Scientific Intelligence. — Chemistry. 377 



kaline ; and, if the experiment is made in a close vessel, on examin- 

 ing the liquid, the odor of hydro-cyanic acid will be perceived. The 

 salt is indeed partly decomposed in this action. Prussian blue, 

 sometimes with excess of oxide of iron, is formed and deposited, and 

 the hydrocyanate of potash remains in solution. The same modifi- 

 cations may take place in a common solution of ferro-prussiate, but 

 time is in that case necessary. It cannot take place without the 

 presence of light. In darkness this salt (the ferro-prussiate of pot- 

 ash) crystallizes in large quadrangular plates, but exposed to a vivid 

 light, it loses gradually the power of assuming this figure, and be- 

 comes pulverulent, and is deposited in dendritic forms. 



The presence of organic matters, such as gum, starch, sugar, alco- 

 hol, &;c. greatly increases the action of light on solutions of gold and 

 silver. — Idem. 



8. A new Ether. — Professor Liebig, of the university of Giessen, 

 in examining the action of chlorine upon a number of salts, found, 

 that by distilling one part of sulpho-cyanuret of potassium, two parts of 

 sulphuric acid, and three of alcohol at 80 per cent, and mixing the 

 distilled product with water, an oleaginous substance separated from 

 it, whose weight is about three-fourths of that of the sulpho-cyanuret 

 of potassium. It collects at first on the surface of the water, but in 

 removing by repeated washings, the alcohol and ether which adhere 

 to its surface, it falls to the bottom in the form of an oil, either color- 

 less or slightly yellow. 



This ether has very strongly the odor of assafoetida, or cochlearia 

 off. and which odor adheres with great obstinacy to every thing that 

 the ether touches. It is insoluble in water, but communicates to it 

 its odor in a high degree. Its taste is not rough, but rather sweet, 

 with an after-taste of peppermint. It dissolves easily in spirit of wine 

 and in sulphuric ether ; it inflames easily, and in burning produces 

 sulphurous acid. It begins to boil at 66° to 72° cent. ; its alcoholic 

 solution is not acid, nor is it decomposed either by a strong solution 

 of potash or by ammonia. 



This ether appears to be distinguished from all the known bodies 

 of this kind, by its containing sulphur and azote, but probably no 

 oxygen. 



Potassium, placed in contact with this substance, previously recti- 

 fied on chloride of calcium, preserves its splendor, at least for some 

 time ; but if heated, it becomes covered with a yellow crust, easily 



Vol. XVII.— No. 2. 21 



