Chemistry and Physics. 219 
in the dark. With strong solutions, or at elevated temperatures, 
or kept in the light, the nitrification is wholly or chiefly nitrous. 
Cold dilute solutions, in which nitrification is long checked by the 
absence of a salifiable base, also assume the nitrous fermentation 
on introducing such a base, 21. It does not appear that the pro- 
xxxv, 429, July, 1879, G. F. B, 
On the Chemical Constitution of Alkali-metal Amalgams.— 
Berrue or has investigated the question of the chemical compo- 
A series of these amalgams was prepared, some liquid, some solid, 
and treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, the heat evolved bein 
meas At the 
such that the variation of temperature In the calorimeter was 
between 1°5° and 4°. Beginnin with a liquid amalgam contain- 
ing 0°335 parts K to 100 parts Hg, or Hg,,:K,, t 
& pasty amalgam, the numbers are 27°8 and f 
(Hg. k ), 27°25 and 34:2, the cima oF being solid. With 2 per 
— K (H aaK,), 26°7 and 34°8. 
29°7, ith bo 
ith about 8 41-2 and 203. With 
r cent 
(Hg..K,), 40°7 and eae With 11°85 K (Hg,,,K. , 46°2 and 15°3. 
ence it ap 
ars that the heat of formation of these am 
increases at first to a maximum and then diminishes again. 
