328 Notice fr 0771 Dr. Robert Hare. 



of the year should notice whether the radiating point shifts with 

 the direction of the earth's motion, as it will do if the motion of 

 the meteors is only apparent and proceeds from our own motion 

 in revolution. I have enlarged these remarks much beyond my 

 intention : my only object has been to do a part, however hum- 

 ble, in settling one of the many questions involved in meteorology. 



Cambridge, December 6, 1838. 



Art. XI. — Notice from Dr. Robert Hare, Professor of Chem- 

 istry, &c., respecting the fusion of platina, also respecting a 

 new Ether ^ and a series of gaseous compounds formed with the 

 elements of water. 



TO PROF. SILLIMAN. 



Philadelphia, Dec. 15th, 1838. 



My Dear Friend^ — I send you for the Journal a brief notice 

 of some results, observations, and inferences, which are nearly in 

 the same language in which they were communicated to the 

 Chemical Section of the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science. 



I have by improvements in my process for fusing platina, suc- 

 ceeded in reducing twenty five ounces* of that metal to a state 

 so liquid, that the containing cavity not being sufficiently capa- 

 cious, about two ounces overflowed it, leaving a mass of twenty 

 three ounces. I repeat that I see no difficulty in extending the 

 power of my apparatus to the fusion of much larger masses. 



When nitric acid or sulphuric acid with a nitrate is employed 

 to generate ether, there must be an excess of two atoms of oxy- 

 gen for each atom of the hyponitrous acid which enters into com- 

 bination. This excess involves not only the consumption of a 

 large proportion of alcohol, but also gives rise to several acids and 

 to some volatile and acrid liquids. 



It occurred to me that for the production of pure hyponitrous 

 ether a hyponitrite should be used. The result has fully realized 

 my expectations. 



By subjecting hyponitrite of potassa or soda to alcohol and di- 

 luted sulphuric acid, I have obtained a species of ether which 



* Troy weight. The actual quantity fused was 12,^0 grs. ; the lump remaining 

 weighed 10,937 grs. 



