CHEMICAL NEWS

Oct. 11, 1912

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heat effects in the focus; mechanical effects, such as the rotation of paddle wheels; radiometer effects, &c.), the effects were to be attributed to "a fourth state of matter "; the gas was supposed to exist in an ultra-gaseous state, the free paths of the gases being so enlarged that they behaved as minute projectiles. (This has subsequently been recognised as independent of the nature of the gas in the tube; the particles are now accepted as streams of electrons; fresh researches by Lenard, J. J. Thomson, and many others, have given the true interpretation of the phenomena first observed by Crookes).

Crookes also carried out long and very careful investigations on the rare earths; he was led to this by the presence of a "citron band" in the phosphorescent spectrum of these bodies and of many ordinary minerals, which he observed during an investigation of the action of cathode rays in inducing phosphorescence in various chemical compounds. The citron band was finally traced to yttrium. But Crookes carried out enormous numbers of fractionations of salts of the rare metals and effected numerous separations. He gave an account of some of these investigations in his Presidential Address to the Chemical Society in 1887, and pointed out that by systematic fractionation it was possible to separate yttrium into five portions, each of which could be characterised by a different spectrum. He evolved a hypothesis of the "evolution of the elements,' in which a new solid model was proposed to represent the periodic classification of the elements. Later on he prepared in a pure state and analysed many compounds of Scandium.

Crookes was the first to notice that purification of uranium salts by ammonium carbonate or by extraction with ether had for the effect the separation of a substance which he named uranium X. This was the first clue to the so-called X-bodies from radio-active matter, which has led to such important results in Rutherford's and Soddy's hands.

He also was the first to observe that radium rays (the "a-rays") when allowed to fall on a phosphorescent screen of zinc sulphide emitted scintillations; as a result in 1903 he introduced the "spinthariscope," which has since made it possible to determine the actual number of a-particles (proved by Ramsay and Soddy to consist of molecules of helium) emitted from a known weight of radium and so to determine the actual rate of change of radium and its products into helium.

Crookes has published numerous papers on other sub. jects. For many years he was one of the chemists who controlled the purity of the London water supply. He has owned and edited the CHEMICAL NEWS since 1859 (more than half a century). In spite of his advanced age he is still in full possession of mental and bodily vigour and lets no day pass without spending many hours in his private laboratory in 7, Kensington Park Gardens, London. He was President of the British Association in 1898 and gave an address in which he drew the attention of the whole world on the food supply of the world. He pointed out the necessity of combining the nitrogen of the air with oxygen by electrical means in order to furnish cereals with nitrogenous food which is essential to their existence. Here again Crookes was first in the field in demonstrating the possibility of a "nitrogenous flame" in which air could be made to "burn" by stimulation with a Tesla discharge. It is thus seen that Crookes's great genius has placed him in the very highest rank as a pioneer of science. His astonishing power of insight is unequalled in this generation and he has contented himself in indicating the way in which science may be advanced, rather than in reaping the fruits of his labour in gaining a fortune by its industrial application.

The President then exhibited the Medal, and also a portrait of Sir William Crookes.

Prof. BOGERT moved that a cable he sent to Sir Wm. Crookes, congratulating him on the award of this Medal, and expressing their respectful homage. This was carried by acclamation.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

185

Elementary Quantitative Analysis. By WILLIAM BRIGGS, LL.D., M.A., B.Sc., F.R.A.S., and H. W. Bausor, M.A. London: W. B. Clive. 1912.

A GOOD elementary course of work in quantitative analysis, such as is required by prospective candidates for the London University Intermediate examinations in Science and Art, is given in this book. Simple gravimetric and volumetric work are included, with experiments illustrating the laws of chemical combination by weight. The experimental directions are concise and clear, the theory of each process is adequately discussed, and equations are given, while care has been taken to explain fully methods of calculating results from the data obtained in the experiments. The book contains a good selection of typical problems, for which alone the examination candidate will find it worth procuring. Without being particularly difficult these problems will frequently make considerable demands upon the student's ingenuity and resource, and will give him plenty of practice in applying the general principles of volumetric and gravimetric analysis. indicated, but others are left entirely to the student to

devise.

