Dee. 8, 1870] 
NATURE 
117 

by the"addition of H, to two molecules of coumarin, and has the 
composition C,, H,, O,. On heating in a water bath, or 
even on heating with dilute HCl or H,SQ,, it loses water 
and is converted into the anhydride C,, H,, Oy, which 
may also be obtained directly from coumarin.—‘‘ A New 
Method of Synthesis of the Organic Acids,” by M. Berthelot. 
On allowing acetylene mixed with air to remain in contact 
with dilute potash solution for sx morths, the acetylene 
was found to have been converted partly into acetic acid and 
partly into a bituminous substance, containing C H and O. 
Employing a solution of chromic anhydride, a more perfect con- 
version of the acetylene to acetic acid took place. Allylene 
treated in the same way gave p opionic acid ; but it is probable 
that an intermediate compound C, H, O is formed by the direct 
acdition of O, and which should also be obtained by the abstrac- 
ton of OH, from propionic acid. Propylene gave propionic 
acid, acetone, and acetic acid ; even carbon was oxidised by this 
reagent, giving small quantities of oxalic acid. It deserves 
notice that a solution of pure chromic anhydride is a much gentler 
oxidising <gent than the usually employed mixture of sulphuric 
acid and potassic dichromate, probably partly by reason of its 
evolving a smaller proportion of oxygen. By its decomposition, 
free oxygen and chromic chromate, a salt corresponding to 
ferric sulphate, are formed : 
5 Cr O, = Cr, Og 3 Cr O, + O; 
**On the synthesis of aromatic acids, by A. Wurtz.” By the 
action of Na, Hg ona mixture of chlorocarbonic ether and brom- 
toluol, the ethers of toluylic and isotoluylic acids were formed, 
which is explained by the fact that bromtoluol is a mixture of 
two isomeric compounds. On treating a mixture of chlorocar- 
Tonic ether and benzylic chloride, the following more compli- 
cated reaction takes place : 
2 C7 H7 CI+CO Cl OC, Hs+3 Na=3 Na Cl+ H+C,4 Hy3 CO OC, Hs 
(Dibenzylcarbonic ether. ) 
The fiist action of the sodium is probably to form chlorinated 
dibenzyl, 
{ CH, C, H; 
1 CH CIC, H; 
the action of Na and CO Cl OC, H,, becomes converted into 
CH, C, H; 
C HCO OC, H; C, H; 
salt, stilben and dibenzyl are obtained : 
2 (Cj; Hy, O,) Ca = Ca CO, + CO + Cy, Hy, + Cyy Hay 
—“Onthe molecular weight of some Protoxides,” by A. Laden- 
burg. This is really so important and interesting a paper that 
it is difficult to give an idea of its contents in the short space at 
our command. Although the determination of the vapour den- 
sity is still the most certain method of establishing the molecular 
volume, it cannot be denied that the true interpretation of 
chemical metamorphoses also affords a means of fixing the mole- 
cular formule of compounds. The author also considers ths to 
be the case in those reactions which cause a change of type, viz., 
in cases of direct addition. The molecular volume of the 
resulting product permits in many cases at least an inference as 
to the formula of the unsaturated compound. For instance, 
from the passage of ferrous into ferric chloride, he believes him- 
self justified in drawing the conclusion that Fe, Cl, is the formula 
of the former, Fe, Cl, being thet of the latter, as is proved by 
its vapour density. The same may be urged of Cr and Mn 
compounds, although not with the same certainty, and it was to 
obtain further proofs in this directicn that the author strove. By 
the action of a mixture of 3 eq. acetic and 7 eq. formic acid on 
manganous carbonate, a compound Mn, (C, H, O,)3 C H O, was 
obtained, but it is not placed beyond all doubt that this is not a 
mixture of two salts. A series of experiments with tin com- 
pounds were then undertaken with the view to ascertain whether 
the compound Sn, Cl,, intermediate between Sn Cl, and Sn Cl, 
could not be obtained. By the action of Bron Sn Cl,, Sn Cl, Bra, 
Sn Cl, Br, and Sn Br, Cl were formed, revealing the curious 
fact that similar molecules so react on one another that dissimilar 
molecules result : 
Sn Cl, Br, + Sn Cl, Bry = Sn Cl Brg + Sn Br Cly. 
No experimental proof of stannic triethide being 
Sn, (C, H;),and not Sn (C, H;), had hitherto been adduced ; it 
was prepared by the action of Na on Sn (C, H5)s i, and its 
yipour density determined and found to agree with that required 
by Sn, (C. H;)s. The action of Cl on stannic triethide is as 
follows : Sn, (C. H;), + Cl; = 2Sn(C, H;), Cl, + 2 C,H, Cl. 
By the action of I first Sn (C, H;)3 I, and then Sn (C, H;), I, 
is formed. By the action of sodic ethylate on Sn (C, H;), I 
from 2 mols. of benzylic chloride, and this by 
By the dry distillation of its lime 


