CHEMICAL NEWS, Nov. 7, 1913 } Study of certain Confirmatory Tests for Tin. TABLE VI. 231 Influence of Antimony upon the Test.-Having deterTwo cc. added each time). mined the most favourable conditions for the test when tin alone is present, the next step was to ascertain the influence of the presence of antimony on the test under these conditions. For reasons given earlier in this paper, 250 mgrms. of antimony were used. The results are given in Table IX. These results show that the sensitivity of the test is lowered by the presence of large quantities of antimony, and that under these conditions the limit is 0.05 mgrm. Sn. 0'2 TABLE VII. Result. Fair blue Faint blue Negative The method of reducing the tin with an iron nail in acid solution was found inapplicable, because of the reducing action of the ferrous salt, formed in the reaction, upon the ammonium molybdate. Accordingly, reduction by means of zinc was tried. After a number of preliminary experiments the following procedure was finally adopted: To definite amounts of concentrated hydrochloric acid run into test-tubes from a burette, varying quantities of standard stannic chloride solution were added, and the volume was then made up to 5 cc. After the addition of a scant one-half grm. of chemically pure granular zinc (Note 6), the tubes were put into the boiling water-bath, and allowed to remain therein until the action practically ceased; another definite quantity of concentrated hydrochloric acid was then added (Note 7). As soon as the second reaction was completed (Note 8), the solution was diluted to 10 cc., and immediately filtered into I cc. of saturated ammonium molybdate solution. The results were immediately compared with a blank run simultaneously. In the above series of experiments the total quantity of acid used in the test was gradually reduced in order that the best conditions of acidity might be found. The results are given in Tables VI., VII., and VIII. A comparison of the results of these tables shows tha the conditions given in Table VIII. are the best, since the test becomes delicate to one part in a million. The blanks obtained throughout the work were found to possess a slight greenish blue colour which could readily be distinguished from the pure faint blue of the limit test. Having found the test to work satisfactorily in the presence of the maximum amount of antimony, it was thought desirable to ascertain the influence of small quantities of this metal. The results of these tests showed that under the conditions given in Table VIII., 0'03 mgrm. of tin could be detected in the presence of 10 mgrms. of antimony, and that quautities of antimony up to 5 mgrms. are without influence on the test. Longstaff states that an excess of acid vitiates the test by discharging the blue colour, but supplies no experimental data on this point. As some preliminary work on our part had shown this statement to be true, it was thought worth while to run a series of experiments with the object of establishing definitely the influence of acidity on the test. In these experiments the regular procedure already given was followed, except that the quantity of acid added was varied in order to yield different acid concentrations after dilution to 10 cc. The results obtained are given in Table X. These results definitely show the influence of acidity on the delicacy of the test, and demonstrate the necessity for keeping the acidity within 4'5 cc. if a trustworthy test for I mgrm. of tin is desired. Summary and Conclusions. The investigation of the conditions under which the ammonium molybdate test for stannous tin might be applicable to stannic solutions after reduction by zinc showed : 1. That with a total acidity of 2.5 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid in a volume of 10 cc., the acid being added as directed, the test is delicate to o'or mgrm. Sn in the absence of antimony. 2. That in the presence of 250 mgrms. of antimony the test can be used to detect o'05 mgrm. of tin. 3. That the presence of 5 mgrms. of antimony is without influence on the delicacy of the test. Notes. 1. Upon dilution to 1-1 the amount of free acid becomes 0.0031 grm. per cc., which in consideration of the final acidity of the solutions employed in the tests, may be neglected without any appreciable error, particularly so since the volume of the standard tin solution used never exceeded 1 cc.. 2. As the volume of this tin solution employed in any test never exceeded o'5 cc., the quantity of additional acid was o'05 cc. This amount when compared with the quantity added in any test is so small as to be neglected without any apparent difference in the result. 