Ethyl Hydracrylate. 121 



the action of silver oxide ; substitution of hydroxy] for iodine 

 in beta-iodopropionic acid by acting on a concentrated solution 

 of the sodium salt in the cold with silver oxide, using mechani- 

 cal stirring, instead of treating the hot dilute solution of the 

 free acid with silver Oxide. 



2. Hvdracrylic acid free from a mineral acid may most con- 

 veniently be esteritied by boiling with an excess of absolute 

 alcohol in the presence of anhydrous copper sulphate free from 

 sulphuric acid. 



3. Hvdracrylic ester boils at 95° to 96° under a pressure of 

 20 rnm without decomposition, but with decomposition at ordi- 

 nary pressure. The ester has a density of 1'059 at 20° and is 

 soluble in water in all proportions, but is hydrolyzed only very 

 slowly by water in the absence of a catalyst. 



4. On hydrolysis in the presence of an acid catalyst the beta 

 hydroxyl shows a very marked retarding effect on the velocity 

 of the reaction, while in alkaline hydrolysis the beta hydroxyl 

 produces a distinct accelerating effect. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 



I. Chemistry and Physics. 



1. The Coal Tar Chemical Industry. — A committee of the 

 New York Section of the American Chemical Society has made a 

 report upon the conditions and needs involved in the enlargement 

 of the coal-tar dye industry in the United States. They have 

 found : I. Prior to the hostilities, domestic chemical industry was 

 utilizing and exploiting every reasonable opportunity to its fullest 

 extent. II. Since the outbreak of hostilities domestic industry 

 has increased its output just as fast as physical means could be 

 provided and physical obstacles overcome. III. Since the out- 

 break of hostilities, domestic plants that had heretofore been shut 

 down or partly dismantled because of disastrous foreign com- 

 petition are said to have resumed operations with caution. 

 IV. That a 30 per cent duty on some coal-tar dyes for over 30 

 years has not produced a real coal-tar dye industry in this coun- 

 try. The committee submits its conclusions as follows : A. To 

 prevent the unfair underselling alleged to be practiced by 

 foreigners in this country, the adoption of an effective anti- 

 dumping clause. B. The so-called coal-tar intermediaries which 

 are the basis of the coal-tar chemical industry, inclusive of ex- 

 plosives, medicinals and dyestuffs, should be assessed one-half of 

 whatever the finished dyes are taxed for tariff purposes : all coal- 



