Section III., 1903 [ 49 ] Trans. R. S, C. 



"VI. — Researches in Physical Chemistry carried out in the University/ 

 of Toronto during the Past Year. 



Communicated by Prof. W. Lash Millee. 



(Read May 19th, 1903.) 



1. llie Oxalates of Bismuth: — Dr. F. B. Allan. A study of tue 

 reactions between bismuth oxalate and water, and between bismuth 

 oxalate and ammonia, from the point of view of the Phase Eule. Pub- 

 lished in full in this volume of the Societys proceedings. 



2. The Chemical Kinetics of the system: Potassium iodide, ferrous 

 sulphate, chromic acid: — Miss C. C. Benson. Miss Benson's paper on; 

 the rate of oxidation of ferrous sulphate by chromic acid, referred to 

 last year, has since appeared in the Journal of Physical Chemistry 

 (vol. VII., p. 1), and the research has been extended to include the 

 rates of oxidation of potassium iodide and ferrous sulphate in solutions 

 containing both. The results cannot be brought into harmony with 

 the requirements of the " peroxide theory " advocated by Manchot 

 and others; but can, for the most part, be explained by a new theory — 

 the " Ferroiodion Theory."' The paper will appear in the May number 

 of the Journal of Physical Chemistry. 



3. The composition of the surface layers of solutions of Amy! 

 Alcohol in Water: — Miss C. C. Benson. As the surface tension of 

 water is greatly diminished by adding a minute quantity of Amyl 

 alcohol, it seemed possible that the surface layers contained more of 

 the alcohol than the body of the liquid. Two years ago, at the sug- 

 gestion of Dr. Kenrick, Miss Benson made analyses of the froth pro- 

 duced by shaking aqueous solutions of amyl alcohol, and recently by 

 the aid of an improved apparatus, has been able to show that in the 

 froth — where the percentage of " surface layer " is greater, the per- 

 centage of amyl alcohol also is greater than in the body of the solution. 

 The paper has been sent to the Journal of Physical Chemistry for 

 publication. 



4. The Rate of Oxidation of Potassium Iodide hy Chromic Acid 

 at 0° and at 30° : — Mr. Ralph E. DeLury. Experiments undertaken 

 (in connection with those of Miss Benson) to throw light on the remark- 

 able catalytic action which ferrous salts exert on the reaction between 



Sec. III., 1903. 4. 



i 



