168 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



upon, are certainly too high or too low. The mean of the sixteen 

 values obtained in these experiments is 0*9178; the greatest differ- 

 encesare 4-0*0015 and —00012; the mean difference is +0*0005. 

 The number 0*9 17S only differs by 0*0002 from that of Pliicker and 

 Geissler, and is approximately the same as that of M. Briinner 

 (0*9180). This latter coincidence may inspire some confidence, as 

 Briinner' s method was quite different from that which Dufour used. 

 Assuming 0*9178 as the mean density of ice at 0°, it is easily found 

 that a volume of water in freezing produces 1*0895 volume of ice; 

 or that the expansion at the moment of freezing is you"* or yy of the 

 volume of the water at 0°. — Comptes Rendus, May 19, 1862. 



A NEW METAL IN THE NATIVE PLATINUM OF ROGUE RIVER, 

 OREGON. BY C. F. CHANDLER, PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AT 

 UNION COLLEGE. 



In examining native platinum from the above locality, more than 

 a year ago, I became convinced of the probable existence of a hitherto 

 unobserved metal. I have deferred publishing my observations, 

 hoping to obtain material for a more complete examination ; in this 

 I have thus far been disappointed. 



The quantity of platinum examined amounted to only a few 

 grammes. It was digested with hydrochloric acid to remove impu- 

 rities, and the solution thus obtained w T as subjected to the ordinary 

 routine of qualitative analysis. 



A brown precipitate was produced by hydrosulphuric acid, which 

 dissolved readily in hydrochloric acid on the addition of a crystal of 

 chlorate of potassa. In this solution metallic zinc produced a preci- 

 pitate which resembled metallic tin obtained under similar circum- 

 stances. This precipitate dissolved readily in hydrochloric acid on 

 the application of heat ; but the solution thus obtained had no effect 

 on a solution of protochloride of mercury (HgCl), and on cooling de- 

 posited a small quantity of minute crystals. To guard against error, 

 these experiments were repeated two or three times on small portions 

 of the original solution, always with the same result. 



The chloride of this metal differs therefore from the protochloride of 

 tin, in not reducing protochloride of mercury to calomel, and in being 

 but slightly soluble in the cold. 



On mentioning my observations to a friend, I was referred to Dr. 

 F. A. Genth's announcement of a new metal, made in 1852*, of which 

 I was not previously aware. 



The metal observed by Dr. Genth occurred among grains of pla- 

 tinum from California. It was malleable ; it fused readily on char- 

 coal before the blowpipe, becoming covered with a coating of black 

 oxide ; it dissolved in borax to a colourless bead, which became 

 opalescent on cooling ; it was dissolved by hot hydrochloric acid and 

 by nitric acid ; and its solution gave a brown precipitate with hydro- 

 sulphuric acid. It seems quite probable, therefore, that the metal 

 which I have observed in the Rogue- River platinum is identical with 

 that observed by Dr. Genth. — SilYimoxis American Journ., May 1862. 



Schenectady, March 6, 1862. 



* Proceedings of the Philad. Acad. Nat. Sci., Dec. 1852. 





