482 Scientific Intelligence. 



it was very distinct; and with 0*00005 gram, it could be seen on 

 close observation. This corresponds to 0*02 milligram carbon 

 dioxide. By placing starch and potassium iodide in the capillary 

 funnel, sulphurous oxide is easily detected in this way. Concen- 

 trated ferrous sulphate may thus be used to detect nitric acid 

 vapors, a mixture of nitrate and common salt being used with sul- 

 phuric acid. Hydrogen sulphide is thus detectible by lead acetate, 

 ammonia by copper sulphate, nitrous acid by potassium iodide, 

 etc. — Ber. Berl. Chem. Ges., xx, 2629, October, 1887. g. f. b. 



3. On the Seat of Combination of Tellurium.. — Berthelot 

 and Fabee have determined the heat of combination of several 

 different varieties of tellurium by pulverizing them finely, dis- 

 solving them either in bromine or in water saturated with bro- 

 mine, and measuring the thermal disturbance thereby produced. 

 Crystallized tellurium, prepared by volatilization in hydrogen 

 evolved 66*66 calories. Tellurium precipitated by sulphurous acid 

 42*584 calories; precipitated from alkali tellurites by the action 

 of the air or other oxidizing agents, 66*78; precipitated from 

 hydrogen telluride by oxidizing agents, 67*01. The last two 

 varieties are identical with the first, therefore ; and hence, tak- 

 ing the mean of the three at 66*776 calories, it follows that the 

 conversion of crystallized tellurium into the amorphous variety 

 develops 24*192 calories. Consequently tellurium, like sulphur and 

 selenium, exists in two perfectly distinct states. Molten tellurium, 

 thrown into cold water an'd then treated as above, gives numbers 

 varying from 44 to 56 calories, indicating that it is a mixture of 

 the crystalline and amorphous varieties. It is rather a curious 



.fact that while the change from amorphous to crystalline tellu- 

 rium absorbs heat, the corresponding change for selenium evolves 

 heat, and the change in the case of sulphur gives rise to no sen- 

 sible thermal disturbance at the ordinary temperature ; though 

 at a high temperature it is positive and is probably negative at a 

 low one. — C. B., civ, 1405-1408; J. Chem. Soc, lii, 761, Septem- 

 ber, 1887. G. P. B. 



4. On the occurrence of Aluminum in the Ashes of Flowering 

 Plants. — It has long been the current opinion of chemists that 

 aluminum is not a normal constituent of flowering plants, the 

 occurrence of this element in the ash of phanerogams being gener- 

 ally attributed to adhering particles of the soil. Yoshida has 

 undertaken a set of careful analyses of several seeds and grains 

 with a view to decide the matter, and he finds in the hull or 

 skin of a pea (Soja hispida) 0*268 per cent of alumina, in the 

 red bean (Phaseolus radiatus) 0*096, in rice {Poddy) 0*189, in 

 wheat 0*106, in barley 0*140, in millet (Panicum italicum) 0*272, 

 and in buckwheat, 0*113 per cent. The cotyledons of the pea 

 alone of all the substances analyzed contained no alumina. — */. 

 Chem. Soc, li, 748, October, 1887. g. f. b. 



5. On Ammonio-cobaltic permanganates. — Klobb has de- 

 scribed a series of new salts, which are exceedingly beautiful and 

 at the same time highly explosive, and which are obtained by 