3. The water-bath employed throughout this work consisted of a 500 cc. beaker half filled with water, and covered with a lead plate having six perforations large enough to accommodate the ordinary size of test-tubes. The water was heated to boiling in each case before inserting the tubes, and the boiling thereafter continued for the full time that the tubes were in the bath. form of water-bath was found very convenient in this work, since it enabled us to perform six tests at one time. The glass beaker was preferred to the usual copper-bath, for the reason that the former permitted us to observe the progress of the reaction. This 4. The solution used was made by dissolving 18-8 grms. SbCl2 in HCl (1-1), and making the volume up to 100 cc. in a volumetric flask by the addition of more HCl (1-1). The strength of this solution was 100 mgrms. Sb in 1 cc. 5. The 125 cc. concentrated HCl contributed by the antimony solution is included in this total of 2.5 cc. 6. A very granular form of zinc reduced the time of the reaction by reason of its readiness to dissolve in the acid. 7. In the above procedure the acid was added in two portions, the first to aid in the reduction of the tin by the zinc, and the second to re-dissolve the spongy tin which separated out. This method gave a rapid solution of the tin. If instead of adding the acid in two portions as just described, the total quantity was added at the outset, it was found that the tin did not readily go into solution on further heating. 8. In a few of the many experiments tried, an intense blue coloration was obtained, which was out of proportion to the small quantity of tin present. These results were due to the presence of minute particles of metal which passed through the filter. Hence care must be exercised in filtering. Journal of the American Chemical Society, xxxv., No. 4. THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF HEATING AND VENTILATING.* By Professor LEONARD HILL, M.D., F.R.S. LECTURE II.-RADIANT v. CONVECTED HEAT. THE lecturer began by again insisting on the enormous importance of certain kinds of dust in the atmosphere. Workers in limestones have little more phthisis and respiratory disease than the general run of males, while those who work in sandstones and any process which generates silica dust, suffer very greatly and have a shorter prospect of life. The disease and the increased mortality which arises from lead and silica dust can easily be prevented, and must be prevented. He then went on to detail the experiments which prove that there is no organic poison in exhaled air, and that the increased percentage of carbonic acid and diminished percentage of oxygen in the air of crowded rooms had nothing to do with the symptoms of discomfort felt therein. Prof. Hill then dealt with the physical conditions of the atmosphere, the heat, moisture, and movement, which he said profoundly affected the health and vigour of the body. Wrong physical, not chemical, conditions of the atmosphere cause all the discomfort of crowded rooms. Body heat (its production and its diminution) was discussed, and the effects of body heat stagnation described. It was pointed out how a warm still atmosphere depresses the activity of the body, the oxygen intake, and the vigour of the circulation, together with the appetite for and digestion of food. The importance of cutaneous sensations and the depressing effect of monotony of atmospheric conditions were brought into prominence. A new instrument for measuring the rate of cooling, the Kata-thermometer, was described, and the failure of the ordinary thermometer to indicate the proper conditions for body comfort and health illustrated. Observations taken with the Kata-thermometer in and out of doors at the seaside were mentioned. The natural conditions on ideal summer days were described, and the advantages of radiant heat and cooling moving air insisted on. The wastefulness and the pollution of the atmosphere by the open fires impelled us towards the use of the modern gas fire, which gave 50 per cent of the energy of the fuel as radiant heat. Artificial heat, and particu larly air heated by convection, was not good for us, and ought always to be associated with open windows. • Chadwick Public Lectur s, Bristol, 1913. (Delivered at Bristol University, October 30. The Lord Bishop of Bristol in the Chair) THE SCIENTIFIC WEEK. (From Our Own Paris Correspondent). SEVEN GRMS. OF RADIUM IN THE WHOLE WORLD! A quite recent census concerning the quantities of salts of radium existing at the present time in the different scientific and medical laboratories of the globe, shows us that there are not more than six or seven grms. of metallic radium in the whole world. The industry of radium was born in 1899 from the impulse given to it by the studies of Pierre Curie. At a lecture given at the Society of Civil Engineers, M. Paul Besson has just now recalled the fact, that from that period till 1904, from 13 tons of pitchblende residuum, it was only possible to extract about 2 or 3 grms. of radium, which served specially to supply the laboratory of M. and Mdme. Curie. But