Februaky 21, 1908] 



SCIENCE 



301 



material as acetates dissolved fractionally 

 in ammonium acetate solution yielded two 

 fractions of atomic weights 125 and 106. 



Sodium Peroxide in Certain Quantitative 



Processes: S. "VV. Pake. 



Fusions by means of sodium peroxide in 

 a closed chamber are shown to have posi- 

 tive advantages in the analysis of sub- 

 stances represented by the following 

 groups. Sulphur and arsenic in pyrites, 

 both iron and copper; sulphur in coal, 

 coke, ashes, etc.; sulphur in rubber, filters 

 and rubber substitutes; halogens, sulphur, 

 arsenic, etc., in organic compounds, espe- 

 cially intended to replace the carius meth- 

 od; silicon and carbon in carborundum. 



The Decomposition of Ores and Metallur- 

 gical Products hy Means of Sodium 

 Peroxide and Certain Metallic Std- 

 phides: J. H. Walton, Jr., and A. 



SCHOLZ. 



By mixing certain ores with sodium 

 peroxide and metallic sulphides such as 

 precipitated zinc sulphide, and igniting the 

 mixture, sufficient heat is liberated to com- 

 pletely decompose the ore. The fusion is 

 carried out in a small nickel crucible. It 

 takes place quietly, the decomposition is 

 rapid and the crucible is attacked to an 

 inappreciable extent only. 



The method has been used for the de- 

 composition of galena, chrome iron ore, 

 manganese ores, slags, clays and glazes. 

 The results agree closely with those ob- 

 tained when the standard methods of de- 

 composition are used. 



The Occurrence of Neon in Natural Gas: 

 H. P. Cady and D. F. McFarland. 

 The rare element neon has been found 

 in natural gas from southeastern Kansas, 

 along with helium. It is separated in pure 

 condition by fractional absorption in bulbs 

 filled with cocoanut charcoal and cooled 

 with liquid air. 



The neon is identified by careful meas- 

 urement of the lines of the spectrum and 

 comparison with best published measure- 

 ments. All of the stronger lines have been 

 identified. Besides the lines of neon fif- 

 teen fairly strong lines are found which 

 can not be identified as belonging to any 

 of the familiar gases. 



These same lines have previously been 

 reported by Dewar in the spectrum of the 

 gas from Bath Springs and also in lists of 

 the lines shown by the more volatile gases 

 from the atmosphere. It is possible that 

 these may represent a new elementary gas.. 



A Discussion of Methods in Use for Separa- 

 tions in the Group and a Description of 

 a New Method of Separating these 

 Earths by Use of their Succinates: V., 

 Lenher. 



Dilution of the Strong Acids and of Am- 

 monium Hydroxide: C. W. Foulk and 

 H. E. Surface. 



The authors have prepared tables for 

 sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids 

 and for ammonium hydroxide which give 

 in addition to the usual percentage com- 

 position and specific gravity the volume of 

 water to be mixed with one liter of the 

 strong reagent to give a mixture of a 

 called-for specific gravity. 



The Character of the Compound formed 

 by the Addition of Ammonia to Ethyl- 

 phosphoplatino Chloride (second con- 

 tribution) : Charles H. Herty and R. 

 0. E. Davis. 



Further efforts to prepare the complete- 

 ly ionizable chloride described by Rosen- 

 heim have proven fruitless. Slight varia- 

 tions from Rosenheim's directions were 

 likewise failures. In every ease only that 

 chloride was obtained containing one ion- 

 izable chlorine atom. The constitution of 

 this latter compound is in strict accord 

 with Werner's coordination hypothesis. 



