Each one of these 103 experimental data takes its part in the demonstration of the structure of an atom of iodine. If any one of them were to be found to be wrong the others would not be affected in the slightest, so that the whole theory can only be demolished by the gradual extinction of the data one by one.

There is no hypothesis anywhere in the paper. The whole is merely an arrange

ment of facts in such a manner as to demonstrate the truths which underlie them. Iodine is the twenty-sixth element whose structure has now been demonstrated in a manner uniform with the others, the only difference between the demonstrations being that the later ones are more efficient than the earlier owing to increasing experience in the best method of arranging the facts. The demonstration of the structure of sodium, e.g., in the Chemical News, 1924, CXXVIII., 161, could be improved very greatly owing to this increase of experience.

It is impossible to state every reason for any particular result in each paper, and the matter can only be criticised by taking the whole thesis into consideration at the same time.

The following is an example of what is implied by the above statement :-In the Chemical News, XCVI., 1907, 176, Sir William Crookes published on the recommendation of Sir William Ramsay the discovery of the Odd and Even Rule, which lies at the foundation of the reasoning and correct deductions which led to the discovery of the structure of each element. If reference were continually being made to all such matters, these papers would become unwieldy and could not be accepted by any scientific periodical.

In addition to the demonstration of the constitution and structure of iodine in this

= 27845

27780

T

paper by means of the following eight series of experimental data, Atomic Weight, Specific Gravity, Heat of Formation (gas), H.F. (liquid), H.F. (solid), H.F. aq.. Specific Heat, and Latent Heat, the following two laws are strengthened

(1) The law of relative volume; (II) The law of heat of formation; (III) It continues the reduction of the experimental data of specific gravity to exact instruments of research.

(IV) It demonstrates the causes of Thomsen's observed experimental results, not necessarily of his calculated results.

(V) It continues the demonstration of the Co-relationship of Physical-Chemical Constants.

The proof that the structure for iodine, which was first published in the Chemical News several years ago, is correct, lies in the fact that the relative volumes confirm it exactly, and the values for heat of formation confirm the volumes.

66

WATER AND METALS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTROLYSIS. By ROBERT SAXON, B.Sc., F.C.S. The text book gives the impression that water does not respond to electrolysis, unless seasoned " with acid or alkali. This seasoning upsets all reasoning with regard to the part played by the water, and to the student makes the decomposition thereof a fake. With With a sufficiently high density of current, water will duct. That got from a plug in the lighting set will furnish enough energy to show a copious shower of gas and convince the pupil that water by itself does dissociate.

con

The author has worked a series of experiments with various metals used as a Compound or Idle Electrode that is placed on the insulating floor of an electrolytic cell

between the electrodes. Attention has been drawn in the Chemical News (Nov. 20, 1925), to the accelerating solvent influence on acids of the electric current. Weak acids dissolve metals that strong acids would not disturb under ordinary conditions. Most refractory metals oxidise as anodes with weak solutions of oxygen acids. This series attempts to find out to what extent, if any, water acts as an acid.

Water behaves like an acid in a great number of chemical reactions, transferring its hydroxyl group OH to other bases, to displace other anions notably the halogens. It might be called Hydric Acid, and its salts hydrates. Towards the alkali and alkaline earth metals it behaves exactly like an acid. The electric current makes it behave so to other metals, whether used as anodes, or in the cell.

Copper placed in the way of the electrolytic flow in the cell gives off a stream of gas which proves to be a mixture of hydrogen with less oxygen than is necessary to form water. Flocculent blue-green hydrate is formed at the same time. No acid whatever is used in these tests. The copper may be looked upon as an extra anode and cathode combined. The action between it and the anode may be represented thus :-

2H)Cu) 2H 2(OH) (HOH/O

Here, in the centre we have water which is not in contact with a charged cathode, but must of necessity in giving up its hydrogen make its side of the copper negatively charged. This is all by virtue of the charge (positive) on the real anode, shown as (to the right of the water.

The action between the copper and the real cathode may be shown as follows:

2H) 2H 2(OH) (Cu( Cu(OH)2

The copper is shown now as an anode (sign (means anode). The water is underlined as a solute, though a liquid, and hydrogen is given off at the cathode, and copper hydrate at the copper. The sign is used to denote the fact that the two parts of the

water are ionised, free to form new associations with any other ions near them if carrying sufficient charge to bring that icn near enough to form molecules not ionised I but fast bound.

