NOTICES OF BOOKS. The Chemists' Year Book, 1918-1919. Edited by F. W. ATACK, M.Sc.Tech. (Manch.), B.Sc. (Lond.), Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry, Assisted by L. WHINYATES, Assoc.M.S.T. London: Sherratt and Hughes. Manchester: 34, Cross Street. 1919. In two Volumes, price 158. net. THE editor regrets that the present edition has been delayed on account of labour difficulties, a trouble that all who are in any way connected with the publishing trade know is unavoidable. The delay is not so serious as it would have been under normal conditions, for although strenuous efforts have been made in chemical and other circles since November last to lose no time in getting to work, there has been a weight on the minds and efforts of all men that could not be lifted until peace had been signed. Happily this has now come to pass and there is every prospect of a period of unfettered labour. The new edition of the Year Book will be welcomed by all chemists, and the editor appears to have spared no effort to make the work as useful as possible. In the list of the contributors of new and revised sections we note the names of some of the most prominent men in the profession. The book is bound in two volumes on thin paper with thin covers that can be easily carried, and is numbered consecutively, occupying 1146 pages. Vol. I. opens with a table of atomic weight determinations for 1917, and gives the usual chemical data, a complete system of qualitative analysis, volumetric, electro-chemical, and spectrum analysis; this latter section contains a useful plate showing the absorption spectra of a large number of dyestuffs from Wood's "Physical Optics," and the volume ends with "Useful Memoranda," which includes practically all the arithmetical and tabular matter that are needed in the chemical laboratory. Vol. II. opens with a list of notable dates in the history of chemistry from 640 B.C. to A.D. 1905! A glance through the list brings out the fact that the discoveries in chemistry have been very widely distributed, and it is doubtful if any country can claim pre-eminence. This volume contains the physical constants, densities, vapour-pressures, boiling- and melting-points, and other like data, which is followed by a very good chapter on "Crystallography" contributed by E. H. Rodd, D.Sc., and other articles on important branches of industrial chemistry, dye-stuffs, and photography. The index is very complete, and enables one to turn to any item of the eleven hundred odd pages with minimum labour. On the whole the Year Book is one that no working chemist can afford to do without, and the authors are to be congratulated upon having compressed so much useful information into such small compass. Tables of Productive Indices. Vol. I. Essential Oils. Compiled by R. KANTHACK. Edited by Dr. J. N. GOLDSMITH. Londod: Adam Hilger, Ltd. 1918. Pp. 148. Price 158. net. THE publishers of this book intend to issue a series of tables of refractive indices of technical products, this first volume dealing with the essential oils. The oils are arranged in alphabetical order, their botanical origin being stated in each case and their refractive indices tabulated, a special point beidg made of providing exact data as to the temperature at which the determination was made. It is quite rightly been pointed out that a mere statement of the index with no information as to the temperature at which it was taken is often misleading and worse than useless, and if no temperature is given in the original paper the data obtained are ignored. A very useful list of references is given, and the limits between which the results July 4 1919 obtained with genuine samples may lie are often stated. Schimmel's average correction per degree of temperature is adopted. The book is interleaved with blank pages for notes, and the printing is exceedingly clear and good. NOTES. NEW YELLOW DYE AND LIGHT-FILTERS MADE FROM IT. (Note from the Research Laboratory of the Eastman Kodak Co., by C. E. K. Mess and H. T. Clarke, published in British Journ. Photog., 1919, p. 48).