662 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



Occurrence in nature, sources and preparation of the following metals and 

 their principal compounds, omitting metallurgical processes : lithium, sodium, 

 potassium ; calcium, strontium, barium, magnesium, zinc, cadmium ; copper, 

 silver, mercury ; iron, aluminium, chromium ; manganese ; lead, tin ; arsenic, 

 antimony, bismuth. 



(N.B. — The whole subject will be treated in an elementary manner.) 



II. — For Practical Work 



The Course must be such as will enable Students — 



(a) To prepare and demonstrate the properties of common metallic and non- 



metallic substances and to purify them by precipitation, crystallisation or 

 distillation. 



(b) To perform accurately the following simple quantitative operations : the 



determination of the equivalents of copper by reduction of its oxide and 

 of copper, tin and zinc by oxidation ; alkalimetry and acidimetry ; the 

 estimation of chlorides gravimetrically and by titration with silver nitrate ; 

 and determinations involving simple applications of the permanganate and 

 iodine thiosulphate processes. 



(c) To identify by simple tests the common elements and their more familiar 



compounds, including mixtures which may contain not more than one 

 acid and two metals belonging to different analytical groups. 



(d) To write out a clear account of their practical work, accurately describing 



the nature of the processes employed and, where possible, representing 

 by equations the chemical changes involved. 



To my thinking, the course here laid down is an ordinary, 

 thoroughly old-fashioned and conventional preliminary course 

 of inorganic chemistry. There is not a single word to indicate 

 any connection with either physiology or medicine. It scarcely 

 differs from the 1890 scheme, except in the practical part, a and 

 b in this being new : (b) is admirable in principle : the improve- 

 ment in teaching, to which Dr. Wade refers, in my opinion is 

 due to its introduction ; what {a) may or may not mean it is 

 difficult to say. 



The current scheme for chemistry in the Faculty of 

 Engineering is as follows : 



The methods which lead to the discovery of the composition of common 

 materials occurring in nature. 



The determination of molecular weights, equivalents and of atomic weights. 

 Valency and structural formulae. 



Classification of the elements, including the Periodic Scheme. 



General characters of the chief types of compounds, including acids, bases and 

 salts and a few prominent carbon compounds, especially as illustrating the 

 relations of properties to composition and structure. No distinction will be 

 admitted between Organic and Inorganic Chemistry. 



History, production and properties of the more important and typical elements 

 and their most familar compounds. 



The character of chemical changes, including combustion, thermal dissociation 



