(2) The analysis of the oils had shown. nothing.

(3) Direct means had been found of proving whether an oil is corrosive. (4) Hence, it might well be possible to find a cure for the trouble.

In the case of oils from internal combustion engines of all types it would appear that the corrosive deterioration or the contamination is accumulative. For this reason the specimens from the D.O.C. test need to be examined under a microscope. This side of the work is yet in progress and little can be said beyond stating that it has been proved that many of such oils are corrosive, to a greater or lesser extent, to steel, white metal and so on. The gravity of this state of things, from a practical point of view, is evident. It may be true-in certain cases it certainly is true-to say that some of the effects ascribed to attrition are due directly or indirectly to corrosion by oil.

Analysis having failed to detect the properties of oils which D.O.C. tests proved to be highly corrosive, it appeared necessary to conduct a research upon an oil to which definite quantities of acid had been added. A lubricating oil giving negative results under the D.O.C. test was chosen.

It became evident from these tests that, so far as practice is concerned, alkali treatment is unsuccessful for the reason that the alkali and salts cannot be removed completely by washing. Other alkalies, such as carbonate of soda, were tried with similar results. If the efficient washing possible in a laboratory is insufficient it would appear hopeless to expect good results from such washing as can be done in practice. That we have been unable previously to demonstrate these happenings has been due, the author believes, to the failure of chemical analysis as applied to such work and the lack of a direct method as is the D.O.C. test.

Reverting to those oils which become corrosive in service, many samples have been subjected to the D.O.C. test and have been analysed by the sulphate value method (given in appendix) as previously applied to the "acidified " samples.

A sulphate value of more than 0.05 per cent. is an indication that the oil is dangerous to use.

Corrosive powers are active down to as little as 0.012 per cent. sulphate value. It should be noted that all these oils were tested for inorganic acid, the results showing either nothing at all or a trace too small to matter. A series of cleaning tests, some

what similar to those described in the case of the "acidified" oils, were carried out on most of the above oils, many alkalies being tried together with other methods such as steam cleaning. Alkali treatment was unsuccessful by reason of the impossibility of complete washing, whilst steam cleaning was marred by the difficulty of emulsions being formed unexpectedly and sometimes considerable losses of oil occurred before separation could be effected.

Experiments have been made, using the D.O.C. apparatus, with a view to finding out if the corrosive properties of an o became exhausted as the result of running it over steel. The results have proved most conclusively that the vitality of the sample remains unabated, and, after many hours' running, when the corroded piece of steel has been replaced by a fresh piece, the attack continues unaltered. Evidently the products of corrosion are as corrosive as the original corrcdent-possibly in the case of an internal cmbustion engine there is at any time little difference between thme. In using the sulphate value it is essential to know also the results of a D.O.C. test, because experiments have been made by adding sulphates to uncorrosive oil and it was found that all sulphates are not equally corrosive under these conditions.

It will be remembered that in the case of the "acidified" oils some of the added sulphuric acid could not be extracted by caustic potash. Yet this "lost" acid was harmless to steel. This phenomenon gave rise to much doubt when considering the early experiments, and steps were taken to ascertain whether at any period sulphur gages were evolved from the sample such as might account for the apparent "loss" of sulphuric acid. No evolution of any gases whatsoever was detected.

SUMMARY.

By the D.O.C. test as little as 0.002 per cent. H2SO, can be detected, and the test is equally sensitive to minute amounts of sea-water, alkalis, sulphates, and so on. The alkalis so readily affect white metal that an oil cleaned by alkali will attack white metal even when that oil has been washed three or four times with water.

The D.O.C. test thus affords a means of testing the efficiency of any cleaning process. In this connection it has led to the perfecting of a simple appliance which, inserted into an oil-system, will keep the oil "sweet."

The study of compound lubricants as used on compressors is greatly facilitated

and, at the time of writing, valuable information is being obtained as to the effects of high acid value (oleic), high saponification number, and so on.

