CHEMISTRY. 349 



Noyes, Arthur A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massa- 

 chusetts. Researches upon the properties of solutions in relation to the 

 ionic theory. (For previous reports see Year Books Nos. 2-12.) 



During the past year the lines of research described in the previous 

 reports have been continued. 



The measurements, carried out by Mr. R. D. Mailey, on the vapor- 

 pressure, specific volume, and compressibility of water at temperatures 

 from 200° to the critical temperature have now been completed; and 

 the somewhat elaborate computations involved are being made. The 

 results of this investigation will enable a general equation of state for 

 the substance water to be formulated and will make possible an 

 accurate extension to higher temperatures of the "steam tables" used 

 by engineers. 



Further studies on the deviations of the behavior of largely ionized 

 substances from that of normal solutes have been made by Dr. C. A. 

 Kraus and Mr. Louis Weisberg, by means of measurements of the 

 electromotive force of concentration-cells. 



The investigations of A. A. Noyes on the equilibrium relations of 

 oxidizing and reducing agents have been continued with the help of 

 Mr. C. L. Burdick and Mr. F. H. Smyth. Mr. Burdick has completed 

 the study of the equilibrium of the reaction: Sr (in Hg) + 2NaOH 

 (in water) = 2Na (in Hg) + Sr (0H)2 (in water). His results have 

 indicated the existence in strontium hydroxide solutions of a consider- 

 able proportion of the intermediate SrOH"^ ion, and have enabled the 

 concentration of it to be approximately estimated. Mr. Smyth has 

 derived values for the oxidation-potential of metallic bismuth against 

 solutions saturated with bismuth oxj'^chloride from determinations of 

 the equilibrium conditions of the reaction: Bi (solid) + 3CuCl (solid) 

 + H20 = 3Cu (solid) + BiOCl (solid) + 2HC1 (in water). 



An investigation has been begun, with the help of Mr. A. W. Kenney, 

 on the effect of light on the oxidation potential of uranous-uranyl salts. 



Richards, Theodore W., Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

 Continuation of the exact investigation of atomic weights and other physico- 

 chemical properties of the elements. (For previous reports see Year Books 



Nos. 2-12.) 



The following investigations were conducted with the help of this 

 grant in the Wolcott-Gibbs Memorial Laboratory of Harvard Univer- 

 sity, which proved to be peculiarly well suited for the work. 



1. Atomic Weight of Lead Obtained from Radioactive Minerals. 



This subject was carefully studied with the help of Dr. Max E. Lem- 

 bert, who came to America from the Grand Ducal Technical School of 

 Karlsruhe for this purpose, on the initiative of Professor Bredig and 

 Dr. Fajans. The latter well-known investigator, as well as Sir William 

 Ramsay, Professor Giesel, Professor Boltwood, Miss Gleditsch, and 

 Mr. Miner, generously provided the experimenters with residues con- 



