| 64.2051 | grams of | cadmium sulphate | |
| gave | 44.4491 | ” ” | ” sulphide. |
| If the atomic weight of | oxygen = | 16, |
| ” ” ””” | sulphur = | 32.059, |
| ” ””” | cadmium = | 111.935. |
The atomic weight of cadmium calculated as an average of the nine determinations made using the above values for oxygen and sulphur = 111.94.
- Maximum, 112.121.
- Minimum, 111.796.
- Mean, 111.940.
The work of von Hauer is greatly to be preferred to that of Stromeyer. The large amount of material used in each determination tended to lessen any experimental error. A very considerable degree of care seems to have been exercised in purifying the cadmium sulphate. In determinations 1-5 a different specimen of sulphate was employed from that in determinations 6-9. The average value found in the first five determinations = 111.910, in the last four = 111.977. The close agreement between the results obtained from the different preparations of the sulphate argues in favor of a fair degree of purity for all the material.
The method of weighing the more or less hygroscopic cadmium sulphate is open to criticism when employed in accurate work. The cadmium sulphate was placed in an open boat, dried, cooled over sulphuric acid, and weighed. It was again dried, cooled as before, and weighed. The second weighing could be quickly accomplished since the approximate weight was known. The two weighings agreed to within less than a milligram or a third drying and weighing were made. An error of a milligram in the weight of the sulphate produced an average error in the atomic weight of cadmium of about .06. That a discrepancy of greater or less magnitude was introduced from this source will be readily seen.
Dumas Ann. Chim. Phys. 55, 158. 1859, determined the relation between cadmium chloride and the metallic silver required to precipitate the chlorine. Metallic cadmium was dissolved in boiling hydrochloric acid and the solution evaporated. The cadmium chloride was fused for five or six hours in a stream of hydrochloric acid gas. Six determinations were made. 23.0645 grams of cadmium chloride were equivalent to 27.173 grams of metallic silver.
| If the atomic weight of | silver = | 107.93. |
| ” ” ””” | chlorine = | 35.45. |
| ” ””” | cadmium = | 112.322. |
The atomic weight of cadmium calculated as the average of the six determinations made, using the above values for silver and chlorine = 112.241.
- Maximum, 112.759.
- Minimum, 111.756.
- Mean, 112.241.