116 Scientific Intelligence. 
4. On the wave lengths of certain spectral lines—J. MiitteR has mea 
sured the wave lengths of several interesting lines by means of the diffrae 
tion spectrum. The results obtained were as follows: 
For the yellow sodium line, Nae, 4—0-0005918™™, 
For the red lithium line, Lie, 4—0-0006763™m, 
For the blue strontium line, Srd, 4—0-0004631™m, 
For the green thallium line, The, 4 0-000534gmm, 
Pogg. Ann., exviii, 641. Ww. G. 
II. CHEMISTRY. 
On a new metallic oryd.—Baur claims to have discovered ina 
mineral from Rénsholm, an island near Stockholm, a new metal whi 
he calls Wasium, from the royal family of Wasa. The mineral itself— 
Wasit—resembles orthite and was found to contain silica, alumina, oxyd 
of iron, cerium, didymium, lime, manganese, magnesia and alkali, together 
with a trace of uranium, a tantatic acid and perhaps thoria. About one 
per cent of the new oxyd is present. As obtained by the ignition of the 
nitrate it is a brownish sandy powder of density 3-726. Before the 
blowpipe it gives with borax in both flames a clear and colorless glass 
which readily becomes milk-white by flaming. With the phosphate it 
gives a clear and colorless glass bead which does not become opaque on 
comes lilac-colored, then darker and bluish brown, and on t | 
appears a ring of a brilliant brown varnish, which becomes broader uM 
the mass assumes a gummy appearance. Water converts it intoa white 
oe z 
* 
characteristic of the new metallic oxyd. Solutions of the oxyd were pre 
cipitated by ammonia, the precipitate being insoluble in caustic ee 
but soluble in carbonate of ammonia. e@ oxyd was also precipitated ; 
from quite acid solutions by oxalic acid and its salts, It is to be hoped — 
that a more appropriate name will be found for the new metal, if indeed, 
actually occurs in the minerals mentioned by Bahr—Wasite, Norwegiat 
orthite and gadolinite from Ytterby.—Pogg. Ann., exix, 572. W. Ge 
‘the same gelatinous precipitate on evaporation. of its watery solutioa — 
which Bahr insists on as characteristic of the new metallic oxyd.—s.] 