-The dyes previously used for making light filters were principally picric acid, tartrazine, and filter yellow. Picric acid, while having a satisfactory absorption, is unstable and as a consequence the early gelatin filters were made chiefly with tartrazine, which is quite stable. Tartrazine, however, has the filters made from it are relatively inefficient. The introdisadvantage that it transmits the ultra-violet and that duction of filter yellow in 1907 supplied a dye having a good absorption in the ultra-violet, reasonably sharp cut in the spectrum and great stability. It was still desirable for high efficiency, especially in filters for aerial photography, that a dye should be obtained possessing the stability and ultra-violet absorption of Filter Yellow but with greater sharpness of cut. The compounds of phenyl hydrazine with sugars are yellow in colour, and a soluble compound of this type has been prepared by coupling glucose with parahydrazine-benzoic acid. The sodium salt of glucose-phenyl-osazone-para-carboxylic acid prepared in this way, proving to be a very suitable dye for the preparation of sharp cut light filters, has been given the name of "Eastman Yellow." From this new dye light filters have been prepared under the designation of EK-1 and EK-2 filters, which are stable to light, have a very strong absorption for ultra-violet, and are considerably sharper and more efficient than K filters made from filter yellow.-Journ. Franklin Institute, May, 1919. MR. B. W. J. WARREN, in a paper appearing in the current number of the Analyst, gives the following method for the estimation of lead in foodstuffs:-"Ten grms. of foodstuff are incinerated in a silica dish, dissolved in a small quantity of water with the addition of 1 cc. of nitric acid, filtered, and washed. To the filtrate, which should be colourless, a slight excess of ammonia is added, the precipitate filtered and washed well. (The filtrate can be tested by the B. P. method). The copper will be in the solution, while the lead (most if not all) will be in the precipitate. The precipitate is washed into a Nessler cylinder with water, 5 cc. of dilute acetic acid are added, followed by an aqueous solution of hydrogen sulphide, and the colour matched in the usual manner." SOLDERING ALUMINIUM.-Two pieces of aluminium may be united by soldering or brazing. For soldering, the surfaces must be rubbed down with emery paper with a small quantity of vaseline. The flux may be made up as follows, according to a prescription given by the Soldering Association :-Lithium chloride, 15 per cent; potassium chloride, 45 per cent; sodium chloride, 30 per cent; potassium fluoride, 7 per cent; bisulphate of soda, 3 per cent. The The joint should be carefully brushed and washed in hot water to remove all traces of the flux. For brazing, metals such as tin, bismuth, cadmium may be used. process should, however, be used only in exceptional cases. -Revue Générale de l'Electricité, May 3, 1919. THE Right Hon. Lord Weir of Eastwood has promised to open the Shipping, Engineering, and Machinery Exhibition at Olympia on September 25 next. This Exhibition, of which Sir Owen Philipps, G.C.M.G., M.P., is Hon. President, Sir Archibald Denny, Bart., Chairman of the Committee of Experts, and Mr. F. W. Bridges, Secretary and Organising Manager, and which was to have been held in the autumn of 1914, but in common with other important events had to be postponed on account of the War, will afford the general public an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the luxury, comfort, and ease of present-day sea travel. The interval which has since elapsed has, moreover, afforded British Engineers an opportunity of introducing vast improvements in connection with Marine and General Engineering, with the result that Olympia will be full to overflowing with machinery and appliances of intense interest to all concerned with the shipping, shipbuilding, and engineering industry, and the exclusion of everything of enemy origin will enable the British public to see how absolutely independent we can be of anything produced in enemy countries, at any rate as regards this particular industry. The Exhibition is to remain open for three weeks. NOTES FROM FOREIGN SOURCES. Oil of Fenugreek.-H. E. Wunschendorff.-The seeds of fenugreek contain about 7 per cent of a goldenyellow oil, having a very characteristic and disagreeable smell and taste. The oil belongs to the group of drying oils; it does not give the elaidine reaction; when a thin layer of it is spread on glass it rapidly solidifies and the golden-yellow varnish thus obtained is not soluble in ether. The oil dissolves in all proportions in ether, benzine, carbon disulphide, and petroleum ether. Absolute alcohol in the cold dissolves only one part in 20, and larger quantities on warming. Acetone dissolves it incompletely. The density of the oil at 15° is 09471 and the index of refraction at 22° is 1'4774. The saponification and iodine indices are 189.5 and 137.8 respectively. The oil contains 92.9 per cent solid fatty acids and 1.50 per cent volatile fatty acids. Lecithine is present in it in the proportion of 6.25 per cent and phytosterine in the proportion of 0.5 per cent. The fatty acids present are chiefly linoleic and palmitic, with much smaller quantities of linolenic and oleic.