1814.] Scientific Intelligence. 395 



He could not detect any lime in it ; at least the earthy carbonates 

 obtained from it and dissolved in nitric acid did not yield any soluble 

 matter when digested in alcohol. 



Still more lately, mine-master Ribbentrop observed a rock not far 

 from Karlshiitte on the road between Gottingen and Hanover, which 

 on examination proved to be sulphate of strontian. According to 

 the analysis of Stromeyer, its constituents are, 



Sulphate of strontian 97*6*01 



Sulphate of barytes 0-275 



Silica " 0-107 



Oxide of iron 6iti 



Water or loss by a red heat 0-248 



99-577 



According to Hausmann, this rock constitutes a portion of the 

 shell limestone formation. It is quite similar in its geognostic rela- 

 tions to the sulphate of strontian of Suntel. 



VI. Stills of Strontian. 

 Joseph Moretti, Professor of Chemistry in Mailand, has published 

 some facts respecting the salts of strontian. British chemists will 

 probably like to be acquainted with these facts. 1 shall therefore 

 state here such of them as are not already generally known. 



1. When succinic acid or arseuious acid is dropped into barytes 

 water, a precipitate falls ; but no precipitate is produced when these 

 acids are dropped into strontian water. Hence the two liquids may 

 be easily distinguished by means of these acids. 



2. Six or eight parts of boiling sulphuric acid dissolves one part 

 of sulphate of barytes or of sulphate of strontian. The strontian 

 solution remains clear and unaltered when the liquid is cold, and 

 does not let the salt fall unless it be diluted with water ; but the 

 barytes solution crystallizes, on cooling, in needle-form groups. 

 Here then is a method ot distinguishing the two salts from each 

 other. 



8. Wry little arsenic acid is required to neutralize a considerable 

 portion of strontian. This acid accordingly has a stronger affinity 

 for strontian than any other When sulphate of strontian and 

 arsenic acid are boiled together, arseniate of strontian is formed, 

 •nd sulphuric acid disengaged. When arsenic a<; ( ! is dropped into 

 a solution of sulphate of strontian, arseniate of strontian imme- 

 diately pn cipitales. Arsenic acid acts in the same manner on sul- 

 phate of barytes. 



4. Arsenioua acid forms with strontian a soluble and uncTvstal- 

 lizable salt. When arsenite of strontian is dropped into barytes 

 water, arsenite of barytes precipitates in flocks. Heme arsenioua 

 acid ha. a r affinity for barytes than for strontian. 



5. Superoxakte of strontian i* soluble in water. 



6. Succinic acid occasions no precipitate in strontian water. 



