342 ON THE CHANGE OF REFRANGIBILITY OF LIGHT.
property of internal dispersion was coloured with oxide of uranium. This rendered it interesting to examine other compounds of uranium; and I accordingly procured some crystallized nitrate of the peroxide, which, with a few other compounds formed from it, and some of the natural minerals which contain uranium, were examined by methods which have been already explained.
138. The crystals of the nitrate were not sufficiently large and perfect to admit of observation by the methods applicable to fluids and clear solids, but they could be readily observed by means of a linear spectrum. They proved to be sensitive in a very high degree, dispersing a green light which had the same very remarkable composition that has been already described in the case of the yellow glass. On placing a crystal in the continuation of the same linear spectrum with the glass, and viewing the whole through a prism, the five bright bauds of which the derived spectrum given by each of the two media usually consisted, appeared to correspond to one another as regards their position in the spectrum. With great concentration of light I have seen an additional band of greater reftangibility in the spectrum of the crystals.
139. Some crystals of nitrate of uranium were gently heated so as to expel a good part at least of the water of crystallization. The residue after some time became opaque and nearly white. In this state it was still more sensitive than the crystals. The dispersed light was not exactly of the same tint, but more nearly white; and the derived spectrum was found on being analysed to contain, in addition to the bright bands usually seen in the derived spectrum of the crystals, another blue baud still more refrangible. The fused mass gradually attracted moisture from the air, its colour changed to that of the crystals, and the most refrangible of the bright bands disappeared from the derived spectrum. Although when the incident light was very much concentrated I have seen this baud even in the crystals, it was faint compared with the preceding bauds, whereas in the case of the whitish mass its intensity was not very different from that of the others. It appears therefore that the quality as well as the quantity of the dispersed light was altered by depriving the crystals of a part of their water.