Scientific Serials

Abstract

American journal of Science and Arts, September.—In a second paper on the gases contained in meteorites, Mr. Wright first describes those of the Kold Bokkeveld stony meteorite, one of a distinct class containing a good deal of amorphous carbon, a bituminous substance, and very little metallic iron. The volume of the gases obtained was much greater, but the gaseous mixture was like that of ordinary stony meteorites, except in the very small quantity of hydrogen present, A comparative table is given of the gases of seven iron and six stony meteorites. From experiments on the manner of occurrence of carbon dioxide, the author infers that while some of the gas may be condensed on the fine particles of the iron, a large portion of it and of the water, carbonic oxide, and other gases, is mechanically imprisoned in the stony substance of the meteorite. The idea is favoured ot comets consisting of meteoric masses with the gases expanding under action of solar rays. Every cubic mile of a substance like the Kold Bokkeveld meteorite would give thirty cubic miles of gas at the pressure of our atmosphere, and in space this would expand enormously before it would cease to transmit electric discharges or be visible by reflected sunlight. These views are confirmed by spectroscopic observations of meteoric gases,—Mr, Storer, questioning Carius' statement that Schcenbein's iodostarch test for nitrates used with zinc as reducing agent, is not a specially delicate one, finds that the fatal defect of the test, as hitherto applied, lies in the fact that mere water containing no nitrates or nitrites, on being treated with zinc or cadmium, as if to test for a nitrate, will react on iodo-starch just as if a trace of some nitrate were present. This coloration is due to peroxide of hydrogen formed in the water by action of the metal. Mr. Storer also finds that no peroxide of hydrogen is formed when water slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid is boiled on metallic cadmium; and as the reduction of nitrates and nitrites occurs readily in such solutions, the iodo-starch test can be thus applied for detection of nitrates with great certainty.—Mr. J. Lawrence Smith gives an account of a new meteoric stone which fell in 1865 in Wisconsin, and which is identical with the Meno-meteo-rite which fell in 1861.—Mr. Brooks gives a classified list of rocks in the Huronian series south of Lake Superior, with remarks on their abundance, transitions, and geographical distribution; and Mr. Burnham furnishes a seventh catalogue of new double stars.