The New York herald., 1870-04-12
IMP3RTANT SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.

Actual Experiment md Success in the Pro-
ductiOn Of Metallic HydrOgen-Dr. LOew
Demonstrating Professor t:rnhnm's Theory.
About twenty gentlemen were gathered In the han
OF the Lyceum OF Natural History ut "a Madison ave-
nue. last evening to listen to the reading OF paper
by Dr. o. Loew, OF the College of New York on the
subject OF 'Hydrogenlum Amagam'' and notices by
DR.. PAU Schwetzer Of recent chemical lnvestiya-
tions. The president DR.. Newberry, called the
meeting to order at eight O'Clock, and after the
transaction OF some unlmportant miscellaneous
business
DR.. LoEw came forward, and after reading very
interesting paper on the subject OF hydrogen and
possible amalgamatons proceeded to an expert
mental Illustration OF the method he employed TO
produce an amalgam Of hydrogen and mercury.
Taking an amalgam OF zinc containing thirty per
cent OF zinc, he added an equal volume OF "a solution
bi.choride OF plainum this, after carefully snak-
ing for some time, he poured into an earthen
vessel containing water; Hydrochioric acid
of zinc. Hereupon Ia the bottom OF
the vessel there was collected volurninous bril-
liant amalgram OF hydrogenium and mercury,
exactly similar to the wen known ammonium ANAL
gam. The amagam 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
1t also has high reducing and other properties as
explained by Professor Graham. Dr. Loew stated
IN addition that l5O volumes OF hydrogen escaped
from the smagam; this, however, was under cir.
cumsances where much Of the hydrogen was una
voldaby lost
DR.. WAIz in alluding to Dr. Loew's paper and
experiments, said the discovery one OI great
Importance and had 1t not been anticipated by Pro-
lessor Graham last year would have created no in
considerable excitement IN the scientific world. DR..
L0ew was Sill the only person. with the exception
OF Professor Graham, who had succeeded IN pro-
Cucing the amalganattOn Of zinc and mercury. DR..
Walz also presented u second experiment OF a simi-
lar nature. A discussion followed between Drs. Loew
and Walz In regard 10 the existence or non-exist.
ence OF antOZOne.
Professor JOY of Columbia College said: :-"The
admirable experiment vi Dr. L0ew showed that
Professor SchOenUein, OF Bass, was IN 1865 on the
eve OF discovering metallic hydrogen At this time
Schoenben exhibited to him the following action OF
zinc amalgam upon water. BY agitating violently
an amagam OF zinc aud mercury IN water the water
is partially decomposed and appears to be split or
into oxide OF zinc and DLoXide oil hydrogen. II the
remaining liqud be Uttered ana i0dde OF potassium
ana starch he added, there IL no reaction,
but II prOo-oxideeOf IRON be added the blue color at
once appears. Or Loew had carried the investiga.
ton further and had succeeded IN capturing the
hydrogen aud combining II with mercury. II
ShOenDeIn had thought OF doing this he would have
DR.. Leow ~ Untitled to great credit for having SO
greatly enriched our Enowledge Of hydrogen and
rendered the isolation OF that metal highly probape
Dr. SEELY did not believe that sufficient proof mad
yet been adduced that hydrogen was a metal or
could be atnalgamated with metal.
DR.. PAUL SCHwElTZER read paper on recent in
vestgations, and concluded with an exhibition OF
an analysis made by him IN the School Of Mines.
Professor JOY called attention to the recent paper
OF Professor Le0ig on fermentation, IN which he
80 ably answered the attacks which have been made
during the last ten years upon his theory.