ON STANDARDS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF IRON AND STEEL, 263 
in good condition, and were opened by the Secretary, and under his 
direction were hermetically sealed in small glass tubes, each containing 
about 20 to 30 grammes, as arranged by the Committee. 
It was anticipated that the fifth sample would have been prepared 
shortly after the last Report was presented, but this sample has not yet 
been received, and its production has apparently been delayed by the 
fact that the American Committee has entered upon an investigation of 
the relative accuracy of different processes of analysis, which, though of 
great interest and importance, was not included in the suggestions which 
were originally adopted. The result was that delay took place before the 
analysts in the United Kingdom were supplied with their samples, as it 
was intended to forward the five standards together. The four samples 
were, however, distributed as arranged after a few months’ delay, and in 
most cases the analyses have been completed, and the results have been 
returned to the Secretary of the Committee. The fifth standard will be 
sealed in glass tubes in the same way as the others immediately it is re- 
ceived, and the analysts will be at once supplied with their sample tubes 
for examination. 
In the meantime the Committee cannot discuss the results which 
have been received, but it is probable a third and final report will be 
presenied to the Association at its next meeting. 
Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. RussELL, Captain ABNEY, 
Professor HartTLEy, Professor Ramsay, and Dr. RICHARDSON 
(Secretary), appointed for the investigation of the Action of 
Light on the Hydracids of the Halogens in presence of Oxygen. 
(Drawn wp by Dr. RicHaRDson.) 
Tur Committee have to report that further experiments have been made 
on the decomposition of chlorine water by light. It is found that the 
presence of 10 per cent. of hydrochloric acid prevents all decomposition, 
even after long exposure to sunshine. The behaviour of aqueous solu- 
tions of pure bromine and iodine, under the influence of sunlight, has 
been investigated. The free and combined halogen in solution was 
estimated after an exposure to light extending over fourteen months. 
The analytical results are embodied in the following tables. 
Bromine water.—In a dilute solution (containing 0°16 per cent. Br) 
as much as 57 per cent. of the total bromine is converted into hydrogen 
bromide ; in a saturated solution the minimum amount of decomposition 
occurs, again increasing with further additions of bromine. 
Table showing the Decomposition of Water by Bromine in Sunlight after 
Fourteen Months’ Huposure. 
Weight of bro- | Weight of bro- | Per cent. free | Per cent. com- | Bromine as HBr in 
mine taken mine in solution bromine bined bromine 100 parts H,O 
160 3°78 95°24 4:76 0-18 
5-0 37 95:59 4-41 0-16 
3:8 3°36 | 98°13 1:87 0:067 
_— 0°26 72°31 27°69 0-072 
— 0°156 42-70 57°30 0:095 
