1h Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 
ACETATE OF SODA CONTAINING NINE ATOMS OF WATER. 
M. Anthon obtained during the summer some acetate of soda in 
fine acicular crystals, from a solution procured by the double decom- 
position of acetate of lead and sulphate of soda: this solution was 
rather dilute. He found, on examining the proportion of water of 
crystallization contained in this salt, that it amounted to 49-60 per 
cent., and which is much larger than that usually found to exist in 
it; the salt in question had been thoroughly dried by exposure to 
the air. In converting this proportion of water into atoms, it will 
appear that the following is the composition of this acetate :— 
iP WeabOM+OL SOMA no icceye delet fares aa 3. 19°16 
1 atom of acetic acid...... po EO 31°24 
9 atoms of water ........ ws _ 81:0 49°60 
163°3 100° 
There consequently exists, according to this analysis, an acetate of 
soda which contains one and a half time more water of crystalliza- 
tion than the common acetate, which contains 6 atoms, or 39 per 
cent. of water.—Repert. fiir die Pharm., and Journal de Pharm., No- 
vembre 1842. 
ON THE SOLUBILITY OF ARSENIOUS ACID IN NITRIC ACID. 
Many chemists have supposed that arsenious acid dissolves as 
readily in dilute nitric acid as in hydrochloric acid, without being 
converted into arsenic acid; M. H. Rose, however, states in his ‘ Ana- 
lytic Chemistry,’ that ‘‘ nitric dissolves but a very minute quantity of 
arsenious acid without converting it, even when heated, into arsenic 
acid; this conversion is effected only by aqua regia.” This asser- 
tion is true, provided the acid be not heated to ebullition, but re- 
quires correction with respect to a higher temperature. 
M. Buchner triturated 4°6 grains of vitreous arsenious acid with 
about 46 grains of nitric acid of sp. gr. 1-230. The solution was 
not perfect, neither was nitric oxide given out. The mixture was 
afterwards heated in a matrass; nitric oxide was then evolved, red 
vapour formed, and the solution was readily and perfectly effected. 
It must therefore be admitted that one part of arsenious acid is totally 
soluble in 10 parts of boiling nitric acid of sp. gr. 1°230. It would, 
however, be incorrect to suppose that the arsenious acid is not oxy- 
genated in this case; and the extrication of nitrous vapours proves 
the contrary. The author always found that on cooling a portion of 
the arsenious acid was precipitated from solution in a pulverulent 
state, and the solution still contained arsenious acid besides the 
arsenic acid formed. It is, however, unquestionably true that arse- 
nious acid dissolves in much larger quantity and more readily in 
hydrochloric acid than in any oxiacid whatever, probably on account of 
the formation of chloride of arsenic; potash and soda are, however, 
the best solvents of this acid, whenever it is required to be quickly 
dissolved, or in large quantity in the state of arsenious acid. It is 
on this account that M. Valentine Rose has recommended the em- 
ployment of potash in judicial inquiries, in order to dissolve the 
arsenious acid entirely and to separate it from animal matters.—Jbid. 