an Austrian law put a stop to the exportation of the radioactive ores of Joachimstal. Radium was then extracted in France from much poorer ores containing only from a half to two mgrms. of radium per ton, such as the antimonites which come from Portugal or the carnotites from Colorado, whereas the residues of pitchblende contained from 100 to 200 mgrms. of radium per ton. During the last few years Austria has not treated more than 3 or 4 tons of pitchblende per year, from which were extracted annually less than I grm. of radium. America and England do not as yet produce radium salts. It is France which at present controls the production and the market of the precious metal. The price of a grm. of hydrated bromide of radium remains about 400,000 francs (£16,000) more or less, which means that a grm. of pure metallic radium is worth about 780,000 francs (£31,200). The principal possessors of radium are Mdme. Curie, whose laboratory contains from about 2-6 grms. to 3 grms. of radium, and Sir Ernest Cassel of London. As to the different applications of radium, they are well known. Besides its employment in medicine and therapeutics, its use in industry is spreading more and more. It has been possible to realise, with this metal, certain apparatus enabling the measurement of the potential of a conductor at a distance, without contact. Lastly, in silk factories, radium has been employed for de-electrifying not only the textile fibres but also parts of the machinery. GALLIUM IS NOT RARE. After a long series of researches, guided by the works of Mendeleeff, one of the rarest of metals, "gallium," in the blende of Pierrefitte, by the French chemist Lecoq de Boisbaudran, in 1875, has just been found in commercial aluminium. M. J. Bardel, director of one of the services of the Institute of Hydrology of the Collège de France, and M. C. Boulanger have made a spectrographic examination of ordinary aluminium, and in it they discovered the presence of "gallium." In a paper presented by Professor Haller, in their name, the two chemists indicate that, in treating 2 kilogrms. of aluminium, they have obtained nearly 4 decigrms. of gallium. Ordinary aluminium contains, then, nearly o'02 per cent of this metal supposed to be so rare. It is a greater percentage than that attributed by Lecoq de Boisbandran to the blende of Pierrefitte. SIGNS OF FAtigue. After having studied the conditions of very hard work with the physiological limits of fatigue, M. Jules Amar, in a new paper presented before the Academy of Sciences by Professor Dastre, has just examined what are the respiratory signs of fatigue. A double pneumograph, held in place during the whole duration of the experiment, has tracings of respiration that were easily compared. On the other hand, the gaseous outputs of the respiration were measured every two minutes. The alimentation of the persons under survey was the same for all: a simple cup of coffee well sugared, two hours before taking measurements. These conditions being established, M. Jules CHEMICAL NEWS, Research Chemist in the Works. Amar remarked that the frequency of the respiration increases with the work, but without any rigorous proportionality. It is, on an average, thirty-two respirations per minute, for the usual speed of a workman. With great speed fatigue is produced and puts an end to the work when it is hardly begun; that is to say, at the end of four minutes at the most. The frequency of the respiration is then somewhere about forty. Amplitude also increases with the work. The respirations are deeper and still deeper; they are barely more than twice as deep as when at rest. But if the work is continued till fatigue ensues, the amplitude of the respirations diminishes gradually and different irregularities are to be remarked. If the work is very hard, by an excess of effort or speed the respiratory output is irregular with accentuated ups and downs, but as a rule it goes on increasing until loss of breath occurs. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY. 233 Ar a Meeting of the Institute of Chemistry held at the The lecturer pointed out the difficulty in expressing opinions which could be universally accepted, for industrial chemists worked under such varying conditions and were influenced by temperament and past training. His remarks should therefore be taken as applying especially to the textile industry. ELECTION OF NON-RESIDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES-J. H. FABRE'S CANDIDATESHIP WITHDRAWN. The total gross value of the Textile Industry (First The fourth chair for a non-resident member of the the textile materials and fabrics manufactured in the Census of Production, 1907) indicated that the value of Academy of Sciences-a section newly created by the United Kingdom amounted to the total of £333,000,000; decree of the 17th March, 1913, and reserved for pro-and that 1,253,000 