426 Scientific Intelligence. 
niobic and pelopic acids there exists a remarkable and unexpected con- 
i The remarkable peculiarities of the chlorids of niobium and 
pelopium long since attracted the author’s atiention. — It will be remem- 
bered that the only method yet given for the separation of these metals 
consisted in tuking advantage of the difference in the volatility of their 
chlorids. Chlorid of pelopium being orange red and more volatile than 
chlorid of niobium. Every time, however, that the white chlorid of 
niobium was converted into niobic acid, mixed with carbon and heated 
in a current of chlorine, a quantity of the orange red chlorid of pelo- 
pium was formed, and ti finally appeared afier innumerable most care- 
ful and laborious experiments, that the one chlorid became converted 
into the other by absorbing or losing chlorine; chlorid of pelopium 
always yielding chlorid of niobium in greater or less quantity. A small 
quantity of niobic acid considered perfectly pure was mixed with a very 
large quantity of sugar and gradually carbonized. Th 
mass was again mixed with sugar and charred 
. 
“ 
niobic acid the following precautions were necessary. 1. A large pro- 
portion of carbon in comparison with the acid applied. 2. A ver 
eareful expulsion of all moisture by strongby igniting the mixture In 
dry carbonic acid. 3. A complete expulsion of the carbonic acid afier 
the mixture had been cooled in this gas by a very rapid current of chlo- 
rine which was only introduced afier all the atmospheric air had been 
driven out of the chlorine apparatus. 4. Finally a very gentle heating 
orange chlorids. From these experiments it is clear thi 
pelop‘c acids are derived from one and the same metal. 
very remarkable and wholly without analogies among other 0: 
hat it Is 
o in two 
I} i 
ses niobium. ‘The former pelopic acid now becomes 
as the highest state of oxydation, but the author does not p an 
pvt at present for the former niobic acid.— Pogg. Ann. xc, 456, Nov-s 
s 
