238 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



The following considerations induced M. Levol to believe that 

 minium is a compound of two oxides. In supposing that minium is 

 a peculiar oxide intermediate between these oxides, it is inexplicable 

 how it happens that minium cannot be converted into binoxide by- 

 calcination with chlorate of potash, an effect which it readily pro- 

 duces with the protoxide of lead. 



Oxalic acid constantly converts binoxide of lead into protoxide, 

 but does not alter minium ; and this is at once a method of purify- 

 ino-, and a "-cod characteristic of minium. As this acid, as well as 

 protonitrate of mercury and sulphurous acid, reduce the binoxide 

 of lead to protoxide, and has no action on minium, it may be in- 

 ferred, not only that minium is a compound of the two oxides, but 

 that it is a compound of remarkable stability. — Ann. de Chim. et de 

 Phys., 75, 108. 



.-VCTION OF ANHYDROUS PHOSPHORIC ACID UPON ANHYDROUS 

 CAMPHORIC ACID. BY M. P. WALTER. 



The action excited by anhydrous phosphoric acid upon anhydrous 

 camphoric acid, in nowise resembles that of Nordhausen sulphuric 

 acid upon airhydrous camphoric acid : the anhydrous sulphuric acid 

 acts, so to speak, in a less destructive manner ; it re-acts according 

 to the rules of substitutions. Instead of taking carbon from the 

 camphoric acid, it adds the elements of sulphurous acid, and from this 

 re-action a new acid arises ; whereas, in causing anhydrous phos- 

 phoric acid to act upon camphoric acid, it attacks it in all its mole- 

 cules and gives rise to several compounds. If several layers of an- 

 hydrous phosphoric acid, and anhydrous camphoric acid, be arranged 

 in a tubulated retort, with a tubulated receiver, having a bent tube 

 adapted to it, and immersed in mercury, on the cautious appUcation 

 of heat to the retort, a considerable and continuous disengagement 

 of o-as takes place ; when this ceases, a liquid substance runs down 

 the^neck of the retort into the receiver ; this has a slight yellow 

 colour, and a penetrating, but not disagreeable odour; when re- 

 peatedly rectified from anhydrous phosphoric acid it is rendered per- 

 fectly colourless. In the bottom of the retort there remains a black 

 matter, which is strongly acid. 



The gas which is formed in this re -action is of a compound 

 nature ; it is a mixture of carbonic acid and oxide of carbon, but 

 they are in indefinite proportions. Several experiments proved that, 

 for one volume of carbonic acid, there were four of oxide of carbon. 

 The liquid is a carburetted hydrogen : two analyses, performed with 

 two different products, gave the same quantity of carbon, namely, 

 88-4 and 88-2 per cent. ; but the quantity of hydrogen varied half 

 per cent.; in one analysis 11*6, and in the other ir07 were ob- 

 tained. If the first analysis be correct, the carburetted hydrogen has 

 the same centesimal composition as oil of turpentine ; but I do not 

 think that it is oil of turpentine, though its formation may be ex- 

 plained by means of the formula of anhydrous camphoric acid ; I am 

 more inclined to believe that the [carburetted] hydrogen in question is 

 a species of naphtha which contains 89 per cent, of carbon, and that 



