The New York herald., 1870-04-12
IMP3RTANr SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.

Actual Experiment and Success in the Pro-
ductiOn Of Metallic Hydr0gen-Dr. LOew
Demonstrating Professor (:raham's Theory.
About twenty gentlemen were gathered in the HAN
OF the Lyceum OF Natural History ut "a Madison ave-
nue. lass evening to listen to the reading OF paper
by DR.. o. Loew, OF the College of New York, on the
subject OF ''Hydrogenlum Amalgam" and notices by
DR.. Pau Schwetzer OF recent chemical investiga
tons. The president, DR.. Newberry, called the
meeting to order at eight O'Clock, and after the
transaction OF some unimportant miscellaneous
business
Dr. LoEw came forward, and after reading very
interesting paper the subject OF hydrogen and lts
possible amalgamatons proceeded to an expert.
mental Illustration OF the method he employed TO
produce an amagam OF hydrogen and mercury
Taking an amagam OF zinc containing thirty per
cent of zinc, he added equal volume OF a solution
OF bichoride OF pIatinum this, after carefully
ing for some time, he poured INTO an arthen
vessel containing water. Hydrochoric acid
was employed TO dissolve ali the excess
Of zinc. iierenpon In the bottom OF
the vessel there was collected vouminous bril-
liant amalgram OF hydrogenium and mercury,
exactly similar to the well known ammonium ANAL
gam. The amalgam Immediately increases IN
volume and the hydrogen AT the same time rapidly
escapes, but without odor. This hydrogen has
active properties similar to the bioxide OF water.
IL also has high reducing and other properties as
explained by Professor Granam. Dr. Loew stated
in addition that l6O volumes OF hydrogen escaped
from the smalgam; this, however, was under cir.
cumstances where much OF the hydrogen was una
voldably lost
Dr. WALZ, in auding to Dr.. Loew's paper and
experiments, said the discovery was one Ol great
Importance, and had II NOS been anticipated by Pro-
lessor Graham last year would have created no In
considerable excitement IN the scientific world. DR..
Loew was still the only person, with the exception
OF Professor Graham, who had succeeded IN pro-
oucing the amalgamati0n Of zinc and mercury. DIR.
Walz also presented a second experiment OF sin
lar nature AdlscusslOn followed between Drs. Ioew
and Waz In regard TO the existence VI Don-exiss
ence oil antOZOne.
Professor JOY. Of Columbia College, said:-"The
admirable experiment OF DR.. Loew showed that
Professor ScnOenOein OF Basls WAS IN 1865 on the
eve OF discovering metallic hydrogen. At this time
Schoenbein exhibited to him the following action OF
zinc amagam upon water. BY agltating violently
an amalgam OF ENC aud mercury IN water the water
Is partially dec0mposed and appears to be split or
into oxide OF zinc and 0LoXde OF hydrogen. II the
ana starch be added there is no reaction,
but II iron be added the blue color ut
once appears Dr. Loew had carried the investiga
ton further and had succeeded IN capturing the
hydrogen AUD combining IT with mercury. II
ShOenDen had thought or doing this he would have
discovered hydrOgeniuin antecedent to Graham.
DR.. LeOw ~ Untitled to great credit for having so
greatly enriched our Enowledge OF hydrogen and
rendered the isolation OF that meta highly probape.' "
Dr. SEELY did not believe that sinicleut proof mad
yet been adduced that hydrogen was metal or
could be ANA gamated with metal
DR.. PAUL sCHwElTZEH read paper on recent IN
vestlgations, and concluded with an exhibition Of
an analysts made by him IN the School Of Mines.
Professor JOY called attention 10 The recent paper
OF Professor LieDig ON fermentation, IN which he
80 ably answered the attacks which have been made
during the last ten years upon his theory.