1865.] Chemistry. 87 



porinients to prove that it is by the agency of carbon alone. Iron, he 

 tells us, exj)osed at a red heat to an atmosphere of carbonic oxide (the 

 presence of nitrogen being carefully excluded), assimilates carbon, is 

 converted into steel, and carbonic acid is formed. M. Caron, on the 

 contrary, without denying that carbon may have some influence on the 

 result, contends that the presence of nitrogen is absolutely indis- 

 pensable, and affirms that cyanogen is a true agent in the conversion. 

 A paper, which, we shall have to notice in the Proceedings of the 

 Chemical Society, throws some light on this question. 



MM. Eeich and Eichter have now obtained a sufficient quantity of 

 their new metal, Indium, to enable them to determine its atomic 

 weight and principal chemical properties. The former must be re- 

 garded as merely approximative, for the methods employed were such 

 as could hardly lead to conclusive and accurate results. Of three not 

 very closely concordant determinations, the authors prefer that which 

 gave the number 463-4 = 100, which corresponds to 74-14 = 16. 

 Indium is a white metal, very soft and ductile, and which does not 

 easily tarnish. Its specific gravity is 7-277 at 20*4° C ; and its fusing 

 point is about the same as that of lead. It is easily soluble in acids. 

 Sulphuretted hydrogen does not precipitate the sulphide from acid 

 solutions (except acetic) : ammonia throws down from them the 

 hydrated oxide. Carbonate of soda throws down a granular carbonate. 

 The most characteristic tests for Indium are the spectrum experiment, 

 and the blue colour which the chloride and sulphide easily communi- 

 cate to the flame of a Bunsen's burner.* 



Speaking of metals we may mention a process for covering metals 

 with bright layers of each other, which has recently been devised by 

 M. WeiLf The author makes an alkaline solution of the metal to be 

 deposited, and adds to this some organic matter, such as tartaric acid 

 or glycerine. The metal to be coated is placed in this solution, and if 

 necessary a weak voltaic current is set up by placing a piece of zinc 

 in contact with the metal. Iron and steel can in this way be firmly 

 coated with copper, beautifully varied effects of colour being produced 

 according to the thickness of the layer of copper. Zinc, nickel, and 

 silver, may also be deposited on other metals by the same process. 



A new blasting powder has been introduced, which has been 

 analyzed by Dr. H. Schwarz.J The percentage composition of the 

 powder according to the analysis will be as follows : sulphur, 10 parts ; 

 charcoal, 15 parts ; nitrate of potash, 56 parts ; nitrate of soda, 18 

 parts. The difference is made up of moisture. Such a composition 

 will, of course, be cheaper than ordinary gunpowder. 



In organic chemistry, the progress in which is perhaps more rapid 

 than that made in any other branch of science, we have nothing to 

 report which would interest the general reader. 



* ' Journal fur prakt. Chemie,' Bel. xcii. s. 480. 



t ' Omptes Kendus,' Nov. 7, 1864. 



% ' Bulletin de la Socie'te Chemique de Paris,' t. ii. p. 391 



