Chemistry. 269. 
II. CHEMISTRY. 
1, On a cyanid of phosphorus.—Hitsner and Werurnave have de- 
scribed a tercyanid of phosphorus obtained by the following process. 
Perfectly dry vyanid of silver is heated in a glass tube with an equiva- 
lent quantity of terchlorid of phosphorus diluted with chlorofurm. The 
double decomposition requires a temperature of 120° C. to 140° C. for 
several hours. The chloroform is distilled off in a current of carbonic 
acid gas and the cyanid of phosphorus sublimed into the neck of the 
retort. Tercyanid of phosphorus forms long brilliant snow-white crystals. 
When gently heated they take fire in the air and burn with a bright 
light. Water decomposes the cyanid with violence, forming phosphorous 
and cyanhydric acids. The crystals melt and volatilize at about 190° C. 
Analysis proved that the constitution of the cyanid of phosphorus is 
PCy, ; the authors propose to study the products of its decomposition.— 
Ann, der Chemie und Pharm., cxxviii, 254, Nov. 1863. W. G. 
2, On Indium.—Ruicu and Ricnrsr have given some further details 
of the new metallic element, Indium, discovered by them in the Freiburg 
blendes, Indium gives in the spectroscope two blue lines, of which the 
brighter stands at 98, the fainter at 195, of a scale on which the sodium 
line stands at 38, and the blue strontium line at 93. A compound of 
Indium colors the flame of Bunsen’s burner violet, so that the presence 
hydric acid with evolution of gas, and the solution gives the blue line 
With great intensity. The hydrated oxyd precipitated by ammonia is 
nd ; : . . . 
4 white crystalline carbonate. The oxyd ignited in a current of hydro- 
oxyd in a platinum spoon with a little chlorhydric acid, when the blue 
line is rather less brilliant but lasts longer. A solution of the metal in 
chlorhydric acid gives with ammonia and sulphid of ammonium a gray- 
3 brown precipitate, but it is possible't at the color may arise from im- 
Purities. The separation of iron from indium is difficult. The chlorid 
Fine With ferrocyanid of potassium a white precipitate, with a shade of 
from the presence of iron, ferrideyanid gave no precipitate, sulpho- 
‘yanid of potassium a pale red, owing to the presence of iron. The 
Sxyd gives no blue color before the blowpipe with cobalt solution, and 
ignition dissolves slowly but completely in chlorhydric acid. The 
authors satisfied themselves that indium occurs only in the Freiberg zinc- 
nde, and not in the arsenkies and schwefelkies.—Journ, fir prakt, 
Chemie, Band 90, 172. 
Am. Jour. Scr.—Szconp Serres, Vor. XXXVII, No. 110.—Mancu, 1864 
35 ; 
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