Miscellanies. 193 



and the oxide of latanium, which is a very strong base, may be sepa- 

 rated by nitric acid, mixed with 100 parts of water. 



Oxide of latanium is not reduced by potassium ; but by the action 

 of potassium on the chloride of latanium, a gray metallic powder is 

 obtained, which oxidises in water with the evolution of hydrogen 

 gas, and is converted into a white hydrate. 



The sulphuret of latanium may be produced by heating the oxide 

 strongly in the vapor of oxide [sulphuret ?] of carbon. It is of a pale 

 yellow color, decomposes water with the evolution of hydrosulphuric 

 acid, and is converted into a hydrate. 



The oxide of latanium is of a brick-red color, which does not appear 

 to be owing to the presence of oxide of cerium. It is converted by 

 hot water into a white hydrate, which destroys the blue color of lit- 

 mus paper reddened by an acid ; it is rapidly dissolved even by very 

 dilute acids ; and when it is used in excess, it is converted into a sub- 

 salt. The salts have an astringent taste, without any mixture of sweet- 

 ness ; the crystals are wholly of a rose-red color. The sulphate of 

 potash does not precipitate them, unless they are mixed with salts of 

 cerium. When digested in a solution of hydrochlorate of ammonia, 

 the oxide of latanium dissolves, with the evolution of ammonia. The 

 atomic weight of latanium is smaller than that assigned to cerium ; 

 that is to say, to a mixture of the two metals. 



Berzelius has repeated and verified the experiments of M. Mosan- 

 der. — jL' Institui, May 14, 1839. Lond. and Ed. Phil. Mag., May, 

 1839. 



13. Biography of Scientific Men.- — Professor Webster of Harvard Uni- 

 versity has nearly ready, from the press, a selection from the biographies of 

 eminent scientific men in Europe, more particularly of those who have 

 largely contributed to the progress of chemical science. The work will 

 comprise translations from the admirable " Eloges" delivered before the 

 French Academy of Sciences, by Cuvier, Arago, &c., and from the me- 

 moirs published in the various philosophical Journals and Transactions of 

 other learned societies in Europe. A copious list of the writings of the 

 individuals will be connected with the biography of each, and great facil- 

 ities be thus afforded to the student for reference to original papers. 



The size of the volume will be between four and five hundred pages, and 

 the price not to exceed three dollars. We cannot doubt that this work 

 will prove both valuable and interesting. Few persons in this country 

 can have access to the original sources of information ; and Prof Web- 

 ster is therefore performing an acceptable service by bringing the history, 

 the labors, and the personal traits of many eminent men before the Amer- 

 ican public. It is superfluous to add that he will acquit himself with good 



Vol. XXXVII, No. 1.— July, 1839, bis. 25 



