ing the part of insulating sheaths, whether the extremities of these tubes are closed or not. (9.) Still the production of ozone resulting from the passage of air over the naked metallic electrodes (direct contact with the platinum wires) is greater than that which arises from the passage of the air round the same electrodes, when sheathed and closed, (no direct contact of the air with the naked metallic electrodes). (10.) With closed sheathed electrodes the production of ozone varies equally with the length or surface of the metallic electrodes. (11.) The production of ozone increases considerably with a diminution of the temperature at which the electrification of the air is effected. (12.) All conditions being equal, the quantity of ozone produced with a definite volume of oxygen, is always much more considerable (about eight or ten times) than that furnished by the same volume of air. (13.) The ozone produced by the obscure electrification of air, is accompanied by small quantities of nitrous compounds, while that which is furnished by pure oxygen under the same circumstances, contains only traces. By attention to the conditions above described, the author has been able to construct a new apparatus, which he calls an ozonizer, and with which, according to his statement, quantities of ozone hitherto unknown, may be prepared. The apparatus is not described in the paper from which our extract is taken.- Comptes Rendus, lxx, 1286. W. G. 2. Researches on Platinum.-SCHÜTZENBERGER has communicated to the Academy of Sciences further investigations of the remarkable compounds of platinum with carbonic oxyd, already noticed in this Journal, and has in addition described some new series of great interest and theoretical importance. Setting out with the view that the two compounds already described, со COPtCl2, and co>PtCl,,* may be regarded as the chlorids of two diatomic radicals, the author found that ammonia unites with each compound, forming the two new chlorids represented respectively by the formulas, 2 2 N2H.CO.PtCl2, and N2H ̧· (CO)2 . PtCl2. When heated these compounds fuse, yielding metallic platinum, nitrogen, hydrogen and sal-ammoniac, together with a volatile liquid having a penetrating odor which appears to be chlorid of formyl, COHCI. The compound CO. PtCl2 absorbs dry ethylene and forms a yellow crystalline body, which has probably the formula C2H.CO.PtCL2, and may be regarded as corresponding to the dicarboxyl compound (CO),. PtCl2, CH, replacing CO. When heated above 95° C. this body gives off chlorhydric acid, while a dark colored body remains insoluble in water and having the formula C2H, Cl. CO. PtCl2, so that it contains monochlorinated ethylene in place of ethylene. 3 Phosphorous chlorid, PCI,, like carbonic oxyd, unites readily * Pt 197 C=12 0=16. with platinous chlorid, forming a solid reddish-yellow substance, volatile with difficulty, fusing at about 200°, and soluble in phosphorous chlorid, from which it crystallizes in cooling. The composition of this body is represented by the formula PCI. PtCl2. The same substance is formed by heating one atom of platinum with one molecule of phosphoric chlorid, PCI,+Pt=PCI,. PtCl2, and also by the action of PCI, upon CO. PtCl2, CO being given off. The compound PCI,. PtCl, dissolves in water with a yellow color, forming a new complex acid, P(HO), Pt Cl2, and differs essentially from the body described by Baudrimont, which according to that chemist, has the formula PCI,. PtCl2, (Pt=98·5). In a later communication to the Academy, Schützenberger gives the formulas and names of a series of very remarkable substances which he has obtained from the primitive, PC13. PtCl2; these are as follows: PCI,. PtCl, chlorid of trichloro-phosphoplatinum. P(CHO). PtCl, chlorid of trioxethyl-phospho platinum. 3 P(CHO) PtO. NO, nitrate of oxyd " 3 2 3 66 P(CHO). PtN2H.2HCl chlorhydrate of trioxethyl-phosphoplatin-diamin. 2 PtCl chlorid of hexachloro-diphosphoplatinum. P2 P. 5 6 2(C2H,O). PtCl, chlorid of hexoxethyl-diphospho platinum. z(C,H,O),.PtN,H.2HC1 “ 5 3 2 66 diamine. P2(CHO), Cl, PtCl2 chlorid of trichloro-trioxethyl-diphospho platinum. P2 (Č2H ̧O) ̧ (HO), Pt Cl2 diphospho-trioxethyl-chloro-platinous 2 2 5 acid. 3 Schützenberger points out the analogy between these compounds and the ammonia-platinum bases. In a third note he gives a method of isolating the radicals contained in the above described compounds. By treating the alcoholic solutions of the two chlorids P(C,H,O),PtCl2, and P2(C,H,O), PtCl2, with zinc, viscid black masses are obtained, having respectively the formulas P(C2 H ̧O),Pt and P2(C,H,O)Pt, and combining directly with chlorine to reproduce the original chlorids.