Record. xli 



Neutral Tri-Ammonium Citrate was prepared by passing an excess 

 of dry ammonia gas into a well cooled solution of the water free citric 

 acid in an anhydrous solvent.' The yield is quantitative. Tri-am- 

 monium citrate thus prepared is a stable, white, crystalline substance, 

 not hygroscopic and not affected by the CO2 of the atmosphere. It dis- 

 solves readily in water and the freshly prepared solution is neutral to 

 sensitive litmus, azo-litmin, corallin, methyl red, etc. Rigorous analy- 

 ses of both the ammonia and the citrate content of the salt show it to 

 be the tri-ammonium citrate. Further investigation of its physical- 

 chemical properties are being made. 



As the method of preparation is simple and inexpensive and the yield 

 good it is evident that this means a solution of the difficult problem of 

 the fertilizer chemist in the preparation of neutral ammonium citrate 

 solution for the determination of the citrate insoluble phosphoric acid 

 in fertilizer analysis. 



May 5, 1913. 



President Engler in the chair; attendance 29. 

 The following donations to the Museum and Library- 

 were reported: 



Edward Evers..One volume of Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau and 

 two volumes of Globus. Fourteen pieces of Zuni pot- 

 tery. 



Professor M. E. Wilson gave an illustrated lecture on 

 *'The Geology of the Meramec Highlands Eegion." 



Dr. Chas. A. Todd, who read a paper at the preceding 

 meeting on "Observations on the Migratory Flight of 

 a Butterfly," exhibited fresh specimens of returning 

 Monarchs {Anosia plexippus) badly battered, and 

 bleached in color, showing evidence of travel and long 

 exposure to weather. 



May 19, 1913. 



President Engler in the chair ; attendance 51. 

 Dr. Geo. T. Moore addressed the Academy on "Specu- 

 lations on the Origin of Life." 



' This body was first prepared by this method two years ago at the 

 time of the investigation of the Conductivity Method of Preparing Neu- 

 tral Ammonium Citrate Solutions but a press of other research pre- 

 vented its analysis and complete identification until the present time. 



