Scientific Intelligence — Chemistry. 383 
- 13. Combinations and Crystallizations, effected by the action of 
weak electrical forces.—Let the owners of diamonds be comforted: 
chemistry and physics do not yet furnish the means of making them. 
It was thought that by the decomposition of carburet of sulphur, the 
carbon might be obtained in a crystallized state, that is, in the state 
of diamond. M. Becquerel has just communicated to the Acade- 
my of sciences, in its session of 27th of July, the result of several 
experiments, in which he effected the decomposition of carburet of 
sulphur by electric’ action of a low power; but instead of dia- 
mond, he obtained only carbon in thin plates, very pure it is true, 
but of an aspect altogether metallic. on 
M. B. disposes his apparatus in two different modes; sometimes 
a bent tube, like the letter U, at the bottom of which is placed a wad 
of amianthus, or preferably of fine sand or argil, to prevent, or at 
least greatly to retard the mixture of the two different liquids, placed 
in each branch, and which are united by a homogeneous metallic 
arc. —Sometinies it is a tube closed at one end, at the bottom of 
which is placed an oxide, or some powdered charcoal, and which is 
then filled with a conducting fluid, and through which passes .a'me- 
tallic rod, touching the substance at the bottom. In either case, an 
electric current is established. If a solution of sulphate or nitrate of 
copper be put into one branch of the bent tube, and a solution of 
common salt into the other, and the connection effected at the top by 
a bent wire or strip of copper, there will in the course of a long time 
be found crystals of a double chloride of copper and sodium depos- 
ited on the end of the copper which dips into the alkaline solution, 
while the other extremity is covered by degrees with copper. The 
first extremity is positive, the second negative. In changing the i- 
quid and the strip of metal, new products are obtained ; and in this 
way M. Becquerel has enriched chemistry with several new pio- 
ducts, such as double chlorides, and double sulphurets, &e., the 
crystalline forms and chemical composition of which he carefully de- 
seribes. | Lier Se 
~ It is by the second apparatus that he obtains metallic oxides ina 
crystalline form. Protoxide of copper for example, in crystals, is 
procured by placing in the bottom of the tube, deutoxide of copper, 
filling the tube with a saturated solution of nitrate of copper, and 
placing a strip of copper in it so as to touch the deutoxide, and then 
closing thé tube hermetically. In ten days, there are visible on the 
copper, small cubic crystals of metallic brilliancy, which prove to be 
protoxide of copper. 
