Miscellanies. 185 



gled with starch paste, and then with a solution of iodic acid, imme- 

 diately give a blue coloi*. 



In the reciprocal action of iodic acid and morphine, the former is 

 evidently decomposed, since a large quantity of the iodine is set free. 



The mixture, diluted with water, i-emains of a red brown, with a 

 deposit of the same color, which, after exposure to the air, passes 

 with the fluid to a clear yellow, from the volatilization of the iodine. 

 The supernatant fluid, by spontaneous evaporation, yields a yelloAv 

 powder of a crystalline aspect. — -Annales de CMm., Fev. 1830. 



3. Preparation of Crystallized Iodic Acid. — The follovving pro- 

 cess is given by Serullas as the best method of obtaining this acid. 

 Make a solution of iodate of soda ; heat it to ebullition during twelve 

 or fifteen minutes with sulphuric acid in excess, (at least double the 

 quantity necessary to saturate the soda,) and filter. The fluid, suffi- 

 ciently concentrated, being left to itself in a stove at 20^ to 25° cent, 

 furnishes in a short time a crystalline mass, which is to be washed 

 with a little water, placed on bibulous paper, and dried in a stove. 

 When pressed, it divides into small brilliant crystaLs. The iodic acid 

 thus obtained is pure ; the process is easy ; a portion of it, heated to 

 redness in a tube ought to disappear entirely. If it can retain traces 

 of iodate of soda, it should be dissolved a second time with addition 

 of sulphuric acid and recrystallized. 



Crystallized iodic acid is very soluble in water ; but very sparingly 

 in alcohol, which precipitates it from water. It undergoes no notable 

 alteration in the air, nor does it attract moisture very sensibly ; it has 

 a peculiar odor, in which that of iodine cannot be mistaken, The 

 author has not observed that it attacks gold, as has been sajd. He 

 has ascertained that Sir H. Davy was mistaken in several points with 

 regard to this acid, probably from the small quantity with which he 

 experimented. The substances Avhich Davy designates by the names 

 of iodo-sulphuric acid, iodo-nitric acid, and iodo-phosphoric acid, and 

 which he considers as durable acids in definite proportions, do not e\- 

 ist. — Idem. 



*■ 4. On fuming Nitric Acid, by M. Mitcherlich.—^The temperature 

 of the laboratory being at — 10° cent, he heated very gently in a re- 

 tort placed on a sand bath, 10 to 20 lbs. of fuming nitric acid. A very 

 long tube was adapted to the retort surrounded with chloride of cal- 

 cium and snow, and joined to a receiver and a pneumatic tube. From 

 the latter tube no gas was disengaged. In the receiver a liquid was 

 condensed Avhich formed two strata, which remained distinct after ag- 

 itation, much like oil and water. The lightest fluid, when separateds 

 Vol. XX.— No. 1. 24 



