Chemistry and Physics. 235 



The density of hydrogen was calculated from that of oxygen 

 using the ratio 15-882. The mean of the best densities under 

 standard conditions referred to water at 4° as 1000; i. e. the 

 mass of one liter in grams, therefore, is found to be : 



Air. Oxygen. Nitrogen. Hydrogen. 



1-29347 1-42961 1-25749 0-08991 



— Proc. Hoy. Soc, liii, 134, 1893. g. f. b. 



7. On M-ee Hydroxylamine. — An improved method of prepar- 

 ing free hydroxylamine has been devised by Bruhl, which is not 

 only safer than those heretofore used, but gives a larger yield. 

 It is based on the reaction of hydroxylamine hydrochloride upon 

 sodium methylate, both being dissolved in methyl alcohol; a 

 reaction first made use of by Lobry de Bruyn. After separating 

 the methyl alcohol solution from the precipitated salt, Bruhl 

 transfers it to a modified form of his well known apparatus for 

 fractional distillation in vacuo, consisting of a distillation flask 

 provided with a thermometer and an entrance tube furnished 

 with a tap, a condenser and a multiple receiver by which a rapid 

 change of receptacles may be made during the distillation without 

 impairing the vacuum. The pressure in the flask is reduced to 

 the lowest possible amount and the distillation is effected by im- 

 mersing the flask in hot water. In this way and under a pressure 

 of 22 mm of mercury, the hydroxylamine passes over completely at 

 56°-57°. The condenser is supplied with ice water and the re- 

 ceiver is surrounded with ice and salt ; so that each drop of 

 hydroxylamine solidifies at once as it enters the receiver ; the 

 yield being 66 per cent of the theoretical. At the temperature of 

 23*5° its density is 1-2044. Its refractive index for the red line 

 of lithium is 1*4375 and for the Hy line 1-4514. The author has 



proved that the constitution of hydroxylamine is tt/N— O — H 



and has shown that the molecular refraction and dispersion of the 

 nitrogen present in it is the same as that of the nitrogen in ammo- 

 nia gas and much lower than that of the nitrogen in triethylamine ; 

 the probable values of these constants of nitrogen, linked in this 

 manner, for sodium light, being 2*495 and 0-072 respectively. — 

 Ber. Berl. Chem. Ges., xxvi, 2508, Nov. 1893. g. f. b. 



8. On a New /Sutyhide of Carbon. — A new compound of sul- 

 phur and carbon, having the composition C 3 S 2 has been prepared 

 by von Lengtel by submitting the vapor of carbon disulphide 

 to the action of the electric arc. The disulphide was contained 

 in a flask and the arc carbons crossed a globe sealed above it, fur- 

 nished with an upward condenser. The flask was heated on a 

 water bath and the vapor exposed for two hours to the arc. A 

 deep cherry red liquid remained in the flask, which was treated 

 for a week with copper turnings to remove the free sulphur. The 

 disulphide was then evaporated in a current of dry air and left a 

 few cubic centimeters of a deep red liquid, possessing a powerful 

 odor, a mere trace of which produces a copious flow of tears, ac- 



