Chemistry and Physics. 365 



statement is incorrect, but lie maintains that the exceptions to it 

 are fully in accord with the phase rule. — Comptes Bendus, 

 172, 60. H. L..W. 



2. A Comparison of the Atomic Weights of Terrestrial and 

 Meteoric Nickel. — About ten years ago it was shown by Baxter 

 and Thorwaldsen that the atomic weight of meteoric iron is 

 identical with that of terrestrial iron w^ithin the limits of experi- 

 mental error. In view of the recent interest in isotopic elements, 

 such as ordinary lead and the kinds of lead produced by radioac- 

 tion transformations, G. P. Baxter and L. W. Parsons have com- 

 pared the atomic weights of terrestrial and meteoric nickel. 

 They have very carefully prepared nickel oxide, NiO, from the 

 two sources, the meteoric nickel having been obtained wholly from 

 the Cumpas meteorite found in 1903 near Cumpas, Senora, 

 Mexico. They analyzed the samples of oxide by reduction when 

 heated in hydrogen, and having made corrections for the minute 

 amounts of occluded nitrogen and oxygen contained in the 

 products, they found as averages 58.70 for the atomic weight of 

 the terrestrial nickel and 58.68 for that of the meteoric nickel, 

 where the difference is within the limits of experimental error. 

 There is no evidence from these results, therefore, that there is 

 any isotopic difference between the two kinds of nickel. — Jour. 

 Amer. Chem. Soc, 43, 507. h. l. w. 



3. General and Industrial Organic Chemistry ; by Ettore 

 MoLiNARi. Translated from the Third Enlarged and Revised 

 Italian Edition by Thomas H. Pope. Part I. Large 8vo, pp. 

 456. Philadelphia, 1921 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co. Price $8.00 

 net). — Two English editions of the inorganic part of this treatise 

 have already received very favorable comment in this depart- 

 ment of the Journal, and it is evident that the excellent and 

 unusual features of that portion of the work are well shown in 

 the volume under consideration. The author has aimed to bring 

 about a reform in chemical instruction by strongly emphasizing 

 the practical applications of the science in connection with the 

 study of the theory. It appears that the plan offers great advan- 

 tages in arousing the interest of the student and in training him 

 well for a career in industrial work. Aside from its use as a 

 text book, the work is a valuable one for reading and reference 

 in connection with industrial processes and statistics of costs and 

 production. 



This first section of the organic part of the work deals chiefly 

 with the aliphatic compounds, but it does not include the carbo- 

 hydrates, nor does it describe the soap-making industry. Among 

 the industries rather extensively treated here are those of petro- 

 leum, illuminating gas, explosives, and alcohol together with alco- 

 holic beverages. The last subject is extensively treated, but 

 there is a long foot-note giving strong arguments in favor of 

 alcoholic abstinence. h. l. v^. 



4. A Treatise on Chemistry, bv Eoscoe and Schorlemmer. 

 Vol. I, The Non-Metallic Elements. 8vo, pp. 968. Fifth Edi- 



