January 24, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



129 



fumarie acid. This reaction seems to be 

 connected in some way with, the molecular 

 asynmietry of the acid molecule. 



Sodium: J. D. Dabling. 



Description of the electrolytic method 

 in use at the works of Harrison Bros. & Co., 

 for the production of sodium. This method 

 was introduced primarily for the manufac- 

 ture of nitric acid. A diaphragm four 

 inches thick, made of magnesite and Port- 

 land cement, separates the two electrolytes. 

 On the outside of this, fused sodium nitrate 

 is at the anode, while the inner electrolyte 

 surrounding the kathode is sodium hy- 

 droxid. As the current passes, this soon 

 becomes sodium oxid, and then metallic 

 sodium is formed. A current of about six 

 hundred amperes at seven volts is used. 

 The supply of metallic sodium on hand in 

 storage is now so great that the city au- 

 thorities have had the operation of the pro- 

 cess stopped, fearing accident. 



The Determination of Silica: W. F. Hille- 



BBAND. 



The results of the analyses of a set of 

 cement samples by a large number of chem- 

 ists revealed great discrepancies in the 

 amount of silica. This is chiefly due to the 

 fact that one evaporation is not sufficient 

 to render the silica insoluble. Further, the 

 silica must be heated by a blast lamp be- 

 fore weighing. 



Electro-Chemical Industries at Niagara 



Falls: C. F. Chandler. 



A review of the history and a description 

 of the processes used, illustrated by a large 

 number of specimens. The manufacture of 

 sodium, aluminum and carborundum was 

 most fully considered. 



Instantaneous Chemical Reactions, and the 

 Theory of Electrolytic Dissociation 

 (with experiments) : Louis Kahlenberg. 

 The oleates of the metals are soluble in 



perfectly dry benzene, and from these solu- 



tions the anhydrous chlorids are instantly 

 precipitated by a dry benzene solution of 

 hydrochloric acid. These solutions in ben- 

 zene are practically non-conductors of 

 electricity, consequently electrolytic dis- 

 sociation cannot be supposed to have taken 

 place; yet the reactions appear to be ex- 

 actly parallel to those in aqueous solutions, 

 to account for which the electrolytic dis- 

 sociation theory is invoked. 



What are the Requirements of a Course 

 to Train Men for Work in Industrial 

 Chemistry? "W. A. Noyes. 

 It cannot be generally told what line of 

 industrial chemistry a student wiU follow 

 after graduation, and there are so many 

 different fields that it would be impossible 

 to train a man in the special technical re- 

 quirements of every industry, and there 

 should be no attempt to do this. Students 

 should be thoroughly grounded in the gen- 

 eral fundamental principles and have ex- 

 tended practice along several different 

 lines of practical work. The special minu- 

 tice of any branch the student may enter 

 will then be readily learned after gradua- 

 tion. 



The Volumetric Estimation of Alumina, 

 and Free and Combined Sulfuric Acid 

 in Alums: Alfred H. White. 

 A method depending upon the proper 



choice of indicators. 



Aqua Ammonia: Its Impurities and 

 Methods of Analysis : J. D. Pennick and 

 D. A. Morton. 



A Method of Analyzing Oil Varnishes: 

 Pabker C. McIlhiney. 



The Oxygen Bases: A Revieiv: Jas. Lewis 



Howe. 



An outline of the recent work of Collie, 

 Baeyer, Kehrmann, Werner and others, on 

 compounds in which oxygen appears to be 

 quadrivalent, forming salts with acids, as 

 do ammonia and its derivatives. 



