130  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {AmMa0rch,?mm' 
It  may  be  thought  that  any  reducing  agent,  as  SH2  or  SnCl2,  would 
answer  equally  well,  and  perhaps  reduce  the  molybdate  without  the 
presence  of  hypophosphorous  acid  being  necessary.  These  reagents, 
however,  carry  the  reduction  too  far,  namely,  to  the  brown  state. 
Alkaloids,  including  morphine,  and  most  salts,  with  the  exception 
of  chlorates,  sulphides  and  thiosulphates,  do  not  affect  the  reaction. 
Chlorates  prevent  the  reaction,  sulphides  produce  a  brown-black 
coloration  that  would  completely  hide  it,  and  thiosulphates  reduce  the 
molybdate  to  the  brown  state.  Each  of  these,  however,  if  treated  by 
boiling  well  with  dilute  acid,  preferably  hydrochloric,  cooling  and 
then  adding  the  reagents,  will  react  properly.  Excess  of  alkali  pre- 
vents the  coloration  showing  until  acidified ;  strong  mineral  acids 
spoil  the  reaction,  but  dilute  acids  fail  to  interfere.  Boiling  causes  the 
precipitate  and  color  to  disappear,  but  if  cooled  again  and  more  sul- 
phurous acid  added  the  color  reappears. 
In  pure  solutions  the  reaction  is  very  delicate,  it  being  possible  on 
gently  warming  to  detect  1  part  of  H3P02  in  2000,  whilst  the  well- 
known  cupric  reaction  fails  completely. 
In  mixtures  and  in  the  presence  of  acids,  etc.,  about  1  in  300  is  the 
limit.  It  forms  a  splendid  lecture  experiment,  as  the  color  is  very  fine 
and  deep. 
I  may  add  that  ammonic  tungstate  reacts  in  exactly  the  same  man- 
ner as  the  molybdate  does. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  F.  X.  Mgerk,Ph.G. 
Boroglyeerides. — E.  Hirschsolin  has  studied  the  products  obtainable 
bv  using  various  molecular  ratios,  and  finds  the  following  to  give  most 
satisfactory  results :  Boroglyceride,  distinguishable  by  its  solubility 
in  two  parts  95  per  cent,  alcohol  and  in  twelve  parts  water,  is  made 
by  heating  on  a  sand-bath  62  parts  boric  acid  (1  mol.)  and  95  parts 
glycerin  (1  mol.)  until  a  portion  removed  becomes  solid  on  cooling. 
Sodium  boroglyceride,  38  parts  powdered  borax  (1  mol.)  and  38  parts 
glycerin  (4  mol.)  gave  a  pale  yellow  vitreous  mass,  completely  soluble 
in  two  parts  alcohol  and  also  in  two  parts  water.  Calcium  borogly- 
ceride, made,  owing  to  the  variable  nature  of  commercial  calcium  bor- 
ate, by  taking  freshly  slaked  lime  7*4  parts  (1  mol.)  and  boric  acid 
24*8  parts  (4  mol.),  mixing  intimately  and  heating  with  76  parts  gly- 
