28 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IV. No. 79. 



Dianthranol — A Dyhydroxyl Derivative of Dian- 

 thracene : By W. R. Orndorff and C. L. Bliss. 

 When anthranol in benzene solution is ex- 

 posed to the sunlight crystals, having the same 

 percentage composition as the anthranol, but 

 dififering in other ways, separate out. The 

 substance can also be obtained by boiling the 

 anthranol for a long time in xylene, and by 

 shaking a solution of anthranol in caustic pot- 

 ash, in contact with the air. The determinations 

 of the molecular weight show that it has twice 

 that of anthranol. A crystallographic study of 

 the crystals shows also that this substance is dif- 

 ferent from anthranol. Some derivatives were 

 also made and studied. The formation of a 

 diacetyl derivative shows the presence of two 

 hydroxyl groups, and the authors consider that 

 it is made up of two molecules of anthranol, in 

 which the two hydroxyl groups are intact. 

 They think that the union takes place by the 

 breaking of the para bond between the two 

 7-carbon atoms and the joining of the groups. 



Bromine Derivatives of Metaphenylene Diamine : 

 By C. Long Jackson and S. Calvert. In the 

 course of an investigation of the behavior of 

 tribromdinitrobenzol, the authors tried the 

 action of tin and hydrochloric acid in hopes of 

 either replacing some or all of the bromine. 

 The number of cases on record, in which the 

 bromine has been replaced by hydrogen when 

 treated with this reducing agent, is small. As the 

 result of work contemporary with this, Schlie- 

 per concludes that the bromine which stands 

 in the ortho position to two negative groups 

 is replaced in this manner; but the authors of 

 this paper find this not to be strictly true, for 

 they succeeded in replacing all three bromine 

 atoms in tribromdinitrobenzol, a result not in 

 accord with the above mentioned theory. 

 They conclude that the ortho position, while 

 not absolutely necessary, is yet very favorable 

 for the replacement. The cause of the easy 

 replacement is probably due to the fact that 

 there are other radicals attached to the benzene 

 ring, but their nature does not affect the re- 

 sult. They made several bromine derivations 

 of phenylene diamine and also salts of these 

 products. 



On the Halogen Derivatives of the Solphonamides: 

 By J. H. Kastle, B. C. Keiser and E. Brad- 



ley. The authors find that chlorine and bromine 

 derivatives of the sulphonamides can be pre- 

 pared ; but up to the present they have not 

 been able to obtain similar ones containing 

 iodine. These substances are somewhat similar 

 to the acid chlorides and are also unstable, ex- 

 ploding when heated rapidly. Their composi- 

 tion can be explained in two ways, as they can 

 be regarded either as addition — or substitution — 

 products of the sulphonamides. The authors 

 consider the evidence to be in favor of the latter, 

 for not only do they show an analogy to nitro- 

 gen trichloride in their instability, but they are 

 good oxidizing agents and are easily decom- 

 posed by acids. The easy evolution of chlorine 

 is explained more readily by the substitution 

 theory. If it is an addition product we should 

 expect the chlorine to come off in combination 

 with hydrogen, which it does not do. Just as 

 nitrogen trichloride reacts with hydrochloric 

 acid to form ammonium chloride and chlorine, 

 so these products react to form the amide and 

 the halogen. 



The Reduction of Copper Sulphide : By Delia 

 Stickney. The author finds that copper sul- 

 phide can be readily reduced by allowing it to 

 come in contact with the Bunsen flame. If the 

 substance is heated in a crucible the reduction 

 is always incomplete. The addition of some sul- 

 phur to cupric and cuprous oxides facilitates 

 the reduction to metallic copper. 



This number contains a review of the work 

 done in the field of carbohydrates during the 

 last year, and a physical-chemical study of the 

 Gas Battery. 



Brief reviews of the following books are also 

 given in this number of the Journal. Elektro 

 Metallurgie, Dr. W. Borschers ; Lehrbuch der 

 Elektrochemie, Dr. M. Le Blanc ; Laboratory 

 Experiments in General Chemistry, Chas. R. 

 Sanger; A Short Course of Experiments 

 in General Chemistry with Notes on Qualita- 

 tive Analysis, Chas. R. Sanger ; The Scientific 

 Foundations of Analytical Chemistry, treated 

 in an Elementary Manner, W. Ostwald ; A text- 

 book of Gas Manufacture for Students, J. 

 Hornby ; The Elements of Chemistry, P. C. 

 Freer ; Repertoire des Reactifs Speciaux, Gen- 

 eralement Design es sous leurs Noms d' Anteurs, 

 Jean et Mercier. J. Elliott Gilpin. 