In some eases the methods of solution are

Problems in Practical Chemistry. By G. F. HOOD, M.A. (Oxon.), B.Sc. (Lond.). London: Mills and Boon, Ltd. 1912.

THIS book is intended for the use of fairly advanced students who have a good general knowledge of both inorganic and organic chemistry, and the experiments described in it would require a well-equipped laboratory and some degree of skill on the part of the worker. In the text problems are put before the student, who, in some cases, is left to devise the methods of solution entirely by himself, while in others he is given some hints to guide him, or even full experimental details. The time necessary to complete the experiment is generally stated, and a high ideal of speed combined with accuracy is set before the

student.

In an appendix details are given for those problems which were not explained in the text, and this arrangement makes the book particularly suitable for those who are working with little or no help from a teacher. The problems, most but not all of which are quantitative, will give abundant practice in manipulation. The first part of the book is devoted to some general methods, e.g., the preparation of acid salts and double salts, the determination of equivalents, &c., while the second part contains exercises on all the common elements in turn, arranged according to the Periodic System. Photochemische Versuchstechnik. ("Technics of Experimental Photochemistry"). By Dr. JOHANNES PLOTNIKOW. Leipzig: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft. 1912. PHOTOCHEMISTRY is a comparatively young branch of science, and although an enthusiastic band of workers is doing much valuable quantitative work there is as yet a great dearth of text-books dealing exclusively with the subject. For this reason this book should be doubly sure of the welcome which its excellence will undoubtedly win for it. The author has done much to further research in photochemistry, and can write authoritatively regarding experimental methods. Some of the apparatus, described here for the first time, has been devised by him, as for example, the light thermostats; on the other hand, familiar forms are not passed over, and the book is complete in every sense of the word, although a careful selection has been made of really practically useful apparatus. Optical measuring instruments are fully described, and many mathematical tables are included. Apparatus for lecture experiments is particularly well treated. A certain amount of theory is introduced into the text, but only as much as is indispensable for the understanding of the processes and methods described.

SOURCES.

considerably increase the activity of hydrogen peroxide, Action of Perhydrol in Presence of Concentrated Sulphuric Acid on Cholesterine.-S. Minovici and E.

solution, the hydrogen peroxide first adds itself on to the vinylic group; the alicyclic residue is then oxidised to give a ketonic group, and the ketodiol thus obtained is transformed into the corresponding oxyacid. Finally, a methyl group is removed, and the product is a monobasic acid of formula— (CH3)2CHCH2CH2C16H24.CHOH.CH2OH.

Photolysis of Ketonic Sugars by Solar Light and Ultra-violet Light. - Daniel Berthelot and Henry Gaudechon.-The action of solar light on ketoses containing C3, C4, C6, and Cy gives carbon monoxide and an alcohol containing one atom of carbon less than the sugar. The photolysis of a series of homologous substances is slower the longer the chain. The ultra-violet rays produce the same effect, but secondary reactions are also produced. Thus the primary products undergo photolysis; water yields H2 and O2, formic aldehyde is formed, and oxidations occur. These complications are accompanied by an increase in the amount of CO2, the appearance of the gases H2 and CH4, the acidification and darkening of the solutions.

Application of Luminous Energy in Chemical Analysis. Marc Landau.-Ultra-violet light can be used for chemical analysis. Thus a mixture of C2H4, C2H6, and H2 can be analysed by exposing it to the ultra-violet rays. The photopolymerisation of the unsaturated hydrocarbon first occurs, and when this is complete the contraction of volume is measured, oxygen is added, and photocombustion is allowed to proceed.

