36 



SCIENCE 



[N. 8. Vol. XL. No. 1018 



A Comparison of Various Modifications of the 

 Kjeldahl and Dumas Methods for the Determina- 

 tion of Nitrogen in Coal and Lignite: A. C. 



FlELDNEB AND C. A. TAYLOE. 



The Mechanism of the Seaction between Phenolic 

 Bodies and Active Methylenes: L. V. Redman, 

 A. J. Weith and E. p. Beock. 

 Fluorescence of Petroleum Oils: Benjamin T. 

 Beooks. 



Engler and others consider that fluorescence of 

 petroleum oils is due to colloid matter suspended 

 or emulsified with the oil. Experiments of the 

 author with the ultramieroseope showed that this 

 can not be the case. Such fluorescent oils give no 

 indication of electrophoresis. The fluorescent sub- 

 stance or substances readily form sulphonie acids, 

 which are soluble in water and may be separated 

 from the acid sludge tar obtained on treating with 

 concentrated sulphuric acid. In general oxidizing 

 agents destroy the fluorescent substance, but the ac- 

 tion of nitro compounds as "deblooming" agents 

 is purely physical. If an oil is debloomed by nitro 

 benzol, for instance, removal of the latter by shak 

 ing out with alcohol restores the fluorescence. The 

 nitro group apparently does not have to be intro 

 duced into the molecule of the fluorescent sub 

 stance itself in order to ' ' cover up ' ' the fluorescence 

 Other compounds employed as solvents, such as 

 amyl alcohol, carbon bisulphide, aniline benzol 

 etc., appear to affect the fluorescence of petroleum 

 oils in much the same way as KaufEman found for 

 terephthalic acid esters. Distillation of crude 

 petroleum at atmospheric pressure yields more 

 highly fluorescent distillate than the same oil dis- 

 tilled in vacuo. The fluorescent substances there- 

 fore result from pyrogenio decomposition in much 

 the same way as the fluorescent hydrocarbons ob- 

 tained in the distillation of coal. 

 The Manufacture of Gasoline from Heavy Pe- 

 troleum Oils (lantern) : B. T. Beooks, K. F. 

 Bacon and G. W. Claek. 

 Some Economic Phases of the Gasoline Supply: 

 Benjamin T. Beooks. 



Curves are given showing the rate of increase 

 in the consumption of gasoline and its production 

 from crude petroleum. Production of gasoline or 

 motor spirit may be increased by (1) cracking 

 heavier hydrocarbons, (2) employing motor spirit 

 of lower Beaume gravity than now customary, 

 (3) casing head gasoline. It is shown that benzol 

 is not and probably can not be manufactured in 

 sufficient quantity to meet the growing demand for 

 motor fuel. Alcohol may be used to some extent 

 should the price of gasoline exceed 40 cents per 



gallon. Alcohol is not now used for this purpose 

 in England, where gasoline has been selling for 

 approximately 40 cents for the last two years. 

 Absorption of Caustic Soda by Cellulose: W. D. 



Banceopt. 

 The Stability of Bosin at Slightly Elevated Tem- 

 peratures. — A Correction,: Chas. H. Heett 

 and H. L. Cox. 



The Chemists' Club: William L. Dudley. 



The Chemist, a Growing Factor in Merchandizing : 



A. V. H. MoEY. 



The old rule of trade, ' ' Let the buyer beware, ' ' 

 is rapidly giving way to the rule, "Let the seller 

 beware. ' ' The small consumer never has been 

 able to more than roughly inspect the character 

 of his purchases. The merchant has always been 

 better able to afEord a thorough inspection. Now 

 that the law is placing the responsibility on him, 

 the merchant is more and more under the neces- 

 sity of turning to technical aid. There is also a 

 natural law, making rigid inspection on the part 

 of the merchant a good business investment, viz. : 

 The satisfied customer is the basis for permanent 

 merchandizing success, and satisfaction can come 

 only through insuring quality and accuracy in 

 description. A new field, therefore, which may be 

 called laboratory inspection of merchandise, is 

 rapidly growing, and is likely to receive great im- 

 petus through the enactment of general commod- 

 ity laws. 



The Method of Analysis of Gasoline: G. W. G-eay. 

 The Method of Testing Illuminating Oils: G. W. 



Gray. 

 Coal Ash in Some Unusual Phases: S. W. Paek. 

 A Thermoelectric Method of Determining the 



Purity of Platinum Ware: G. K. Buegess and 



P. D. Sale. 



As illustrated for crucibles, this method con- 

 sists in measuring the E.M.E. across the crucible 

 rim, one side being heated and the other not. A 

 fine wire (0.2 mm.) of pure platinum is arc-sol- 

 dered to one side and a Pt, Pt-Rh junction to the 

 other. The iridium content or platinum purity of 

 the crucible may be very exactly determined by 

 the E.M.P. developed between the Pt wires and 

 the temperature as measured by the Pt, Pt-Rh 

 thermocouple, using an ordinary pyrometer gal- 

 vanometer. The Bureau of Standards is prepared 

 to test the platinum, purity of crucibles by this 

 method. 



A Nevada Oil Shale: Chas. Baskeeville. 

 The Metallography of Malleaile Iron: J. Culvee 



Haetzell. 



