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It is next to be dissolved in aqua regia, and precipitated with the right amount 
of potash (in excess of the reagent the oxide redissolves), whereby an 
emerald green precipitate of Norwegium hydrate is obtained. This has 
now to be reduced with carbon or hydrogen. The metal is white, pretty 
malleable, of the hardness of copper, melts at a low red heat, has a density 
of 9*44, is soluble with difficulty in hydrochloric acid, but readily so in nitric 
acid ; the solution is blue, and when diluted becomes green ; the metal is also 
soluble in dilute sulphuric acid. The atomic weight appears to be, as a mean 
of two not very well according determinations, Ng = 145-95 if the oxide be 
regarded as NgO. As characteristic re-actions the following are given. The 
solutions of the metal are precipitated by potash, ammonia and sodium 
carbonate ; the precipitates are green, and re-dissolve in an excess of the 
reagent, forming a blue solution. Sulphuretted hydrogen gives even in very 
dilute solutions a brown precipitate insoluble in ammonia sulphide. Before 
the blowpipe in the oxidizing flame in the borax bead, it gives a yellowish 
green colour which cools to a blue glass ; in the reducing flame the blue 
colour is brighter ; in a bead of phosphorus salt it shows a yellowish green 
which on cooling turns first an emerald green, then violet, and then to a 
blue glass. The oxide is easily reduced with soda on charcoal. — ( Compt . 
rend. 1879, ii. xxxix. 47.) 
Uraliutn, a New Metal of the Platinum Group. — As far back as 1869, A. 
Guyard discovered this metal in commercial platinum obtained from Russian 
ores. Next to silver it is the whitest metal known. Its malleability is as 
great as that of the purest platinum, but its ductility is much greater, and 
it is almost as soft as lead. Its melting point lies near that of platinum, and 
it is not volatile. Its specific gravity is 20-25, and its molecular volume, 
like those of osmium, platinum, and palladium, is 6*25. Its atomic weight 
has been found to be 187-25. In its chemical properties it is difficult to 
distinguish from platinum. — ( Monit . Sc. Quesneville, July, 1879.) 
Scandium, a New Earthy Metal. — L. F. Nilson announces the discovery of 
a new metal to which he has given the name of scandium. (Per. deut. chem. 
Gesellschaft , 1879, No. 6.) It has been separated from ytterbia, but has not 
yet been obtained in a state of purity : it is the oxide in a white earth, 
which gives no absorption bands. After ignition it is attacked but slowly 
by dilute nitric acid, but more readity by hydrochloric acid. The solution 
of the nitrate is completely precipitated by oxalic acid. The nitrate is com- 
pletely decomposed at a temperature at which ytterbium nitrate is only 
partially resolved into a basic salt. The atomic weight, calculated on 
ScO, must be below 90. The author doubts, however, this composition of 
the oxide, and thinks the formula Sc0 2 more likely to be the correct one. 
Scandium would then rank between tin and thorium, and with an atomic 
weight of about 170 would occupy the vacancy intervening between 118 and 
234. 
“ Allotropic Copper .” — Wiedemann has sought to refer the peculiar com- 
portment of copper obtained by electrolysis from solution of its acetate, to its 
containing a considerable quantity of copper oxide. Schiitzenberger, who 
described it, adhering to his original view, states that the metallic deposit 
first obtained does contain much oxide, but in that which is afterwards 
obtained he found less than 6 per cent, of the oxide. His u Allotropic 
