338 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— A. 



Dr. Henry Eyring. — Absolute rates of reaction of large molecules 

 (10.30). 



Using the theory of absolute reaction rates it is possible to calculate the 

 entropy, heat and free energy of activation. These quantities for proteins 

 permit us to make statements regarding the nature and number of bonds 

 broken to form the activated state for denaturation. That the effectiveness 

 of a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst depends upon the way the react- 

 ants fit on to the catalyst molecules has long been clear, since this determines 

 the free energy of activation. Hovi^ different this can be for optical- 

 isomers is considered for a number of cases. The experiments of Schwab, 

 Rost and Rudolph show that laevo secondary butyl alcohol is dehydrated 

 faster on dextro quartz. This provides an interesting proof that the 

 structural feature responsible for optical activity of the quartz in bulk is 

 still preserved in the surface. This is important since it is much easier 

 to study matter in bulk. From the structure of quartz and butyl alcohol 

 the activated state is adduced and used by Condon, Altar and the present 

 author to give the relative configuration of the quartz and alcohol. From 

 the work of Hylleraas and a new theoretical treatment of optical activity 

 by the above authors an assignment of the absolute configuration of quartz 

 is then made. This leads to an assignment of the absolute configuration 

 of all substances which can be related to butyl alcohol. While certain of 

 the steps in the argument cannot be made vvith complete finality a new 

 approach to the problem of absolute configurations is provided. 



Prof. H. S. Taylor, F.R.S. — Activation of specific bonds on surfaces 

 (11. 10). 



Prof. E. K. RiDEAL, M.B.E., F.R.S. — Film reactions as biological 

 models (11.40). 



Discussion (12.10). 



Afternoon. 

 Joint Symposium on Surface action in biology (continued). 



Dr. J. F. Dat^heli,!.— Permeability of cells (2.30). 



Dr. H. J. Phelps. — The specificity of the reactions of the living cell (3.0). 



The recent extensions of our knowledge of interface phenomena have 

 made it possible to speculate as to the structure of the surfaces of living cells. 

 Biological reactions may be considered in two classes : reactions functionally 

 affecting groups of cells which are not generally chemically very specific and 

 those characteristic of individual cell metabolism which are often extremely 

 specific. The great chemical specificity of the processes of metabolism 

 have led to the view that at least some of the interfaces of, or within, the cell 

 must be regarded as semi-rigid mosaics of great complexity. Such a 

 theory must, however, be very incomplete. Not only are the chemical 

 processes of the cell frequently highly specific but they are also ' thermo- 

 dynamically very improbable ' reactions. Consideration of the energetics 

 of such reactions shows that living matter must possess the power of inte- 

 grating the energy received by the normal impacts of molecular heat move- 

 ments. If we consider the probable behaviour of large molecules anchored 