stannic ethylotriethide Sn O C, H, (C, H;)3 was obtained. 
Theie then follow a number of similar experiments on stannic 
methides, &c.—* On Schiel’s chloraluric : eid,” by N. Lubavin. 
Schiel described an acid obtained by the action of chlorous acir| 
on uric acid, to which he gave the formula C,, Hy, N, Cl O 
(old atomic weights) ; this Lubavin proves to be a mixture 
anmonic chloride and parabanic aci¢, Healso mentions in 
oxalate of urea of the composition C ON, H,, C,H, O,+01 
the formula of the ordinary oxalate being 2 C ON, EVaGe Hen : 
In all the text-boc ks 120° is given as the fusin g point of ‘urea $ 
he finds it to be 132°.—‘*On derivatives of Anethol,” by uA. 
Ladenburg. On fusing anethol (oil cf anise) with caustic potash 
the following reaction takes place :— Q 
< {OCH > eee OH 
CoH jc, H, + KOH = C,H, C,H, 
Treated with P Cl; H becomes replaced by Cl 
: { OGH: 4) WOMCTEL, ; 
C, H, GMs tees Pcl, = CoH, 1 C,H,C1 + HCl + PCI, 
This body treated with alcoholic potash loses H Cl and gives 
Cyq Hypo O, a liquid boiling at 240°, All experiments to replace the 
Clin chloranethol by C,HO, failed. Anethol combines directly 
with Br,.—‘‘ Researches on Vanadium,” by Henry E. Roscoe. 
In this communication are described vanadic tribromide and 
oxytribromide; alsoa large number of meta, ortho and pyrovana- 
dates, among others the artificially prepared vanadinite. As this 
paper appeared in English in the Chemical Society’s Journal, it 
has already been noticed in this journal.—‘‘ On the second funda- 
mental theorem of the mechanical theory of heat and its applica- 
tion to several decompositions,” by Dr. A. Horstmann. The 
author has given a popular treatment of the mechanical theory 
of heat, as he considers that although of the greatest interest to 
chemists, it has remained comparatively unknown to them by 
reason of its requiring a somewhat high mathematical knowledge. 
The decompositions to which it is applied are those of ammonic 
chloride and calcic carbonate by heat, and also the expulsion of 
the water of crystallisation from hydric disodic phosphate, 
1 
+ CH,O 


SQCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON 
Geological Society, November 23.—Mr. Joseph Piestwich, 
F.R.S., president, in the chair.—r. ‘*On some pgints of South- 
African Geology.” Part 1.—By Mr. G. W. Stow. In this paper, 
which was illustrated by numerous sketches, sections, tables, and 
specimens, observations were made on the stratification of tle 
Jurassic beds of Sunday’s and Zwarktop’s rivers, resulting from 
researches made by Mr. Stow, with the view of determining the 
exact position of the several species of fossils found at the ex- 
posures on the cliffs of these rivers, and from this the sequence 
of the various beds. He indicated the existence of at least nine 
separate fossiliferous bands, pointing out the relative positions of 
the several Zyigon“a-beds, Hamite-beds, Ammonite-beds, &c. 
He next treated of the so-called Saliferous beds of the district, 
and gives his reasons for regarding them as later in age than the 
Trigonia-sandstones above alluded to, and therefore not equiva- 
lent to that part of the series named ‘‘ Wood-beds” by Dr. 
Atherstone. Other researches of the author related to the 
Tertiary beds both inland and on the coast. He distinguished 
three zones on the coast later in date than the high-level shell 
| limestones (Pliocene ?) of the Grass Ridge and other parts of the 
interior. One of the coast-zones he named the Afsera-bed, from 
the prevalence of a delicate species of that genus. Another 
zone was described as following the river-valleys in the form of 
raised terraces, characterised by the presence of a large 
Panopea. The latest shell-banks have been thought to be 
kitchen-middens, but the author regarded them as_ shore- 
deposits in place. The author concluded by tracing the probable 
climatal and geographical changes in this region during geological 
times, and indicated, as far as his material allowed, the probable 
migrations of the Mollusca, especially of the Venericardia 
characterising the Pliocene Limestone. Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys re- 
marked that all the shells belonging to the genus Afera which he 
had examined were shallow water or littoral shells. Dr. Duncan 
remarked on one of the corals as being of a well-known Crag 
form, the Balanophyllia calyculus. Mr. Searles Wood, jun., 
observed that there appeared some probability on the face of the 
paper of the shells of the older post-tertiary beds denoting a 
warmer climate than the present, instead of, as here, a colder.—- 
