Marcu 15, 1912] 
JAMES O. Hanpy: The Use of Potassiwm Cyanide 
Solution in the Investigation of the Structure 
and Conductivity of Copper, Copper-covered 
Steel and Other Metals. 
A 25-per-cent. aqueous solution of potassium 
cyanide dissolves, when boiled, an amount of cop- 
per equal to 5 per cent. of the KCy used. Steel and 
iron are almost insoluble in the same solvent. 
Copper containing iron or arsenic shows a char- 
acteristic crystalline and colored appearance when 
etched with KCy solution. Pure cast copper is but 
slightly affected. 
The structure of the ‘‘welded on’’ or ‘‘alloyed 
on’’ copper coverings of copper-covered steel wire 
has been studied by means of KCy solution. The 
‘falloyed on’’ coverings have shown their impure 
nature. The conductivity of the composite wires 
and of the bare steel cores (after dissolving off 
the copper by KCy solution) showed in one case 
as follows: 
Conductivity 
Steel Copper of Composite 
Per Cent. Per Cent. Wire Per Cent. 
“¢Welded’’? ... 77.20 22.80 36.20 
“¢ Alloyed’’ ... 56.00 44.00 34.00 
The conductivity of the steel cores approximated 
14 per cent. The low conductivity of the sample 
highest in copper shows its inferiority. 
E. P. HarpIneé and HE. JoHNSON: An Apparatus 
and Improved Method for Determining Quanti- 
tatiwwely Hydrogen Sulfide in Illuminating Gas. 
H. E. Kierer: Free Lime in Portland Cement. 
This paper cites numerous experiments to show 
that free lime is not the sole cause of disintegra- 
tion of Portland cement as shown by the boiling 
test. If free lime is a real cause, as little as three 
tenths of one per cent. will cause rupture. Shows 
that carbon dioxide is not essential to seasoning 
and that the absorption of as little as one tenth 
of one per cent. of water will under certain condi- 
tions cure a very defective cement. That under 
other conditions neither water nor carbon dioxide 
is essential. Advances a theory of disintegration 
on physical lines to account for the seasoning of 
unsound cements. 
W. C. TAyior and E. C. SULLIVAN: Glass Analysis. 
A rapid method for analysis of glasses has been 
developed, depending on the decomposition of the 
glass by means of hydrofluoric and oxalic acids. 
Results for alkalies agree very well with those 
given by the Lawrence Smith method and results 
for lead, alumina, iron, manganese, lime, magnesia 
and zine are accurate also. 
SCIENCE 
425 
The method of Wherry for the determination of 
boric oxide has been applied to glasses with neces- 
sary modifications where zine or lead is present. 
Grorce L. HeatH: The Estimation of Absorbed 
Gases and Oxygen in Copper by Ignition in 
Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen. 
Thirty-seven years ago Dr. W. Hampe, of Ger- 
many, devised a process for the quantitative esti- 
mation of the percentage of oxygen in commercial 
copper by heating filings, or drillings, in an at- 
mosphere of pure hydrogen gas in a hard-glass 
bulb tube, determining the loss in weight of the 
metal, and as an alternative the weight of water 
produced by the union of the hydrogen with the 
oxygen existing in the copper. Archbutt, Hofman 
and the writer have improved the process, but 
there is an error and omission in all published 
accounts, which it is important to correct by an- 
nouncing the results obtained in a recent search 
for a method to show us, not only the oxygen, but 
also the original absorbed gases in all refined, or 
cast, copper of trade, which mainly consists of 
hydrogen (as hydride, or solid solution), with 
traces of carbon monoxide, carbonic dioxide, nitro- 
gen, and possibly argon. 
A separation which is accurate enough for an- 
alytical purposes is made possible by heating the 
copper, first, in carbon dioxide, for absorbed gases; 
secondly, in hydrogen to take out the oxygen; 
thirdly, in carbonic acid for a short time to take 
out considerable residual hydrogen, which would 
be, otherwise, retained. 
Copper absorbs and retains but traces of pure 
carbonic acid, so that gas will expel hydrogen 
under heat. The first and third propositions have, 
hitherto, been overlooked. 
DIVISION OF FERTILIZER CHEMISTRY 
Paul Rudnick, chairman 
J. E. Breckenridge, secretary 
Paun RupDNICK (chairman’s address): Fertilizer 
Chemistry—A Report of Progress. 
The consumption of commercial fertilizers for 
the year 1910 is estimated, in round numbers, at 
about 5,750,000 tons, an increase of approximately 
14 per cent. over that of 1909. The average an- 
nual increase in the past decade has been close 
to 11.3 per cent. 
The cost of ammoniates which supply the nitro- 
gen in fertilizers has materially advanced, as the 
demand is greater than the supply. Inorganic 
ammoniates, including nitrate of soda, sulphate of 
ammonia and the products made from atmospheric 