In practice, the D.O.C. test is being used as a means of watching the oils on internal combustion engines for land or marine work, and within a few hours of receiving the sample it is possible to tell the owners whether their oil is becoming dangerous to use. In transport work automobiles, lorries, motor 'buses-great interest has been shown in this matter, many oils being found to be corrisive. In another direction, an expert marine engineer has expressed the opinion that the D.O.C. test may throw light upon the pitting of the teeth of turbine gearing which sometimes takes place in a manner never satisfactorily explained.

Corrosion in pipe-lines is not unknown, and the work of discovering its progress, cure or prevention may be facilitated by this test.

SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS.

An Ordinary Meeting of the Society was held at the Chemical Society's Rooms, Burlington House, on Wednesday, October 5, Mr. E. Richards Bolton, President, being in the chair.

Certificates were read for the first time in favour of Messrs. Leslie V. Cocks, A.I.C., Frederick Dixon, B.Sc., A.I.C., David Michael Freeland, A.I.C., Desmond Geoghegan, Claudius George Hyde, A.R.C.S., F.I.C., Vernon James Tilley, F.I.C., Leonard Wild, B.Sc., Hugh A. Williams.

Certificates were read for the second time in favour of Messrs. Charles Edwin Corfield, B.Sc., F.I.C., Harold E. C. Powers, B.Sc., A.I.C., John David Rogers, and Abraham Samson, A.R.C.Sc., A.I.C.

The following were elected Members of the Society:

Frederick Cecil Bullock, BSc., A.I.C., Thomas Harold Fairbrother, M.Sc., F.I.C., Ralph Skinner Rack, and Samuel George Sherman.

The President announced that the next meeting of the Society on November 2 would be held, by invitation of the Pathological Institution of St. Mary's Hospital, in the theatre of that Hospital.

The following papers were read and discussed :—

The Oil of Centrophorus Granulosus. By A. CHASTON CHAPMAN, F.I.C., F.R.S.

The liver oil of the Portuguese shark 66 barrose 99 (Centrophorus Granulosus)

contains the unsaturated hydrocarbon spinacene, an alcohol probably identica with the batyl alcohol found in Japanes shark oils, a liquid alcohol (selachyl alcohol, CHO), cholesterol and glycerol (0.5-0.6 per cent.), together with stearic, palmitic and oleic acid, and possibly smaller proportions of other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

The Separation of Titanium from Tantalum and Niobium. By W. R. SCHOELLER, Ph.D., AND E. C. DEERING, B.Sc.

Previous methods of separating titania from the earth acids are reviewed and criticised, and an outline is given of a more accurate separation method based on the dissociation of the soluble tartaric complexes of the metallic acids by a mineral acid; the earth acids are precipitated, whilst the titanic salt remains in solution. the results as yet obtained are rather approximate, but work aiming at a more exact separation is in progress.

The Determination of Aldose Sugars by Means of Chloramine-T, with Special Reference to the Analysis of Milk Products. By C. L. HINTON, F.I.C., AND T. MACARA, F.I.C.

Each molecule of chloramine-T is equivalent to two atoms of iodine, both in the oxidation of sugar and in the final liberation of iodine on acidifying. The oxidation proceeds more slowly than that with alkaline iodide solution. The most suitable conditions for the oxidation of dextrose and lactose have been worked out, and the extent of the slight oxidation of sucrose and lævulose under standard conditions has been determined. The action of chloramine-T on the non-sugar constituents of milk serum has been studied; under the conditions specified it does not cause an error greater than 0.4 per cent. of the total lactose. A procedure is outlined for the determination of lactose in fresh milk and condensed sweetened and unsweetened milk

CORRESPONDENCE.

ARITHMETICAL RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN ZINC INDIUM AND
COBALT.

(To the Editor of the CHEMICAL NEWS.) Sir,

The title refers to the arithmetical relationship of the atomic weights and numbers representing these elements. The atomic weight of In. is 114.8; the atomic numbers of cobalt and zinc are 27 and 30. 114114..

0114114.. = 1027.

6537/5897 x 2707 = 3000.

66

The natural numbers are 114... and 2707; the number containing the zero is termed the "proportion," and 114 is termed the part. The extent of the recurrence of the three-figure part depends on the nature of the relationship. Whatever this may be, it can be always recalculated with 114... to the same number of places as the original number containing the part indicating the finality of the number. The resulting number should be of the same order as that containing the part, that is, there should be one or more zeros in the specified position, and 2707 directly or indirectly.

