142 Scientific Intelligence. 



be much more common than their companions according to the 

 theory. — Journ. Amer. Chem. 8oc, 39, 85(>. 11. l. w. 



2. Disodium Nitrite. — It has been found by E. B. Maxted 

 that when a solution of sodium nitrite in perfectly anhydrous 

 liquid ammonia is subjected to electrolysis with electrodes of 

 platinum a bright yellow substance was deposited on the cathode. 

 This substance dissolved in water with violent evolution of 

 hydrogen, thus resembling sodium, but it did not dissolve in an 

 excess of anhydrous ammonia, although sodium does this with 

 the production of a blue solution. > 



It was found further that the same compound could be 

 obtained by the reaction of metallic sodium and sodium nitrite 

 in anhydrous ammonia solution. A quantitative experiment 

 showed that the blue color of a solution of sodium in liquid 

 ammonia was discharged by the addition of exactly one molecule 

 of powdered sodium nitrate, and that the weight of the yellow 

 product after evaporating off the ammonia was the same as the 

 sum of the weights of the sodium and sodium nitrite employed. 

 It was thus found that the formula, of the compound was Na 2 NOo, 

 and that it contained no ammonia. 



The substance was found to react explosively with moist air. 

 After it had been decomposed by the action of moist nitrogen 

 there was no evidence of the formation of hyponitrous acid or 

 of hydroxylamine, but it was shown that sodium nitrite 

 remained. No further theoretical discussion of the nature of 

 the compound has been made, but it is proposed to study it 

 further in the future. — Journ. Chem. Soc, 111, 1016. h. l. w. 



3. Recovery of Potash from Greensand. — It is stated by 

 W. H. Charlton that a process which was originally developed 

 for the treatment of feldspar for the extraction of potash has 

 been found to apply more advantageously to greensand or 

 glauconite which occurs in great abundance in the eastern states, 

 particularly in New Jersey. The process consists in heating the 

 finely ground mineral under pressure . with water and lime in 

 autoclaves. Steam at a pressure of about 225 lbs. is led directly 

 into the digester and this is maintained for a period of 2 to 4 

 hours. Although glauconite contains less potash than feldspar, 

 it has been found that it is decomposed more readily than the 

 latter, and that it yields potassium hydroxide that is nearly 

 pure. It is proposed to utilize the waste material obtained by 

 filtration from the potash solution for making bricks, tiles and 

 similar articles, as it has been found that when mixed with 

 sand, pressed, and steam hardened it makes durable products. — 

 Journ. Indust. and Eng. Chem., 10, 6. h. l. w. 



4. A Method for the Determinaiion of Rubidium and Cae- 

 sium in Plant Ash. — For this purpose W. 0. Robinson advises 

 preparing the ash of the plant, using 20 g. or more, at a tem- 

 perature not exceeding 525° C. in a muffle. After obtaining the 



