J, L. Smith— Carbon Compounds in Meteorites. 



Aet. LVI. — Researches on the Solid Carbon Compounds in Meteor- 

 ites ; by J. Lawrence Smith, Louisville, Kj. 



[Concluded from page 395.] 



Action of strong nitric acid on the graphite. — Strong nitric 

 acid, poured upon the powdered graphite that had been treated 

 with ether and bi-sulphide of carbon acted vigorously upon the 

 sulphide of iron mixed with it, and after digestion for some 

 time in the acid and washing thoroughly with water, there re- 

 mained 55 p. c. of the original matter, which consisted of car- 

 bon. This burnt in air with great difficulty, but very easily in 

 oxygen, leaving a residue of one per cent of ash. 



The nitric acid solution was analyzed and found to contain 

 Sulphur 35-05] 



Cobalt "."."",'.."! !1.".'!].".'"..""]].'."" 0-56 I 



Nickel _. 0-16 rp •,•* 



Magnesia.. 0-30 ^Troihte. 



Silica 0-21 



98-52 j 

 It is a fact of some interest that in the sulphide of iron 

 which occurs in meteoric irons (when these nodules are per- 

 fectly free from any adhering iron) the quantity of nickel and 

 cobalt present is very minute, a most singular fact if we are to 

 regard these nodules as the result of segregations from the 

 mass of iron. And still further, while the nickel is very largly 

 the predominant metal of the two in the iron, I have noted 

 that the cobalt predominates over the nickel in the sulphide 

 nodules ; but I would not without further examination regard 

 this as likely to be the rule in all cases. 



Action of fuming nitric acid mixed with potash chlorate on the 

 meteoric graphite. — The oxidation of graphite by this method 

 is well known to chemists, it having been first pointed out, 

 as I have stated, by Mr. Brodie in 1860, and subsequently by 

 Berthelot in his elaborate memoirs published in the Annates de 

 Chemie et de Physique, 4th series, volumes xix and xxx. The 

 I'esult is the formation of a substance which Brodie called 

 graphitic acid and Berthelot graphitic oxide, although the com- 

 pound invariably contains hydrogen as an essential element in 

 its constitution."^ M. Berthelot made use of this reaction to 

 study the different forms of carbon, finding that the results of 

 the oxidation varied with the carbon from different sources, 

 pnly those forms of carbon known as graphites proper furnish- 

 ing the graphitic oxide. The same chemist studied this oxid- 



