352 Browning and Flint — Complexity of Tellurium. 



It consequently appears from the analyses by three different 

 methods that, in the end fractions obtained by fractional 

 hydrolysis of tellurium tetrachloride prepared from the care- 

 fully purified element, tellurium, seems to possess different 

 atomic weights. It is not claimed that these atomic weights 

 have been determined with the utmost accuracy. The two 

 fractions, however, have been in each case treated exactly alike, 

 in a manner entirely competent to show at least approximately 

 whatever difference there might be. The preparations have 

 been carefully examined to discover the presence of any 

 impurities which might cause the difference, but no such 

 impurities have been found. At present, therefore, there 

 seems to be no explanation of the differences found other than 

 the complexity of the original substance. The investigations 

 just described are of necessity preliminary in character, and 

 the results of a more extended study of this fractionation 

 process, already begun by the latter of the two collaborators, 

 will be published as soon as practicable. 



