INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERI,VG CHEMISTRY
872
not dull the strips quite so rapidly, nor to as great an extent, as did the other flavors. The standard extract, formula I, produced a greater dullness than did the fortified flavors. The corrosion was practically twice as great in the light as in the dark. Effect on W e i g h t of Monel M e t a l Strips At the end of 12 weeks the strips, each weighing approximately 5.5 grams, had lost weight as follows: In dark I n light
I Gram 0.0207 0.0288
I1 Gram 0.0005 0.0009
I11 Gram
0.0076 0.0141
IV
Gram 0.0375 0.0614
Qualitative tests for nickel and copper were found in the flavors after the tenth week in all cases except in formula 11. From the following results it can be seen that all the true flavoring properties of the flavors were affected. The vanillin and coumarin show a decrease in all cases. The normal lead number of the true bean extracts was higher after treatment than before. This is probably due to the resins forming compounds with nickel and copper, which precipitate more lead. I n the fortified extracts the normal lead number
Vol. 18, No. 8
fell considerably. This may not be of great significance, however, as the normal lead number of these fortified flavors is partially due to the artificial coloring matter. Effect on V a n i l l i n , Coumarin, and Normal Lead Number In dark I n light Per cent Per cent Formula I Vanillin 0.28 0.29 Normal lead number 0.67 0.79 Formula II Vanillin 0.49 0.47 Coumarin 0.16 0.21 Normal lead number 0.10 0.10 Formula III Vanillin 0.44 0.44 Coumarin 0.12 0.14 Normal lead number 0.28 0.16 Formula I V 1.47 2.08 Vanillin Normal lead number 6.31 4.27
Conclusion
Since vanillin, coumarin, and the resins of vanilla extracts react with and corrode monel metal, this alloy is not suitable for containers for the storage and transportation of the extract of vanilla beans or fortified mixtures thereof.
AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES Charles Loring Jackson HARLES LORING JACKSON was born in Boston on April 4, 1847. After studying in private schools in Boston he entered Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1867. On graduation he was made a lecture assistant in chemistry. H e states t h a t his salary was supposed t o be free tuition, but that he received none. On his twenty-first birthday he became a n assistant with a regular salary. At t h a t time the Harvard chemistry department consisted of three members, the other two being J. P. Cooke and A. J. Hill. In 1870 he introduced a n elective course in elementary chemistry, which later developed into the famous Chemistry 1, which he taught for over forty years. I n 1873 he went abroad to learn chemistry, a feat which he had found impossible in Cambridge, since he had no teacher and had much teaching t o do himself. He studied at Heidelberg with Bunsen, specializing in gas analysis and the chemistry of the platinum metals. H e later worked with A. W. Hofmann in organic chemistry, although he did not a t t h a t time intend t o make organic chemistry his life work. One taste of the subject under this inspired teacher, however, showed him t h a t organic chemistry was t h e thing for him. As he expresses it, he learned under Hofmann “to use his mind,” which was a n interesting experience after his association with Bunsen, who rather discouraged t h a t type of activity. In 1874 he published his first paper, which dealt with organic selenium compounds. During his study with Hofmann, the latter was writing his Faraday lectures on Liebig and had Jackson correct his English. H e took full advantage of this chance for intimate association with the great teacher. Shortly after his return t o this country in 1875, he prepared
C
the first new organic compound made in the Harvard laboratory, p-bromobenzyl bromide. His work on substituted benzyl compounds gave a number of interesting results, including a synthesis of anthracene. During the following years he worked on curcumin, vanillin, benzene trisulfonic acid, and the method now in general use for making highly nitrated compounds-namely, preliminary sulfonation followed by nitration. I n the late eighties he discovered the r e a c t i o n of highly substituted aromatic halides with malonic ester in which a halogen is replaced by hydrogen. This was his most prolific source of scientific papers. Another subject on which he did considerable work was the o-quinones. H e missed the discovery of the parent substance, o-benzoquinone, by only a small margin. His chief amusements have been amateur theatricals and writing poetry and romantic fiction. Of late years he has taken up garden@ Marceau ing, and now makes this his chief occupation on his beautiful estate at Pride’s Crossing, near Beverly, Massachusetts. Last month his first volume of fiction was published by the Stratford Company of Boston, It bears the title of “The Gold Point and Other Strange Stories” and consists of a dozen fanciful tales whose themes are weird and imaginative enough for a Poe. The scores of chemists who have been fortunate enough t o spend graduate years working with Professor Jackson find it hard t o think of him merely as a chemist, or even as a teacher, because his beautifully friendly and helpful personality makes him stand out in their recollection more as a companion and guide in their chemical struggles than as a teacher or director.
FRANK
C. WRITMORE