persons were employed in their manipu vincial scholars has been awarded to M. Charles Deperet, lation. Power to the amount of 1,900,000 h.p. was Dean of the Faculty of Science of Lyons, and to whom utilised, and 77 per cent of the firms used coal to the are due numerous and interesting geological works. His value of £8,137,000. On a basis of one chemist for every researches embrace the tertiary history of the Mediter2000 persons employed, no less than 600 chemists would ranean basin. M. Deperet was elected with thirty-two be utilised in this industry alone; each of whom would votes, and the entomologist, J. H. Fabre, obtained two deal with an annual gross output valued at over £500,000. votes. We believe that at the secret committee meeting, A saving of 10 per cent in the coal bill would amount in held after the public sitting, the two eminent naturalists who all to £1,000,000. It would be remembered that one had voted for the entomologist of Serignan, whose whole life has been consecrated to the study of the habit and large aniline dye combine on the Continent already employed no less than 700 chemists. The recently made lives of insects, have withdrawn his candidateship. In a statement that "Science was fast becoming an industry" written notice they said they said that J. H. Fabre had seemed to apply in this case at any rate. not stood for election, considering, on the other hand, from the votes of the commissions already elected, that he was not likely to succeed; the two savants not wishing to expose a man of M. Fabre's age to the humiliation of being refused, they simply withdrew his candidateship, which they themselves had proposed. THE HIGH ATMOSPHERE. The results of the Franco-Swedish exploration of the high atmosphere during the three campaigns from 1907 to 1909, undertaken by Professor Hildebrandsson, of Upsala, and the late regretted Tesserenc du Bort, have just been published by M. Meurice, who took part in the expedition. M. Deslandres, Director of the Observatory of Meudon, recalls to mind that it is to Tesserenc du Bort that is due the discovery of the stratosphere, a layer of isothermal air whose temperature, extremely low, is constant through a great thickness. This layer, discovered for the first time at the Observatory of Trappes, at an altitude of from eight to ten kilometres, has again been found at the Equator at a still higher altitude, and its temperature there is somewhat lower. In the polar region, at Kiruna, situated at the north of the Scandinavian peninsula, Hildebrandsson and Tesserenc du Bort remarked the presence of the same isothermal layer. Numerous soundings with pilot balloons have allowed it to be proved that the temperature of the stratosphere was the same as that observed at Trappes. However, there is a difference between the temperatures of the lower layers of Lapland and of France. Nearly all the pilot balloons sent up by the two meteorologists have been recovered. M. Delandres has also announced that the Minister of War was about to accept the observatory of Trappes, which is offered to him by the Tesserenc du Bort family. Physical Society's Annual Exhibition.-This Exhibition will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, at the Imperial College of Science, and will be open both in the afternoon and evening. Stress was laid upon the value of a satisfactory knowledge of the principles underlying analysis to the student entering a works. He must expect to work on the border. land of industrial research, and therefore to devise new methods of a chemical or physical nature to record his progress. Actual examples were given of the difficulties met with in interpreting the figures obtained. The results that the successful investigator might achieve by working out new methods and processes, or improving those already employed in works, were indicated, and the advantages of secret working were also dealt with. Also the effect produced through the stress of competition and the utilisation of new processes on working conditions. It was urged that the chemist should spend as much of his time as possible in the works, entering the laboratory when systematic investigation was necessary. The industrial chemist who remained in his laboratory was lost. Knowledge of chemistry alone was an insufficient equipment, modern research being set on a wide basis, and requiring a knowledge of physics and the power to apply this in many directions. This was demonstrated at every turn. After describing a typical college dyeing department, the fitting up of a works research laboratory was briefly considered. It was pointed out that experiments utilising more than 5 to 10 h.p. should be conducted in the works itself. The fitting up of experimental works as a preliminary to establishing an industry was discussed. Such a station had been known to utilise 10,000 h.p. for experi mental purposes. The