REPORT or EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 1 05 



incomplete conclusions as to the /? ;' region of the equilibrium dia- 

 gram. The mechanical tests which have been made this summer 

 have shown that we must know the exact temperature-concentration 

 limits for fi, r, and Cu^Sn. Work on this is now under way, and it 

 is expected that the report will be ready for publication before long. 

 The experimental work has been done by Mr. E. S. Shepherd. 



Chas. Baskerville, University of New York, New York City. 

 Grant No. 113. fo?' investigations of the rare earths. |;i,ooo. 



Abstract of Report. — The complexity of thorium has been demon- 

 strated. This may be shown by sev^eral methods, among which are 

 fractional precipitation with phenylhydrazine and fractional distil- 

 lation of the chlorides in the making direct from thorium oxide. A 

 very volatile portion distils over during the passage of dry chlorine 

 over a mixture of the pure oxide and carbon ; it may be collected 

 in part by cooling and completely by absorption in alcohol. Tho- 

 rium chloride at this temperature (760° C.) is sublimed within the 

 apparatus, while a residue remains in the carbon-boat which con- 

 tained the original mixture. This residue may be converted into 

 an oxide, which is soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid. Neither 

 the original thorium preparation, nor the newer, purer compound, 

 nor the volatile portion is soluble in this reagent. 



The oxides from these three substances vary in their appearance, 

 specific gravities, and atomic mass values as determined. Further 

 differences — as, for example, radio-activity- were also noted, and are 

 stated in a communication published in the Journal of the American 

 Chemical Society. A number of organic and other salts of the new 

 elements (carolinium and berzelium) have been prepared. We wish 

 next to investigate these and obtain the elements in metallic form. 



Using the apparatus purchased by the grant, we have been investi- 

 gating the nature of neodidymium and prseseodymium, the complex 

 nature of which has been predicted by several workers. So far 

 success has not attended this. 



Gregory T. Baxter, Cambridge, Mass. Grant No. 154. For re- 

 search upon the atomic jveight of fnanganese . $500. 

 This work is to be carried on by a laboratory assistant during the 

 college year 1904- 1905. Therefore there has hardly been an oppor- 

 tunity to begin it. vSome preliminary work has been done, but a 

 definite report can not be made at this time. 



