PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY AND AFFILIATED 



SOCIETIES 



THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY 



The 239th meeting was held jointly with the Baltimore Branch, 

 on May 2, 1914, at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Penniman of the 

 Maryland Board of Health exhibited a vacuum regulator for distilla- 

 tion in vacuo. Discussed by Acree, Bunzel, Sosman, and others. 



The following papers were read: 



W. W. Randall, of the Maryland Board of Health: The determina- 

 tion of camphor m spirits of camphor. The method depends upon 

 the salting out of the camphor by concentrated solution of calcium 

 chloride, followed by its solution in a measured volume of gasoline, 

 and measurement of the volume of the resulting solution. The dissolv- 

 ing of camphor in gasoline is not accompanied by any change in total 

 volume. Discussed by Engelhard, Penniman, Caspari and Acree. 



J. H. Shrader of the Gibbs Preserving Company: The reactions of 

 propyliodide with both the ions and the molecules of sodium phenolate. 

 Discussed by Bunzel, Acree, Sosman, Phelps. 



F. M. BoYLES, Secretary Baltimore Branch. 



The 240th meeting was held at the Cosmos Club, May 14, 1914, at 8 :15 

 p.m. The follomng papers were read: R. C. Wells, of the Geological 

 Survey, The electromotive behavior of soluble sulfides. The speaker meas- 

 ured the potential of the sulfur ion in concentrations ranging from 10~^^ 

 N to 0.09 N and worked out mathematical relationships correlating the 

 values obtained. The agreement between the calculated and observed 

 values for E is very good. The divalent sulfur ion is far more reducing 

 than even the iodine ion. The electromotive force measurements do not 

 show the existence of disulfides and trisulfides in polysulfides. 



Discussion. Acree inquired about the constancy of the values obtain- 

 ed with the calomel electrode. It was stated that the experiments were 

 only made with an accuracy of 0.01 volt, so that the small fluctuation of 

 the calomel electrode could be overlooked. The calomel electrode is 

 rnuch more constant than the sulfur electrode. 



S. F. Agree, of Johns Hopkins University: The reactions of both ions 

 and molecules of acids, bases and salts. The speaker studied about 30 

 reactions experimentally and as many more from the data of others, and 

 calculated separately the velocity constants of the reactions due to the 

 molecules and those due to the ions. This was done with widely varying 

 concentrations and at different temperatures. In all cases both ions 

 and molecules were sho\\Ti to enter into the reaction. 



H. H. Bunzel, Acting Secretary. 



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