work of the textile chemist was then considered in greater detail, and specially illustrated by reference to the early developments in Mercerising and Schreinering. Both these processes were shown to depend upon certain details, which although actually patented in the former case were not fully realised in the early experiments. The chemist working under industrial conditions would at once realise the success achieved by the rule-of-thumb man in the past; by systematically studying his methods, and seeking to discover points he had not fully realised, the chemist may often be able to improve upon them. Workmen who control operations of vital importance should be "discovered " by the chemist; their methods studied in the light of his | CHEMICAL NOTICES FROM FOREIGN more specialised knowledge. Important results could often be secured by inquiring into the origin of so-called defects in manufacture. The nature of the methods and machinery used for producing artificial fibres, and more recently artificial fabrics, was then indicated; samples being exhibited of many of the different products already obtained. The part to be played by the chemist was pointed out, as well as the great need for further research in this direction. The remaining portion of the lecture dealt with the influence of theory and the chemist's work on actual industrial operations, and concluded with a brief discussion on the modern theories in connection with dyeing and investigations which have had their origin in observations originally made in the dye-house. NOTICES OF BOOKS. The Volatile Oils. By E. GILDEMEISTER and Fr. THE Second German edition of this treatise has been ex- A new Production et Consommation des Engrais Chimiques dans le Monde. ("The World's Production and Consumption of Chemical Manures.") Rome: Institut International d'Agriculture. 1913. (3 francs.) SOURCES. NOTE. All degrees of temperature are Centigrade unless otherwise expressed. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Academie des Sciences. Vol. clvii., No. 9, September 1, 1913. This number contains no chemical matter. Vol. clvii., No. 10, September 8, 1913. Experiments on the Cupric Hydrates and the Heat of Formation of Copper Nitrate.-M. de Forcrand.— Péligot's hydrate of cupric oxide, CuO.H2O, does not lose weight even when kept over sulphuric or phosphoric acid at 30°. When heated to 85° it changes colour, becoming green, but does not lose weight. If heating is continued it begins to undergo hydration; thus at 100° it becomes olive green, and its formula corresponds to CuO+0·8H2O. It then turns brown, and is converted into the hydrate these different hydrates in dilute nitric acid it is found that CuO +0.35H2O. By determining the heat of solution of the isomeric change of the blue into the green hydrate is exothermic and corresponds to o 261 cal. The heat of formation of anhydrous copper nitrate is 71.49 cal., and for a solution 81.96 cal. These values approximate closely to those obtained for uranyl nitrate, and the mean for the two metals is the same. Mechanism of the Formation of Sulphuric Acid in the Lead Chambers.-E. Briner and A. Kuhne.-When sulphuric acid is produced in the lead chambers the atomic oxygen set free by the dissociation of NO2 into NO and O plays an important part; the atoms of oxygen combine with SO2 far more readily than molecules, and they are continually regenerated by the dissociation of NO2. The anhydride SO3 readily gives H2SO4 with water, and in consequence of its low vapour tension at the temperature of the chambers (40-60°) it rapidly condenses. MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. TUESDAY, 11th.-Chadwick Public Lectures, 5. (The University of London, South Kensington). "The Place of the Open-air School in Preventive Medicine," by Sir WEDNESDAY, 12th.-Biochemical Society, 5.30. (In the Physiological George Newman, M.D. Laboratory, King's College, London). THURSDAY, 13th.-Royal Society. "The Preparation of Eye-preserving Glass for Spectacles," by Sir William Crookes. "On An Inversion-point for Liquid Carbon Dioxide in regard to the Joule-Thomson Effect," by A W. Porter "Negative After-images and successive Contrast with Pure Spectral Colours," by A. W. Porter and F. W. Edri ge-Green. "The Positive Ions from Hot Metals," by O. W. Richardson. "Diurnal Variation of Terrestrial Magnetism" and "A Suggestion as to the Origin of Black Body Radiation," by G. W. Walker. 14th.-Physical, 8. "Thermal Conductivity of Mercury by the Impressed Velocity Method," by H. R. Nettleton. Polarisation and Energy Losses in Dielectrics," by A. W. Ashton. A Lecture Experiment to illustrate Ionisation by Collision and to show Thermo-luminescence, by F. J. Harlow. Alchemical Society, 8.15. (At International Club, Regent Street). "The Hermetic Mystery," by Mdme. Isabelle de Steiger. THIS monograph has been prepared for the Committee of fertilisers, and thus keep the information quite up to date. The Proprietor of PATENT No. 22506 of Canadium, the Supposed New Element.