CHEMISTRY — ACRES. 1 85 



change in the ratio of the isomeric esters. (5) Different alkyl hahdes and 

 the same salt have different reaction velocities and yield different ratios of 

 isomeric esters. (6) Changes in concentration of the two reacting sub- 

 stances produce no appreciable change in the ratio of the isomeric esters. 

 (7) The addition of salts which give ions identical with those present in the 

 reaction mixture produces similar changes in the velocities of the reactions 

 of the two tautomeric salts with the alkyl halide and therefore causes no 

 appreciable change in the ratio of the isomeric esters. (8) Mercury salts of 

 i-phenyl-4-methylurazoIe and alkyl halides yield both N-esters and 0-esters. 



On the Velocity Constants and Mechanism of the Reactions of Alkyl 

 Halides with Urazoles and Urasole Salts. (American Chemical Journal, 

 5P, 226-277.) — This article contains part of the work accomplished in the 

 quantitative study of the mechanism of reactions of alkyl halides, sulphates, 

 acid chlorides, mustard oils, isocyanates, etc., with salts, acids, bases, alcohols, 

 amines, etc. Especial attention is being given to those cases in which both 

 esters and defines are formed in considerable amounts. 



The results obtained up to this time indicate that the alkyl halides do not 

 react (i) through primary dissociation into alkyl and halide ions (theory 

 of Bruyn and Steger) ; (2) through primary dissociation into a halogen acid 

 and an unsaturated define or alkylidene residue (theory of Nef ) ; nor (3) 

 through the primary union of the alkyl halide with the cation and the forma- 



+ 

 tion of a complex cation, RI.M., which then reacts with the anion (theory 



of Euler) . The evidence at hand seems to prove that the alkyl halide unites 

 with the anion and forms a complex unstable anion which decomposes into 

 the ester and the halide ion. In some cases this complex anion is present in 

 small amounts which are very reactive ; in other cases, which are occupying 

 at present our special attention, the concentration of the complex anion is 

 comparatively large. The nature of the reactions by which the defines are 

 formed is being especially investigated; the evidence secured up to this time 

 shows that they are formed through a reaction which is independent of that 

 by which the ester is obtained. 



On the Theory of Indicators and the Reactions of Phthaleins and their 

 Salts. (American Chemical Journal, jp, 528-544; jp, 789-791.) — A prob- 

 lem of great practical and theoretical importance engaging our attention is 

 the study of the cause of color in dyestuffs and indicators. In these two 

 articles it has been shown that the theory proposed by Nietzki, Friedlaender, 

 and Baeyer, and adopted by Hantzsch, Kauffmann, Stieglitz, and others, 

 that the quinone group, B, is the sole source of the color in the salts of 

 phenolphthalein, rosaniline, etc., is not entirely in harmony with the facts. 