1365472639598702707590. 29636-35462 X 114...1 gives 953664735741324766078; the zero is in the 19th position. 76607 49532

=

27075. Taking the 9 figure part the numbers are 953664734787660030 and 13654726382. In the former case 8766, the atomic weight of Sr. should count as one place; in the latter, the alternate figures form numbers which give a zero sum.

(2) 3546229636... gives the sum 35820501019114 (14 places) 29636/35462 × 114...11 = 953664735741290384. The zero

is in the 15th position and the number cancels out. The reciprocal is 1365472636224007. The part in 2 is substituted for that in 1, and 29636, etc., subtracted. The result is 676'99999943 + 57; this number is the pro

DR. GEORGE K. BURGESS, DIRECTOR
OF U.S.A. BUREAU OF STANDARDS,
ANNOUNCES NEW GROUPING OF
ACTIVITIES.

L. J. BRIGGS AND RAY M. HUDSON
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS.

Am important change in the administrative organisation of the Bureau of Standards, which it is believed will make for increased efficiency through a better grouping of the Bureau's numerous activities, has been announced by the Director, Dr. George K. Burgess.

Under the new arrangement Dr. L. J. Briggs has been appointed Assistant Director in charge of research and testing, while Mr. Ray M. Hudson becomes Assistant Director in charge of commercial standards.

The regrouping is, in fact, a recognition. of the importance of standardisation in the commercial world, this portion of the Bureau's work having grown with astonishing rapidity during the last few years.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS.

INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERS.

Monday, October 24, at 7 p.m.-Informal Meeting. The President: "What is Required to Ensure the Comprehensive Distribution of Electricity?

Liverpool and North Wales Centre, at the University of Liverpool. Prof. F. J. Teago, D.Sc. Chairman's Address.

N.E. Centre, at Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, at 7 p.m. Chairman's

Address.

Tuesday, October 25.-East Midland Sub-Centre, at the Guildhall, Derby,-A. E. McColl : "The Lanarkshire HydroElectric Scheme.". At 6.45 p.m.

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC

HEALTH.

37, Russell Square, London, W.C.1. Wednesday, October 26, at 4 p.m.-Prof. T. G. Hobday, C.M.G., F.R.C.V.S., F.R.S.Ed. "Some Diseases Conveyed to Man from Animals, and their Prevention.”

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. Gower Street, London, W.C.1. Thursday, October 27, at 5.30 p.m. Rt. Hon. Viscount Cecil of Chelwood : The Rickman Godlee Lecture : "The Cooperation of Nations."

INSTITUTION OF MINING AND

METALLURGY.

Cleveland House, 225, City Road, London. Thursday, October 27.

MANCHESTER LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. Saturday, October 29, at 7 p.m.Chemical Section.

PHYSICAL SOCIETY.

Saturday, October 29, at 5 p.m.-At Imperial College of Science, Imperial Institute, S. Kensington, London.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Theoretical and Experimental Physical Chemistry. By JAMES CODRINGTON CROCKER, M.A. (Cantab.), D.Sc., (Lond.), F.I.C., AND FRANK MATTHEWS, Ph.D. (Lond.), B.Sc., F.I.C. Pp. VIII + 582, with 145 figures in text. Price 21s. London: J. & A. Churchill, 7, Great Marlborough Street, London, W.1.

This is a valuable work, not only for the important matters with which it deals, but also from the fact that it is the outcome of some 25 years' experience in teaching physical chemistry, and we might add the competence of the authors. They have sought, and we think, successfully, to include in one volume the varied information necessary in reading for the Honours Degree Examination, and for which the student has invariably to study several volumes. Theory and practice have been closely observed by the authors. There are sections on gases, spectra and atomic weights, ultra-violet absorption spectra, X-ray spectra, etc. Colloids, chemical energetics, catalysis are dealt with in special chapters. The authors have had the cooperation of many competent persons and firms, and the result is the production of a book calculated to meet the wants of

students preparing for examinations of various kinds and one which can be read with advantage by others interested in physical chemistry as well as students. U.S.A. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS

RECEIVED

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Mineral Industry of Alaska in 1925, and Administrative Report. By Fred H. Moffit.

