July 21, 1905.] 



SCIENCE. 



83 



of talc. Purification of titanic acid. Some 

 non-aqueous concentration cells. 



0]iio State University. — Synthesis of 

 ortlio-oxyazo compounds. Action of phos- 

 phoric and related acids in the production 

 of esters. Gibbs's method for precipitat- 

 ing magnesium ammonium phosphate. 

 Separation of calcium and magnesium. 

 Apparatus for determining moisture in 

 samples. Electrolytic separation of bis- 

 muth. 



University of Chicago.— Dissoeiaiion 

 phenomena in the sugar group. Constitu- 

 tion of dibromacetylidene. The various 

 forms of liquids and amorphous sulphur. 

 Catalytic action. Stereoisomeric nitrogen 

 derivatives. Radioactivity of uranium 

 compounds. Affinity constants of dibasic 

 acids. The chlorides of manganese. 

 Phenylmalonic nitrile. 



Verbal reports were also made by repre- 

 sentatives of Cornell University, University 

 of Toronto, University of North Carolina, 

 Columbia University, and the New York 

 Testing Laboratory. 



The local committee, of which John C. 

 Miller was chairman, made ample provision 

 for the entertainment of the society, and 

 their services and those of the Buffalo So- 

 ciety of Natural Sciences (in whose rooms 

 the chemical meetings were held), as well 

 as the courtesies of several other local or- 

 ganizations, were recognized in a rising 

 vote of thanks. Carriages were provided 

 on Thursday afternoon for a drive about 

 the city, and many members visited the 

 Gratwick Research Laboratory, where a 

 paper was presented entitled, 'On the 

 Chemical Composition of a Series of Mouse 

 Tumors,' by G. H. A. Clowes and W. S. 

 Frisbie. 



The chemical plants both in Buffalo and 

 in Niagara Falls refused admittance, but 

 Mr. Francis A. J. Fitzgerald delivered an 

 interesting address on 'The Electrochem- 



ical Industries of Niagara Falls. ' The sub- 

 ject was treated from an evolutionary point 

 of view, and the effects of the struggle for 

 existence and the influence of environment 

 considered. In the Hall process for ma- 

 king aluminium the raw material bauxite 

 is now purified by an electric furnace proc- 

 ess, and the carbon electrodes baked in an 

 electric furnace. The severe competition 

 brought on in the abrasives market by car- 

 borundum has stimulated the production 

 of other artificial abrasives such as 'alun- 

 dum, ' an artificial corundum made by 

 fusing bauxite in the electric furnace. The 

 production of artificial graphite was de- 

 veloped by the demand for graphite elec- 

 trodes in the electrolytic processes for the 

 production of chlorine, caustic soda, etc. 

 While the problem of making nitric acid 

 from the air has not yet reached the com- 

 mercial stage, the spark discharge is used 

 industrially for the production of ozonized 

 air for the production of vanillin from oil 

 of cloves. The manufacture of chlorine and 

 caustic alkalies has grown greatly in the 

 last ten years, consequently competition is 

 severe and results in the invention of proc- 

 esses using chlorine gas for the manufac- 

 ture of carbon tetrachloride, tin tetra- 

 chloride, etc. Seeking an outlet for sodium 

 and sodium peroxide, the makers are put- 

 ting new commercial products on the 

 market, such as 'oxone' a fused form of 

 sodium peroxide Avhich generates oxygen 

 when put in water, and various compounds 

 such as magnesium peroxide, calcium per- 

 oxide, zinc peroxide and sodium perborate. 

 Samples of many of the products mentioned 

 in the address were exhibited, and oxygen 

 was generated from oxone by a simple ap- 

 paratus. 



This address was given at the Iroquois 

 Hotel, the headquarters of the meeting, and 

 was followed by an informal luncheon 

 served with the compliments of the hotel. 



