CHEMISTRY. 



115 



It is from this fact that Emmorling advances 

 His method is to pans cyan- 

 en gas through a concentrated solution of 

 drogen imlido. One of the cyanogen atoms 



limit-cull-, liy livdrn^i'iiution, becomes 

 t!u- m.-tliylamin.' i -i<luo CH,N1I, ; while the 

 >ilifi-, liy oxclmnging its nitrogen for the ele- 

 ni. in- nf wiit IT, gi\vs rise to a earboxyl group 

 < '<M 1 1 1 . Therefore the formation of glycocoll 

 takes place according to the following equation: 



On.NII, 

 -I- (III). + (11,0), = I + NHJ + I 



IN coon 



The yield is considerable, and the properties 

 of the glycocoll are identical with those of 

 glyoocoll of organic origin. According to the 

 author, this result goes far to prove that the 

 reason why uric acid yields glycocoll by treat- 

 ment with HI is, because it contains a cyano- 

 gen molecule. 



formation of Slack Phosphorus. It has been 

 discovered by Hitter that black phosphorus 

 cm be uniformly obtained when the melted 

 phosphorus, from which it is prepared, con- 

 tains arsenic. Hence, the property of becom- 

 ing black may be communicated to phosphorus 

 by placing it for a short time in an arsenical 

 solution, preferably acidified with hydrochloric 

 acid. The quantity of arsenic phosphide neces- 

 sary to produce this effect is very small one- 

 half of one per -cent., or even less. 



Properties of Eucalyptol. The hydrocarbon 

 called by Cloez eucalyptol, and constituting 

 the chief portion of the ethereal oil of Euca- 

 lyptm globulua, has been critically examined 

 by Faust and Homeyer. It was prepared by 

 fractional distillation from this oil, 3 kilo- 

 grammes yielding 600 grammes, boiling be- 

 tween 174 and 180 Cent. In general behav- 

 ior, as in odor, it resembles a terpene. It is 

 turned brown and dissolved by sulphuric acid, 

 and water again sets it free. Nitric acid of 

 specific gravity 1.4, diluted with two parts of 

 water, converts it into paratoluic and terephtha- 

 lic ncids. Elementary analysis gave 88.74 of 

 carbon and 11.48 of hydrogen. Suspecting an 

 associated hydrocarbon poorer in hydrogen, 

 the eucalyptol was polymerized and distilled 

 after dilution. An oil was obtained boiling 

 constantly at 173-174 Cent., and having the 

 composition of cymol ; and conversion into the 

 barium salt of the sulpho-acid confirmed this 

 conjecture. Hence, Cloez's eucalyptol is a 

 mixture of cymol with a terpene, which may 

 be called eucalypteno. 



Relation of the Alkalies to Putrefactive 

 Changes. According to experiments made by 

 Dr. Dougall, of Glasgow, the alkalies and alka- 

 line earths and their salts with a few excep- 

 tions hasten decomposition when present in 

 small proportion in fluids containing organic 

 matter. This is the case with domestic soap- 

 suds, spent lye, and all more or less alkaline 

 liquids. Ammonia, permanganate of potash, 

 biborate of sodium, among chemical waste-sub- 



stances, do not accelerate putrefaction, bat at 

 the same time they do not retard it. Hod*, 

 potash, nitrate, and chlorate of potassium, and 

 lime, HIV cM.c.-iiilly vigorous as purifiers, in 

 regard to the antiseptic powers of different 

 volatile bodies, the chloride of lime appear* to 

 be efficient in nearly all cases. 



Chrysenine. Under this name Phi pson pub- 

 lishes an account of a new base which he has 

 obtained from chrysene. It is a solid, of a 

 bright-yellow color, strongly alkaline, has a hot, 

 acrid, pungent taste, like piperine, is soluble in 

 alcohol, and is affected by the action of light. 

 It may be volatilized, yielding a vapor that is 

 irritating to the eyes, and that forms dense 

 fumes with vapor of hydrochloric acid. 



New Method of obtaining Nitric Oxide. 

 Berthelot gives the following improved process 

 for readily obtaining nitric oxide : Monohy- 

 drated nitric acid, cooled by a freezing mixture, 

 is mixed with pulverulent phosphoric oxide in 

 small portions at a time, taking care to avoid 

 any elevation of temperature ; the temperature 

 of the mass should never exceed 0. When 

 a little more than its weight of phosphoric 

 oxide has been added to the nitric acid, the 

 mass assumes the consistence of jelly; it is 

 then placed in a roomy tubulated retort and 

 distilled very slowly, the products being con- 

 densed in receivers with ground stoppers, im- 

 mersed in ice. Perfectly pure nitric oxide in 

 very large, brilliant crystals is thus obtained. 

 It is non-explosive, either as a solid or a vapor, 

 but decomposes very readily at common tem- 

 peratures with nitrogen, tetroxide, and oxy- 

 gen. It should not be preserved in hermeti- 

 cally-sealed vessels. It keeps w ell in good glass- 

 stoppered bottles placed under a bell-glass with 

 sulphuric acid. 



Restoration of Deteriorated Chloroform. 

 According to Mr. E. B. Shuttleworth, chlorine 

 and hydrochloric acid are by far the most 

 general and injurious products of the decom- 

 position of chloroform. Traces of sulphuric 

 acid quickly induce this change. When sul- 

 phuric acid is employed as the purifying agent, 

 and is not completely removed by repeated 

 washing and rectification, the product very 

 soon gives clear indications of chlorine, or 

 some of its acid compounds. For the restora- 

 tion of spoiled chloroform, Mr. Shuttleworth 

 recommends that it be agitated with a dilute 

 solution of hyposulphite of soda. It should 

 thep be separated by means of a glass funnel 

 from the supernatant liquid, and again washed ; 

 this time with simple water. After being sepa- 

 rated, the chloroform should be passed through 

 filtering-paper, to free it from traces of moist- 

 ure, when it w'll be found much improved and 

 comparatively sweet ; at least, good enough 

 for external use. In the manufacture of chlo- 

 roform, one washing with hyposulphite of soda 

 is more effectual than three with simple water. 

 The quantity of hyposulphite nsed may be so 

 small as to be of no injury to the succeeding 

 charges of chloroform. Of coarse, there are 



