IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 
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the solution was carried on in an atmosphere of carbon 
dioxide the resuits were not noticeably different from 
those in the experiments carried out with the same metals 
in the presence of air. From time to time suitable 
means were applied to determine whether any chlo- 
rine was evolved or any hydrochloric acid was being 
lost. The tests were negative in every case save in one 
experiment in the solution of iron. By accident the 
temperature was allowed to reach 80 degrees/and some 
chlorine was evolved, and was detected by aspirating a 
current of air through the acid and into a solution of 
potassium iodide and starch. To determine the amount 
of reduction in any experiment the solution was made up 
to a known volume and portions of it were titrated wdth 
N/20 silver solution after the method of Yolhard, to deter- 
mine the hydrochloric acid, from which the amount of 
chloric acid reduced could be calculated. 
Action of Chloric Acid on Sodium and Potassium. 
No information as to the action of chloric acid on potas- 
sium is known to me in the literature. Tommasi* tried the 
action of sodium amalgam on the acid and stated that the 
acid is not reduced to the least extent. I have repeated 
the experiment of Tommasi, using about two per cent 
sodium amalgam freshly prepared from carefully cleaned 
sodium and the usual redistilled mercury. The method 
of experiment in this instance was to add the amalgam 
slowly, while the solution of acid was kept cool, to a 
measured volume of chloric acid. When nearly all the 
acid was neutralized the solution was poured off, and, 
together with the washings, was acidified with nitric acid 
and titrated in the usual way. A blank experiment using 
water was made to test the freedom of the amalgam from 
traces of chlorine. 
1. 25 c.c.. 2N HC10 3 treated with 10 grams sodium amalgam required 
1.4 c c. N/20 silver solution, corresponding to 0.0025 grams HC1. ' 
2. 25 c.c. 2 N HC10 3 treated with a large excess of sodium amalgam 
required 6.85 N/20 silver solution, corresponding to 0.0125 grams 
HC1 
♦Institute) Lombardo, 2 Ser. X, 799. 
