292 Scientific Intelligence. 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
“I. CHEMISTRY AND PHysICcs. 
ution, by the identity of their decapateee 
ahi a high temperatures, the equal solubility of their ie 
num salts, which were identical in ery stalline form, and ede 
exact similarity « fusing point of their picrates. To thes ie 
ae they n add the oe domi ea eet identity of their 
picrates as Aiba ed by Groth and Arzruni. Lossen having 
eres that the Seen drawn from the above fact e., 
that nitrogen was a pentad in these compounds—was not war- 
ranted unless it could be shown that no exchange of radicals took 
place within the molecule, the seo have made a series of ex- 
periments to test this question. By acting on tetra-methylammo- 
nium iodide with ethyl iodide, there would See if an exchange 
did actually take place, the following reactio 
N(CH,),I+C,H I=N(CH, iA. tf JI+CH,l. 
The two substances were heated together in a sealed tube, first to 
100° and shen ¢ to 150° os original reaction having been com- 
(the previous experiments having been conducted at ordinary 
ur The authors hence reiterate their conclusion that 
ammonium derivatives are not molecular but atomic com 
ey! ee that in them, the ee is quinquivalent. saieict 
Berl. € Ges., viii, 936, July, | 
2 eg ne.—Among the reeiwiel obtained in the denen 
tive distillation of wood, isa heavy oil often employed in lubrica- 
tion. This oil is very rich in the hydrocarbon retene, and }K 
an investigation, ne pressing the cooled oil, a grayish soapy 
85°. After vaikiig? with ether, solution in boiling alcohol, de: 
the composition Eas Crystallized retene has a density 7 
1-13, and fused of 1°08. ' It is readily soluble in boiling alcohol an 
Se acetic acid, aida in carbon disulphide, benzene, an 
t unites directly with chlorine and bromine at ordinary tem 
tures and is readily oxidized by nitric acid. The picrate crysta lines 
* This Journal for June, 1875, p. 462. 
