76 Scientific Intelligence. 



the other investigators, but because it gives an atomic volume for 

 caesium, which is not in harmony with the periodic system. — 

 Zeitschr. anorg. Chem., xxiii, 378. H. l. w. 



5. On Compounds of Telluric Acid with Iodates. — Weinland 

 and Pkause have prepared the salt I 2 6 .2Te0 3 .K a 0.6H 2 0, as 

 well as an exactly corresponding rubidium compound, and an 

 ammonium salt which varies from the foregoing in containing 

 8H 2 0. The potassium salt of a different acid, I 2 6 .TeO s .K, 2 0. 

 3H 2 was also obtained. These results are interesting inasmuch 

 as they show that TeO s forms complex acids with iodates simi- 

 larly to the oxides S0 3 , Cr0 3 , Mo0 3 and W0 3 . — Bevichte deutsch. 

 chem. Gesellsch., xxxiii, 1015. h. l. w. 



6. A /Simple Method of Decomposing Chromite. — For getting 

 this very refractory mineral into a soluble condition Fibber 

 recommends heating '5 grams of the finest possible material with 

 six parts of sodium-potassium carbonate for ten minutes in a 

 platinum crucible, then after cooling adding six parts of borax 

 and fusing at a gradually increasing heat, finally over the blast- 

 lamp for three-quarters of an hour. This generally effects the 

 decomposition. If it fails, it is only necessary to add another 

 portion of sodium-potassium carbonate and fuse again. — Chem. 

 Zeitung, xxiv, 333. h. l. w. 



1. The Theory of Electrolytic Dissociation and Some of its 

 Applications / by Harry C. Jones, 8vo, pp. xii-289, New York, 

 1900 (The Macmillan Company). — The title of this valuable addi- 

 tion to chemical literature hardly gives a proper idea of the 

 scope of the work. The first chapter, 68 pages, is devoted to an 

 exposition of " The Earlier Physical Chemistry," which serves as 

 an excellent introduction to the main subject of the book. The 

 four chapters are designed to answer the questions : What was 

 physical chemistry before the theory of electrolytic dissociation 

 arose ? How did the theory arise ? Is it true ? What is its 

 scientific use ? The author has given very satisfactory answers 

 to these questions, and the book will undoubtedly be useful to 

 those who wish to gain a clear notion of some of the chief points 

 of modern physical chemistry. h. l. w. 



8. Optical Activity and Chemical Composition / by Dr. H. 

 Landolt, translated by John McCrae, Ph.D., 12mo, pp. xi-158, 

 London, 1899 (Whittaker & Co., from The Macmillan Company, 

 New York). — This work forms a chapter in Graham-Otto's " Lehr- 

 buch der Chemie." The topics dealt with are the general prin- 

 ciples of optical activity, the connection between the rotary 

 power and the chemical composition of carbon compounds, and 

 the connection between the degree of rotation and chemical con- 

 stitution, h. l. w. 



9. Variation of the Electric Intensity and Conductivity along 

 the Electric Discharge in Rarefied Gases. — Skinner has shown 

 that very near the anode the electric intensity is very small or 

 zero when the positive column is not striated. He also mentions 

 that with a striated positive column the potential-difference 



