Labrador-porphyries of the Vosges. By A. OSANN (Jahrb. f. Min., 1888, i, Ref., 237-239; from Abhdl. geol. Specialkarte ElsassLothringen, 3, pt. 2). The so-called labrador-porphyries occur in the Southern Vosges, near the Sulzer Belchen, within a highly contorted series of culm rocks. The rocks examined by the author were found in the vicinity of Gebweiler, Masmünster, the Rossberg, Seewen, and St. Amarin. They have a brown, green, or grey colour, and consist principally of plagioclase and augite. The plagioclase appears to be labradorite, its extinction being 5° to 8° on OP, and 19° to 24° on coĚ. The results of an analysis of unaltered plagioclase from the brown porphyry of the Rimbachthal were as follows:

The augite in the rock is found by analysis to have an intermediate place between the diopside-like augites in granite and the augites in diabase.

B. H. B.

Analysis of Shotley Bridge Spa Water. By H. PEILE (J. Soc. Chem. Ind., 7, 14).—The water when first collected is perfectly clear, but has a slightly brown tinge. It has a strong, ferruginous taste, which it loses on standing, when the taste of common salt may be readily detected. The sp. gr. at 15.5° is 1·00197, the temperature at the well 10°, the air at the time of observation being 14°. The water has for many years been used by persons suffering from rheumatism and skin diseases. The analysis of the water in grams per litre, and the percentage composition of the solid residue dried at 180° (2·484 grams per litre) gave—

NaCl. CaH2(CO3). CaCO3. MgH2(CO3)2. FeH2(CO3)2.

Chemical Composition of the Water composing the Clyde Sea Area. By A. DICKIE (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., 124, 422—427).

99.092

D. B.

Organic Chemistry.

Fire-damp. By B. FRANKE (J. pr. Chem. [2], 37, 91--101, 113-136). The author has made an elaborate series of experiments on the origin of fire-damp. Examination and analyses of many samples of gas taken from mines under different conditions show that they may be roughly classified, according to the nature of the gas contained in the coal, under the three following heads :-(1) Mines, the coal of which gives an incombustible gas consisting of much nitrogen and little methane. (2) Mines, the coal of which gives a combustible gas, not capable however of forming an explosive mixture with air. In such mines, the coal should be worked in ascending galleries and the efficiency of the ventilation occasionally checked by analysis of the air. (3) Mines, the coal of which gives gases rich in methane and forming explosive mixtures with air. In mines of this class, safety lamps must be used together with a perfect system of exhaust ventilation from every point at which coal is worked.

G. T. M.

Decomposition of Chloroform by Alcoholic Potash. By L. DE ST. MARTIN (Compt. rend., 106, 492—495).-A solution of potassium hydroxide in alcohol of 60° decomposes chloroform slowly but almost completely at the ordinary temperature, and decomposition is rapid at 100°. If the strength of the potash solution is known, the excess may be determined by titration, using phenolphthaleïn as indicator, and after the liquid has been carefully cooled the amount of the potassium chloride formed may be estimated by silver nitrate solution with potassium chromate as indicator. In the cold solution. the alcohol and potassium formate have no effect on the titration. order to employ this method for the estimation of chloroform, the latter is heated with the alcoholic potash in sealed tubes, and the excess of potash and amount of chloride formed are estimated.

In

In order to determine the quantity of chloroform vapour in air or other gases, a known volume of the gas is allowed to enter a vacuous globe into which a measured quantity of alcoholic potash is then introduced. After standing for eight or ten days an aliquot part of the potash solution is withdrawn and titrated. C. H. B.

Purification of Chloroform. By H. WERNER (Arch. Pharm. [3], 25, 1113-1115). The method of purifying chloroform published by the author in 1878 (Abstr., 1878, 821) affords a product found to be perfectly satisfactory for medicinal use during 10 years' experience, even if an isolated sample, may barely pass the phenolphthalein tests given by Vulpius (this vol., p. 634). J. T.

Geuther's Views on the Constitution of the Nitro-derivatives of the Adipic Hydrocarbons. By V. MEYER (Annalen, 244, 222-224).—A reply to Götting's remarks on the constitution of nitroethane (this vol., p. 355).

