114 
GLEANINGS  FROM  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
obtained  consisting  of  oil  of  turpentine  and  a  layer  of  "  turpen- 
tine water,"  which  is  colorless,  light  vellow  to  brownish  red, 
boils  between  110  and  120°  C.  (230  and  248^  F.)  and  contains 
acetic  acid.  (Annal.  d.  Chem.  und  Ph.  xxxi.  255,  256.) 
Anhydrous  oxalic  acid  ^CgHO^  is  according  to  Erdmann 
obtained  at  ordinary  temperature  over  sulphuric  acid  ;  it  is  pro- 
posed by  him  for  preparing  the  normal  acid  of  volumetric  analy. 
sis. — (Journ.  f.  prakt.  Chem.  Ixxv.  4,  6.) 
Preparation  of  an  ethereal  solution  of  hinoxide  of  hydrogen, — 
This  has  been  recommended  by  Dr.  H.  Storer  as  a  test  for 
chromic  acid.  Professor  R.  Bottger  proposes  the  following 
method  for  preparing  a  solution  which  will  keep  unaltered  for  a 
long  time  :  A  piece  of  sodium  of  the  size  of  a  hazelnut,  and 
freed  from  petroleum,  is  heated  in  a  rather  flat  somewhat  in- 
clined porcelain  capsule  overa  Bunsengas  burner  to  fusion,  so  that 
it  ignites  when  stirred  in  contact  with  the  air  by  means  of  an 
iron  rod.  As  soon  as  the  burning  and  glowing  ceases,  it  is  trans- 
ferred to  a  well-stoppered  vial.  Of  this  impure  hinoxide  of  sodium, 
small  particles  are  carried  into  about  an  ounce  of  very  dilute  sul- 
phuric acid  (1  to  24  water)  contained  in  a  narrow  cylinder  which 
is  kept  cool.  After  the  third  or  fourth  introduction,  ether  is 
added,  the  liquids  agitated,  and  after  separation  the  ether  re- 
moved ;  this  may  be  continued  until  the  ethereal  solution  ceases 
to  produce  an  intensely  blue  color  with  a  diluted  solution  of 
ohromic  acid.  With  little  material,  a  considerable  quantity  of 
this  new  reagent  is  produced  in  a  short  time.  (Wittst.  V.  Schr. 
ix.  546.) 
Estimation  of  arsenic. — A  solution  of  pentasulphide  of  arsenic 
(AsSg)  in  sulphide  of  ammonium  yields  instantly  a  precipitate 
of  ammonio-arseniate  of  magnesia  by  a  solution  of  magnesia. 
Lenssen  states  that  the  sulphides  of  tin  and  of  antimony  are  not 
precipitated  under  the  same  conditions.  (Ann.  d.  Chem.  und  Ph. 
_Wittst.  V.  Schr.  ix.  574.) 
Separation  of  phosphoric  acid  from  sesquioxide  of  iron  and 
alumina. — W.  Mayer  states  that  the  requisite  proportions  to 
effect  this  separation,  are  for  1000  cub.  cent.  15  grm.  (1  equiv.) 
