PEOEESSOE EOSCOE’S EESEAEC1IES ON VANADIUM. 
19 
been analyzed by Yon Hatjee*. The ammonium and sodium bivanadates were found to 
correspond with the formulae N H 4 O . 2 V 0 3 and Na O 2Y 0 3 , where V= 6 8 -5 and 0=8. 
If we assume Y=51*3 and 0=16, these salts will be expressed by the formulae 
(NH 4 ) 2 V 4 O n and Na 2 Y 4 O n ; or they may be represented as anhydro-salts , either 
2(NH 4 Y0 3 )+Y 2 0 5 and 2(Na V 0 3 )+V 2 0 5 , or else as Na 4 Y 2 0 7 +3(Y 2 0 5 ) as an 
anhydro-salt of sodium pyro-vanadate. 
Constitution of the Normal Vanadates. — That vanadic acid in its normal state is tri- 
basic is shown by the fact first pointed out by CzuDNOWiczf, that when vanadium pent- 
oxide is fused with an excess of sodium carbonate three molecules of carbon dioxide 
(3C0 2 ) are displaced for every molecule of vanadium pentoxide (Y 2 0 5 ) entering into 
combination. In an experiment carefully conducted, in which sodium carbonate was 
heated to redness with 0*4323 grm. of vanadium pentoxide until no further loss of 
weight occurred, the pentoxide was found to expel 0*3078 grm. carbon dioxide (C0 2 ); 
this corresponds to a ratio of 2*957 molecules of carbon dioxide to 1 of Y 2 0 5 , or nearly 
Na, 
in the proportion of 3 tojjl. 
Normal- or ortho-sodium vanadate is Na 3 Y 0 4 , 
YO 
3 ^ O, 
Hence there is no doubt that vanadic acid in its normal state acts as a tribasic acid. 
It is my intention fully to investigate the constitution and properties of the vanadates 
at a future time. 
V. VANADIUM OXYCHLOEIDES. 
1. Vanadium Oxytrichloride, or Vanadyl Trichloride , V O Cl 3 , molec. weight 173*67 
(terchloride of vanadium of Bekzelius). — The fact that the lemon-yellow-coloured liquid 
chloride of vanadium prepared by the action of chlorine upon the trioxide does contain 
oxygen, contrary to the distinct statements of previous experimenters, was ascertained in 
various ways : — 
(1) A few grammes of the lemon-coloured liquid chloride was placed in a bulb 
attached to a long combustion-tube half filled with pure sugar-charcoal and half with 
metallic copper. A current of dry hydrogen, purified from oxygen according to the 
method previously described, was then passed over the bulb and cold tube until every 
trace of air was expelled ; the carbon and copper were then heated to redness, and as 
soon as the escaping gases had ceased for fifteen minutes to render baryta-water turbid, 
Liebig’s bulbs containing clear baryta-water were attached. The bulb containing the 
oxychloride, which up to this point had been kept cool, was now warmed, and the 
chloride distilled into the heated carbon in the tube ; as soon as the vapour of the 
chloride was carried forward by the hydrogen, a dense precipitate of barium carbonate, 
which effervesced on the addition of hydrochloric acid, was thrown down in the Liebig’s 
bulbs, proving that the liquid contains oxygen and undergoes partial decomposition when 
mixed with hydrogen and brought in contact with red-hot charcoal. 
This experiment was repeated twice with identical results. It is not possible hi this 
* Journ. Prak. Chem. Bd. lxix. p. 388 (1856). + Pogg. Ann. Bd. exx. p. 33. 
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