-Journ. de Pharmacie et de Chim., 1919, xix., 397. AN interesting paper by Ernest Oertly and Rollin G. Myers on "A New Theory relating Constitution to Taste," appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society for June, 1919. The authors review the work that has been done on this subject and introduce some new ideas. They consider that the sweet taste of a given compound is due to two distinct factors, a glucophore and an auxogluc. They define the glucophore as a group of atoms which has the power to form sweet compounds by uniting with a Determination of Lactose and Albuminoids in Milk number of otherwise tasteless atoms or radicals, and an heated in an Autoclave, and in Milk Preserved by the auxogluc as an atom or radical which combined with any Addition of Potassium Bichromate.-Pierre Defrance. of the glucophores yields a sweet compound. Examples-The author has already shown that when milk preserved of these compounds are named and a very complete list with potassium bichromate is analysed, after a month to of taste trials of organic compounds is given. six weeks the total quantity of albuminoids remains unaltered, while the amount of true casein shows a very decided decrease. They now propose to investigate the nature of the decomposition products to ascertain whether they are optically active and lavorotatory. It would a'so be interesting to determine the total albuminoids and the true casein in milk heated with or without sodium bicarbonate, and to see if there is in this case any diminution n the amount of true casein, and the author intends to investigate this question.-Annales des Falsifications, 1919, icxxv.-cxxvi., 78. THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF HELIUM.-One of the remarkable achievements during the war has been the production of helium in quantities sufficient for the infla tion of dirigibles. The lifting force of helium is said to be 92 per cent of that of hydrogen, and it has the very great advantage that it is not inflammable; the diffusion losses are also less than those of hydrogen. Some natural gases in Canada were found to contain about onethird per cent of helium, and the gas has also been obtained from other like sources; great quantities of the gas were at hand when hostilities ceased and plants for its rapid accumulation were under construction. As the dirigible is likely to be of considerable value for many purposes in the near future the labour expended upon the subject is not likely to be lost. MAJOR THEODORE W. STILL, as United States representative on the Inter-Allied Commission, after a visit to the German Chemical Factories in the occupied territories, is of the opinion that, considering the advantage gained in America by the last four years of experince in chemical manufacturing and the lessons learned by our equipment manufacturers, the German plants at the present time from an equipment standpoint and general layout are not superior to the existing American development, their advantage being that they have an experienced and long. trained personnel schooled and willing to carry on the laborious details; but if our people here at home will encourage our new, rapidly growing industries, there is no reason why our own personnel cannot equal or, in fact, surpass that of the Germans. Among the developments to be noted during the war in Germany which are of special interest is the production of synthetic rubber on a large scale and a practical basis. This has been done at the Bayer plant in Leverkusen, and the production, though very expensive, was of material assistance in meeting their great shortage of rubber. THE Department of Commerce of the Bureau of Standards, Washington, have resently issued a publication entitled "Aluminium and its Light Alloys." The physical properties of aluminium and its alloys are very exhaustively discussed; the data collected together cannot fail to be of value to any interested in manufactures where aluminium is used, and the authorities deserve great thanks for placing the publication at the disposal of any who address a request to the Bureau of Standards, Washington, U.S.A. Cryoscopic Study of Couples.-Cadmium Bromide and Alkali Bromide, Cadmium Chloride and Alkali Chloride.