302 proceedings: chemical society 



The inverse problem, namely, that of obtaining any satisfactory con- 

 ception of the way in which a train of ether waves of frequency v can 

 eject an electron from an atom with an energy hv is as yet quite un- 

 solved. Yet the direction in which a solution must be found seems to 

 be indicated. For the conception of localized bundles of energy travel- 

 ing out through space from the radiating body is untenable in view 

 of the oil-drop experiment, while energy considerations preclude the 

 possibility that the ejected electron receives its energy from a single 

 spreading ether pulse. It seems therefore necessary to assume with 

 Planck and Bohr that the atom possesses such a structure that it can 

 absorb energy without radiating at all until a critical energy content 

 is reached when an explosion takes place and the electron is ejected 

 with the energy hv. How it can do this we do not yet know, but experi- 

 ments are presented which show that in any case this type of absorp- 

 tion is not a phenomenon of resonance. With Bohr's atom, however, 

 which is shown to have had notable success very recently in explain- 

 ing the relations between the lines of fluorescent X-radiations, it is not 

 surprising that absorption is unlike anything which we have observed 

 in the region of low frequency vibrations where the cause of absorption 

 is, in general, resonance. 



The communication was discussed at length by Messrs. Duane, 

 Hull, Bateman, and Swann. Mr. Hull gave some additional experi- 

 mental data extending Bohr's theory. 



A vote of thanks was unanimously extended to Dr. Millikan and the 

 other speakers for their kindness in addressing the Society. 



J. A. Fleming, Secretary. 



THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY 



The '251st meeting of the society was held at the Bieber Building on 

 October 14, 1915, the society being the guests of the members of the 

 Bureau of Chemistry. Several reels of motion pictures showing vari- 

 ous activities of the Department of Agriculture were shown. Presi- 

 dent Alsberg, as Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, gave a short ad- 

 dress of welcome, outlining the various phases of the work of the Bureau. 

 The laboratories of the Bureau were opened for inspection and a very 

 profitable and enjoyable evening was spent by the two hundred mem- 

 bers and guests attending. 



The 252d meeting was held at the Cosmos Club on November 11, 1915, 

 for the annual election of officers. President C. H. Herty of the 

 American Chemical Society was present as a guest of the local section 

 and gave a brief address, especially emphasizing the important role the 

 American chemist is to play in the important matters now before the 

 American public. 



The following were elected officers for the year 1916: 



President: R. B. Sosman, Geophysical Laboratory. 



First Vice-President: H. M. Loomis, Bureau of Chemistry. 



Second Vice-President: A. Seidell, Hygienic Laboratory. 



