Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 397 



hydrogen (N -f- 6 O) + H ; and potassa is oxide of potassium (P 

 + O). In their local action upon each other, the acid and the alkali 

 are both decomposed ; the oxinitrion of the former combines with 

 the metal of the latter, and water is formed by the union of the hy- 

 drogen and oxygen. This water there is no difficulty in regarding 

 as a separate and secondary product, inasmuch as the salt is inca- 

 pable of combining chemically with it. 



" When a circuit, however, is formed of proper conductors, the 

 compositions and recompositions take place through a series of con- 

 nected particles, as in the manner of all other electrolytic conduc- 

 tion : and the oxygen and hydrogen, instead of combining together, 

 as in the local action, are respectively evolved at the zincode and 

 platinode. The following diagrams may perhaps assist in explain- 

 ing my notion of the origin and connexion of the current : — 



OP OP OP | (N + 6 O) H (N + 6 0) H (N + 60)H 

 B 



" Let O P and (N + 6 O) H represent the two electrolytes on the 

 opposite sides of the diaphragm A B before the action ; after action 

 has commenced they may be represented thus : — 

 A 



O PO PO pT(N + 6 0) H (N + 6 0) H (N + 6 O) H." 

 B 



NEW COMPOUND OF PLATINA. 



Messrs. Rogers and Boye have stated to the American Philoso- 

 phical Society the existence of a new compound of platina. It is 

 prepared by evaporating a solution of platina in aqua regia to dry- 

 ness, and adding in small portions at a time a great excess of aqua 

 regia. The compound may be thus readily obtained by nitration, 

 and pressing the powder between folds of blotting-paper. If the 

 concentration of the liquid be carried too far, it is necessary to add 

 just as much water as is sufficient to keep the mass in a semifluid 

 state, and to prevent the precipitation of the deutochloride of pla- 

 tina. 



The salt is perfectly well characterized, and is composed of deuto- 

 chloride of platina and nitric oxide. It is of a gamboge yellow co- 

 lour, and crystallizes distinctly, though on account of the small- 

 ness of the crystals, their form has not been yet determined ; it is 

 very deliquescent, and absorbs atmospheric moisture at common 

 temperatures with great avidity. It is rapidly decomposed by the 

 mere addition of water, which causes a brisk effervescence of nitric 

 oxide, and deutochloride of platina remains in solution. 



When this compound is heated to 212°, it does not yield its com- 

 bined water. In order to determine the quantity of platina and 

 chlorine, the salt was fused with carbonate of potash, and the platina 

 thus obtained was weighed, the chlorine was then precipitated by 

 a solution of nitrate of silver. The quantity of nitric oxide was 