Bulletin de la Société Chimique de France. Vol. xi.-xii., No. 14, 1912. Rotatory Dispersion of some Derivatives of Camphor.-L. Tchougaeff.-The author has pointed out that among the active substances of the terpene series it is the ketones particularly which possess a high coefficient of rotatory dispersion, its value being approximately equal to that of quartz for most colourless inactive substances. In the case of the derivatives of camphor the values are decidedly higher than the corresponding values of quartz and of most active colourless substances. Comparing the values with those of camphor it is found that they are greater for the a-disubstituted derivatives, and less for the derivatives which are substituted only in the a-position. The dispersion of the a-halogen derivatives is practically constant and independent of the nature of the halogen in question. The dispersion of lavo-B-camphor is very nearly the same as that of natural camphor. Apparently the anomalous exaltation of the rotatory dispersion is a general property of all the members of the camphoric series containing the ketonic grouping C-CO-C, and is intimately connected with the selective absorption in the ultra-violet part of their spectrum.

Use of Camphor as Cryoscopic Solvent. M. Jouniaux. The cryoscopic constant of camphor is approximately 500, and is thus the highest of all solvents suggested for use in the determination of molecular weights. If the graphic method of determining the temperature of solidification is employed very accurate results can be obtained when camphor is used.

Action of Hydrogen Peroxide on Glycerine.-J. Effront. The action of hydrogen peroxide converts a molecule of glycerin into two molecules of formic acid. The decomposition is quantitative and may be employed for the estimation of glycerin. Glyceric and glycolic acids are formed as intermediate products, and can easily

HOOC.CH CH2OH

Ambreine.-J. Riban.-A substance to which the name ambreine was given has been extracted from ambergris by Pelletier and Caventon in 1820, and the author has obtained the same substance from deposits formed on the walls of vessels containing tincture of amber. Ambreine when warm and dry is very readily electrified by friction, It has no rotatory power in alcoholic solution; it melts at 82°, and cannot be volatilised under ordinary pressure. Its formula is C23H400 or some multiple. With bromine it appears to give an octobrom derivative, and with phosphorus pentachloride a pentachlor compound.

Condensation of Phenylglycolic Nitrile with Aromatic Aldehydes in Presence of Thionyl Chloride. — S. Minovici and T. Zenovici. -Thionyl chloride transforms phenylglycolic nitrile into phenylchloraceto nitrile, (C6H5-CHCI-CN), which under the prolonged action of hydrochloric acid yields phenylchloracetamide, (C6H5.CHCI.CONH2). Finally, the latter in presence of an aromatic aldehyde is transformed into a substance of C6H5-CHCI-CONH. formula R being the benzylC6H5-CHCI-CONHR. idene radicle of the aromatic aldehyde. This condensation occurs with benzoic, anisic, and cuminic aldehydes.

Determination of Purity of Essences of Terebenthine. R. Marcille. -The determination of the acetic solubility (volume of acetic acid necessary to dissolve one volume at 15°) of essences of terebenthine and of the products of their fractional distillation can be used to detect bility of the fifth fraction whilst benzene diminishes that the presence of adulterants. Thus petrol raises the soluof the first fraction. The determination of the thermosulphuric index with Tortelli's thermoleometer also enables impurities to be detected, and essences of terebenthine combine practically totally with sulphuric acid, while the common adulterants do not.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Royal Microscopical Society.-The next meeting of the Society, to be held at King's College, Strand, on Wednesday, October 16, at 8 p.m. precisely, will take the form of a Conversazione.

Literary Intelligence.-Messrs. Churchills announce for publication:-"Fatty Foods, their Practical Examination," a Handbook for the use of Analytical and Technical Chemists, by E. R. Bolton and C. Revis, Chief Chemist and Bacteriologist to Welford and Sons; with 36 Illustrations in the Text and 25 Original Photo micrographs, comprising 6 Plates. "The Preparation of Organic Compounds," by E. de Barry Barnett; with 50 Illustrations.

Ternary System Sb-As-I.-E, Quercigh.-The supposed penta-iodides of arsenic and antimony, described: by Sloan and Pendleton, are in reality mixtures of iodine and the respective tri-iodides. Asl3 and Sbl3 form an uninterrupted series of mixed crystals with a minimum of about 30 per cent of Sbl3. The presence of iodine does not interfere with the solubility in the solid state of the two tri-iodides.-Atti della Reale Accademia dei Lincei, xxi., No. 12.

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