Titanium, H. Pellet and C. Fribourg (Ann. Sci. Agron., 2. ser., 10 (1905), IT, No. 

 J, pp. 20-84). — This article deals with the properties of titanium and its different com- 

 pounds, studies of different methods employed in the separation and determination 

 of titanic acid and of the presence and determination of titanic acid in soils and 

 plants, especially in sugar cane and sugar beets. 



The authors found 2 per cent of titanic oxid in an Egyptian soil used for the culti- 

 vation of sugar cane and 0.47 per cent in a French soil used for the culture of sugar 

 beets. They refer to Maxwell's work, indicating the occurrence of considerable 

 amounts of titanic oxid in sugar cane and report the occurrence of 0.17 per cent of 

 this substance in the ashes of sugar cane which contained, however, a small amount 

 of soil. In ashes of sugar cane and sugar beets prepared with great care they were 

 not able to find any titanium. 



The determination of titanic acid in soils and ash of plants, H. Pellet and 

 C. Fribourg (Ann. Chim. Analyt., 10 (1905), No. 11, pp. 413-416; Bui. Assoc. Chim. 

 Sucr. et Distill., 23 (1905), pp. 67-71; abs. in Chem. Cental, 1905, II, No. 16, pp. 1193, 

 1194). — A colorimetric method and a gravimetric method are described. The first 

 is based upon fusion with hydrofluoric acid and hydrogen potassium sulphate, sul- 

 phuric acid solution of the fusion being treated with hydrogen peroxid and tested in 

 comparison with solutions of known strength in a Josse colorimeter. The second 

 method is based upon fusion in a similar manner, partial neutralization with potas- 

 sium hydroxid, and boiling with hydrochloric acid, the titanate precipitated being 

 washed with a 2 per cent potassium carbonate solution. 



The influence of the presence of titanium on the determination of alumi- 

 num in presence of iron oxid and phosphoric acid by the principal methods 

 employed at the present time, H. Pellet and C. Fribourg (Ann. Chim. Analyt., 

 10 (1905), No. 11, pp. 416-420). — Investigations are reported which show that the 

 presence of titanic acid affects the accuracy of the Carnot method for aluminum, 

 and all others in which aluminum phosphate is precipitated, and should be deter- 

 mined by the colorimetric method noted above and correction made accordingly. 



Occurrence of alumina in plants, H. Pellet and C. Fribourg '(A nn. Chim. 

 Analyt., 10 (1905), pp. 373-376; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 88 (1905), No. 

 518, II, pp. 860, 861). — Alumina was found in only very minute quantities in sugar 

 cane and sugar beets. In determining the alumina, the hydrochloric-acid solution 

 ireed from silica in the usual way was neutralized with ammonia and oxidized by 

 the addition of a few crystals of potassium chlorate. Ammonium phosphate and 

 ammonium thiosulphate were then added in the proportion of 2 gm. of the former 

 to 10 gm. of the latter and the mixture boiled for 15 minutes. Acetic acid in pro- 

 portion of 15 gm. was afterwards added, the precipitate of aluminium phosphate 

 being collected on a filter, ignited, and weighed. 



Methods of organic analysis, H. C. Sherman (New York and London: The Mac- 

 millan Co., 1905, pp. XII J r 245). — In this volume, which is designed as a text-book 

 for college and university use, it has been the author's purpose to give introductory 

 instruction in organic analysis with special reference to plant and animal substances 

 and their manufactured products. 



The greater part of the book is devoted to quantitative methods for food materials 

 and related substances, a feature of the work being the numerous references to the 

 publications of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists and the attempt to 

 follow as far as possible the nomenclature in such publications. 



As a whole the work constitutes a valuable handbook for students of analytical 

 chemistry, particularly as related to carbohydrates, acids, oils, fats, w axes, fatty oils, 

 butter, soaps and lubricants, proteids and cereals, milk, preservatives, etc. Through- 

 out the text numerous references are made to the literature of the subject and the 

 volume also includes a complete index. 



