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XXV. Researches on Vanadium. — Part II. By Henry E. Boscoe, B.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. 
Received June 16, — Read June 17, 1869. 
On the Chlorides of Vanadium and Metallic Vanadium. 
In the first part of these researches* I stated that the nitride of vanadium forms the 
point from which the study of the vanadium compounds, properly so called, must be 
commenced. I now proceed to describe the composition and mode of preparation of 
the compounds of the metal with chlorine, and also the properties of the metal itself. 
The process for preparing vanadium mononitride which I described in the last com- 
munication, was that proposed by Berzelius for obtaining the substance which he con- 
ceived to be metal. It consists in the action of dry ammoniacal gas upon vanadyl tri- 
chloride (VO Cl 3 ). 
Owing, however, to the difficulty of properly regulating the very violent action which 
occurs when the two bodies come into contact, and the consequent loss of trichloride, 
this method was unsuited for the preparation of the nitride in quantity. Seeking for an 
easier and more economical method, I found that if the black residue left on calcining 
ammonium metavanadate in the air (probably an oxynitride) be heated to whiteness for 
a sufficiently long time in a current of dry ammoniacal gas, pure vanadium mononitride 
is left behind. A portion of ammonium-salt was placed in a platinum boat inside a 
porcelain tube, through which a stream of dry ammonia was passed. The tube was then 
heated to whiteness for three days. 
Analysis 1. — Determination of Vanadium. 
Weight of Nitride employed . . . 0T705. 
Constant weight of vanadium pentoxide obtained by roasting .... 0-2415. 
Hence the nitride contained 79*6 per cent, of vanadium. The formula requires 78*6 
per cent. 
Determination of Nitrogen according to Simpson’s method. 
Weight of nitride taken 
Observed vol. of nitrogen Pressure, 
(measured moist). millims. 
111*2 vol. 746*2 
(1 vol. =0*331 cub. centim.) 
. 0*2070. 
Temp. Yol. at 0° and 760 
0 millims. 
17*0 100*5: 
This corresponds to 20 2 per cent, of nitrogen. 
Vanadium mononitride contains 21*4 per cent. 
* Bakerian Lecture, Philosophical Transactions, 1868, p. 1. 
4x2 
