ABSTRACTS
R. K. CARLETON TENNEV I. DAVIS C. K. DEISCHER I. HOWARD GRAHAM
KEEPING U P WITH CHEMISTRY
Photoeraohic action of artificial radio-elements. CH. J: GOVAERTS, AND G. CUBWEN. Nature, 141, 9 1 6 7 (May 21, 1938).-A sheet of iridium, which had been irradiated wlth newtrnn.lowed in oaraffin. was nlaced directlv on ~-., --- - down -~ the emulsion of a nhotomanhic'olate. '~fter'twenty-one hours ,,ferpwurc, the plGe, u6nr ;levclopment, sl~owerldisiinct photovaphir blwkming. \Vhm wnilnr sheets of iridium which had not bcen irradiated were plarwl on the plate, no 1,lackcning wns ohccrrcd. Another plate exposed fur forty-eight hours lo radiophosphorus. placed about one rillirrrter from the emulsion. was cli5tinerly darkened 'These first attempts show undoulnedlx rhr photographic action of nrtificinllv produrerl
[email protected]\ M. E. W. The determination of small amounts of cerium in copper welding wire. E. PACHE. Chem.-Ztg., 62, 102 (Feh. $-1938).Dissolve ten g. of the alloy in aqua regia, boil off the nitrogen oxides, add one cc. of ten per cent. ferric chloride solution to which an excess of ammonium hydroxide had been added, boil, let settle for half an hour, and filier. The precipitate consists of ferric hydromd*, c e r i t m hydroxide, and nntimons oxyhsdrnte. Wash with r a t e r unde slightly ntnmur~~acnl, n.arh off from the filr..r =-=.-,n:mcr. discolvr ~ - - ~ in - dilute hvdrorhloric acid and dtlure the &%on to two hundred cc. introduce hydrogen sulfide for twenty minutes, whereby all the copper and antimony are precipitated. Filter off the sulfides, wash with water containing hydrogen sulfide and hoil off the hydrogen sulfide. Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide during the boiling, boil down to one hundred cc., and filter offany precipitated sulfur. Render the clear filtrate faintly ammoniacal, hoil, and carefully add five grams of solid oxalic acid which dissolves the precipitates of iron and cerium hydroxides. On prolonged boiling cerium precipitates as a white solid. Let settle, warm. filter, wash free from iron by means of water containing one per cent. of oxalic acid, dry, heat to red heat, and weigh as cerium dioxide. The pure compound is white. Traces of rare earth oxides of the cerium f L . S. group will color it light to reddish brown. New compounds of silicon. R. SCHWARZ.Ang. Chem., 51, 321W1 (June 4. 1938).-Heating silicon tetrachloride in a tube in an atmosphere of argon yields SimCImwhich is the inorganic compound with the largest chain yet known. The similar thermal treatment in an atmosphere of hydrogen instead of argon yields Si.ClmHo~.. Both compounds are thick fluids a t room temperature. During the decomposition of the second compound these reactions take place: SiCh SirCbH - HCI SiloClmHs= 4SiCI Si,oChoHz = 4SiC1 2SirCls H* Si,oChoHx = 4SiCl 2SiHCla f Si4Cho SiloClluHl= 6SiC1 SiHCl. SinClt HCl Sic4 L. S. A new titrimetric determination of phosphoric acid. W. R A T ~ J E .Ang. Chmn., 51, 256-8 (May 7, 1938).-For analysis f m nhneohnric r....r-. ~~- acid the acid solution is treated with notassium iodide and titrated with a bismuth solution of known cnncentration forming bismuth phosphate Bi+++ PO&--- = BiPO4 At the endpoint any excess of bismuth ions react with iodide ions forming insoluble bismuth oxyiodide which indicates the endpoint by its redcolor. 2OH- = BiOI H.0 Bi+++ IL. S. GROVEN;
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The determination of antimony in aluminum alloys. E. PACHE. C h . - Z t g . , 62, 149 (Feb. 26, 1938).-Alloy contains antimony, lead, end two per cent. copper. Dissolve one gram of the allov in 20 cc. of hvdrochloric acid. oxidize with 5 cc. of three ner cenf. hydrogen peroxide and heat until the solution is clear. Dilute with 50 cc. of water, add 20 cc. of twenty per cent. sodium sulfide solution and boil until no more sulfur dioxide is evolved. Dilute with 100 ec. of water and titrate with N/10 potassium hromate using methyl orange as indicator. Alloy confoins antimony, lead, and manganese. Start as given above. Following the reduction with sodium sulfite and the boiling off of the sulfur dioxide dilute with 200 cc. of water, add 40 cc. of manganese sulfate, and titrate with N/10 potassium permanganate to faint pink. The same alloy may also be analyzed as follows. Dissolve one gram of the alloy in ten per cent. sodium hydroxide solution. dilute with 30 cc. of water, make acid with sulfuric acid and concentrate by boiling until heavy white fumes are produced. Let cool, dilute with 50 cc. of water. add 20 cc. of hydrochloric acid, ai~d warm until dear. Add 200 cc. of water and 40 cc. of manganese sulfate and titrate with N/10 potassium permanganate to faint "ink L. S. ~ h dptection ; of lead from tetraethyl lead and observations on the volatility of tetraethyl lead. 11. S I I R ~ N U C KC.h ~ m . - Z f z 62, ., 1M(-Y (hl:ar. 12. 