Chemistry. 379 



but at a high temperature it slowly decomposes it Xitric acid at common 

 temperatures does not attack it and even when boiling, the action is ex^ 

 cessively slow ; nor is it soluble in diluted sulphuric acid. Its true solvent"* 

 is hydrochloric acid, which attacks it very rapidly. At a very low tempera- 

 ture the gas attacks it, and converts it entirely into the chloride. Sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen is without action upon it. Aluminium does not amal- 

 gamate with mercury, but alloys with copper, silver, and iron. It gives 

 a compound with carbon. — (Annales de Chem. et de Physique, vol. xliii. , 

 p. 1.) 



Solubility of Carbonate of Soda. 

 Payen has made the observation that carbonate of soda, like the sul- 

 phate, has a point of maximum solubility. In fact the quantities of the 

 crystallized carbonate dissolved at 57° Fahr., 97° and 219°, while the boil- 

 ing points of the saturated solution are as follows : — 



57° 60-4 



97° 833-0 



219° 445-0 



It is remarkable that this peculiarity of so familiar a salt should 

 have so long escaped the attention of chemists. — (Annates de Chem. etde 

 Physique, vol. xliii., p. 233.) 



On a Compound of Methyle and Tellurium. By Prof. Wohler. 

 This substance, which deports itself like a metal, is prepared by dis- 

 tilling a mixture of telluride of potassium and sulphomethylate of baryta. 

 It is a reddish -yellow mobile fluid, heavier than water, and having an 

 unpleasant alliaceous smell. It boils at 176°, and forms a yellow vapour. 

 It burns with a blue flame, and thick fumes of telluric acid are formed. 

 When boiled with nitric acid, nitric oxide is disengaged, and a nitrate of 

 the oxide of telluromethyle is formed, which crystallizes in fine large stri- 

 ated prisms. 



Oxide of Telluromethyle, C 2 H 3 Te 0, is obtained as a white crystalline 

 mass, without smell, but with a very disagreeable taste. It deliquesces 

 in the air, absorbs carbonic acid exactly like caustic potash, and possesses 

 powerfully alkaline properties, restoring the blue of reddened litmus and 

 expelling ammonia from its salts. Sulphurous acid reduces it, separating 

 the radical. It is obtained by decomposing the chloride or iodide with 

 oxide of silver. 



Sulphate of Telluromethyle, C 2 H 3 Te S0 3 crystallizes in large trans- 

 parent cubes. 



Chloride of Telluromethyle is a white precipitate, very similar to 

 chloride of lead. It dissolves in boiling water, and is deposited in small 

 prisms. It melts at 207°*5, and is not volatile without decomposition. 

 Treated with ammonia and oxychloride, C 2 H 3 Te 0-f-C 2 H 3 Te Ce is formed, 

 which is also well crystallized. 



Bromide of Telluromethyle resembles the chloride. 

 Iodide of Telluromethyle, C 2 H 3 Te I, is a beautiful yellow precipitate, 

 which, some minutes after its formation, acquires a fine cinnabar red 

 colour. When precipitated in a hot solution, it is obtained red and crys- 

 talline. It is very little soluble in cold water, more so in hot, and more 

 abundantly still in alcohol, and deposits from these solutions in small red 

 prisms. When its cold alcoholic solution is mixed with water, it is pre- 

 cipitated as a yellow powder, which, in the course of a few minutes, turns 

 red. It is obvious, therefore, that this substance exists in two states, like 

 iodide of mercury ; but the author has not been able to ascertain whether 

 this is accompanied by a dimorphous change. It is decomposed at 266°, 

 producing the black iodide of tellurium. 



A liquid sulphuret of tellurium appears to exist, but want of material 

 prevented its examination. — (Comptes Rendus, 3d Jan. 185.").) 



