612  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {Am,Dec.r,'iSo.arm' 
The  blue,  or  sometimes  a  greenish-blue,  color  is  also  obtainable 
from  this  mixture  of  chlorate  and  hypophosphite  with  the  ammonium 
molybdate  test  if  applied  as  above ;  in  this  test,  using  the  strongly 
acid  solution  of  ammonium  molybdate,  the  final  addition  of  nitric 
acid  is  not  necessary. 
A  mixture  of  tliiosulphate  (10  :  2000)  and  hypophosphite  (\  :  2000) 
with  tungstate  of  sodium  gives  a  blue  color  slightly  interfered 
with  by  the  precipitation  of  sulphur.  With  the  molybdate  test  it  is 
best  to  first  boil  with  HC1  until  the  odor  of  S02  disappears  ;  the 
solution  of  above  strength  will  still  give  a  blue  or  greenish-blue 
color. 
A  mixture  of  sulphide  and  hypophosphite  can  be  tested  as 
follows  :  Add  to  the  mixture  crystallized  sodium  sulphite  and  dilute 
nitric  acid  until  the  odor  of  S02  is  permanent  (the  evolved  H2S 
reacts  with  the  S02  to  form  S  and  H20,  so  that  when  the  odor  of 
S02  becomes  permanent  all  of  the  H2S  has  been  decomposed),  then 
add  an  equal  volume  of  the  molybdate  or  tungstate  solution,  and 
apply  moderate  heat.  The  precipitated  sulphur  does  not  prevent 
the  blue  color  appearing  in  solutions  containing  as  little  hypophos- 
phite as  1  in  2000. 
In  the  presence  of  stannous  chloride  the  molybdate  test  is  not 
available;  the  tungstate  test  applied  in  the  following  manner  will 
detect  hypophosphites  in  solutions  containing  0-05  per  cent.  To 
the  mixture  add  a  crystal  of  Na2SOs,  then  acidify  with  nitric  acid, 
add  an  equal  volume  of  sodium  tungstate  solution  (one  per  cent.) 
and  warm ;  the  blue  color  will  slowly  develop. 
This  last  method  of  procedure  is,  I  believe,  the  one  leading  to 
best  results  in  detecting  the  hypophosphites  either  in  simple  or 
complex  solutions. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
The  glycerin  test  of  the  new  German  pharmacopoeia,  in  which  I  cc. 
of  glycerin  boiled  with  1  cc.  water  of  ammonia  and  three  drops  of 
silver  nitrate  solution  should  produce  no  change,  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  considerable  writing  in  the  German  pharmaceutical  press, 
the  writers  finding  few  samples  that  stand  the  test  if  the  mixture  be 
boiled  for  several  minutes,  whereas  if  the  heating  be  done  in  a  water- 
bath  most  of  the  samples  respond  properly.    Dr.  Bruno  Jaffe  calls 
