470 Scientific Intelligence. 



3. On a new Oxide of Zirconium, and on its use in the Deter- 

 mination of this element. — While making an analysis of the mineral 

 koppite, Bailey found that a precipitate containing ferric oxide 

 yielded a notable quantity of zirconia on treatment with tartaric 

 acid and ammonium sulphide. On redissolving it and adding 

 hydrogen peroxide to the solution, a white bulky precipitate was 

 obtained which after washing, gave with hydrochloric acid and 

 potassium iodide, on heating, free iodine ; proving the presence 

 of a peroxide. This reaction, Cleve had observed about the same 

 time, and had assigned to the new oxide the formula Zr 3 . To 

 investigate this substance, Bailey prepared zirconium-potassium 

 fluoride by Wohler's method, converting this salt into the sul- 

 phate, and precipitated the solution directly with hydrogen 

 peroxide. A portion of the moist peroxide was distilled with 

 hydrochloric acid in a small flask, the distillate being passed into' 

 a solution of potassium iodide, and the iodine set free being 

 determined by Bunsen's method. In the residue in the flask the 

 zirconia was determined directly. The result gave Zr 69*564, O 

 '3(V436. Since the moist precipitate after standing three months 

 gave Zr 69*284, O SO'VlH, the author infers that the new oxide 

 is perfectly definite and stable. From these figures, the foi'mula 

 oi the new oxide is Zr 2 6 . Freshly precipitated it is less readily 

 soluble in dilute sulphuric acid than zirconia and hence the two 

 may thus be separated in the cold. The author calls attention to 

 this reaction as a convenient means of separating zirconium from 

 the elements likely to be associated with it. Iron and alumina,. 

 as Cleve has shown, are not precipitated by hydrogen peroxide, 

 nor is titanium, niobium, tantalum, tin, or silicon. A very dilute 

 solution does not effect the precipitation but with a moderately 

 concentrated one the precipitation is complete. When of such a 

 strength as to yield 120 vols, of oxygen on heating, hydrogen 

 peroxide precipitates Zr 2 5 at once and completely from its solu- 

 tion in sulphuric acid. Even if it yields only 20 vols, of oxygen, 

 the solution effects a complete precipitation on standing for a 

 short time. — J. Chem. Soc, xlix, 149-152, March, 1886. G. f. b. 



4. On the determination of Vanadium by means of Oxycel- 

 hdose. — In studying the properties of oxycellulose, produced 

 from cellulose by oxidation, Witz observed, some time ago, the 

 decided property which it possessed of fixing basic coloring 

 matters, especially metallic oxides. In connection with Osmond, 

 he now suggests the use of this property in chemical analysis,, 

 since, other things being equal, the proportion of a base fixed on 

 a given weight of oxycellulose is a function of the quantity 

 contained in the bath. So that if the base is itself colored,, or if 

 it may produce color by the action of a convenient reagent, a 

 very delicate reaction may thus be developed. In the present 

 paper he considers its application to vanadium salts, using for 

 this purpose the well known reaction with potassium chlorate 

 for the preparation of aniline black. The method requires five 

 operations : (l) preparation of the strips of calico partially 



