Chemistry and Physics. 271 



In the first part of the process the continual escape of vapor and gas 

 prevents the entrance of the oxygen of the air — after this there is no 

 further danger, as iron in a strongly acid solution is peroxidized with 

 much difficulty, even by exposure to the air. 



In general it is best to use the nitrate in a solid form — but to prevent 

 variations in small samples of crude nitre, it is best to dissolve a large 

 quantity and take the proper proportion of the solution for analysis. 

 Of course this process only indicates the quantity of nitrate and does 

 not show the adulteration of nitre by nitrate of soda. G. C. S. 



8. On the Composition of Quinoidine; by J. Liebig, (Liebig's An- 

 nalen.) — Quinoidine has been considered by some chemists as a mix- 

 ture of quinine and cinchonine with resin, which prevents crystalliza- 

 tion. Others regard it as a distinct alkaloid. Liebig however found it 

 to yield on distillation as much quinoleine as pure quinine, and on anal- 

 ysis it proved to have the same composition and atomic weight. Qui- 

 noidine is therefore nothing more than amorphous quinine. G. C. S. 



9. On the Fat Acids of the Oil of Ben ; by P. Walter, (Comptes 

 Rendus, June, 1846.) — The oil of ben is the produce of the Moringa 

 aptera, and was formerly much used in perfumery as a vehicle for 

 odors, being in itself perfectly scentless. Walter found on examina- 

 tion no volatile acid, but stearic, margaric, and two new fat acids. The 

 one, Benic acid, is very small in quantity, its formula C 30 H 30 4 stand- 

 ing between nysistic and ethalic acids. Melting point about 127°. Benic 

 ether is a readily fusible solid. 



The other acid is named from the plant, Moringic acid — its formula 

 C 3oH 23 4 . This is a colorless or yellowish oil, solidifying at 88°, sol- 

 uble in alcohol, and decomposed by sulphuric acid when heated with it. 



V G. C. S. 



10. On the Fermentation of Tartaric Acid ; by I. Nickles, (Comptes 

 Rendus, Aug., 1846.)— Noeldner described as a peculiar acid that 

 which results from the fermentation of tartrate of lime containing im- 

 purities. Berzelius pronounced this acid, called the pseudo-acetic by 

 Noeldner, to be a mixture of acetic and butyric acids. 



M. Nickles does not decide upon this point, but states that an acid is 

 formed containing the elements of acetic and butyric acids, having the 

 imposition C H 4 . This would be isomeric with Gottlieb's metace- 

 tonic acid. b & 



The experiments given by the author are not quite conclusive as to 

 foe separate existence of this acid. <f. U b. 



*1. On the Preparation of Ferridcyanid of Potassium; by A. and 

 £ Walter, (Buchn. Rep., xliv, p. 42; Chem. Gaz., June 1, 1847.)— 

 leli 0w prussiate of potash is boiled with 12 to 15 parts of water, and 

 *hiie boiling, good chlorid of lime added until a filtered sample ap- 

 fears red, or no longer yields a blue precipitate with persalts of iron. 

 J? IS then quickly filtered, a little carbonate of potash added to the solu- 

 tl( * until it has a faintly alkaline reaction, and then evaporated to crys- 

 ^'zation ; the crystals obtained are purified by recrystallization. 

 t J 2. On the Method of separating Cobalt from Manganese, proposed 

 b V Barreswil ; by A. Strecker, (Liebig's Annaien, Feb., 1847 ; Chem. 

 Uq " May 15, 1847.)— A short time since M. Barres wil* proposed a 



* See this Journal, vol. ii, ii Series, p. 260. 



