CHEMISTRY. 115 



order to determine citrate soluble phosphoric acid in Thomas slag. — 



J. T. ANDERSON. 



Investigations on arabinose, Berthelot and Andre (Compt. 

 Bend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 123 (1896), p. 625). — The pentoses are char- 

 acterized by their easy conversion into furfurol. This reaction takes 

 place with scarcely any absorption of heat. Both arabinose and fur- 

 furol are endothermic compounds with almost identical heat absorption. 

 The authors investigated the action of water and acids of varying con- 

 centration on furfurol and arabinose both in the closed tube and with 

 distillation of the volatile products. They determined humus sub- 

 stance, furfurol, formic acid, and carbon dioxid, and conclude that with 

 acids arabinose exhibits three reactions: (1) The formation of furfurol. 

 This distinguishes the pentoses from the glucoses. (2) The formation 

 of humic acid. Considerable quantities are formed when the operation 

 is conducted in a closed vessel. Concentrated acids convert almost all 

 the carbon of both sugars into humic acid. (3) The slow formation of 

 carbon dioxid. This is a new property common to both pentoses and 

 glucoses. — w. n. KRUG. 



The decomposition of carbohydrates by alkalies, F. Framm 

 (Arch, gesam. Physiol. [Pfliiger], 64 (1896), No. /, j>. 575; Chem. Centr. 

 PI, 1896, II, No. 17, p. 821). — The intensity of the color obtained by 

 the action of alkalies on carbohydrates in Moore's test depends on 

 the temperature and the amount of alkali. Light is without influence, 

 but the coloration is prevented by passing air or oxygen through the 

 alkaline sugar solution, provided the temperature does not rise above 

 45°. (1) tf-Glucose. Addition of air hastens the reaction with the 

 formation of formic acid and aldehyde. (2) Galactose. The reaction 

 is hastened by the oxygen, much formic acid being formed. (3) 

 ^-Fructose. The influence of the atmospheric oxygen is much more 

 energetic, and formic acid is the sole product of oxidation. It is 

 worthy of notice that lactic acid was never found among the products 

 of oxidation when air was present, while it is always produced in its 

 absence. — w. n. krtJg. 



The progress of agricultural chemistry during the last 25 years, M. Maercker 

 (Ber. dent. chem. (level!., 30 ( 1897), p. 404: Neile Ztschr. Riibenz. Ivd., 88 (1S97), Nos. 14, 

 pp. 153-156; 15, pp. 165-168). 



On the constitution of phosphorous acid, A. Michaelis and T. Becker (Her. 

 dent. chem. GeselL, 30 (1897), No. 8, pp. 1003-1009). 



On the occurrence and identification of iodin in hair, W. Howald (Ztschr. 

 physiol. Chem., 23, No. 3, pp. 20)9-225). 



To what are the poisonous properties of -wall papers due? 1>. Gosio and O. 

 Emmerling (Bei-. dent. cdwm. GeselL, 30(1897), No. 8, pp. 1024-1026). 



The carbohydrate group in the protein molecule, N. Krawkow (Arch, gesam. 

 Physiol. [Pfliiger], 65 (1897), No. 5-6, pp. 2S1-29S). 



On the source and occurrence of levulose in manufactured products, II. C. 

 Geehligs (Med. Proefsta. Sitikerriet West Java, No. 29, pp. 37; reprint from Arch. Jura 

 SuUerind., 1S97, No. 7). 



On the preparation of artificial starch grains or spherocrystals, O. Btjtschli 

 (Vcrhandl. natur. med. Ver. Heidelberg., n. scr., 5 (1S97), No. 5, pp. 457-472). 



