A. T. BURTSELL F. B. DAINS TENNEY L.DAVIS HOWARD GRAHAM B. CLIFFORDHENDRICKS J. W. HOWARD
ABSTRACTS R. A. BAKER,Abdract Editor D. C. LICHTENWALNER GRETAOPPE
C. M. Pnutm LEOPOLD SCHEFLAN E. D. WALTER E. RWER WASHBURN SIDNEY WEINHOUSE G. H. WOOLLETT
KEEPING UP WITH CHEMISTRY Frosted wool. ANON. Ind. B d l . Arthur D. Little, Inc., 107, 2 (Dec., 1935).-Until quite recently, the preparation of raw wool was accomplished by a n extensive series of washings with soao or other alkalicontainine materials. The term "wool s c o h n a " was ~ v e nto this p&ss. About ten years ago a modiricdun of ihts age-old pr6cedurr. was made possible by the use of naphtha as a sulvcnr for renmring grease from r a w wool. At rhc oresent time thc use of crrtnin mrroleum solvcnts in the cleansidg of raw stock is in commerciai operation in a few wellestablished plants, hut it has by no means replaced the traditional wool-scouring method S o w appear, a new dtvelol,mmr e,hich y on the ancient prorcdure. may have il r w ~ l u t ~ o n a rbearing This drrelot~mmris n meehnnicnl mocrss dcsimarrd bv the 8"ventors as the "Frosted Wool" proc&s. The r& stock & fed t o a conveyor from which it pa& throuyh rcaliny rolls to a continuous hrlt within a refriyrrator rhamber. From this I rlt the frozen stock is automatlrdlv dclwercd to n rotnrv duster in which the cleansed fiber is separated from the m&r fraction of its irnpurilic-. Thc wool 6 a - s ~thence ~ to n cu~~denser and through scnlir~yrd1v out of the refrigeration unit. It is on the frcenlne runvwor from 3 to 7 minutes. The ooeralion is continuo~; and efiects in a single operation removal of some 60% t o 90% of the vegetable matter contaminating the raw wool, together with 30y0 t o 90% of the wool grease. The process does not effect the removal of all the grease, vegetable, or other foreign material, so that the wool must he scoured, degreased, and washed to yield commercially clean wool; but the final product is reported t o be cleaner and softer and also of greater tensile G. 0 . strength. Metals i n foods. ANON. Iwd. Bull. Arthur D. Little, Inc., 107, W (Dec., 1935).-In striking contrast t o the popular view of metals in foods are the laboratory findings of modem dietitians concerning certain metals commonly reffarded with susuicion which have been found to be actuallv essential to animal or plant nutrition, notably, copper need;d for the assimilation of iron. Manganese has been shown to be essential to proper plant and animal development, and is believed t o affect the mental outlook. Deficiencies in magnesium result in irritability. Boron, aluminum, silicon, as well as zinc. have been shown-to be essential t o growth. G:0 . The indigo element. ANON. Ind. Bull. Arthur D. Little, Inc., 107, 4 (Dec., 1935).-Seventy-two years have elapsed since the discoven of indium. so-called because of its indieo-blue svectrum lines. ~ u r i n gmost of this period, the supply-was exc&dingly limited, the price SIO a gram or more, and rhe conmercial applicalions "on-existmt. Al.oul tm y w r a :ago invrctig:~tioos iudicatrd that indium m i ~ h thave value ar a w r l a c r *rul,ili,rr for non-ferrous metals. ~ s result a of this effort, indium may now he plmhasrd for 51 a gram, and after a long scnrch an ukc drposit Itas been found yielding two ounccs of indium to the tun, rnakinc the metal availahk in commercial nuanti~ies. indium is a szvery white, lustrous metal, soft enoigh t o yield t o the pressure of the fingers or to be cut with a knife, malleable enough to be pounded into thin sheets, with a melting point so low that the flame of a match will melt it. I t has the softness of lead, the density of zinc, and the luster of silver. Chemically, it resembles aluminum and zinc. I t does not tarnish in air or water. It forms many compounds, fonns an amalgam n.irh mcrcury, and alloys wirh silver, platinwn. gold, and crrtnin other metolj. Indium is hcina ~ d d r da t the nrcsmt timc to certain orccious metal dental alioys to increase hardness and tarnish-rebistance. I t is permanently tarnish-resisting when plated, and the resulting plate is capable of excellent reflectivity and is finding some application in the finishing of reflectors for store windows, as display lights, and also as automobile headlights. When 18% of indium is added t o Wood's metal, the resulting alloy has a melting point so low that the metal may be poured without discomfort, upon the bare skin. This alloy offers itself for small casts and
