Chemistry and Physics. 215 



4. The Standardization of Acidimetric Solutions. — Francis 

 D. Dodge has introduced a new substance for use in standardiz- 

 ing volumetric alkaline solutions. This is acid potassium 

 phthalate, which does not appear to have been described pre- 

 viously, but which ma}' be easily prepared by exactly neutralizing 

 re-sublimed phthalic anhydride with pure potassium hydroxide, 

 adding as much more of the phthalic anhydride as was used at 

 first, crystallizing by cooling the hot solution and re-crystallizing 

 the product. The salt has the formula HKC 8 H 4 4 , it has no 

 water of crystallization and may.be dried at 110° C. It has a 

 number of advantages over the substances usually employed for 

 the purpose in being easily obtained in a pure condition, in being 

 unalterable in the air, in being fairly soluble in water, and in 

 having a high formula weight. — Jour. Indust. and Eng. Chem., 

 vii, 29. h. l. w. 



5. Chemical Technology and Analysis of Oils, Eats and 

 Waxes ; by J. Lewkowitsch. Fifth edition, vol. ii, edited by 

 George IJ. Waebukton. 8vo, pp. 944. London, 1914 (Mac- 

 millan and Co. Price $6.50). — The author of this standard work, 

 whose services to industrial chemistry have been so important, 

 died shortly after the appearance of the first volume of the 

 present rewritten and enlarged edition. The second volume now 

 being considered has been edited in a very satisfactory manner 

 by Mr. Warburton, who was for a long time associated with the 

 late author. 



This volume takes up the commercial preparation of the raw 

 materials in a general way, and then proceeds to describe very 

 fully a large number of oils, fats and waxes of both vegetable and 

 animal origin. Much information is given in regard to the 

 sources, manufacture, commercial importance and uses of the 

 individual products, thus making the book of much interest to the 

 general reader, while the tabular statements of the physical and 

 chemical characteristics of the substances are very extensive and 

 particularly important for chemists. h. l, w. 



6. The High Frequency Spectra of the Elements. — The wave- 

 lengths of the characteristic radiations of the K type for elements 

 of low atomic weight and of the L type for heavy atoms have 

 been determined experimentally by Moseley. The data obtained 

 brought out a A'ery important relation, namely, that the frequencies 

 of the radiation of the different elements admit of being arranged 

 in series such that the square root of the frequency in each series 

 increases by a constant from element to element in the periodic 

 system. It is a matter of considerable importance to find out if 

 the two K-series can be extended to the heaviest atoms and if the 

 constancy just mentioned continues throughout the system. This 

 interesting problem has been successfully attacked, by Ivar 

 Malmer. The elements studied (with their "atomic numbers") 

 were yttrium (39), zirconium (40), molybdenum (42), ruthenium 

 (44), palladium (46), silver (47), cadmium (48), indium (49), tin 

 (50), antimony (51), barium (56), lanthanum (57), and cerium 

 (58). 



