432 Scientijic Intelligence. 



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hia conclusions are not stated. It would appear hovvevercertain that 

 there are at least two classes of ammoniums, nitrogen ammoniums and 

 antimony ammoniums, or N ( W.X . Y. Z) and Sb(\V.X.Y.Z), and it 

 can hardly be doubted but that the progress of science will make us 

 acquainted with phosphorus, arsenic, and perhaps even bismuth am- 

 moniums, P ( W. X . Y. Z), As ( VV. X . Y. Z), and Bi ( W, X . Y. Z). 



W, G.] 



5, SeleniO'Cyanogen and its compounds, — Crooker has described a 

 series of salts containing selenium in the same form in which sulphur 

 exists in the sulpho-cyanids. Selenio-cyanid of potassium is obtained 

 by fusing selenium with ferrocyanid of potassium : it crystallizes in 

 needles resembling the sulpho-cyanld is deliquescent and easily de- 

 composed; its formula is K Cy Se2, With the salts of various metal- 

 lic bases the selenio-cyanid of potassium gives precipitates; the lead 

 salt is decomposed by HS and yields selenio-cyanhydric acid H Cy S2 

 as a strongly acid easily decomposed solution. The other compounds 

 possessed, beyond the fact of their existence, no special interest, — Ann. 

 der Chemie und Pharmacie^ Ixxviii, 177. 



6, Propion. — Morley has described propion or the acetone of pro- 

 pionic acid. Propion is readily obtained by the dry distillation of 

 propionate of baryta, the reaction being expressed by the equation 



Ba Ce H5 04=:BaO. CO2+C5 H5 O. 



w 



It is a colorless or pale yellow liquid, of an agreeable odor, lighter than 

 water with which it is not miscible ; it is easily inflamed and burns with 

 a pale blue flame ; its boiling point is 100 C, and it is soluble in every 

 proportion in alcohol and ether. With fuming nitric acid propion yields 

 propionic and apparently no other acid. — Ann, dtr Chemie^ Ixxviii, 187. 



7, lodid of Nitrogen. — Gladstone has succeeded in determining 

 the true constitution of the so-called iodid of nitrogen and has shown 

 that Bineau's formula NHI2 is correct. The black powder obtained 

 by the action of ammonia upon an alcoholic solution of iodine, was 

 suspended in water and a current of sulphuretted hydrogen passed 

 through till the solution became colorless and smelt strongly of HS. 

 After gentle heating and filtration, the iodine was determined as iodid 

 of silver, and the ammonium estimated in the usual manner. The ra- 

 tio of the nitrogen to the iodine in equivalents was found to be as 1:2. 

 The same result was obtained by means of the reaction expressed by 

 the equation 



NHl2-f 4S02-f-lH0 = NH3+2HI + 4S03 



the ratios of N, I, and S being found to be 1 : 2 : 4. [It will be re- 

 membered that Wurtz obtained an analogous formula with methylamine 

 and iodine, viz. N(C2H3)l2, where methyl replaces hydrogen in 

 NHI2]. — Ann, der Chemie und Pharmacie, Ixxviii, 234. 



8, Alcohol of caprylic acid. — Bouis has prepared what appears to be 

 the alcohol of caprylic acid CieHis O2, by the action of a concentra- 

 ted solution of caustic potash upon castor oil ; a volatile oil passes o\ 

 while sebacic acid remains in combination with potash. The reaction 

 is expressed by the equation 



C3tiH3iOGHl2(KO, HO) = C3oHi5 06,2KO-fCi6Hi802+2H, 

 from which it appears that the decomposition of ricinoleic acid, Cse H34 



over 





