84 Scientific Intelligence. 



was named and described by Renard a number of years ago, and 

 the formula C r H fi 6 was then ascribed to it. Harries and Weiss 

 have recently re-investigated this substance and find that its for- 

 mula is C H B O 9 ; that is, three molecules of ozone attach them- 

 selves to benzol, presumably at the points of double linking, 

 according to Kekule's theory. The compound forms a gelatinous 

 mass when ozonized oxygen is allowed to act at 5-10° upon ben- 

 zol. It is fearfully explosive, resembling iodide of nitrogen in 

 this respect. When ice-cold water is placed upon the amorphous 

 substance it assumes a crystalline modification which is also 

 exceedingly explosive. It appears that the formation of this 

 compound is a support to Kekule's benzol theory. — JBerichte, 

 xxxvii, 3431. h. l. w. 



4. Concerning Emanium. — Some time ago Giesel announced 

 that he had found a new radio-active substance related to lan- 

 thanum, which was characterized by its remarkable action upon 

 the blende screen. He has recently been able to compare the 

 action of this "emanium" with Debierne's actinium, which is 

 related to thorium, and finds that the two substances show no dif- 

 ference with the screen. He is still inclined to believe, however, 

 that there may be a difference in the substances, on account of 

 an apparent slight difference in the rates of decay of their induced 

 activity, and also on account of the fact that three lines which 

 the phosphorescence of his substance shows in the spectroscope 

 have not been found with actinium. — JBerichte, xxxvii, 2963. 



H. L. W. 



5. The School Chemistry ; by Elroy Avery. 12mo., pp. 423. 

 American Book Company, 1904. — This new text-book for high 

 schools and academies is noticeable for being more extensive in 

 its scope, both in the descriptive and theoretical parts of the 

 subject, than is usual with books of this class. The experiments 

 introduced are numerous, more than 300 being given, and they 

 appear to be very well chosen for the purposes of instruction. 

 A particularly good feature of the book is the number and variety 

 of arithmetical problems, and other thought-inducing questions, 

 that are presented. Although the book is well up-to-date in its 

 facts, since such recent topics as radio-activity are discussed, the 

 treatment of chemical theories may be considered as somewhat 

 old-fashioned. For instance, there appears to be no mention of 

 ionization, although many electrolytic experiments are given, 

 and although the "changing places" of atoms or groups in 

 reactions is frequently alluded to. A few inaccurate or mislead- 

 ing statements have been noticed in the book, but these do not 

 appear to be unduly numerous. It is to be hoped, since hydrogen 

 was solidified several years ago, that the characterization of 

 lithium as the lightest solid known will soon disappear from our 

 text-books, because it is about seven times heavier than solid 

 hydrogen. h. l. w. 



6. Application of Some General Organic Reactions • by Dr. 

 Lassar-Cohn. Authorized Translation, by J. Bishop Tingle. 



