348 Prof. J. W. Mallet on Nitride of Zirconium. 
Amorphous zirconium was heated in a Bohemian glass tube 
up to the temperature at which the latter softened, a stream of 
ammoniacal gas being passed through it. At a low red heat 
there suddenly appeared a bright glow, spreading rapidly. over 
the metallic powder, and then disappearing; this was probably 
owing to the presence of a little hydrate of zirconia, the water 
of which, as Berzelius has shown, yields oxygen to the metal 
when heated. After cooling, the tube was found to contain a 
; pate amorphous powder. Under the paca 
0 
es by the fact that the ammonia had not been perfectly dried. 
took fire, glowed brightly, and even continued to burn when re- 
moved from the lamp-flame. It burned almost white, and when 
afterwards fused with caustic potash, gave only traces of ammonia. 
similar gray powder was obtained by heating 
the anhydrous chlorid of zirconium in gaseous ammonia, chlorid 
of ammonium and hydrochloric acid volatilizing. Unfortunately 
the ammonia was not quite dry, and in consequence the color of 
the powder was light, showing the presence of but little nitride; 
on fusion with caustic potash but little ammonia was given off. 
Lastly, pulverulent zirconium was heated to a bright redness 
in a tube of Bohemian glass, through which passed a stream of 
dry cyanogen. The glow alluded to above appeared and spread 
over the mass. On cooling, an amorphous powder was obtained, 
of black color with a shade of chocolate-brown; this, after gen- 
tle heating in the air, was fused with caustic potash and gave off 
ammonia in large quantity. Strongly heated in the air, the 
powder took fire, and burned nearly white; after burning, 1t 
fave with caustic potash slight but distinct traces of ammonia. 
e brown, and a little gas, apparently ss sgh ‘a 
er contame 
These experiments would seem to show that— 
(1.) Zirconium, like titanium, silicon, and boron, has a strong 
affinity for nitrogen, is capable of removing it from some of its 
compounds, and will even unite directly with it when free and 
_ Mert, as in atmospheric air. 
(2) The relation, thus indicated, of zirconium to titanium and 
Silicon, supports the evidence afforded by the late experiments 
