254 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIV. No. 1129 



branch of industrial chemistry, and the necessity 

 for endowment of such research, were emphasized. 

 New Volumetric Determination of Nickel and Co- 

 halt: W. D. Engle and E. G. Gtjstavson. 

 Preliminary Beport — Deposition of Copper in 

 Electrotyping Baths: W. Blum, H. D. Holler, 

 H. Bawdon and E. L. Lasier. 

 From a study of the microstructure and physical 

 properties of copper, deposited upon graphited 

 wax molds in the copper sulphate-sulphuric acid 

 bath, the effects of the composition and tempera- 

 ture of the electrolyte and of the current density, 

 upon the character of the deposits, have been de- 

 termined. The conditions for the production of 

 satisfactory electrotype shells have been defined. 

 The relations between microstructure and physical 

 properties, and the effect of annealing, are being 

 investigated. 



Let's Abolish Our Unnecessary Waste of Potas- 

 sium Compounds: James K. Withrow. 

 Attention is called to the fact that in ease of 

 sudden cessation of imports great hardship is 

 done not only to chemical users of potassium com- 

 pounds but many manufacturers of miscellaneous 

 materials who are not in the category of chemical 

 manufacturing and who do not have chemical ad- 

 vice to assist them in meeting the emergency on 

 which they are thrown. A strong appeal is made 

 for publicity in eliminating all unnecessary use of 

 potash so that hardship will be avoided in such 

 cases, and to give manufacturers of sodium com- 

 pounds ample opportunity to build up their sup- 

 ply under non-emergency conditions. All of this, 

 so that in case of great national emergency, we 

 may direct our attention as much as possible 

 to other situations which can not be avoided by any 

 previous arrangement. Attention is called to the 

 fact that in our schools and colleges our chemical 

 texts persistently require the use of potassium 

 compounds where experience has shown that 

 sodium compounds would do just as well. If we 

 can eliminate this and similar unnecessary waste 

 the percentage saving may not be so great but the 

 educational value can not be estimated for it is 

 quite common for enormous amounts of potash to 

 be wasted in ordinary manufacturing and every- 

 day life as well as in chemical operations. 

 Experiments on the Corrosion of Iron and Steel: 



W. D. Eichardson. 

 Ethyl Alcohol from Wood Waste. IV. Yields 

 from Various Species of Wood: F. K. Kress- 



MANN. 



A Note on "Tars" from Some Mid-western Can- 

 nel Coals: John C. Ingram. 



Cannel coals from Missouri and Illinois were 

 distilled at 800° C. in iron retorts and the "oil" 

 or ' ' tar ' ' collected. Yields of water-free tar 

 varied from 30 to 50 gallons per ton. A typical 

 sample (gravity 0.906) gave on distillation the 

 following fractions: 



To 150° C 12 per cent Gravity 0.752 



150°-200° 6 per cent " 0.78S 



200°-240° 9 per cent " 0.820 



240°-270° 8 per cent " 0.880 



270°-300° 16 per cent " 0.912 



300° to coke 35 per cent " 0.945 



The tars are largely made up of paraffin hydro- 

 carbons, but seem to contain about 7 to 8 per 

 cent, of tar acids. On standing these tars sepa- 

 rate into two layers, the lower layer is semi-solid 

 and shows a partial segregation of heavy paraf- 

 fines. On centrifuging, four distinct products are 

 obtained. 



Gravity 



(1) In bottom . .tar (mainly aromatics) 1.02-1.06 



(2) 1st liquid water 



(3) 2d liquid heavy, viscous liquid .96- .98 



(4) 3d liquid light oil .79- .85 



Comments on the Krebitz Process of SoapmaMng 

 and Glycerol Recovery: G. A. Wrislet. 

 After double decomposition of the lime soap 

 with soda ash, the soap is salted out and the lime 

 CaC0 3 allowed to settle. It was impossible to pre- 

 vent occlusion of 10 to 20 per cent, of soap. At- 

 tempts to wash out the soap by a series of wash- 

 ings and filtration were unsuccessful, because of 

 slow filtering and loss of 5 to 10 per cent, of soap 

 in the lime cake. It was found that on adding 

 water to this mixture with thorough agitation a 

 point was reached where the lime sludge settled 

 out occluding only 3 to 5 per cent, of soap. This 

 mixture was filtered easily and less than 1 per 

 cent, of soap was lost in the lime cake. 



An Unusual Explosion in Connection with Potas- 

 sium Chlorate: F. E. Eowland. 



Laboratory Control in the Manufacture of Corn 

 Syrup: A. P. Bryant. 



Effect of Aging upon the Constants of Chinese 

 Wood Oil: D. F. McFarland and H. E. Lee. 



Effect of Fillers in Synthetic Molding Compounds : 

 L. V. Eedman, A. J. "Weith and F. P. Brock. 



Printing Plates from Phenol Besins: L. V. Eed- 

 man, A. J. "Weith and F. P. Brock. 



The Effects of Moisture Introduced into the Di- 

 gester in the Cooking of Soda Pulp: Sidney D. 

 Wells. 



(To be continued) 



Charles L. Parsons 

 Secretary 