-Comptes Rendus, lxx, 1287, 1414; lxxi, 69. 5 3 2 W. G. 3. On new derivatives of triethylphosphine.-CAHOURS and GAL have studied the product of the action of platinic chlorid upon triethylphosphine, and have obtained a compound having the formula,* P(CH),PtCl, which they regard as the equivalent of the green salt of Magnus in the ammonia series. This body crystallizes from its solution in ether in voluminous transparent prisms of an amber yellow color. An alcoholic solution of this salt heated to 100° for several hours in sealed tubes, yields crystals of an iso *C=6 0=8 Pt=98.7. meric white salt. When the yellow salt is boiled with water and triethylphosphine, a colorless salt is formed, which has the formula, [P(CH)] PtCl and which the authors consider to be the phosphorous analogue of the salt of Reiset. It loses an atom of triethylphosphine when long kept, and leaves the white modification of the chlorid first described. With argentic oxyd and water it yields a strongly alkaline liquid; with the chlorids of gold and platinum well defined salts. Palladium forms a compound similar to the first described salt of platinum, and also forming amber yellow prisms. This does not, however, unite with another atom of triethylphosphine. When triethylphosphine is added to a solution of auric chlorid, AuCl,, in alcohol a colorless crystalline salt is obtained which has the formula, P(C,H,), AuCl. Compounds of an exactly analogous composition were obtained with the chlorid of platinum, palladium and gold, and triethylarsine.- Comp tes Rendus, lxx, 1380, lxxi, 208. W. G. 2 5 4. On silico-propionic acid.-By the simultaneous action of zinc-ethyl and sodium upon ethyl-silicic monochlorhydrine, SiCl(O CH)3, FRIEDEL and LADENBURG have obtained a liquid boiling at 1585 C. and having the formula, Si(CH) (OC2H)3, which they term tribasic silico-propionic ether. A concentrated solution of caustic potash does not set free in this compound the silicon in the form of silicic oxyd SiO2, but gives a product having the formula, SiC HO2H, which however cannot be obtained in this way in a state of purity. By heating silico propionic ether at 180° C. in a closed tube with chlorid of acetyl, the authors obtained a mixture of acetic ether and a body having the formula SiC, H, Cl, By treating with water the part of this liquid which boils at 90°110°, chlorhydric acid and a white gelatinous body are formed; this last is the hydrate of silico-propionic acid. When dried at 100° the acid forms a white amorphous powder greatly resembling silicic oxyd, but easily distinguished from it by its combustibility. When heated it burns like tinder, disengaging combustible gases. The acid is insoluble in water, but dissolves in hot concentrated caustic potash, and is not precipitated from this solution by HCl, but only by NH, Cl, like SiO2, the residue after evaporation being unchanged silico-propionic acid. The new substance appears therefore to be a weak acid analogous to silicic acid, and presents the first known case of a silicic acid containing carbon. Its formula shows that it contains the group, SiO2H, which may be termed silicoxyl, and which is the analogue of carboxyl, ČO,H. It is easy to see also that it forms one term of a group of homologous acids.- Comptes Rendus, lxx, 1407. W. G. 5. On normal amylic alcohol.-LIEBEN and Rossi have succeeded in obtaining synthetically the normal amylic alcohol, which bears the same relation to the alcohol already known which normal butylic alcohol bears to that obtained by fermentation. Normal cyanid of butyl yields normal valeric acid, which greatly resembles the acid already known, but which has an odor more closely resembling that of butyric acid. It boils at 184°-185° at 736mm. When normal calcic valerate is mixed with normal calcic formate, and the mixture is distilled in small portions at a time, valeric aldehyd is obtained, boiling at 102° C. This aldehyd, by the action of nascent hydrogen, yields the normal amylic alcohol. The alcohol much resembles that obtained by fermentation, but has a higher boiling point, 137° C. under a pressure of 740mm. The authors have prepared from it the chlorid, bromid, iodid and acetate of amyl, all of which possess higher boiling points than the corresponding ordinary amylic ethers. The constitution of the normal alcohol must be expressed by the formula, while common amylic alcohol has probably the formula attributed to it by Erlenmeyer, The authors promise a detailed description of the normal valeric acid and its salts.- Comptes Rendus, lxxi, 369. W. G. 6. Transformation of the fatty acids into the corresponding alcohols.