324 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



fore neglect the water-bromine reaction. The probability of an unknown 

 catalytic action called into i^lay in tlie presence of the oxalic reaction is 



slight. 



I. The Uncorrected Time Curve. 



In the first series of experiments a large excess of oxalic acid was taken, 

 in order to have its concentration essentially constant. If no disturbing 

 influences, then, entered into the reaction during its progress, the speed 

 at any moment should be essentially proportional to a simple power of 

 the concentration of the bromine. The actual amounts used were 1.496 

 grams of oxalic acid and 0.1375 gram of bromine made up to 48.3 cubic 

 centimeters. The temperature was 23 °.0. 



SERIES I. 



Obviously the reaction falls off in speed more rapidly than would have 

 been expected according to any simple interpretation of the results. It 

 was therefore necessary to study the effect of varying, in turn, each con- 

 dition which might affect the rate of change, in order to find the cause of 

 the anomaly. 



