Chemistry and Physics. 193 



values, all four lines being simultaneously visible: D l 5895*0, 

 D 2 5889-0, U 3 5875-9, D 4 5866-65 ; -f-1 *7 to correct to vacuum. A 

 green line was also seen comparable in intensity with the green 

 helium line, of wave-length 5566*3, and a somewhat weaker green 

 line 5557-3. Comparing simultaneously the spectrum of the new 

 gas with that of argon, both in the spectrum of the first order, 

 the wave-lengths of the lines of the new gas found in the violet 

 were 4317, 4387, 4461, 4671 ; in the blue 4736, 4807, 4830, 4834, 

 4909; in the green 5557*3, 5566-3; in the yellow 5829, 5866'5 ; 

 and in the orange 6011. By weighing the gas in a bulb of 

 32*321 cc capacity under a pressure of 521'85 mm and at 15*95°, its 

 mass was found to be 0-04213 gram; which corresponds to a 

 density of 22*47, that of oxygen being taken as 16. After spark- 

 ing four hours with oxygen in presence of soda, the mass obtained 

 was 0*04228, at 523*7 mm and 16*45°. This corresponds to a den- 

 sity of 22*51. The wave-length of sound in the gas was found 

 to be 29*87, 30*13 in two cases, that in air being 34*17, 34*30, 

 34*57. Now since the square of the wave-length in air X its 

 density: the square of the wave-length in the gas X its density:: 

 the ratio of the two specific heats of air : this ratio for the gas, 

 we have 



(34*33) 2 X 14-479 : (30) 2 X22*47 :: 1*408 : 1*666. 



From which it appears that the new gas, like argon and helium, 

 is monatomic and therefore elementary. Whence the authors 

 conclude that the atmosphere contains a new gas heavier than 

 argon, and less volatile than nitrogen, oxygen or. argon. It has 

 a characteristic spectrum and the ratio of its specific heats leads 

 to the inference that it is monatomic and hence an element. In 

 case this conclusion is sustained they propose for it the name 

 "krypton" or "concealed," with the symbol Kr. As to its posi- 

 tion in the periodic arrangement, the authors conjecture that it 

 may turn out to have a density of 40 with an atomic mass of 80, 

 and so may belong to the helium series. — Nature, lviii, 127, June, 



1898. G. F. B. 



2. On the Direct Elimination of Carbon Monoxide and on Us 

 Reaction with Water. — It has been observed that when heated, 

 certain organic compounds decompose and yield carbon monoxide 

 directly and not as a reduction product of carbon dioxide. This 

 reaction has been examined by Exgler and Grimm. Thus formic 

 acid at 150°-160° gives gaseous products which contain 98*8 per 

 cent carbon monoxide and 1*2 per cent carbon dioxide. Ethyl 

 formate, which decomposes at 300°, yields a mixture composed of 

 carbon monoxide 18-2, carbon dioxide 29*5, ethylene 7*2 and 

 hydrogen 45-1 per cent. At the same temperature amyl formate 

 decomposes similarly, but yields amylene in place of ethylene. 

 Ethyl oxalate gives at 200° carbon monoxide 48*4, carbon diox- 

 ide 43-8 and 7*8 per cent of olefines. At 280° benzoin gives a 

 gas which contains 92 per cent of carbon dioxide and 8 of the 

 monoxide ; an oily residue being also produced containing di- 



