August 23, 1907] 



SCIENCE 



249 



series. The position taken up by the enter- 

 ing nitre group appears to depend not only 

 on the nature of the groups already present 

 in the molecule, but also, and to a very 

 marked extent, on the strength of the acid 

 which is mixed with the nitric acid. 



Studies in Nitration II. Nitration of Ani- 

 line and of its N-Alkyl and Aryl Deriva- 

 tives: J. Bishop Tingle and F. C. 

 Blanck, Johns Hopkins University. 

 A large number of experiments have 

 been carried out with nitric acid alone and 

 when mixed with glacial acetic acid, oxalic 

 acid, trichloracetic acid and concentrated 

 sulphuric acid, respectively, in order to as- 

 certain its action on aniline, methyl-aniline, 

 ethyl-aniline, diethylaniline, dimethylanil- 

 ine and diphenylamine. It is found that 

 oxalic acid is without apparent influence 

 on the reaction. As regards aniline itself, 

 it is shown that aniline nitrate is always 

 the first product formed during nitration; 

 that, in presence of a slight excess of con- 

 centrated nitric acid, a colored dehydration 

 compound is obtained. This is analogous 

 to certain colored derivatives of the nitro- 

 phenols and is being further investigated. 



Conditions affecting the Claisen Condensa- 

 tion: J. Bishop Tingle and E. B. Gors- 

 LiNB, Johns Hopkins University. 

 Most of the experiments were carried 

 out with camphor, but in some cases other 

 ketones were used. The results show that 

 calcium «r sodamide react only at relatively 

 higher temperatures and the presence of a 

 little alcohol is necessary; with sodium as 

 the condensing agent the time required for 

 the reacting substances to attain equilib- 

 rium is a function of the temperature. 

 The effect of variation in the solvent is 

 quite marked. The esters of the higher 

 aliphatic monobasic acids appear to react 

 somewhat differently from the esters of 



similar acids belonging to the aromatic 



series. 



AGRICULTUEAL, SANITARY AND BIOLOGICAL 

 CHEMISTRY 



Frank T. Shutt, Chairman 

 Unification of Tenths used in Reporting 



Analytical Results: Cyril G. Hopkins, 



University of Illinois. 



It is pointed out that there is great lack 

 of uniformity in existing literature in the 

 terms used for reporting analytical results, 

 especially in agricultural chemistry. 



In view of these facts, and providing 

 concurrent action is taken by the Associa- 

 tion of OfSeial Agricultural Chemists and 

 by the American Chemical Society, the 

 Association of American Agricultural Col- 

 leges and Experiment Stations has en- 

 dorsed a report favoring the adoption of 

 the element system for reporting analytical 

 results in the analysis of soils, ashes and 

 fertilizers, as rapidly as possible. 



In the case of foodstuffs, condiments, 

 etc., it is recommended in the statement of 

 analji;ical results to use names of com- 

 pounds or groups of compounds actually 

 present as such in the material, this being 

 in accordance with the present general 

 practise. 



On a Method of Applying Moss Litter for 

 Deodorizing and Desiccating Purposes: 

 Thomas Macfarlane. Reported by 

 title. 



The Determination of Boric Acid in Com- 

 mon Salt: W. D. Bigelovt and Clement 

 S. Brinton, Bureau of Chemistry, Wash- 

 ington. 



The authors collected about eighty sam- 

 ples of common salt, representing all grades, 

 from the various manufactures over the 

 United States, and examined them for the 

 amount of boric acid present, using a modi- 

 fication of Howard's method for turmeric 



