Intelligence and Miscellanies. 397 



58. Nexv fulminating powder. — Two parts of nitrate pot- 

 ash, two of the neutral carbonate of potash, one of sulphur 

 and six of marine salt, all finely powdered, produce a ful- 

 minating mixture of great energy, the explosive force of 

 which has the peculiar property of being continually directed 

 downward ! — Ferrussac'^s Bulletin, Aout 1828. 



59. New compounds of silica and potash, hy M. Fuchs. — 

 The best method of obtaining this combination is the fol- 

 lowing. Melt together 10 parts of carbonate of potash, 15 

 of pure quartz and 1 of carbon. The melted mass after 

 having been reduced to powder is subjected to the action of 

 4 or 5 parts of boiling water, which dissolves it slowly, but 

 almost entirely. The solution is evaporated to the consis- 

 tency of 1.24 sp.gr. It then presents itself under the form 

 of a viscid, opaline liquid, which by further evaporation ei- 

 ther spontaneously or by heat, is converted into a solid vi- 

 treous transparent mass, fixed in the air, and perfectly simi- 

 lar to glass, except that it is less hard. 



This substance has an alkaline reaction ; it scarcely dis- 

 solves in cold water, but easily in boiling water. Exposed 

 for some weeks to the air, it attracts moisture, which grad- 

 ually penetrates it, without lessening much its aggregation. 

 The surface merely splits and is covered with powder. Al- 

 cohol precipitates the aqueous solution. Acids decompose 

 it in the same manner as the liquor of flints ; many salts 

 form with it insoluble precipitates. This new silicate of 

 potash is composed of 62 parts of silica, 26 of potash and 

 12 of water. It may be employed as a covering of wood 

 and other objects, to preserve them from fire, or as a substi- 

 tute for lute in the laboratory. — Idem. 



60. Marine salt. — If a concentrated solution be exposed 

 to a temperature of 8° or 9° Reaumur, fine crystals may be 

 obtained, which are often an inch or more in length. In a 

 cold atmosphere they effloresce, — but with heat they liquify 

 in their water of crystallization. — Idem. 



61. Delicate test of oxygen in a gaseous mixture. — 

 Fill a flask or bottle with a ground stopper with hot wa- 

 ter. Boil it by placing it on a plate of sheet iron and ap- 

 plying underneath a spirit lamp, and then add 5 per cent 

 of green vitriol recently prepared, and continue for an in- 



