88 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



Proceedings oe the Chemical Society. 



The first paper read this session was by Professor Wanklyn, " On 

 Valeryl, the Badical of Valerianic Acid." This paper disclosed a very 

 unexpected reaction. When Valerianic Acid is acted upon by sodium, 

 the author found that ethylate of sodium and valeryl are produced. 

 A similar separation of the acid-forming radical in other ethers induces 

 the author to believe that the acid-forming radical is the base in some 

 ethers, and that it would be more correct to describe valerianic ether as 

 ethylate of valeryl, than as valerate of ethyl, and acetic ether as ethy- 

 late of acetyl instead of acetate of ethyl. In a subsequent paper, read 

 November 17th, the author returned to this subject, and developed his 

 views on the " Nature of Compound Ethers." He divides these bodies 

 into three classes — viz. (1) Those in which the acid-forming radical is 

 replaceable, as in the cases mentioned above ; (2) those in which the 

 alcohol radical is replaceable, and which he regards as true salts of the 

 alcohol radical, such as iodides, bromides, chlorides, &c, of ethyl, and 

 the rest ; and (3) such bodies as common ether, the anhydrides, &c, 

 in which the radicals are equally replaceable. 



A very important paper, bearing on the Constitution of Steel, was 

 read at the meeting on November 3rd. It was entitled " On the Exist- 

 ence of Nitrogen in Steel," and detailed the results of a large number 

 of experiments made by Messrs. W. Baker and Graham Stuart. We 

 may say, shortly, that the authors experimented with the best varieties 

 of Sheffield steel, with Bessemer's, and with the celebrated Spiegeleisen. 

 The results of the investigations, most carefully conducted, show that 

 nitrogen is not an essential constituent of steel. It was found to be 

 present in a few specimens, but the quantity was too minute to have 

 any appreciable influence on the quality of the steel. 



Another paper, by Mr. W. Baker, was read at this meeting, " On 

 the Occurrence of Nickel in Lead, and its Concentration by Pattin- 

 son's Process." The author finds that nickel is commonly present in 

 English lead, and that a considerable proportion may be removed by 

 Pattinson's process. Thus, 5 tons of lead, containing 2 oz. 4 dwts. 11 grs. 

 per ton of nickel, were submitted to the process. Eour tons and a half 

 were removed as crystals, and this lead, on analysis, showed the pre- 

 sence of only 1 oz. 10 dwts. 1 gr. of nickel per ton. Copper may also 

 be separated from lead by the same process, but the quantity at starting 

 must not exceed 10 oz. per ton. 



At the same meeting, Professor Church read a paper " On the Blue 

 Colour of Forest Marble ;" and another " On the Effects of Ignition 

 on Garnets," &c. With regard to the former : a block of Forest Marble 

 is of a fawn colour externally, while the interior is of a bluish-grey 

 colour. This has been ascribed to the presence of iron in the form of 

 peroxide without, and protoxide within. Professor Church, however, 

 showed that the blue colour of the interior is due to the presence of 

 bisulphide of iron, which on the exterior becomes converted into sul- 

 phate of iron, and this by reacting on the carbonate of lime in the 

 presence of air, forms sulphate of lime and hydrated peroxide of iron. 



As regards the effects of ignition on garnets, &c, Dr. Phipson has 



