Separation of Mixed Oxides. 1. Oxides containing Dysprosium, Holmium, and Yttrium, with Traces of Erbium, Terbium, and Neodymium.-These were dissolved in nitric acid, diluted to about 600 cc., boiled, and a solution of potassium cobalticyanide added until a quantity of precipitate had formed. This was filtered off and the process repeated. The precipitates were boiled with sodium hydroxide, filtered, washed, and dissolved in nitric acid. The solutions were then precipi. tated as the oxalates, ignited, and again converted into the nitrates, the solutions of which were examined by means of a spectroscope. Fraction I. showed very strong holmium and dysprosium bands and traces of neodymium and erbium. In Fraction II. holmium and dysprosium were still very strong, neodymium was weak, and there was a trace of erbium. Fraction III. showed strong neodymium, dysprosium, and holmium bands. There was a slight trace of erbium. In Fraction IV. neodymium was stronger while holmium and dysprosium were weak. The material was mainly yttrium nitrate. Fraction I. was diluted, boiled, and more cobalticyanide added. The precipitate that formed was filtered off and the remaining rare earth thrown out as the oxalate. These 3 The cobalticyanide method is excellent for the separation of yttrium from erbium and vice versa. The precipi. tates are very crystalline, and the process can be quickly carried out. One of the authors and another are investigating the ferricyanides, which are nice crystalline compounds, and which differ very considerably in their solubilities. By fractionally precipitating a solution of the nitrates of yttrium and erbium with potassium ferricyanide, a rapid separation is effected.—Journal of the American Chemical Society, xxxviii., No. 8. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. THE INSTITUTION OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGISTS. AT the Fourth Annual General Meeting of the Institution Honorary Members-Sir Frederick Black, C.B.; M-jor A. Cooper-Key, C.B. Vice-Presidents-The Rt. Hon. Viscount Cowdray of Cowdray; Sir Thomas H. Holland, K.C.I.E., D.Sc., F.R.S.; Sir Boverton Redwood, Bart., D.Sc., F.R.S.E. Council-Alfred C. Adams; Herbert Allen; Sir Robert Balfour, Bart., M.P.; Capt. R. W. Barnett, M.P.; Herbert Barringer, M. Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech. E., M.I.N.A.; Sir George Beilby, LL.D., F.R.S.; Edwin R. Blundstone, B.A., F.C.S.; Andrew Campbell; John T. Cargill; E. H. Cunningham Craig, B.A., F.R.S.E., F.G.S.; Arthur W. Eastlake, M. Inst. M.E., A.M.I. Mech. E.; T. C. Palmer, Assoc.M. Inst.C.E.; F. Mollwo Perkin, Ph.D., F.I.C., F.C.S.; Robert Redwood, F.C.S. 2. Separation of Erbium from Yttrium.- The oxide used was very rich in erbium. Twenty-five grms. were dissolved in hydrochloric acid, diluted to about 800 cc., and precipi tated as in the case of the dysprosium, holmium, and yttrium oxides. Two fractions were taken, and these, after converting to oxides and re-dissolving, were again fractioned. Fraction I. gave Fractions III., IV., and V., while Fraction II. gave Fraction VI. and VII. The oxides varied from a rose-colour to an extremely pale pink. Frac tion III., the least soluble, possessed the most colour, and Fraction VII., the most soluble, was the palest. NOTICES OF BOOKS. One Hundred Chemical Problems. By E. ARTHUR MASON, B.Sc. (Hons.). London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd. 1917. Pp. 8. Price 6d. net. THE chemica problems in this pamphlet are classified according to subjects and include numerical questions and calculations on molecular weights, the determination of equivalent and atomic weights, corrections for temperature and pressure, vapour density experiments, diffusion, and some miscellaneous problems. The questions are mostly of a straightforward type and are fairly easy, and the book will be useful for candidates for the University Local and other examinations who require some practice in chemical arithmetic. Practical Sanitation. By GEORGE REID, M.D., D.P.H. Eighteenth Edition, Revised. London: Charles Griffin and Co., Ltd. 1916. Pp. xii+367. Price 6s. net. THIS book is known to all sanitary engineers and inspectors, and it is possibly quite unnecessary to call attention to its excellence, for all who are interested in the subject will be fully aware of it. It is undoubtedly the most authoritative and widely used text-book on sanitation in