possible surgical molds. The low melting point, high boiling point, and high coefficient of expansion indicate that indium mav find a use in hieh-tem~eratureouartz thermometers. An un&loited field is tl&t of organic an2 inorganic compounds of G. 0. indit& for dyes and medicines. Seeking a working language for odors and flavors. E. C. CROCKER. Imd. Erie. Chem.. 27. 122Fr8 (083.. 1935).-"An -instrument that candetect im i ~ i o n t hof i miliimam; and in some cases lrs* than a billionth of 3 millipmrn, of tlw vapor uf h u m l r d s of kind.; of nrynnic substnnces huuld inspire our admiration. Thnt ~ ~ inatrumrnt. ~wirh its ~ socctruscvwc ~ ~ sensilivilv ~ and great convenience of op'wation, is t i e human nose. ~ h e r i should be both commercial and scientific value in a better understanding of the nature of odor and of the mechanism of smelling, as well as in an adequate, logically founded language for odor descriution." ~ h ;importance of smell is readily recognized by organic chemists. -Leakages, toxic vapors, fires, are often detected. A sniff a t the stopper often confirms the label. Taste and smell often confirm the oualitv of food. With the ~ e r f u m echemist. smell is of mime i6port&ee. I n recent yearc the demand for udl>rler in 0 0011,I .lu.000.01 mg. of vanillin thwc n w 4 X 10' ur 1O.lalO,u00 mole. If onlv 1 molcculc in 100 J of those snifkd falls on the rmsitive area, &me thousands are necessary to give a smell impression, even with this most actively odorous agent. The author has divided odors into four types: ~~~
1. Pragrant or sweet
2. Acid or sour 3. Burnt m empyreumatie 4. caprytie or ananfhic
"Besides reduction of the number of apparent fundamentals, the mesent workers devised a semi-suantitative numerical arrangement whereby any odor may h i expressed as a four-digit number-for instance, 3803 for acetic acid, 8445 for henzyl acetate, or 6323 for a-terpineol-where the successive figures are for the four types, fragrant, acid, burnt, and caprylic, in succession. on the basis of 8 for most powerful and 1 for just detectable." "The chief value of a better system of odor analysis and classification will be the basis i t will provide for a real language of odor. Odor impressions are now entirely too personal, and t a m s are
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not in general use which can convey odor impressions accurately from person t o person, verbally or by written record."
n c-. -. T.~ -.
Columbium and tantalum. C. W. BL-. I d . Eng. Chew.. 27, 1166-9 (Oct., 1935).-Tantalum, first developed in Germany for use in lamp filaments, was later replaced by tungsten, and but little use was made of i t until recently. Ta and Cb are always found together. Richest deposits of Ta are found in Australia containina - 60% .- tantalum oxide and 15% .- columbium oxide. "l'antalum and columbium, from the minerals tantalite and columlnitr, are sepsrnted from each other by the recryrtalliration of their d o u b l ~fluorides with nornscium. The clrctrolvsis of the fused double fluorides yields 5 (Oct., 1935).-The parachors of various liquids may he determined within the usual time allotted to alaboratory experiment. A Westphal balance is used in determining the density, and the surface tension relative t o water is found by means of a stalagmometer. Students' results for ally1 alcohol, nitrobenzene, and ethyl cinnamate are given, showing good agreement with calculated values. S. W.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES, METHODS, AND SUGGESTIONS Very elementary chemistr-a
weekly chronicle. ANON. instructor's account of his experiences in teaching chemistry to ll-year olds in an English elementary school. S. W. The preparation and presentation of a science-night program. . 14,217-22 (Oct., 1935);-Science R. COLLIER,JR. E d u ~Screen, n i ~ h tis sugit3cd 3% a very tangible method of 'sclling our school" to its puhlic. Iktails of organiralion, of puhlici/ing its oderinrs. of l~nucllinethe crowd aftrr it arrives. end of srcurine the cooperation of Afferent departments are presented. m i l ; rhc drpirtmcrns hatdling the &nccs c x r i n l t l w lmrdm rf the prorum, other dr~,artmentsw r h as Art, Larin, mgli>h, ant1 thr lil,rtrr contnb~lred. I n addxion snrrial e ~ h i l i t suf some local indusiries and a hobby show mayLwellbe used, particularly if those in charge feel a need for greater variety to their offerings. B. C. H. "Studies of laboratory methods of teaching," by R. W. L ~ r o n TON (Part I ) and "Oualitative asnects in the im~rovementof (Part i1). Edwards science teaching," b y ROBERT H. SEASHORE 184 pp. B. D. Brothers, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1935. viii WOOD. J. Higher Educ., 6 , 397 (Oct., 1935).-Ben D. Wood, Columbia Universitv. in reviewine this volume tells us that the first part contains i r e p o r t of &experiment conducted a t the University of Oregon t o determine the relative effectiveness of
Sch. Sci. Rev., 17, 26-35 (Oct., 1935).-An
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different laboratory technic for attaining desired outcomes of science teaching. The authors say that the results of experim a t s indicate that either close supervision of laboratory work, or no supervision a t all, brought best results in general. Attention is called to the need for further revision of scienceteaching procedures, in order t o make them conform t o the needs