-SAYTZEFF has given a method of passing from the fatty acids to the corresponding alcohols, which possesses much inter est. An amalgam of sodium of 3 per cent is to be introduced into a flask, and a mixture of one molecule of the chlorid and two of the acid introduced, the mixture being cooled. After 12 hours water is added, the liquid distilled, and the distillate saturated with potassic carbonate. The product separated is the ether formed by the fatty acid with the corresponding alcohol. This may then be saponified by potash. In this manner the author prepared propylic and butylic alcohols.-Bull. de la Société Chimique, xiii, p. 51. W. G. II. GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 1. Laurentian Rocks of Nova Scotia; by Rev. Dr. HONEYMAN, F.G.S., &c.-In this communication I propose to make a few observations bearing upon remarks made by Dr. Hunt on the above subject, in the July number of the American Journal of Science. While I was engaged in the service of the Canadian Survey, ascertaining the extent of the distribution of the Upper and Middle Silurian rocks of Arisaig, I unexpectedly came upon a band of crystalline rocks, of considerable thickness and of great lithological variety. There was a succession of different kinds of diorites and hornblendic rocks, traversed with veins of quartz and many granular limestones. These extended about two miles along the shore, stretching at the same time both into the sea and land. After these came a thick band of ophites and ophio-calcites. Succeeding these were bands of diorites and hornblendic slates, with quartz veins containing mica in crystals, and then white feldspar rock of considerable thickness with green veins, and a thick band of rose-colored feldspar. I was convinced that I had discovered a series of Laurentian rocks. In geological position it is unquestionably inferior to the Arisaig series, which ranges from the Medina and Oneida through the Clinton, Niagara (?), Lower Helderberg, and possibly the Devonian, into the Lower Carboniferous. There appeared to me to be a sufficient lithological resemblance, between these rocks and those of Canada and Newfoundland Laurentian, to warrant the conclusion. Dr. Hunt gives me the credit of having profited by his suggestions, and the descriptions of Laurentian rocks given by the Canadian Survey, and assures the readers of the Journal, that these first brightened my ideas in regard to the geological age of the rocks in question. Dr. Hunt, however, knows right well that I had other and much better means of acquiring the requisite knowledge. I spent the greater part of six months in the Paris Exhibition, in the immediate vicinity of the Canadian Survey collection of rock specimens, from the Laurentian rocks of Canada and Newfoundland, and those who know me know that I am not in the habit of allowing such good opportunities to pass unimproved. After Mr. Richardson had finished the arrangement of these rocks in the Canadian department of the Exhibition, when there was no geologist in the Canadian and Newfoundland courts, my duties as Executive Commissioner in the Nova Scotia department requiring my constant attendance, I had frequent occasion to direct the attention of English and Continental geologists to the rock specimens referred to; so that I was not altogether ignorant of their character and appearance. Thus schooled I considered the rocks discovered to be Laurentian. The first to whom I communicated the discovery was H. R. Hill, Esq., High Sheriff of Antigonish, who had often accompanied me in my Arisaig trips, and whose knowledge of the Silurian rocks of Arisaig and the places where fossils occur is somewhat intimate. To him I declared positively that I had found the Laurentian rocks in the neighborhood of our old geological field; at the same time I gave him specimens of these rocks. Shortly after I left the field on account of the inclemency of the weather. On my way home I had to pass through New Glasgow; I called upon Sir W. Logan at his hotel and showed him specimens of the ophite and ophiocalcite. He appeared to hail them as an important discovery, declared them to be of Quebec age, and recommended a search for chromic iron in the locality. When Prof. Hind inspected the specimens which I had in the Museum, he appeared then to regard them as Sir W. Logan had done, and in his report on the Waverly Gold Fields he mentions the discovery as a discovery of Quebec rocks. In the month of December following, I received a letter from Sir W. Logan, addressed to the care of W. A. Hendry, Esq., Deputy Commissioner of Nova Scotia Crown Lands, a gentleman who has had considerable field experience as |