the English language, and is quite without a rival in its own line. The fact that this last edition is the eighteenth, issued twenty-five years after the first, is sufficient proof in itself that the book has been thoroughly appreciated. The last edition has been brought up to date, and some trifling alterations have been made, although the main plan is unaltered. The Appendix on Sanitary Law has been completely revised, and the matters dealt with in it are now included in the general index and are not indexed separately as before. CHEMICAL NEWS, April 20, 1917 Commercial Supply of Potash. A Practical Manual of Autogenous Welding (Oxy The fourth edition of this most useful work has been A Text-book of Thermo-chemistry and Thermodynamics. Year Book of Pharmacy and Transactions of the British was THE Year Book of Pharmacy for 1916 contains detailed Although suitable for SIR CORRESPONDENCE. COMMERCIAL SUPPLY OF POTASH. To the Editor of the Chemical News. us with the following information: The purpose of the present is to ask you to supply We foresee the possibility of exporting potash after the war, as the internal production greatly exceeds the local demand. I. Is potash used in industrial concerns, and in which branch? The total quantity of potash used yearly, according to quality and destination (the requirements of various branches of industry). 2. Is the requirement of the said article satisfied exclusively by local production; exclusively by imported potash, both by local production and imported? Point out the relative importance on the market of American and Russian potash, mentioning the relation according to the duction and imported potash for the last year, mentioning various qualities. Statistics as to quantity of local prothe quantity for each quality separately, and in the case of imported goods also from which country. Data (for each and buckwheat, &c.) used in the country, both local proquality of aw produce, ashes, wood, stalks, sunflowers, duction and imported. 3. Prices and fluctuations of same on the local markets to quality. General remarks as to the local markets (each for the years 1913-1916, and the present prices according separately), relative position of demand and offers, tendencies for the decrease or increase of demand, &c., for the above period. 4. Conditions of import (cash c.i.f. er f.o.b. credit, names and addresses of banks speeially connected with the import of potash). 5. The comparative position of competition on the local potash market, as well as other potassium salts. 6. Addresses of local producers, importers, and exporters the local markets. I am, &c., V. SAVITZKY, General Secretary. of potash, list of largest firms abroad exporting potash on Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, 4, Gorochovaïa, Petrograd, March 6/19, 1917. General Chemistry for Colleges. By ALEXANDER SMITH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES. THE second edition of this book has been practically re- To the Editor of the Chemical News. SIR,-With reference to Mr. Giles's letter I am in hearty agreement with his suggestion as to deep borings, and carried on as a State enterprise. I am sure if some central authority was established where information which is at present available could be collected, tabulated, and to some extent corroborated, we should then find what hitherto little known valuable deposits of minerals exist in the British Isles. I have myself found cobalt ore associated with the hematite and limestone deposits of the mountains in the neighbourhood of Dyserth, North Wales, and am sure most readers can point to some deposits probably in their own locality containing the rarer metals but at the present time undeveloped owing to lack of individual enterprise. I am, &c. Shotton, Chester, April 14, 1917. H. PROCTER SMITH, F.C.S. CHEMICAL NOTICES FROM FOREIGN SOURCES. Nor. All degrees of temperature are Centigrade unless otherwise expressed. Bulletin de la Société Chimique de France. Method of Formation of 6.6-Dichloro-2. 2-azobenzoic Acid.-S. Reich and W. Merki.-The authors have found that when hydrocyanic acid acts upon 6-chloro2-nitrobenzoic aldehyde, and the cyanhydrine obtained is saponified, 6.6-dichloro-2.2-azobenzoic acid is obtained in the form of yellow crystalline needles. This acid behaves curiously when reduced; stannous chloride or hydrogen in presence of palladium transforms it into a substance insoluble in alkalis and acids and having the empirical formulæ C14H6O2N2C|1⁄2. Total Synthesis of Santene.