398 Sezentific Intelligence. 
iodine atoms to convert it into sulphuric acid. Hence the state 
of oxidation in me hyposulphite is represented by the formula 
Oe | 5 oneren salt resulting from the reduction 0 
ammoniacal cu is ulphate by which the hyposulphite is con- 
yard into sulphite, it appears that to every two atoms of sulphur 
in the hyposulphite one atom of oxygen is ‘necessary : srO= 
(SO,),. Estimating now the ratio of bases to sulphur in “the solu- 
tion, there appeared one of base to one of sulphur. The simplest 
a 
acter of the sulphur acids this should Y epotianees be doubled Na, 
8,0, Its formation is given in the equa 
as ieee. ), oe ;t+Na,SO Nas i O,+(H, rhe 
— Ber. Berl. Chem. Ges., xiv, 438, Mar . F. B. 
4. On the Eielon of Co iabseaeibles oy Nitric Acid. “The im- 
pression is a very general one that nitric acid, even of 1°52 gray- 
ity, will not inflame ordinary combustibles. Kraut, however, . 
haying made some experiments on the subject, gives a method by 
which sawdust, Hel aud hay, tow or hae may e easily ignited 
bs means of nitrie acid. A wooden box 25% square and 40° 
high is filled to a height of 15 to 20™ with one of the above men- 
tioned combustibles. On this a beaker or flask is placed Shih 3 
ing 25 to 100° of nitric acid of at least 1°5 sp. gr. and the box i 
a 
wooden cover placed on the box. In one or two minutes, vapors 
are visible. A thick white smoke appears a little later and then 
mass which sie into flanie on the access of air. aE seks 
Chem. Ges., xiv, 301, Feb. 1881. 
puis have pace Berth alot t’s experiment and have porte the 
6. On the Atomie Weight of Platinum.—The atomic ine 
generally assumed for platinum varies between 196 and 198 
Andrews (1852). The former decomposed potassium - platinum 
chloride by igniting it in a stream of hydrogen. From the ratio 
of Pt to KCl, the at. wt. 196-705 was obtained ; from the amount 
of Pt in the ‘salt, 196°98; and from the loss of weight by reduc- 
