114 Scientific Intelligence. 
acid, and Schénbein in 1845 showed that the combustion of hydro- 
carbon jets, &., produced some oxydizing agent, the nature of which was 
not clearly recognized for want of sufficiently delicate tests. Schénbein 
now shows that the combustion of charcoal, fats, illuminating gases, wood, 
coal and phosphorus’ produces the nitrite in determinable quantities. A 
_ piece of phosphorus burnt inside of a ass which stands upon a 
ee filled with water, will give, after a few repetitions of the operation, 
ough ammonia to be “op a by means of caustic potash. 
The slow combustion of arsenic, in air at a temperature of 200°, also pro- 
ces ammonia. Schodnbein attributes the formation of nitrite of ammo- 
nium in all these cases to the heat and not to the act of combustion. 
occurrence of nitrite and nitrate of ammo nium in the se st 
Chemie und Pharm., 
Prof. Battger of Frankfort, claims to have been the first to show by 
experiment as well\as to announce that in every act of combustion which 
takes place in air, nitrite of ammonium is formed. (Pogg. Ann., cxvii, 
175.) An experiment of Kolbe’s may also be mentioned in this connec 
of oxygen standing vertically, a rg Nemec gas is soon formed, and 
the water which collects in the flas a strong acid reaction from 
presence of nitric acid.—(Ann. der Chemie und Pharmacie, ome 17 6) 
6. On a new mode of detecting the presence of small quantities ef per 
oxyd of hydrogen. pect a solution of basic acetate of lead is added 
asic acetate o , a solution of iodid of potassium starch and a 
drops of dilute acetic acid, when a more or less intense blue color makes 
its appearance. In this manner it is easy to detect the presence . bese 
Sir prakt. Chemie Ixxxvi, 129. 
7. On the oxyethylene bases—Wortz has described in some ‘aetail I the 
formation and properties of vee remarkable series of compounds of roe 
re f 
ammonia. Their basic characters are perfectly distinet but ih : 
intensity as the ee of oxyd : —— increases, The formulas 
(C,H,0,),, NH (C,H,0,)., NH, 
CLD.) NH; (Co 1Onler NH, 
C,H,0,)5, NH, C,H,0,);, NH, 
(C,H,0,),, NH, 