Ethyl Ferrocyanide. By M. FREUND (Ber., 21, 931-936).When a carefully cooled alcoholic solution of hydroferrocyanic acid is saturated with dry hydrogen chloride, a compound, C18HNO¿FeCl2, is obtained (compare Buff, Annalen, 91, 253), which crystallises in white needles, decomposes into its constituents on exposure to the air, and when heated becomes dark-blue, and at a higher temperature glows, leaving a pseudomorph of iron oxide. Alcoholic ammonia. converts it into the ammonium salt, (NH), FeCy6,2NH.Cl. Contrary to Buff's statement, ethyl ferrocyanide is not formed when it is dissolved in hot alcohol and treated with ether, since the product is hydroferrocyanic acid, and on this account the compound is to be regarded as probably analogous in constitution to the imido-ethers, and may be represented by the formula H.FeCa(OEt).(NH),2HCl. The corresponding methyl-, propyl-, aud amyl-derivatives were also prepared.

Ethyl ferrocyanide, Et,FeCys, is obtained by boiling silver ferrocyanide with ethyl iodide for about an hour until the product begins to be coloured blue. It crystallises from chloroform by spontaneous evaporation in large, rhombic forms, decomposes at 212-214° with the formation of ethylcarbamine, and is readily soluble in water, alcohol, and chloroform, but insoluble in ether, light petroleum, and carbon bisulphide. In aqueous solution, it yields a deep-violet colour with ferric chloride, and a white precipitate with mercuric chloride. Concentrated sulphuric acid decomposes it with the formation of carbonic oxide and the sulphates of iron, ammonia, and ethylamine. When finely powdered potassium ferricyanide, suspended in alcohol, is saturated with dry hydrogen chloride, a compound, CisHNO, FeCl or C1HNO, FeCl2, is obtained, which crystallises in needles, decomposes very readily, and in its other properties resembles the compound prepared from hydroferrocyanic acid. W. P. W.

42

Ethyl Platinocyanide. By M. FREUND (Ber., 21, 937-938).— The compound obtained by v. Than (Annalen, 107, 315), and by him termed ethyl platinocyanide, most probably has not this composition but is analogous in constitution to the imido-ethers. For example, when heated on a water-bath it is converted into hydrogen platinocyanide, when decomposed with water it yields hydrogen platinocyanide and alcohol, and on treatment with alcoholic ammonia it is converted into ammonium platinocyanide (compare preceding Abstract). W. P. W.

Formation of a Glycol in the Alcoholic Fermentation of Sugar. By HENNINGER aud SANSON (Compt. rend., 106, 208-209). -Sugar was mixed with yeast, and after 15 days tartaric acid was added. When fermentation ceased, the product was fractionated and the portion boiling between 175° and 182° was refractionated. this way, isobutylene glycol boiling at 178-179° was obtained, the yield amounting to 3.08 grams per kilo. of sugar. C. H. B.

In

Formose and Methylenitan. By O. LOEW (J. pr. Chem. [2], 37, 203-206).—In this paper, the author contests the opinion advanced by Tollens (this vol., p. 438), that formose and methylenitan are identical. The reducing power of formose is nearly equal to that

of dextrose, it has a sweet taste, and if dried carefully, so as to prevent decomposition, gives on analysis numbers corresponding with the formula CH12O. Methylenitan has, on the other hand, a bitter taste, a reducing power of only one-fifth to one-fourth of that of dextrose, does not yield an osazone, and is represented by the formula C&H10O G. T. M.

Alcoholic Fermentation of Galactose. By E. BOURQUELOT (Compt. rend., 106, 283—286).--Pure galactose is not fermented by either high or low beer yeast, but if the galactose is mixed with glucose and then with yeast it undergoes alcoholic fermentation. The limit of fermentation is the same whether the glucose and galactose are mixed in equal proportions, or the former is only onethirtieth of the latter, but with the smaller proportion of glucose about thrice the time is required.

Levulose or maltose mixed with galactose and yeast have the same effect as glucose, and bring about the fermentation of the galactose. C. H. B.

Compounds of Sugars with Aldehydes and Acetones. By H. SCHIFF (Annalen, 244, 19-28).-The addition of a small quantity of aldehyde or acetone to a cold concentrated solution of glucose or cane-sugar in strong acetic acid, produces a gum-like deposit which adheres to the sides of the vessel. By washing the substance with glacial acetic acid, and afterwards treating it with absolute alcohol, it solidifies to a hygroscopic mass readily decomposed by water. These compounds contain sugar and aldehyde or acetone in equal molecular proportions. Dextrose forms compounds with benzaldehyde, salicaldehyde, cumaldehyde, furfuraldehyde, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetoacetate, and camphor, and cane-sugar combines with oenanthaldehyde, furfuraldehyde, and camphor. Milk-sugar does not form similar compounds. W. C. W.

