Chemistry and Physics. 137 
ble error of +-0°3987, For sodium, ae shee 8 oes was made of 
iron, though essentially similar in After the bulb was 
filled with liquid sodium it was nee nan iron pot itr agg 
20 grams of this metal, a tight cover having a small opening wa 
fastened on and the whole was heated on a charcoal fire. 
weighed sp. wt. thus obtained was 0°7414; sp. vol. 1°3490; 
at. vol. 31:0. Ramsay calls attention to the fact — —— 
and all the ily probably have but vi ato volum 
either when free or in combination. (For free bias this i is 
27°135 and for aoushitied bromine 28°1.) Sulphur, like oxygen, 
has two atomic volumes in combination, 22°6 and 28° ‘6, 1 its atomic 
volume when free being 21°6. As to phosphor us, since eal 
has three atomic volumes, one in amines, one in cyanides and ni- 
triles and one in the nitryl group, it is probable that this ‘element 
has more than one when in combination. Hitherto its atomic vol- 
oO 
phide.—J. Ch, yeaah 728, Dee. 1380. 
. the Eh drocarbons of ‘American Petrol ee Bona 
and Kunsa ATOW, in their research upon the petroleum of the Cau- 
casus,* regarded the facility with which this petroleum was 
attacked by nitric acid as a proof of the absence of the hydro- 
carbons To test this conclusion further, and to ascer- 
tain exactly the resistance to the action of nitric ee offered by 
* This Journal, III, xxi, 67, Jan., 1881. 