Quality of Water in Colorado River in 1925 and 1926.

Manganese-Bearing Deposits near Lake Crescent, Washington.

Geology of the Knik-Matanneka District Alaska.

Surface Water Supply of the U.S.A., 1923 (W. Gulf of Mexico Basins)—Part III.

Ohio River Basin.

Organic Precipitate of Metallic Copper. Potash Brines in the Great Salt Lake Desert, Utah.

Leadville Mining District, Colarado. By S. F. Emmons, J. D. Irving, and G. A. Loughlin. Pp. 368, accompanied by numerous plates.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Grouping of Soils on the Basis of Mechanical Analysis. Dept. Circular 419.

CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS.
DEPARTMENT OF MINES.

Preliminary Report on the Limestones of Quebec and Ontario. By M. F. Goudge. Pp. 76. Price 25 cents.

Abrasives-Siliceous, Sandstones, Quartz, Tripoli, and Volcanic Dust. By V. L. Eardley Wilmot. Pp. 120. Price 30 cents. Use of Alberta Bituminous Sands for Surfacing of Highways. By S. C. Ells. Price 25 cents. Pp. 38.

New Patents.

These particulars of New Patents of interest to Readers have been selected from the Official Journal of Patents, and are published by special permission of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office.

Latest Patent Applications. 25,784. Beckett, E. G.-Production of benzoic acid, etc. September 29th. 25,948. Maclaurin, A. M.-Means for installing drain pipes. September 29th.

25,420.-Suida, H.-Recovery of concentrated acetic acid. September 26th.

25,586.-Kloepfer, H.-Production of alkali hydrides. September 28th. Specifications Published.

277,769.- Wlein,C. A.- and Brown, R. S. Utilisation of waste acid liquors in chemical processes. 260,577.-Mannich, C.-Process for the manufacture of cyclotrimethylenearylpyrazolones.

266,744.-I. G. Farbenindustrie Akt.-Ges. -Treatment of crude nitrate of soda.

262,090.-Procedes Tocco & Landi.-Production of synthetic ammonia. 272,842.--Procedes Tocco & Landi.-Pro

cess for the production of ammonia. Printed copies of the full Published Specifications may be obtained from the Patent Office, 25, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.2., at the uniform price of 1s. each.

GENERAL INDEX TO THE "CHEMICAL NEWS "- -VOLS. 1 TO 100.

This large volume contains a detailed Index to the first 100 volumes of the Chemical News, and will be found of great value to all interested in Chemical, Engineering, Electrical and General Scientific subjects. It has been compiled with great care, is handsomely bound in red cloth, and has been produced at great expenditure of time, labour and money. Carriage paid, Great Britain, 21/- net; Carriage paid to Foreign Countries and the Colonies, 23

net.

The Latest
TRADE MARKS

This list of Trade Marks of interest to Readers has been selected from the Official Trade Marks Journal, and is Published by permission of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office.

VANBEENOL. 482,469.-Chemical substance prepared for use in medicine and pharmacy. W. J. Bush & Company, Limited, 28, Ash Grove, Hackney, London, E.8. October 5th.

SOLORIENS BRAND. 483,757.-Chemical substances prepared for use in medicine and pharmacy.H. R. Napp, Limited, 3 and 4, Clement's Inn, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. October 5th.

COMITAS BRAND. 483,758. Chemical substances prepared for use in medicine and pharmacy.H. R. Napp, Limited, 3 and 4, Clement's Inn, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. October 5th.

SALE OF PATENT RIGHTS.

The owners of British Patent No. 215012 relating to the Manufacture of New Sulphurised Compounds of Phenol and their application as mordants and No. 224218, Improvements relating to the Dyeing of Cellulose-Acetate Silk are desirous of entering into negotiations with one or more firms in Great Britain for the purpose of exploiting the above invention either by the sale of the Patent Rights or by the grant of a licence or licences to manufacture on royalty.

Enquiries should be addressed to ABEL AND IMRAY, 30, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.2.