114 Scientific Intelligence. 



In order to observe more readily its properties, I collected it in open 

 tubes, contained in vessels at the bottom of which was placed some 

 pumice-stone moistened with sulphuric acid. It then retains its trans- 

 parency for a very long time. 



The protoxyd of nitrogen is liquid, colorless, very mobile and per- 

 fectly transparent; each drop that falls upon the skin produces a very 



painful burn. The gas, which is incessantly liberated by slow ebul 

 lition, possesses all the properties of the protoxyd of nitrogen. When 

 metals are dropped into this liquid, they produce a noise like that of 

 red-hot iron immersed in water. Quicksilver causes the same noise, 

 instantly freezes, and affords a hard brittle mass, white like silver, which 

 it perfectly resembles in appearance. Potassium floats upon the liquid, 

 and experiences no change ; the same is the case with charcoal, sul- 



phur, phosphorus and iodine. Ignited charcoal floats upon the surface 

 of the liquid, and burns with considerable brilliancy, and frequently 

 until the whole is consumed. Ordinary sulphuric acid and concentra- 

 ted nitric acid freeze immediately. Ether and alcohol mix with the 

 liquid without freezing. Water is instantly converted into ice ; but it 

 produces such a sudden evaporation of a portion of the liquid, that it 

 causes suddenly a kind of explosion, which would be dangerous if 

 merely a few grammes of water were poured at once into the liquid. 



16. On a new Product of the dry Distillation of Amber ; by L. F. 

 Bley and E. Diesel, (Chem. Gazette, April 2, 1849, pp. 142, 143; 

 from Archiv. der Pharm., lv, p. 171.) — This substance, which resem- 

 bles wax, was obtained in some experiments variously modified in order 

 to obtain the largest possible amount of succinic acid from amber. In 

 one of these experiments 32 oz. of amber were mixed with 2 oz. of 

 crude concentrated muriatic acid, which had been previously diluted 

 with an equal amount of water, and submitted to distillation in a glass 

 retort. By accident a very brisk fire was made. When the operation 

 was finished, a yellow wax-like substance was found in the neck of the 

 retort mixed with the sublimed succinic acid. A somewhat loose cin- 

 der remained in the retort instead of the colophony ; it weighed 3 oz., 

 whilst the quantity of oil was very considerable, viz., 21£ oz. ; whilst 

 in the usual mode of distilling, generally only between 4*and 5 oz. of 



oil are obtained from 16 oz. of amber. The amount of succinic acid 

 was 1£ oz. 



The wax-like substance was well washed and purified by being melt- 

 ed in water and solution in absolute alcohol. In thin layers it is yel- 

 lowish, in large masses brownish-green, lighter than water, soft, trans- 

 parent or opake, melting between 185° and 187°, boiling somewhat 

 above 572°, and void of taste and smell. It is insoluble in water, 

 readily soluble in alcohol and ether, fats and liquid oils, and burns 

 with a strong luminous flame. The analysis of tha substance dried 

 over chlorid of calcium furnished 



Carbon, 86' 123 1 = 6 857 



Hydrogen, - - - - 13 691 1 1 143 



From the properties and composition of this substance, it agrees 

 with a body found near Merthyr Tydvil, in England, in narrow veins, 

 with quartz, calcareous spar and iron ores, at Loch Fyne, in Scotland, 