Bases formed by Alcoholic Fermentation. By E. C. MORIN (Compt. rend., 106, 360-363).-A quantity of crude unwashed fusel oil boiling at 130-135° was agitated with dilute hydrochloric acid, and the separated acid solution distilled until the last traces of alcohol were expelled. It was then made alkaline and again distilled, when the bases passed over with the first portions of the distillate. The bases were dried over potash and separated into three fractions, boiling respectively at 155-160°, 171–172°, and 185-190°. Similar products were obtained from both washed and unwashed fusel oils, but the yield was smaller in the case of the former.

10

The base boiling at 171-172° has the composition of C,H,N2. It is a mobile, colourless, highly refractive, almost neutral liquid with a strong disagreeable odour; sp. gr. = 0·9826 at 12°; vapour-density 4-16. When heated with hydrochloric acid, it is partially decomposed with formation of ammonium chloride, but no evidence as to its constitution is obtained. It combines with ethyl iodide, forming yellow needles which dissolve in water and alcohol but are insoluble in anhydrous ether. The hydrochloride crystallises in slender, white needles, soluble in water and ethyl alcohol, but only slightly soluble

in ether. The platinochloride is crystalline and very soluble in water and alcohol, but only slightly soluble in ether, although it dissolves in a mixture of ether and alcohol. It decomposes when the aqueous or alcoholic solution is evaporated in a vacuum.

Mercury potassium iodide gives no precipitate in aqueous solutions, but after the addition of a small quantity of hydrochloric acid it yields a yellow, flocculent precipitate which rapidly changes to characteristic brilliant, slender needles.

Pyridine and quinoline bases do not give this reaction. Mercuric chloride or phosphotungstic acid produces a flocculent, white precipitate; phosphomolybdic acid, a yellow precipitate. C. H. B.

Bases produced by Alcoholic Fermentation. By TANRET (Compt. rend., 106, 418-419).-The base, C,H10N2, obtained by Morin from the products of alcoholic fermentation (preceding Abstract) seems to be identical with the glucosine, C-H1N2, obtained by the author by the action of ammonia on glucose (Abstr., 1885, 1048). C. H. B.

Amidothiazoles from Thiocarbamide and Halogenated Ketones and Aldehydes. By A. HANTZSCH and V. TRAUMANN (Ber., 21, 938-941).-The authors find that not only does the reaction between halogenated ketones and thiocarbamide-derivatives take place more readily than with ammonium thiocyanate (this vol., p. 256), but the yield also is almost quantitative, and the products consist not of substituted thiocarbamides as Pawlewski states (this vol., p. 473), but of thiazole-derivatives. Thus, the product of the action of chloracetone on thiocarbamide is not acetonylthiocarbamide but mesoamidomethylthiazole. The term thiazoline is proposed for amidothiazole. -N:C(NH,)、 Thiazoline, is prepared from dichlorether, and CH.CH S phenylthiazoline from bromacetophenone by the action of thiocarbamide. These strongly characterised bases resemble in their properties the bases of the aromatic series, and like these can be diazotised, forming diazothiazole salts, which react with aromatic amines and with phenols, yielding the corresponding amido- and hydroxy-azo-derivatives.

Mono-substituted thiocarbamides yield secondary thiazylamines by the action of halogenated ketones. Phenylamidothiazole or thiazyl-N:C(NHPh) aniline, CH.CH--S is obtained from phenylthiocarbamide

and dichlorether.

The so-called sulphuvinuric acid, prepared by Nencki and Sieber (Abstr., 1882, 501) by the action of thiocarbamide on dibromopyruvic acid, is most probably amidothiazolecarboxylic acid, -C(NH,):NC-COOH.

S

CH

W. P. W.

Methylthiazole. By A. HANTZSCH and L. ARAPIDES (Ber., 21, 941-942). The authors have obtained the free thiazoles. a-MethylN.CH.S-. thiazole, CMe:CH, is formed when the hydroxy-derivative (this

VOL. LIV.

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