19%). Dirnerrilptulthiudiarol in one per ccnt. solution is recommended for the detection of dangerousimounts of lead in waste waters from industrial installations. The limit of detection is three milligrams of lead perfiter. The reaction can be used also for the detection of lead in hydrocarbons. Tetraethyl lead when mixed with hydrocarbons is volatile a t .-...r-.-u--u. -. -. Lignin a source of valuable chemical raw materials. ANON. Sci. Nnus Letter, 33, 379-80 (June 11, 1938).-Lignin, long considered the ~obiectionahle inmedients of wood fiber 1s ~one~ of ~ shown by the United ~ i a t e Forest s ~FoductsLabiiatory and the University of Wisconsin to he convertible into: '5well known organic solvent, wood alcohol; a new lacquer solvent called propyl-cyclohexanol; two compounds having possible use as thickening and toughwring agents for varnish; and a clear glassy resin, extremely adhesive, which may prove very useful as a plastic material." Hydrogenstion is one treatment by means of which the lignin is transformed into these valuable forest resources. The imnortance of ~such when one realizes that r - - ~ ~ ~ - work - ~ is annreciated .. lignin comprises twenty to thirty per cent. hf woody parts of plants. The method described is estimated as able to render seventy per cent. of the lignin useful far industry. B. C. H. Hydraulic brake fluids. R. R. FULTON.Ind. Eng. Chem., 30, 422-7 (Apr., 1938).-Hydraulic brakes on automobiles were first introduced in 1922 and are now quite keneral. For years the castor oil-ethylalcohol type was about the only aneused. Castor oil is the only commercially available substance that is suitable to act as a lubricant or impart body to brake fluids, since it does not have a deleterious action on rubber. Due to its high solidification point and increasing viscosity i t cannot be used alone. Fluids used must have little change of viscosity with temperature. have a stable composition, no action on ruhher or metals, low volatility, low leakage, good miscibility with fluids generally used, and low cost. Lack of action on ruhher eliminates a great many organic compounds as a diluent for castor oil. Among these are chlorinated compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, mineral oils, distillates from wood except methyl alcohol, acetones excent diacetone. ketones. pine oils, and turpentine. Alcohols
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above b. p. of ethyl, have an increasing swelling and softening action on rubber. Glycols have been used to reduce softening action of propyl and butyl alcohols on rubber, hut the use of glycols increases the problem of miscibility. A number of the bctke fluids are described; and a suggested list of tests to deterD. C. L. mine the suitability of a given fluid is described. Test-tube support. I . A. KOTEN. Chem. Analyst, 27, 42 (May, 1938).-When it is necessary to heat several test-tubes for making comparisons, ss in testing carbohydrates, a test-tube support can be made by punching holes in a metal can cover. A cover five and a quarter inches in diameter fits 600- or 800-cc. beakers sndholes for nine test-tubes can be conveniently punched. These holes can be numbered if desired. This device is most D. C. L. serviceable in physiological chemistry. Vapor pressure lowering visualized. R. E. DUNBAR.C h m . Analyst, 27, 47 (May, 193X).--A simple apparatus consisting of two bottles w ~ t hrubber stoppers and a U-tube connecting them can be readily assembled. Water is placed in one and a n equal volume of a concentrated solution of a non-volatile solvent in water in the other. I t is then set aside in a warm room for several days when the difference in level is quite noticeable. This is much more effective than placing a beaker of water and one of solution under a bell jar, where both beakers usually lose in volume, with the condensation of moisture on the walls of the D. C. L. bell jar. Electrolytic production of ammonium nitrate. ANON. C h . Industries, 42, ti57 (June, 1938).-An abstract of a process reported of Kohozew and his co-workers is given in the J. C h m . Ind. ( U.S.3.R.),17, No. 19 (1937), which involves following reactions. = 4Hs 201 4Hn0 NHs 202 = HNOI HeO HNOS NHI = N&NO~ H10 2NHa 4HaO = NH4N03 4Hn Time of operation, pH requirements, current density, catalyst concentration, and anode materials are also discussed. A. T. B. More penetrating agents. ANON. Ixd. B J I . of Arthur D. Little, Inc., 138, 4 (July, 1938).-Until a few years ago only three types of cleansing and wetting agents were known; namely, soaps, saponin, and turkey-red oil. Nearly all cleansing was done with soaps unless the water was hard. Then a limited amount of cleansing was done with the vegetable material, sa-
