58 Scientific Intelligence. 



solution in water a gold yellow. The gas was analyzed by de- 

 composing a known volume by the electric spark and noting the 

 increase of volume as well the quantity of chlorine and of oxygen 

 set free. To lessen the force of the explosion, the gas was mixed 

 with dry carbon dioxide. If the gas be pure and have the form- 

 ula C1„0, the chlorine set free should occupy the same volume as 

 the monoxide and the oxygen half this volume. In one experi- 

 ment 37*10 c. c. expanded to 55*33 c. c. ; or 2 volumes to 2*982. 

 The ratio of the chlorine to the oxygen was 3'7'12 to 18*54, or 2 : 

 0*999; and that of the oxygen to the expansion 18*54: 18*23, or 

 1 : 0*984; thus confirming the formula C1 2 0. Passed over calcium 

 chloride, chlorine was evolved and calcium hypochlorite produced. 

 The density of the monoxide was found to be in two determina- 

 tions 3*0258 at 22*30° and 3*0072 at 10*6°; or 43*69 and 43*42, 

 referred to hydrogen, theory requiring 43*35. Its boiling- point 

 under a pressure of 737*9 mm. was found to be 5*0° to 5*1°. — Liebig's 

 Annalen, ccxxx, 273, Oct., 1SS5. g. f. b. 



3. On Lupanine, the alkaloid of Lupine. — Hagen has discov- 

 ered in the seeds of Lupinus angustifolius a new liquid alkaloid 

 which he calls lupanine, which has the composition C ]6 H .N 2 0. 

 It is a monacid tertiary base. — Liebig's Annalen, ccxxx, 367, 

 Oct., 1885. G. F. B. 



4. On the Relation between Molecular Structure and Light- 

 absorption. — In 1882, Hartley explained the absorption bands 

 of the spectra of various carbon compounds as due, the general 

 absorption bands to the fundamental vibrations of the molecule, 

 the selective absorption bands to vibrations- within the molecule. 

 Since only those rays which are synchronous with the vibrations of 

 a molecule are absorbed by it, the connection between these mole- 

 cule-vibrations and the oscillation-frequencies of the absorbed 

 rays is obvious. Since, however, it is not possible to associate 

 any of the absorption bands of the aromatic hydrocarbons with 

 any particular carbon atoms within the molecule; and since the 

 vibrations of the molecule as a whole determine the rate of the 

 vibrations which take place within it, it follows that the evidence 

 thus given of the constitution of matter is inconsistent with the 

 preseut hypothesis of the individual existence of the atoms w T ithin 

 the molecule. In the present paper, the results of the examina- 

 tion of the ultra violet absorption-spectra, obtained by photog- 

 raphy, are given for certain aromatic hydrocarbons, tertiary bases 

 and their salts, their addition products, primary and secondary 

 aromatic bases and the three isoxylenes. The molecular weight 

 of the substance in milligrams was dissolved in 20 c. c. of absolute 

 alcohol or other suitable menstruum, so that a unit of volume of 

 the liquid always contained the same number of molecules. The 

 solutions so prepared were placed in cells varying in thickness 

 from 25 mm to l mm ; and if in the latter, absorption bands were 

 still visible the liquid was diluted five times and another series of 

 photographs taken in cells from 5 mm in width downward. In the 

 case of the bases, the spark-rays passed first through their solu- 



