Scientific Intelligence, 103 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
I. Cuemistry. 
1, Ozone,—For some years, Prof. Schénbein, of Basle, has been en- 
gaged in experimenting on the cause of the peculiar odor developed 
by electricity ; during the electrolysis of water, the oxygen given off is 
mixed with a small quantity of a volatile odorous substance ; to this he 
has given the name of ozone. For some panna of its production, 
see this Journal, Vols. x1 and xix. 
This substance he supposed to be a halogen body, analagous in its 
reactions and affinities to chlorine and bromine, and indeed it has many 
points of resemblance ; -it destroys vegetable colors, decomposes bro- 
mide, iodide and ferro-eyanide of potassium, and acts upon the metals. 
_ He regarded it as constituting the base of nitrogen, which he suppo- 
sed to be a compound of ozone and hydrogen, analagous to the chlo- 
ride of hydrogen. He supposed it to be a secondary product of the elec- 
trolysis, and formed by the reaction of the nascent oxygen on the ni- 
trogen of the atmospheric air dissolved in the water. 
_ M. Schénbein was subsequently enabled to produce this body by 
purely chemical means; when. phosphorus, at ordinary temperatures, 
is exposed to moist air, ozone is always generated.t_ ‘This reaction is 
best observed by introducing into a large glass vessel, a piece of phos- 
phorus one or two inches long, and sufficient water to partially cover it; 
the whole may now be ersoied for 24 hours to a temperature of 68° to 
75° F., when the air will be found very highly charged with ozone. 
a Brom its supposed nature as the base of nitrogen, this body has at- 
tracted considerable attention from chemists, and has been made the 
subject of much experimental research, as’well as a great deal of theo- 
rising and speculation, It has been particularly examined by M. Ma- 
rignac and Mr. Williamson. 
The former. chemist has shown that ozone js: generated by the elec- 
trolysis of dilute sulphuric acid, independently of the presence of ni- 
ogen; ; it being produced equally well in a vessel pe of air.t M. 
* See also, qabdtheie Archives te YElectricité No. 15. Tom. iv. pp. 333-454; 
No. 17, Tom v. p- 1J-23, and No. 8, Tom. v. p. 337-342, Marignac, i ie. 
5-11; béeities other authorities abe farther. 
a The wast “ye of phosphorus i is probably due entirely to the formation of 
Is new 
#In pic npestinte water acidulated by sulphuric acid was decomposed in 
wersel, from which the air was completely excluded. After the origi Sie had 
