Chemistry and Physics. 139 



posed. He states that the two elements combine in the cold in a 

 manner analogous to the slow absorption of oxygen by phos- 

 phorus. The absorption is, moreover, complete, for when the 

 operation is performed in a closed tube, the spectral bands char- 

 acteristic of nitrogen absolutely disappear. The blackish tarnish 

 produced upon the surface of metallic lithium by exposure to the 

 air appears to prevent the action, hence a fresh surface is neces- 

 sary. — Compt. Bend,, cxxi, 886. h. l. w. 



5. The decomposition of silicates by boric acid. — In a prelimi- 

 nary notice, P. Jannasch states that he and H. Heidenreich 

 have found the decomposition of silicates for analysis has been 

 accomplished with entire success by the use of boric acid. For 

 this purpose l g of the finely pulverized silicate is mixed with 5 

 or 6 pares of the previously dehydrated acid, then the mixture is 

 strongly ignited for 15 or 20 minutes. The resulting fusion is 

 then almost completely soluble in hot water and alcohol, or a 

 considerable quantity of flocculent silicic acid may be left undis- 

 solved. This solution is now evaporated to dryness, and the 

 evaporation is repeated after the addition of methyl alcohol and 

 strong hydrochloric acid, in accordance with the observation of 

 Gooch concerning the volatility of methyl borate. The author 

 states that a series of exact silica determinations have been 

 carried out by this method, and he recommends it as much more 

 simple and expeditious, for the analysis of insoluble silicates in 

 general, than the lead carbonate method which has been recently 

 advocated by him. — Bericht deutsch. Chem. Gesell., xxviii, 2822. 



6. Lighting, Vol. II ot Chemical Technology, edited by 

 Groves and Thorp, 8vo, pp. 398, Philadelphia. 1895, (P. Blak- 

 iston, Son & Co. 84.00).— The present volume is an elaborate 

 work on applied chemistry dealing with fats and oils, the stearine 

 industry, candle manufacture, the petroleum industry and lamps. 

 The subjects are treated very thoroughly and comprehensively, 

 and the book is supplied with profuse illustrations of excellent 

 character. A subsequent volume will take up the subjects of gas- 

 lighting, electric lighting, etc. h. l. w. 



7. Movable Bight phenomena in rarified gases occasioned 

 by Electrical oscillations. —J ". Elster and H. Geitel in the 

 course of an investigation on kathode rays, observed a remarkable 

 movement of the kathode rays which evidently was due to a wave 

 motion. They employed a step-up transformer connected with 

 an alternating machine to produce the electrical discharges and 

 modified Lenard's kathode ray apparatus in certain respects. 

 The kathode rays could apparently be formed in the rarified 

 ■chamber as if they proceeded from an electrode in the rarified 

 media, entirely apart from the metallic kathode. The streams 

 could be made to extend from one portion of the glass wall of 

 the Geissler tube in a bent form to another portion. The authors 

 conclude from their experiments that the kathode rays are due 

 not to matter repelled from the electrode but to movements 

 of the ether. — Ann. der Physik und Chemie, No. 12, 1895. 



J. T. 



