A chemical curiosity

The writer has noted a rather curious chemical heno omen on which mav glass-encl&ed and therefore are not subjected to air currents. The accompanying ...
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VOL. 9, NO. 7

A CHEMICAL CURIOSITY

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A CHEMICAL CURIOSITY The writer has noted a rather curious chemical heno omen on which mav

glass-encl&ed and therefore are not subjected to air currents. The accompanying photograph shows the result. I t would appear that the AsC13 evaporated because of improper closure of the bottle and 1 hydrolyzed upon coming in contact with the moisture in the air. Ammonia, originating from the ammonium salts, was also present in the air. The grotesque formation on the top of the bottle should therefore be a mixture of AslOs [or As(OH)&!l] and NH4C1. I t precipitated AS& with H1S; liberated NHPwhen 1 1 treated with NaOH, and precipitated an abundance of AgCl upon the addition of AgN03. Although the explanation seems simple enough one would scarcely predict the stalagmite-like structures with the I iug markings of such a symmetrical nature.

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