On the Properties of Electro-deposited Antimony. 441 



C^ H- K'^ 0^, which has the same composition as the malonate of 

 potash of Dessaignes, isj according to this view, decomposed, at 

 the high temperature bjf which the experiment was made, into 

 oxalate and formiate of potash : — 

 C3H2K2 0HKH0 + H2 = C2K2 04 + CHK02 + 4H. 



Oxalate of Formiate of 

 potash, potasli. 



Oxalic, lactic, and formic acids were found amongst the products 

 of decomposition of glycerate of potash. 



According to an experiment made by my friend Dr. Atkinson, 

 glycerate of potash is broken up by fusion with caustic potash 

 into acetate and formiate of potash : — 



C3 H^ K0'» + KHO = C2 H3 KO^ + CHKO^ + IP O. 



Water. 



LII. On the Projicrties of Electro-deposited Antimony. 

 By G. Gore, Esq."^ 

 1. TTj^THILE engaged in depositing antimony by the electro- 

 ▼ » process in October 1.854', I observed a remarkable 

 phronomenon of development of heat in the deposited metal when 

 gently struck, and published a brief account of it in the Philo- 

 sophical Magazine for Janviary 1855 ; since that period I have 

 investigated the phfenomcnon, and have now the honour of laying 

 the results before the Royal Society. 



2. In depositing this metal by the electro-process, several so- 

 utions may be successfully used, consisting of compounds of the 

 metal either with hydrochloric or tartaric acid ; but those 1 have 

 generally operated with have consisted, — 1st, of ordinary chlo- 

 ride of antimony (as prepared for pharmaceutical purposes) 



acid, as corresponding to its salts, is nevertheless C^ H'" 0" ; because it 

 forms witli bases two series of salts, yields at 130° C. an anhj'drous acid, 

 (J'W'O', and with ammonia an amidogen acid, all derived from the for- 

 mula C II'- 0". But lactic acid has also a second rational formida, C'' IF' O-*, 

 according to which it is also bibasic, as shown by the recent experiments 

 of M. Wiu'tz. Lactic acid has two modes of entering into combination 

 and decomposition : the one requires always one molecule, C' II" O', the 

 other two molecules, 2(C'' ir''0')=C''II'^0'', for its realization, according 

 to tlie conditions of the experiment. 



All those who fancy that a chemical formula tells something about the 

 arrangement of atoms, &c., must be, of course, of a different opinion. 



* From the Philosophical Transactions, Part 1. for 1858, having been 

 read at the lloyal Society December 10, 1857. 



