128      ON  THE  SOLUBILITY  OP  SESQUIOXIDE  OF  CHROMIUM. 
be  wished  for,  in  order  to  avoid  serious  mistakes  and  discre- 
pancies, and  (above  all)  to  abolish  an  unprofessional  exclusive- 
ness,  which  is,  at  the  expense  of  a  better  mutual  feeling  even  in 
advanced  pharmaceutical  bodies  still  fostered. 
Hoping  that  the  communication  may  assist  in  agreeing  upon 
a  definite  formula, 
I  am  jours  respectfully, 
Jos.  Abel. 
ON  THE  SOLUBILITY  OF  THE  SESQUIOXIDE  OF  CHROMIUM. 
I  By  Charles  T.  Carney. 
Editor  of  Journal  of  Pharmacy: 
Bear  Sir, — Allow  me  to  trespass  upon  your  space  so  far  as  to 
state  a  curious  fact  in  relation  to  the  chrome  oxide. 
In  September  1857,  I  was  led  to  investigate  the  Sesquioxide 
of  Chromium,  with  a  view  of  decomposing  the  same  without 
injury  to  any  organic  matters  which  might  be  present  with  it. 
The  means  usually  employed  for  effecting  the  decomposition, 
by  boiling  sulphuric  acid,  &c,  were  of  course  unavailable,  and  I 
was  much  interested  in  observing  a  peculiar  reaction  which  was 
new  to  me ;  and  I  do  not  know  that  it  has  been  before  observed. 
I  found  that  when  the  ignited  sesquioxide  was  exposed  to  the 
action  of  the  galvanic  battery,  in  presence  of  a  dilute  solution 
of  caustic  alkali,  it  was  decomposed,  the  chromate  of  alkali 
formed  in  solution.  Thinking  it  possible  that  a  combination 
might  occur  with  the  caustic  alkali  and  some  soluble  portion  of 
the  chrome  oxide,  I  next  subjected  some  freshly  prepared  and 
ignited  sesquioxide  to  the  action  of  caustic  alkali  for  twelve 
hours  ;  then,  after  being  thoroughly  washed  and  dried,  submitted 
it  to  the  action  of  the  battery. 
The  result  was  the  same,  and  from  the  solution  of  chromate 
of  alkali  obtained,  I  formed  the  chromic  salts  of  lead  and  silver. 
Very  truly  yours, 
Charles  T.  Carney. 
Boston,  Feb.  1859. 
