426 Scientific Intelligence. 



These relations are the same as those between alcohol and acetic acid, 

 since we have 



C4n5 ) ^^ C4H3O2 ) ^ 



The result is in all cases due to a reo;ular oxvdation or rather substitution 

 of oxygen for hydrogen. The author considers this result as proving 

 that oxalic acid contains four equivalents of carbon, since it is derived 

 from olefiant gas. The other acids wliich are homologous with oxalic 

 acid must be derived in a precisely similar manner from the homologues 

 of glycol. So that according to Wurtz we have the three series, 



0211404 Methylglycol C2II2O6 Carbonic acid 



C4H6O4 Glycol C4n406 Glycolic acid C4H3O8 Oxalic acid 



C6II6O4 Propylglycol CelleOo Lactic acid C6H4O9 



C6II10O4 Butylglycol CsIIsOa ■ CsHeOs Succinic acid 



&c. &c. &e, 



Comptes BertdtiSy xliv, 1306. 



[lioie.— It 

 ula C2H2O6 



[t may reasonably be objected to this view that with the form- 

 ', carbonic acid must be bibasic. But the other acids, which, 

 according to Wurtz, are homologous witli it are monobasic. Can we 

 have a series of homologous monobasic adds of which the first term is 

 bibasie? — w\ g.] 



8. Frotosulphid of carbon, — E. Baudrimont has discovered the. sul- 

 phur compound of carbon which corresponds in constitution to carbonic 

 oxyd. The author gives various processes for preparing this substance, 

 the best of wliich consists in passing the vapor of bisulphid of carbon 

 over spongy platinum or pumice stone heated to redness. An abundant 

 deposit of sulphur is formed, while CS escapes as a gas. The new gas is 

 colorless and has an odor which suggests that of the bisulj)hid, but which 

 IS strongly ethereal and not disagreeable. It burns with a blue flame, 

 producing carbonic and sulphurous acids with a little sulphur. It is not 

 liquefied by a mixture of ice and salt. Water dissolves its own volume 

 but decomposes the gas into sulphid of hydrogen and oxyd of carbon, 

 H0-j-CS=C04-IIS. Alkaline solutions o( potash and soda rapidly de- 

 compose it; thus with lime water we have the equation 



Wh 



CaO-fCS=CuS-l-CO 



volume of chlorine there is a partial condensation and new products are 

 found which the author is engaged in studying. — Comptes Eendus^ xhv, 



Pehsoz claims the discovery of this compound of carbon and sulphur, 

 and refers in support of his assertion to his work on chemistry, published 

 at Strasbourg in IB^I-^^,— Comptes Renins, xliv, 1218. 



9. Oil Glyozal and GbjoxyUcacid.—\)%nv^ has discovered among the 

 products of the oxydation of alcohol by nitric acid, a new aldehyd which he 

 ievm^ ff I ijoxal, and a new acid, glyoxr/lk acid. The constitution of gly- 

 oxal is represented by the formula C4il204, and it is diatomic as is shown 

 by its combinations with alkaline bisulphites. Thus the soda salt has 

 the formula 



C4n204-f 2(XaO . so2+no . so-2)+no. 



V 



Ij 