Magnesium behaves similarly. The floating hydrate is carried up the tube arranged to catch the gases. It is well to push the metal a little way up the tube as it persists in floating if placed in bits on the floor of the cell. The fact that reaction is beginning is shown by the rising of the metal in the water. The metal placed outside the electrodes, that is, not between them, gives off gas, though feebly. It would seem that there are Lines of Electrolytic Force inside the retaining insulating walls like those round a magnet. Had an acid been added to the water, such would be accused of this action. Why cannot water then be an acid under the same circumstances? It is doubtful if separate chemical reactions go on during electrolysis, as the current dethrones mighty reagents and alters completely their characters. Whatever happens during electrolysis must be completely under its control, though we may not see how that control arranges its sequences.

Zinc behaves like magnesium as well as cadmium, but less vigorously. Mercury gives visible evidence of the "two faced " character of these idle electrodes. That part nearer the anode is bright, whereas that looking towards the cathode darkens with the formation of oxide, possibly suboxide first, but certainly brown oxide later. The mercury is placed as a blob on the floor of the cell, preferably a glass jar with a depression in the centre. The two halves are well marked for some minutes but the oxide gradually spreads even to the reduction area of the cathode. A larger blob would in a good light determine the change of colour in this oxidation.

Bismuth gives the gray oxide on its "anode " side. Tungsten in the form of wire changes quickly in colour from brown to violet and blue, passing rapidly from the dioxide to the trioxide. The range of colours is instructive, especially to students, as the colours rise from brown to blue towards the real cathode. The dioxide does not remain more than a few minutes, as such though clean metal may present itself. This seems to indicate that the dioxide has greater pull upon oxygen than the metal.

CARBON BLACK PRODUCED FROM
NATURAL GAS.

By G. B. RICHARDSON.
(U.S.A .Bureau of Mines.)

The production of carbon black from natural gas in the United States in 1924, reported to the division of mineral resources of the United States Geological Survey prior to its transfer to the Bureau of Mines, by 46 producers operating 69 plants in 9 States, amounted to 186,872,934 poundsan increase of 35 per cent. over the production in 1923 and nearly three times the output in 1922. Indicated deliveries in 1924 by producers of carbon black amounted to 129,521,602 pounds, contrasted with 102,376,381 pounds in 1923. On December 31,1924, stocks of carbon black held in the custody of producers amounted to 95,671,246 pounds, an increase of more than 57,000,000 pounds over the corresponding stocks held on the last day of 1923. This record of overproduction was reflected in the average price per pound received by producers, 6.2 cents, which is the lowest that has been reported since the Government began to compile statistics of carbon black in 1919. The total value at the plants of the carbon black produced in 1924 was $11,564,936.

Louisiana in 1924 not only led all of the States in the production of carbon black, as it has done since 1921, but increased its relative standing by producing 77 per cent. of the total output of the country as contrasted with 73 per cent. in 1923. All of the carbon-black plants in Louisiana obtain their supply of gas from the Monroe field, and for 1924 reports were received covering the operation of 28 plants in Ouachita Parish, 6 in Morehouse, and 1 in Union Parish.

carried on by the Mississippi Valley Station of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, in co-operation with the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy at Rolla, Missouri. It is published in the belief that it may be of interest to others who are carrying on similar investigations.

The bibliography has been limited to references on the usual types of horizontal retort and the condensers that are used with them. References to vertical retorts or other types of retort that are not in general industrial use have been omitted. References on refractories or on ceramic engineering in general that have an incidental bearing on the manufacture of zinc retorts and condensers,although many of them are of prime importance, have also been omitted, as it has been thought best to reserve them for a possible later selected bibliography of such references only.

With these limitations, it is believed that the bibliography covers fairly completely the literature on the subject that has been published within the past forty or fifty years. The literature older than that has not been covered so completely,but such of these old references as have been omitted are at present of little interest other than historical, and the information contained in them has been well summarised in the various standard textbooks on the metallurgy of zinc.-Published by permission of the Director of thhe U.S. Bureau of Mines. by School of Mines and Metallurgy, University of Missouri.

agents for analytical Purposes," prepared in 1914, and that opportunity should be taken to revise some of the monographs, and to add to the number. It was decided, however, that the Institute should not undertake the task.

