550 EEPORT— 1889. 



Cal. 

 2Na-0, 4S0= + Am"0 = 2Na-0, Am-0, 4S0^ evolves + 25-05 

 diss diss diss 



2Na=0, Am^O, 4S0^ + Air^O = 4NaAmS0' „ + 23-32 



diss diss diss 



2Na'0, 4S0= + Am^O = 2K-0, Am=0, 480^ „ + 26-19 



diss diss diss 



2K=0, Am^O, 4S0- + Am-O = 4KAmS0» „ + 23-86 



Thermo-chemical data led the author to infer the existence of several isomeric 

 forms of the alkaline double sulphites and metasulphites. The complete solution 

 of the problems dealt with, to which the author hopes to contribute fm-ther re- 

 searches, would be of very great interest. 



9. Metallic Aluminium as a Chemical Reagent. By J. B. Cohen, Ph.D., 



and R. Ormandy. 



Aluminium was found by Cailletet to form an amalgam by connecting the metal 

 with the pole of a battery, and dipped into mercury moistened with acid or into 

 nitrate of mercury. By boiling mercury with the metal no action takes place, but 

 a very rapid surface reaction occurs by bringing the metal into a solution of a mer- 

 curic salt. In a few seconds the surface of the metal is covered with an adhering 

 film of metallic mercury, and this amalgamated aluminium forms an electrolytic 

 couple, which rapidly decomposes water at the ordinary temperature. So energetic 

 is the action, that if after amalgamation the metal be carefully washed in water, 

 alcohol, and finally ether, and then dried in vacuo, the amalgam on coming in con- 

 tact with the air becomes so hot that it cannot be held in the fingers, due to de- 

 composition of the atmo.spheric moisture. When brought into water a rapid and 

 regular disengagement of gas occurs, and at the same time a white flocculent pre- 

 cipitate is formed. 



The gas evolved was analysed, and was found to consist of pure hydrogen. The 

 method adopted was to wash it through water, pass it into a eudiometer, and ex- 

 plode with excess of pure oxygen or air according to Bunsen's method ; sometimes 

 passing in oxygen and sometimes hydrogen first, using different quantities. The 

 gas was tested against pure hydrogen obtained from zinc and sulphuric acid, washed 

 through alkaline permanganate and from electrolysis of water, and results corre- 

 sponded fairl}'. The percentage in the case of the amalgam was in all cases some- 

 what higher than from the zinc and sulphuric acid. 



Estimation of nitrates and nitrites. — The amalgam rapidly decomposes nitrates 

 and nitrites, forming ammonia. The advantage of using this method in water 

 a,nalysis for the estimation of these two compounds is twofold. It is, firstly, much 

 more rapid ; and, secondly, it dispenses with the use of caustic soda, which nearly 

 invariably contains nitrites and nitrates, and has led in more than one instance to 

 most erroneous results. The method of carrying out the process is similar to that 

 in which caustic soda is employed, but the time during which the action takes 

 place may be limited to two hours instead of five or six. 



The results so far obtained have been very satisfactory. 



The reduction of organic bodies. — The amalgam may be used as a powerful 

 reducing agent for organic substances. It reduces nitro-benzene with great violence 

 to aniline. It converts the acid chlorides (aromatic and fatty) into oils having a 

 sweet smell and high boiling-point. These have not been fully investigated. 



