390 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



cheaper, exercising less local action on the zinc, and by no possibility 

 endangering the platina. The nitric acid may be the common acid of 

 commerce, but must be concentrated. If the hydrogen, instead of 

 being absorbed by the oxygen of the nitric acid, is evolved on the 

 surface of the platina, the energy of action is lowered and is no 

 longer constant. 



Great advantage will be found in employing a ceU divided by a 

 porous diaphragm for a decomposing cell ; thus if oxygen gas be 

 wanted, the positive electrode should be put into dilute sulphuric 

 acid and the negative into concentrated nitric. If chlorine be 

 •wanted, the positive into muriatic, the negative into nitric ; if hy- 

 drogen, both into muriatic, the positive one being of amalgamated 

 zinc, &c. &c. By this means, and with a small battery of the de- 

 scription I am about to indicate, a traveller may carry in his pocket 

 an electro-chemical laboratorjr. 



I have constructed a small battery, of a circular shape, consisting 

 of seven hqueur glasses and seven pipe bowls ; the diameter is four 

 inches, the height one inch and a quarter : this pocket battery gives 

 about one cubic inch of mixed gases in two minutes. The form of 

 this combination is in effect that of Mr. Daniell, the connexions, 

 however, never need adjustment but when the worn-out zinc is re- 

 newed ; and in a battery which M. Becquerel and myself are about 

 to construct, I hope to remedy another defect, viz. the necessity of 

 pouring solutions separately into each cell, which is troublesome and 

 injurious from the inequahty of strength which results ; I have en- 

 tirely remedied this in a copper and zinc constant battery ; but 

 though the process be simple, it would require more words to de- 

 scribe than a matter of such minor importance is worth. 



M 



LIX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



LATANIUM — A NEW METAL. 



BERZELIUS, in a letter to M. Pelouze, dated the 22nd of 

 February, states that M. Mosander, in submitting the cerite 

 of Bastnaes, in which cerium was met with twenty-five years ago, 

 has discovered a new metal. 



The oxide of cerium, separated from the mineral by the usual pro- 

 cess, contains nearly two-fifths of its weight of the oxide of the new 

 metal, merely altered by the presence of the cerium, and which, so 

 to speak, is hidden by it. This consideration induced M. Mosander 

 to give the new metal the name of latane or lantan. 



It is prepared by calcining the nitrate of cerium, mixed with ni- 

 trate of latanium. The oxide of cerium loses its solubility in weak 

 acids ; and the oxide of latanium, which is a very strong base, may 

 be separated by nitric acid, mixed with 100 parts of water. 



Oxide of latanium is not reduced by potassium ; but by the action 

 of potassium on the chloride of latanium a grey metallic powder is 

 obtained, which oxidizes in water with the evolution of hydrogen gas, 

 and is converted into a white hydrate. 



