphuric acid, its affinity for these oxides being greater 

 than that of even sulphuric acid. The oxalate of iron obtained is a 

 yellow powder almost insoluble in water, which when heated to 

 redness in a closed vessel leaves a residue of protoxide and car- 