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ponin, or with crude soap-bark from which it is obtained. Turkey-red ail is castor oil treated with sulfuric acid. I t is used as a wetting agent more than as a cleanser, especially where watery dressings arecarried into greasy leather or cloth. Recently a considerable number of new types of wetting and cleansing agents have been synthesized to extend and supplement the three old types. These new types are sulfates or in some cases sulfonates, combination of sulfuric acid with organic materials. Sulfated alcohols produce the "Gardinols" and "Lorols." Sulfated esters produce "Igepon A" and sulfated amines, "Igepon T." These work well in hard water and even in the presence of acid. They are even useful in shampooing, it is said. "Ultra-wet," developed by the Atlantic Refining Company, has far its base a particular cut of petroleum oil. I t is used as a wetting agent and as a detergent. "Santomerse," announced by thc Monsanto Chen~iral Company, has an aromatic chemical base. These are used for general cleansing purposes, as spreading agents, f?r insecticides, G. 0 . and in textile processes and for flotation of ores. An industry survives. ANON. Ind. Btdl. of Arthur D.Liftle, Inc., 137, 1-2 (June, 1938)-A few years ago heads were shaking over thc fate of the hardwood distillation industry due to the inroadsof synthetic production of methanol and acetic acid. How the expected demise of the industry was averted is a n interesting story. Synthesis did no1 deprive it of a market. The problem was one of competitive prices and was solved by scientific methods and improved technic. Improvement in wood procurement, modern plant practice, and enlarged outlets for ila products now assure the industry a long and useful life. Systematic development of the forests and increasing use of logging and sawmill wastes fully justify the industry's existence. The major improvement of the past fifteen years is in the stillhouse where direct recovery methods have displaced the wasteful lime method of firing acetic acid. The modern plant extracts acetic acid with a solvent, from the vapor phase (Suida process), the liquid phase (Badger, Melle, and Brewster), or from a constant-boiling mixture (Othmer, Clamency, and Badger), or from the combined Liquid and mixture (Badger), and the solvents are recovered. The charcoal end of the business presents a problem due to improved housing standards and reduced demands for charcoal as a fuel. Activated charcoal far sweetening chlorinated water and for deodorizing sewage offers a big field. Our present back-tonature impulse is prompting people to cook out in the open, and charcoal serves this need in special packages for out-door fircplace and special grills. G. 0.
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL Duddell Medal Award to Professor Hans Geiger. AXON. I W recipient of the Duddcll h l e d ~ lof rhr Phviirhl Societv. which. i~ nwardcd to "persons who have contribited to the ad"ancembnt of knowledge by the invention or design of scientific instruments, or by the discovery of materials used in their construction" is Professor Hans Geiger of the University of T"bingen. Early in this century he studied radioactivity under the late Lord Rutherford and demonstrated the possibility of detecting a single alpha particle by its electrical effect. The Geiger counter made possible the counting of both alpha and beta particles "and, in its more recent form, introduced by Geiger himself, even the differentiation of the effects produced by alpha and beta particles." Geiger and Nuttall drirrrninrd the ranger of thc alpha wrtiulrs irum wriuo; radio:rrtivr produc,t~3nd formulated rhr sell-known rule connccrmp- vrluritv and raw?, "whi-h givcc a meanr of calculating rclncirws from known r.myea with rrmarknble accuracy." Ceiger and N a r 4 e n o b s c n . 4 that o m r of thc nlpha pxrtirles in a hram rlirwtcd on to a 4trr.t of martw :are M l r r r r d thrwgh w r y I:aruc angle* and may rwn cmrrge on the srle of inridrncr of the bedm of alpha-ray* T o c~plninthc edwt. Rutherford postulatcd th,, rriirrncr of large-angle scarrering ac thc rcjult of ocrasional angl: tncuunrvr, with .,rums. l'hi- led to thc formulation of Huthcrford's nuclear theory of atomic StNclUrr, with all it3 sul,st.nurnr remarknhlc drvrlonn~entrand far-rwchinu rcamoni A'olutr. 141, 92'4 (318). 21, I9.4hJ.-The
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