and the oxalic acld, in another quantity of the salt, was determined by means of a standard solution of potassium permanganate. The crystals of the oxalate were thus found to contain 52.70 per cent of masrium oxide, 15.85 per cent of oxalic anhydride, and 31.27 per cent of water. From the whole of the analytical data yet obtained, assuming, as the reactions of the salts would indicate, that masrium is a divalent element, the atomic weight would appear to be 228. An element of atomic weight

more »

... 225 is, indeed, required to occupy a vacant place in the periodic system in the beryllium-calcium group, and masrium appears likely to be the element in question. Masrium has only yet been observed to combine with oxygen in one proportion, to form the oxide MsO. Masrium oxide is a white substance much resembling the oxides of the lime group. The chloride, MsC12, is obtained upon evaporation of a solution of the oxide or hydrate i n hydrochloric acid. The nitrate, Ms (NO,)" crystallizes from 50 per cent alcohol, and the crystals contain water, the amount of which has not been determined. The sulphate, MsS04 . 8H,O, is a white salt which crystallizes badly from water, but which separates in well-developed crystals from 50 per cent alcohol. It combines with sulphate of alumina to form an alum, also with potassium sulphate to form a c'ouble sulphate. The oxalate above referred to, MsC,O, . 8H,O,