350 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



This mathematical formulation of the analytical data enabled van 

 't Hoff to state definitely the mechanism of chemical reactions which 

 heretofore had been interpreted in various ways. 



Figure 1 shows the curves plotted from the mathematical equations 

 of the unimolecular, bimolecular, and trimolecular reactions. 



The mathematical formulation of the enzymic curves is not as yet 

 definitely settled, but we can obtain the curves easily from the data of 

 analyses. Figure 2 is a typical enzymic curve, illustrating saccharose 

 inversion by invertase. The data are taken from Duclaux, Traits de 

 microbiologie, t. II p. 154). 



ACTION OF INVERTASE. 



minutes 3.1% sugar 



9.8% 



19.2% 



33.6% 



45.8% 



58.5% 



67.4% 



79.9% 



84.4% 



87.3% 



95.1% 



99.2% 



48 hours 100.0% 



inverted. 



u 

 (( 

 a 

 (I 

 n 

 <( 



u 



u 



u 



Figure 3 is another enzymic curve, illustrating the decomposition of 

 the protein of raw milk by the galactase, the natural proteolytic enzyme 

 of milk. The milk was treated with an antiseptic to inhibit the growth 

 of micro-organisms. The difference between this enzyme and the inver- 

 tase consists mainly in the velocity of action, the one accomplishing a 



Fig. 2. 



The Action of Invertase. 



