146. Scientific Intelligence. 



series. It is probable that they represent pairs, since in four of 

 the brightest of them their double character has been observed 

 distinctly. The compound spectrum of sulphur is similar to that 

 of oxygen. Like this, it contains two series of triplets, the first 

 of which consists of six triple lines, the second of four. As before, 

 the differences in the vibration-ratios of the three components are 

 about the same, but these differences are nearly five times greater 

 than is the case in the oxygen triplets. Selenium also gives a 

 compound spectrum in which triplets occur, quite similar to those 

 seen in the case of oxygen and sulphur. — Ann. Phys. Chem., II, 

 lxi, 641-686, July, 1897. G. r. b. 



4. On the Production of Electricity by Chemical Means. — The 

 cuprous chloride carbon monoxide cell of Borcher's has been ex- 

 perimented with by Andreas. He used carbon electrodes which 

 were immersed respectively in solutions of cupric chloride in 

 water and of cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid, the two being 

 separated by a porous jar. To put the cell in action chlorine was" 

 passed into the cupric solution and carbon monoxide into the 

 cuprous. The current at first produced diminished rapidly after 

 a time, when it was found that the cuprous salt had been com- 

 pletely oxidized, the carbon monoxide having taken no part in 

 the action. Of the 1950 cc used in one case, only 10 cc were oxi- 

 dized to carbon dioxide. The results were similar with platinum, 

 palladium or nickel electrodes, used at various temperatures. The 

 author then made a gas battery by placing two pieces of platinum 

 gauze together, having a piece of filter paper between them moist- 

 ened with an electrolytic solution. The resistance was low and it 

 gave promising results with coal gas and air, with oxygen and 

 hydrogen, and with chlorine and hydrogen. With the gases 

 under a pressure of 3 atmospheres, the last combination gave an 

 electromotive force of 1*5 volts and a current of about one 

 ampere. Of course, the cost of the platinum would prevent its 

 commercial use economically. Fairly good results, however, 

 were obtained with carbon, sulphurous oxide being passed on the 

 one side and chlorine on the other, both. under pressure, into car- 

 bon tubes immersed in sulphuric acid. With one ohm resistance 

 in circuit, this battery gave an electromotive force of 0-5 volts, 

 the resulting products being sulphuric and hydrochloric acids. 

 If the electrodes were made very large probably good results 

 could be obtained with air and sulphurous oxide, the products 

 now being only sulphuric acid. — Zeitschr. Elektrochem., iii, 188- 

 192, November, 1896. g. f. b. 



5. On Graphite, Graphitite and Graphitoid. — From a careful 

 consideration of the evidence put forward for the existence of 

 graphitite and graphitoid as distinct modifications or varieties of 

 graphite, as well as from his own observations made on natural 

 and artificial material, Weinschenk concludes that there is no 

 essential difference between these and graphite and that they 

 must be taken, therefore, as being identical with the latter. The 

 property of not swelling up when moistened with nitric acid and 



