[ 202 ] 
XLV. Chemical Notices from Foreign Journals. 
By I. Atxrnson, PA.D., F.C.S. 
(Continued from p. 126.] 
ERNOULLLI has published the result of an investigation of 
tungsten and some of its compounds*. With a view to a 
scientific investigation of the alloys of this metal, his first endea- 
vour was to obtain the metal in a melted state; the result of 
his researches proves, however, that all previous statements as to 
the fusibility of pure tungsten are inaccurate. In his experi- 
ments pure tungstic acid was used; the experiments were made 
with the furnaces of the Royal Iron Foundry in Berlin, where 
he was able to command temperatures higher than any previously 
used in such experiments. 
In one experiment a Hessian crucible was used lined with 
charcoal, in which there was a cavity to receive the tungstic acid, 
and over which there was a layer of charcoal powder. The eru- 
cible, provided with a cover, was kept at a white heat for nearly 
an hour. In this way a metallic mass was obtained free from 
carbon, but without any traces of fusion. In a subsequent ex- 
periment the Hessian crucible was completely fused, and accord- 
ingly they were replaced by the best American graphite ern- 
cibles. Even these did not resist the continuous heat of the 
furnace for 24 hours. A metallic mass was obtained, which was 
caked together and had some metallic lustre. This was heated 
again with charcoal in a crucible protected in the most complete 
manner; and the heat was greater than that ever observed in 
any puddling furnace, so much so that the slag from the coke 
dropped in a thin stream through the grates. 
Notwithstanding this great heat the tungsten had not melted, 
although it had sintered to a tolerably compact mass. The 
metal thus obtained was heated for eighteen hours in a por- 
eelain furnace without any change resulting. 
Hence the author concludes that, with our present means, 
metallic tungsten is infusible. 
Bernoulli also investigated the alloys of tungsten with metals, 
especially iron. Cast-iron turnings were intimately mixed with 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, and 20 per cent. of pure tungstic acid, in 
the idea that the carbon of the iron would reduce the acid to the 
state of metal. Some experiments were also made in which a 
larger per-centage of acid was taken; but in this case some 
powdered charcoal was added. The mixtures were heated in a 
eraphite crucible to an intense white heat. With an addition of 
10 per cent. of acid, the alloy had the properties of steel; it was 
very sonorous, had a clear grey colour, a pure fracture, and was 
* Poggendorft’s Annalen, December 1860, 
