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Chemistry and Physics. 23 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.’ 
I, CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS. 
1. On the Siliciuret of Hydrogen—Wéouter has communicated a 
purely chemical method of preparing the siliciuret of hydrogen discoy- 
ered by Buff and himself as a product of the electrolysis of an alloy of 
silicon and aluminum. The method in question was accidentally discov- 
eréd in Wohler’s laboratory by Martins, who found that a scoria or slag 
arising from the preparation of magnesium by Deville’s process, disen- 
gaged a spontaneously inflammable gas when treated with chlorhydric 
acid. The magnesium compound required in the preparation of the gas is 
hot mortar. The mixture is to-be introduced into a glass vessel which 
can be closed, and 20 grams of sodium in very small pieces added. The 
Whole is to be mixed by agitation, and then forced at once into a Hessian 
crucible, heated to redness. The crucible is to be covered and heated, 
black fused mass filled with globules and plates resembling cast iron. 
Thé coarse ; : : 
with boile 
“stern, so that every bubble of air is expelled. A collecting tube may 
2oW be filled with water and inverted over the orifice of the tube convey- 
wg the gas. Strong chlorhydric acid is now to be poured through the 
funnel, A violent reaction ensues and much foam unavoidably passes 
and a violent explosion. The silicic acid formed produces beautiful rings 
ec puaephretied hydrogen. The gas ee ee by a 