-E. Cornec and G. Urbain. The authors have studied the couples formed by cadmium bromide and chloride with alkali bromides and chlorides, and have proved the existence of salts of the type 1 : 2, which are generally hydrated, in the case of the bromides. There are indications also of compounds 1:1 and 1:4 for potassium, and 1:1 for sodium. In the case of the chlorides, the double salts are of the type I: 1. The cryoscopic method not only shows the formation of double salts in solution when solutions of simple salts are mixed, but also, at any rate in the case of simple salts, indicates the nature of the double salts in equilibrium with their constituents in the solutions. Compounds like CdI2.2HI, which cannot be isolated on account of their instability, may also be detected thus.-Bull. Soc. Chim. de France, 1919, xxv.-xxvi., 215. New Method of Preparing Complex Compounds of Platinum and its Analogues.-L. Tschugaeff.-It is known that certain elementary atoms or atomic groups possess an exceptional tendency to enter into direct union with the central metallic atom of the complex molecule of which they form a part. This is the case, for example, with iodine, the nitro and oxalate groups in the complexes which cobalt, platinum, and a series of other heavy metals yield with ammonia, amines, organic sulphides, and other more or less basic substances. Cleve first employed this remarkable fact to prepare platinous compounds of general formula [Pt.24.12], and by an analogous method the author, in collaboration with M. Lebedinski, obtained a new rhodium compound [Rh.3a.X3] belonging to a nonelectrolyte type in which the chloride and oxalate group were completely masked. Later researches have shown that the same fundamental principle can be employed in working out a very convenient method of preparing com plexes, especially in dealing with compounds belonging to lower types. The method depends upon the fact that in the reactions which take place between soluble platonitrites or iodoplatinites and ammonia or organic amines the first molecules of the ammonia, &c., are fixed much more rapidly than the later molecules. Thus when the derivative [Pt.2NH3.(NO2)2] is heated with NH3 one other molecule of ammonia can be fixed giving (Pt.3NH3NO2] NO2, but it is only by prolonged heating with a large excess of ammonia that the fourth molecule of NH3 can be fixed, giving [Pt.4NH3] (NO2)2. Thanks to this difference in the velocity the reaction can be arrested at any desired stage and the product thus obtained is always practically pure. To prepare the derivative [Pt.2NH3.12] the author has first made a solution of iodoplatinite by heating K2PtCl4 with potassium and iodide in aqueous solution, then add rapidly clears, The Council invites applications for heating to boiling. The nearly black liquid rapidly clears, and an abundant yellowish brown precipitate is deposited. The same method can be used to prepare certain complex compounds of rhodium corresponding to lower types which are not much known at present. Thus the nonelectroyte Rb.3NH3I3 can be obtained by heating rhodium iodide with aqueous ammonia in excess, the reaction being favoured by the presence of potassium iodide in the solution.-Bull. Soc. Chim. de France, 1919, xxv.-xxvi., 234. NOTES AND QUERIES. The Intravenous Products Company, Thirty-eighth and Wazee Streets, Denver, U.S.A., ask for quotations for cacodylate of soda annum. the CHAIR OF CHEMISTRY. Salary commencing at £600 per The Council also invites applications for the Posts tof two ASSISTANT LECTURERS AND DEMONSTRATORS. The salary in each case will commence at £200 per annum, and the appointments will be, in the first instance, for three years. At the end of this period the Assistant Lecturers will be eligible for promotion to Lectureships. Candidates are requested to send five copies of their applications and of not more than three testimonials, so as to reach the SECRETARY, Armstrong College, not later than JULY 19, 1919. BIRMINGHAM MUNICIPAL TECHNICAL and the names of manufacturers of cacodylic acid; also prices of Applications are barium oxide in one ton lots. Assistant Metallurgical Chemist (21) requires Situation. Experience in both Ferrous and Non-ferrous Analyses, Case-hardening, Heat Treatment, Mechanical Testing, and Metallography.