AmbJe0cUri87h9ann'}  Chemical  Notes.  603 
of  polianite.  Gorgen  believes  that  polianite  and  pyrolusite  have  been 
formed  in  this  way,  and  explains  their  purity  by  supposing  that  the  other 
products  had  separated  out  in  the  fused  mass  before  the  decomposition 
of  the  nitrate. — Ber.  der  Chem.  GeselL,  xii,  p.  1706,  from  Compter 
Rendus. 
Development  of  Oxygen  by  the  Action  of  Nascent  Hydrogen. — Hoppe- 
Seyler  has  made  a  number  of  experiments  to  show  that  the  action  of 
nascent  hydrogen  is  often  accompanied  by  energetic  oxidation.  Thus 
palladium  foil  charged  with  hydrogen  as  in  Graham's  well-known 
hydrogenium  experiments,  in  the  presence  of  oxygen  or  atmospheric 
air,  turns  indigo  solution  yellow,  turns  a  neutral  mixture  of  potassium 
iodide  and  starch  blue,  and  changes  ammonia  into  ammonium  nitrite. 
An  interesting  appearance  is  that  seen  when  a  strip  of  hydrogen-laden 
palladium  foil,  of  sufficient  length,  is  dipped  into  a  test-tube  of  very 
dilute  indigo  solution.  After  some  time  the  solution  at  the  bottom  of 
the  tube  is  decolorized  in  consequence  of  reduction,  the  uppermost 
layers  yellowish  colored  in  consequence  of  oxidation,  while  a  layer  of 
blue  solution  separates  them.  The  rapidity  of  the  reaction  depends 
upon  the  relative  amount  of  hydrogen  carried  by  the  palladium.  Ben- 
zol, to  which  water  and  the  palladium  foil  laden  with  hydrogen  has 
been  added,  shaken  up  in  contact  with  air  and  then  allowed  to  stand, 
is  gradually  oxidized.  Phenol  was  found  among  the  products  of  the 
oxidation.  Toluol  yielded  a  phenol-like  body,  and  a  small  amount  of 
an  acid  readily  recognized  as  benzoic  acid.  The  results  with  metallic 
sodium  were  still  more  remarkable.  Thin  slices  of  sodium,  after  being 
wet  with  petroleum  benzin,  were  allowed  to  lie  exposed  to  the  air, 
and  shaken  about  from  time  to  time  until  the  benzin  hao1  evaporated. 
They  were  then  rubbed  up  in  a  mortar  with  fresh  portions  of  the  benzin 
and  again  allowed  to  stand  exposed  to  the  air.  When  the  sodium  was 
completely  oxidized  the  white  powder  was  carefully  and  gradually  put 
in  water,  the  alkaline  solution  concentrated  down  to  one-half  its  bulk, 
and  then  acidified  with  sulphuric  acid  and  distilled.  With  the  first 
drops  of  water  distilled  over  drops  of  oil.  The  distillate  was  saturated 
with  baryta  and  the  resulting  product  examined.  Capric  acid  was 
recognized,  and  one  portion  analyzed  proved  to  be  barium  butyrate. 
Hoppe-Seyler  has  also  detected  distinct  amounts  of  the  higher  mem- 
bers of  the  fatty  acid  series  in  the  crusts  with  which  sodium  becomes. 