-Gust. Komppa and S. V. Hintikka. - The authors have already shown that camphenilone can be transformed into isocamphenilone by first reducing it and then acting on the alcohol thus obtained with phosphorus pentachloride. When HCl is removed from the chloride of camphenilyl a hydrocarbon is obtained, namely, camphenilene, and this gives the acetate of isocamphenilyl on treatment with sulphuric acid mixed with acetic acid. On saponification isocamphenilol is formed and isocamphenilone by oxidation. It has now been found that the hydrocarbon is not a single substance, but is a mixture containing santene, while the isocamphenilolol is identical with santenol and the isocamphenilone with santenone. second Course is to be held during the Spring and Summer on Wednesdays, at 4 p.m., in the Lecture Room of the Institute, 37, Russell Square, W.C. 1. The lectures are being delivered by distinguished experts, and each discussion is to be presided over by a well-known public leader. The following condensed version of the programme indicates the representative character of the course: April 18." Mental States and the War," by Sir Robert Armstrong Jones, M.D., F.R.C.P. April 25.-"Citzenship and Health Questions in War Time," by Dr. Chas. Porter. May 2.-Imperial Health and the Dysgenics of War," by C. W. Saleeby, M.D., F.R.S.Ed. May 9. "The Pathology of Venereal Disease," by Major F. W. Mott, M.D., F.R.S., F.R.C.P. May 16." Public Health and the Control of the Liquor Traffic," by The Rt. Hon. Lord D'Abernon. May 23." The Re-education and Training of Disabled Combatants," by Sir C. Arthur Pearson, Bart. May 30. Health and Insect Life in War and Peace," by Dr. A. E. Shipley, F.R.S. June 6.-"Welfare Work in Factories," by B. Seebohm Rowntree. June 13.-"The Management of Neurasthenia and Allied Disorders in the Army," by Hon. and Temp. Lt. Col. Sir John Collie, M.D. June 20.-" Food Production in Peace and War," by Dr. E. J. Russell, F.R.S. June__27." The Value and Importance of Physical Exercises from a National Standpoint," by Sir William Milligan, M.D. MISCELLANEOUS. Co-operation and Research Work.-Recent enterprises in connection with the preparation of food and the development of its concessions in West Africa and elsewhere, have led to the establishment of a Research Department by the Co-operative Wholesale Society, and Dr. Geoffrey Martin, M.Sc. (Bristol), B.Sc. (Lond.), has just been appointed to direct its work. Dr. Martin is a well-known chemist and the author of several standard works on the application of science to industry. appointment marks a new departure in connection with the co-operative movement, and has been rendered necessary by the concessions acquired by the Co-operative Wholesale Society in West Africa, Nigeria, and elsewhere, as well as by the development of fresh undertakings at home. This A TEXT-BOOK OF THERMO-CHEMISTRY AND THERMODYNAMICS. By Professor OTTO SACKUR, Ph.D. Translated and Revised by G. E. GIBSON, Ph.D., Instructor in Chemistry in the University of California. 8vo. 12s. net. THE ATHEN.EUM. As a work dealing especially with the relations of thermo-dynamics and physical chemistry, this book should be of considerable value for reference and study." NEW EDITION JUST PUBLISHED. THEORETICAL CHEMISTRY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF AVOGADRO'S RULE AND THERMO-DYNAMICS. By Professor WALTER NERNST, Ph.D. New Edition, Revised by H. T. TIZARD, M.A. 8vo. 15s net. MACMILLAN & CO., LTD., LONDON. an all-British Firm employing all-British labour, whose capital is and always hı F. E. BECKER & CO., 17-27, HATTON WALL, W. & J GEORGE (London), Ltd., Proprietors. LONDON, E.C. BACK NUMBERS AND VOLUMES. WE have FOR SALE a limited number of the EARLIER VOLUMES and NUMBERS of the CHEMICAL NEWS, and are prepared to supply orders at the following rates (Carriage extra) :— A discount is allowed off the above prices (except where offered at published price) when a substantial number of volumes or numbers are purchased in one transaction. The following volumes can only be supplied bound, as some of the numbers are out of print Vol. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33 75, 80. All the other volumes can be supplied complete, either bound or unbound. 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