-In the Annual Report of the British Columbia Minister of Mines it is stated that authentic samples of the dyke in which the presence of platinum metals and "canadium" had been reported, were procured and submitted, together with concentrates from the crushed material, to representa tive firms of assayers, to the Canadian Geological Survey, and to the British Columbia Government Laboratory. In no case were any traces of platinum metals detected, nor was there any evidence of the presence of the alleged new metal. 1910, for "Improvements in the Manufacture of Pure TetraPhosphortrisulphids," is desirous of disposing of the Patent Rights or of negotiating for the grant of Licences to work thereunder. All enquiries should be addressed to JOHNSONS and WILLCOX, 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C. The Owners of BRITISH PATENT No. tracting Turpentine, Oils, and other Products from Wood," are desirous 29886 of 1909, entitled "Improvements in Processes of Ex of disposing of the Patent or entering into working arrangements, under Licence or otherwise, with firms likely to be interested in the same. A copy of the Patent Specification and full particulars can be obtained from and offers made (for transmission to the owners) to MARKS and CLERK, 57 and 58, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C. General Statement of Valency from the Periodic point | Electricity as a Conditioning Agent i.) in the Proof view Some suggested Cross Relations between Extreme The Valencies of Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury A Periodic Classification of the Elements based upon Geometrical Regularities, and the idea of Branches at certain Places. cesses Operative in certain Chemical Changes, and ii in certain Primary Forms of Matter. The Study of some Special Groups or Classifications of the Elements in Compounds. A Note on the Valencies of Vanadium and Bismuth. A few statements of the Theory of the Atom based upon Experiments in Molecular Physics With Tables and Diagrams. Post free from any Bookseller, 2s. 8d. "The author has evidently carefully studied the literature of the theories of valency, and he shows much skill in stating briefly the gist of an argument and ingenuity in pointing out the directions in which fruitful research may possibly be undertaken "- Chemical News, October 3, 1913. London: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, and CO., Ltd., "It is, without doubt, the finest example of a General Index which has been published in connection with chemistry." -Chemist and Druggist, May 3, 1913. "It is an excellent compilation, and sure to be of great service to chemical readers generally."-Pharmaceutical Journal, May 10, 1913 "The Chemical News is to be congratulated on having had the courage to undertake and the perseverance to carry out a work of this description. The task has been carried out in a thoroughly workmanlike spirit, and as it contains a key to the history of every development in chemistry during the fifty years covered it should prove extremely useful to everyone interested in science "- Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, May 23, 1913. "In indexing articles, the spelling and nomenclature originally adopted by the authors has been adhered to. ... So far as has been noticed, this is the one blot on an excellently planned and finely executed work of a monumental character."-Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, June, 1913. "The Index under review is one that will be necessary to every reader of the Chemical News, and, indeed, will be useful to all chemists, giving, as it does, references to so many subjects, such as university intelligence, &c., which are found in perhaps no other chemical journal."-Nature, June 19, 1913. "A great service has been now performed for the active chemist in making this mass of material easily accessible through a general index. It is evident that no pains have been spared to make this work as complete and All those interested, particularly in chemistry and chemical industry, will be grateful to the management of the Chemical News for bringing to completion this great work."--American Journal of Science, July, 1913. accurate as possible. "The Index seems very complete, and forms an interesting survey of the period covered by it. It should be of great value to chemists who possess files of the Chemical News "Journal of the Franklin Institute, July, 1913. "It is not merely a compilation of all the volume indexes, but is much more elaborate. Every possessor of a set of the Chemical News, whether complete or partial, will do well to add this most valuable volume to his library."Journal of the American Chemical Society, August, 1913. 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