CHEMISTRY. 333 



5. The Heat of Reaction of Slow Chemical Processes. 

 Mr. Oscar C. Bridgeman, continuing the study of this problem, has car- 

 ried out with his exceedingly complicated apparatus a number of careful 

 determinations of the hydrolysis of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and propyl 

 acetate. The results with each of these substances were highly consistent 

 and the apparatus functioned without fault. These results are almost ready 

 for publication. 



6. The Compressibilities of Simple Salts. 



Mr. Edouard P. R. Saerens, Belgian Research Fellow, continued the study 

 of the compressibility of various simple salts. To results for halides of the 

 alkali metals he has added results for the compressibilities of calcium, 

 strontium, and barium chlorides which show systematic relation to one 

 another and which afford interesting basis for theoretical conclusions. 



(For example, see Sir J. J. Thomson's paper in Phil. Mag. (6), 43, 721 

 (1922).) 



7. The Electrochemical Behavior of Barium Amalgams. 

 Mr. Paul A. Anderson has undertaken the study of the electrochemical 

 behavior of barium amalgams. This problem is somewhat similar to the 

 problems of sodium and thallium amalgams discussed in previous issues 

 of this report, but the new problem is more difficult and presented several 

 troublesome features. The chief difficulties seem now to have been mas- 

 tered, however, and preliminary results are already at hand. 



8. The Molecular Complexity of Water. 

 Mr. Harris M. Chadwell has undertaken the investigation of the molecular 

 complexity of liquid water, and during the winter has carried out many de- 

 terminations of the densities, compressibilities, and coefficients of expansion 

 of aqueous solutions of various non-electrolytes with the object of evalu- 

 ating the volume changes manifested by water when such substances are 

 dissolved in it, and with the hope of interpreting these changes in relation 

 to the degree of association of water molecules. This study has involved, 

 as one of its corollaries, the study of the various methods of evaluating 

 internal pressures in liquids. 



9. Behavior of Oxygen and Hydrogen Electrodes in Aqueous Solutions. 



Mr. William T. Richards has studied critically the behavior of oxygen and 

 hydrogen electrodes in aqueous solutions of widely different composition. He 

 has also investigated the distance-effect of chemical affinity and has attained 

 results proving that on the nearest possible approach solids having strong chem- 

 ical affinity for one another nevertheless exert no mutual attraction measur- 

 able on an analytical balance. Evidently, then, chemical affinity acts at only 

 exceedingly short range. 



10. Analysis by Centrifugal Action. 

 Dr. Olof Arrhenius, in an independent investigation, devised a convenient 

 rapid method for quantitative analysis by centrifugal treatment for use 

 in a comprehensive study concerning plant physiology. Because the centri- 

 fuge and some other apparatus which he used belonged to the Carnegie 

 Institution, mention of this work is appropriate here. 