-Address, A. M. C., CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4. Assistant Chemist wanted, 25 to 35 years of age. Applicant must have had thoroughly good training. Work principally Analytical with Precious and Non-ferrous Metals. State full particulars as to age, qualifications, experience, and salary required to Managing Director, The Sheffield Smelting Co., Ltd., Sheffield. Celluloid Chemist, with several years' practical experience in Celluloid manufacture, required for important position in charge. First rate salary and prospects.-Address, C. W. L., CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C 4. Chemist, three years' experience in large Tar Products Works before taking active service, now demobilised, desires Employment in London or the Provinces.-Address, T. T., CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C.4. pplications are invited for the following LECTURESHIPS. In addition to the salary indicated, there is at the present time a War allowance of £78 per annum. I. CHEMISTRY. Salary £300 to £450. 2. CHEMISTRY. Salary £250 to £380. 3. METALLURGY. Salary £250 to £450. The commencing salary will be dependent upon the experience of the applicant. Full particulars may be obtained on application to the SECRETARY, Municipal Technical School, Suffolk Street, Birmingham. youth aged 18. Just sat for Matric. State terms.-Address, "Apprentice," CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4. Youth (17), good knowledge of Chemistry, seeks Employment in Laboratory.-Address, A. H., 1, Phænix Lodge Mansions, Hammersmith, W. CHE HEMICAL BENCH wanted. Suitable for student's small private laboratory.-Address, C. B., CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, R.C. 4. BIRKBECK COLLEGE, LONDON. ASSISTANT LECTURER IN CHEMISTRY. Applications, in the candidate's own handwriting, on forms which Director of Education. SWANSEA TECHNICAL COLLEGE. Principal-W. MANSERGH VARLEY, M.A., D.Sc., Ph.D. LECTURER IN PHARMACY. Applications are invited for the Appointment of a LECTURER IN PHARMACY at the above College. The duties will include the charge of all Pharmaceutical Classes, including Pharmacy, Materia Medica, and Botany, required for the he Governing Body invite applications for Examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society. The the above appointment. Commencing salary £220 to £250 (according to experience and qualifications), rising to £400, with temporary war bonus of £39. Applications (by JULY 14) to THE SECRETARY, Birkbeck College, E.C. 4, from whom further particulars may be obtained. F. E. BECKER & CO.'S SHORT BEAM Capacity 200 grammes and ANALYTICAL BALANCE. Sensitive to 110th mgrm. Agate knife edges and planes throughout; richly gilt beam These Balances are in use in the Government Laboratories, IMMEDIATE DELIVERY from with fine Ivory-tipped F. E. BECKER & CO., forceps, and some of W. & J. GEORGE (LONDON), Ltd., Proprietor, NIVOC HOUSE, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, & 29, HATTON WALL, LONDON, E.C. 1. Telegrams-BECKER, HATTON WALL, LONDON. BACK NUMBERS AND VOLUMES. 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Machines for Explosive Factories and Chemical Works supplied fo— Of the Highest Resistance to Chemical Action and sudden change of Temperature. Entirely free from Lead, and superior in Resistant Qualities to Continental Laboratory Glassware. Graduated Apparatus of all kinds. Burettes, Pipettes, Test Mixers, &c. Certificates by the National Physical Laboratory as to accuracy can be supplied when required. ALFRED JÖRGENSEN LABORATORY FOR THE PHYSIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY OF FERMENTATION. 30, FRYDENDALSYEJ, COPENHAGEN, Y., DENMARK. STUDENTS' SECTION.-For Beginners and Advanced Students with Practical (Brewers, Distillers, &c.) or Scientific purposes in view. ANALYTICAL AND PURE CULTURE SECTION.-All kinds of Research Work. Pure Cultures: Brewers, Distillers', Air, Vienna, Wine Yeast, &c; Lactic and Acetic Ferments, Starters, (for Dairies, &c.). Methods and Cultures for Manufacture of Beers containing a Low Percentage of Alcohol. New Methods for Distilleries and Factories of Air-grown and Vienna Yeast including such as use Molasses. Increased yields. Yeast of better keeping properties. Prospectus and further particulars on application to DIRECTOR. COVERS FOR BINDING. Cloth, Gilt-lettered. Covers for binding the Half-yearl CHEMICAL NEWS may now be obtained. Price 2/- each (post free 2/3). Volumes bound in Cloth Cases, Lettered, and Numbered at 3s. per volume. CHEMICAL NEWS OFFICE, 16, NEWCASTLE ST., FARRINGDON ST., E.C. 4. London: Printed and Published for the Proprietors (the Executors of the late Sir WILLIAM CROOKES) by EDWIN JOHN DAVEY, at the Office, 16, Newcastle Street Farringdon Street, E.C. 4. July, 199. |