Feeling that there exists a need for a work of reference of the character outlined, the Company has decided to issue the B.D.H. Book of A.R. Standards for the purpose of defining as exactly as possible the commercially attainable standards for the purity of chemicals used for those scientific purposes for which purity is of great importance. The book contains in all 157 monographs and embraces those 88 substances for which standards were given in the volume published by the Council of the Institute of Chemistry. Additional tests have been made in respect of the substances dealt with in that publication, and in many instances it has been possible to take advantage of much experience gained over an extended period of time to give greater precision to the limits and tests laid down.

The B.D.H. Book of A.R. Standards is published at 2s. 6d., but will be issued at the special price of 1s. 6d. postage 3d. extra, to the users of B.D.H. chemicals.

CANADIAN TRADE WITH THE
UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED
STATES.

According to statistics compiled by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Ottawa, imports into Canada from the United Kingdom and the United States during 1925 amounted in value to 162,108,180 dollars and 579,746,080 dollars, while exports of Canadian produce to those countries totalled 492,334,687 dollars and 472,274,816 dollars respectively.

BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT. DYESTUFFS (IMPORT REGULATION) ACT,

1920.

APPLICATION FOR LICENCES IN FEBRUARY, 1926.

The following statement relating to applications for licences under the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, 1920, made during February, has been furnished to the Board of Trade by the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee.

The total number of applications received during the month was 549, of which 476 were from merchants or importers. To these should be added 18 cases outstanding on January 30, making a total for the month of 567. These were dealt with as follows:

Granted-475 (of which 458 were dealt

with within 7 days of receipt). Referred to British Makers of similar products-65 (of which 54 were dealt with within 7 days of receipt).

Referred to Reparation Supplies available 7 (all dealt with within 2 days of receipt).

Outstanding on 27th February, 1926–20. Of the total of 567 applications received 519, or 92 per cent. were dealt with within 7 days of receipt.

ELECTROLYTIC IRON AND

TITANIUM PIGMENT.

The High Commissioner for Canada in London has received from the Department of Mines at Ottawa the following article prepared by Mr. W. B. Timm, of the Mines Branch :

An interesting process which would appear to have commercial possibilities is being developed for the utilisation of Canadian ilmenite ores. By this process, electrolytic iron in the form of tubes and plates is produced from the iron content in the ores, and titanium white, for pigment purposes, from the titanium content. Both these products are somewhat new to the metal and chemical industries. They possess special physical and chemical properties which open up wide fields of application and usefulness.

Briefly, the process consists of treating the ilmenite ores with some form of carbon as a reducing agent in a rotary kiln furnace. The iron oxide of the ore is converted to metallic iron in the sponge state and the titanium oxide is left unaltered. The product of the furnace is treated with ferric chloride, the iron dissolved, forming ferrous chloride, leaving an insoluble residue of titanium. The residue is separated from the solution which is electrolysed in a diaphragm cell, iron deposited and ferric chloride formed to be used again, making the process cyclical and continuous.

INTERNATIONAL COMBUSTION,

LIMITED, EXTENDING.

An interesting announcement is to hand from Internatlonal Combustion Limited, who state that on account of the enormous growth in the demand for its Britishmanufactured "Lopulco," products, it has become necessary to proceed immediately with an important extension of the works at Derby.

A new foundry section for heavy castings, with core drying ovens, pattern shops and storage, cupolas and complete range of modern handling equipment is to be started at once. The extensions also include an entirely new machine shop,office extensions and a new shop for the fabricating of sheet metal work, bunkers, eyclones, etc.

Provision has also been made for extending the transport system, loading and despatch berths to the new buildings and the total value of the work is estimated at about £100,000.

At the Barrow works, so many orders for Raymond Pulverisers have been received this year that additional machinery is to be installed immediately for dealing with the manufacture of this equipment.

NEW ARTIFICIAL SILK MILL FOR

CANADA.

Canada, which may almost be said to be the home of spruce pulpwood, appears destined to make rapid strides as a producer also of rayon, or artificial silk. With the large plant of Courtauld's, Limited, already in operation, plans are reported of another proposed mill to be located at Drummondville, Quebec. It is said that American and English capital is interested in the new venture, and that it will be known as the Canadian Cellulose and Chemical Company. A total capital of $10,000,000 is involved. The plant will manufacture a product of the celluloseacetate type.

BRITISH METAL CORPORATION, LIMITED.

The Directors' report for the year ended December 31, 1925, shews the Corporation to be in a flourishing condition :

The profit for the year, after payment of all expenses and appropriating £50,000 to Reserve Account, as £80,181 14s. 8d.; there was brought forward from last year