38 



SCIENCE 



[N. 8. Vol. XL. No. lOlS 



is fermentable. Yields of 23 gallons of 95 per cent, 

 alcoliol per dry ton of wood have been obtained. 

 Acetic and formic acids are also products of hy- 

 drolysis, the yield of the former being constant 

 (about 1.42 per cent.) over a wide range of cook- 

 ing conditions. The yield of formic acid increases 

 with increasing severity of cooking conditions. 

 The acetic acid and part of the formic acid are 

 probably due to hydrolysis of acetyl and formyl 

 in the lignin complex, while part of the formic 

 acid results from sugar decomposition. 



A Method for the Rapid Quantitative Analysis of 

 Bronze and Brass, Pi, Cu, Sn, Sb, Fe and Zn: 

 EiCHAED Edwin Lee, John P. Tkickey and 

 Walter H. Fegely. 



The authors of this paper have made a careful 

 experimental survey of the majority of the better- 

 known methods for the quantitative analysis of 

 brass and bronze, but have failed to find a method 

 which was both rapid and accurate. It is pointed 

 out that such a method is needed for "control" 

 work, as well as for routine work in testing lab- 

 oratories. The authors have then formulated a 

 scheme for the quantitative analysis of these alloys 

 which is apparently very rapid and at the same 

 time meets the usual requirements in regard to 

 accuracy. It is claimed that the complete analysis 

 of three different bronzes containing Pb, Cu, Sn 

 and Zn can be completed inside of two hours. 

 Each determination is made on a separate portion 

 of the sample. The series of test experiments in- 

 corporated in the paper indicates that the methods 

 permit of a wide application. The maximum error 

 of any determination in any series is .15 per cent.; 

 the average error, however, is much less. 



A Method for the Sapid Quantitative Analysis of 

 Babbitt Metals, Fb, Cu, Sn and Sb : Richard 

 Edwin Lee, John P. Tricket and Walter H. 

 Fegelt. 



This paper contains a report of a rapid and ac- 

 curate method for the quantitative analysis of 

 Babbitt metals. The chief objection urged by the 

 authors against the majority of the methods th.at 

 have been proposed is that they require too much 

 time for their execution. In the method reported, 

 each determination is made from a separate por- 

 tion of the sample, with the exception of Sn, which 

 is determined volumetrically in the same solution 

 in which Sb is determined. The maximum error 

 is .15 per cent.; the average error, however, is 

 less. Demorest 's method has been articulated 

 with the proposed method so that an alloy close to 

 the limit of the specification may be checked by a 



different although longer method. The methods 

 have been tested in two large commercial labora; 

 tories for several months and found satisfactory. 

 The Composition and Testing of Printing Inks: 



J. B. TuTTLE and W. H. Smith. 

 The Determination of Carbon in Iron and Steel by 



the Barium-Carbonate Titration Method: J. E. 



Cain. 



The apparatus used for filtration, difficulties 

 and sources of error, with means of obviating 

 these, are described, and details are given of a 

 series of experiments showing the special appli- 

 cation and the degree of accuracy of the barium 

 carbonate titration method when applied in steel 

 analysis. 

 Determination of Ammonia in Illuminating Gas: 



J. D. Edwards. 



This paper is a summary of the results of a 

 brief investigation of the apparatus and methods 

 employed for the commercial determination of 

 ammonia in illuminating gas. The five forms of 

 apparatus studied gave results, when properly 

 operated, well within the limits of accuracy re- 

 quired for this determination either for commer- 

 cial control work or for the purpose of gas inspec- 

 tion. Suitable indicators have been recommended 

 and precautions to be observed in the operation 

 of the different forms of apparatus have been 

 pointed out. 

 The Iodine Number of Linseed and Petroleum Oils: 



W. H. Smith and J. B. Tuttle. 



The iodine values of raw, boiled and burnt lin- 

 seed oils, and petroleum oils, were determined by 

 the Hanus method, varying widely the amounts 

 of oil and iodine used, and the time of absorption. 

 A study of the effect of temperature on the iodine 

 value was made. It is shovsTi that in order to ob- 

 tain concordant results, a prescribed procedure 

 must be followed, and exact conditions stated. 

 Chemical Jurisprudence: Louis Hogrefb, 

 Report of the Committee on Alum Specifications. 



SECTION or INDIA RUBBER CHEMISTRY 



T>. A. Cutler, Chairman 

 Dorris Whipple, Secretary 

 The Inflitence of Temperature in the Physical 

 Testing of Rubber Goods: T. L. Wormeley 

 AND J. B. Tuttle. 

 Review of Report of Joint Rubber Insulating Com- 

 mittee: Dorris Whipple. 



Charles L. Parsons, 



Secretary 

 (To be continued) 



