3 I2 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Edward G. Acheson, 

 Discoverer of Carborundum, Artificial Graphite and Siloxicon. 



to the passage of the current offered by the cryolite transforms into 

 heat sufficient electrical energy to fuse the cryolite. Into the fused 

 cryolite is poured calcined and purified bauxite in powdered form. 

 The oxygen of the purified bauxite combines with the carbon of the 

 anodes or positive poles of the electrolytic cell to form carbon monoxide 

 and carbon dioxide gases and the aluminum is withdrawn in an almost 

 chemically pure state. Since the cryolite serves merely as a solvent 

 for the bauxite from which the aluminum is obtained and is unaffected 

 by the electric current, the reduction of bauxite is continued indefinitely 

 by pouring into the reducing pot enough bauxite to supply the place 

 of that reduced. 



Another electrolytic process in use at Niagara Falls is the produc- 

 tion of caustic soda. The demand for caustic soda in many industries 

 such as soap-making and paper-making is so great that an inexpensive 

 way of producing this important alkali is imperative. The process is 