of bbject&es,content of the tours;, methods of presentation. and evaluation or measurements of results." A. T. B. A reason for study. R. I. JOHNSON. I. Higher Educ., 6, 352-6 (1935).-Mr. Tohnson mints out that we are all familiar with the f o k u l a whkh calls 'for planning, performing, and& praising; then be suggests that we amend the formula to read: purposing, planning, pelforming, and appraising. Even the universal school activity of reading takes an new interest, and students show im~rovedcom~rehensionwhen definite ournoses are supplied for ihe specific-reading activities. he-&dent should fcrl that the tcachcr knows s.Ly he i.; making each assignment Teaclmrs nnd students nlikc must he coynirant uf a cnusr for stud": thcv must not onlv honor the uucstiun "V'hv?" when it ariseGin coinection with units of studyLthey must [nvite the question and face it frankly. A. T. B.
EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENTS AND DATA Aiding the fit. C. G. WRENN. 5. Higher Educ., 6, 3 5 7 4 3 (1935).-Students of above-average intelligence are the subject of this reoort. Their maladiustment is discussed and a moeram t o correct'this maladjustmeht is suggested by the a u t h . " Among other items of interest we learn that students who had high Thorndike scores, thar is. 93 or ahwe, prxucrd certain hobits of work that were different from those of students who had relativclv low Thorndike ccores. that is. 7 3 or helow. but who had achieved the same scholarship results. Studentswith high Thorndike scores who were in the upper 10 per cent. of scholarship seemed t o practice the following five habits of study: ( I ) They make a wpid wrvey of the whulc rcferencc to find out what i t is about bcforc studying it more intensivrly. (.2.) Thev are CJTC~IIIto take not= of main and . DnraaraDh - . heading; italicized material, and summary. (3) They recite material studied t o themselves, rechecking any doubtful points. (4) . . Thev trv t o relate material learned in one course t o that leaked i n others. (5) They try t o get each point as they go over i t rather than gomg on a t the time and then coming back t o clear up doubtful points.
On thc other hand, those srudents with low Thorndike scores who were slro in the uplw 10 per cent. of scholarship practice more consi\tmtly than the first group the following fire habits of stucly: (1) They take lengthy notes. mitina almost continuouslv
(4) They make a time budget. (5) They mark or underline the text.
Mr. Wrenn says if i t were possible t o make a subjective interpretation of the possible desirability of certain habits of study one might conclude that students with high Thorndike scores practice habits of study that are considered psychologically more desirable than those practiced by students with 1owThorndike scores. The students with low Thorndike scores attained their high scholarship by a more careful use of their time and by wbat one might suspect as sheer memorizing of material, and yet these may be the most adequate means by which such students can maintain high scholarship. A. T. B.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE Physicalscience and the principle of causality. W. J. SP~RROW. bas failed us for the moment, the fault lies mainly in our inadethe scheme of elassl- quate formulation of the principle. S. W. cal physics all happenings in the world of matter were supposed to m e need for a philosophy of science. H. DINOLE. Sch. SCi. take place according to fixed and unequivocal laws, and thephysiRm., 17, 1-7 (Oct., 1935).-That we live in an age of science is a cal world was held to be completely determined. Even when remark as trite as i t is fundamentally untme. While the word and statistical methods became necessary to deal with vast concourses the associated activities and the veneration are everywhere, the of atomsandmolecules, c.g., Boltzmann's treatment afthesecond spirit of science is confined t o the narrow cell of abstract relaw, these were considered t o be merely devices. However, the search. introduction of the quantum theory has led t o a completely new The impartial and dispassionate collection of data which orientation of thouxht in these matters. First, by the discoven we call the scientific attitude should be broueht into relief as an of new phenomenasuch as the process of radioaciive decay, the attitude appropriate to all human affairs. -This is a problem absorption and emission of light by atoms, etc., which are ap- for the universities. The teaching of scientific subjecis must parently not subject t o the causal principle; and second, by a be supplemented by the inclusion of philosophy of science, in fuller consideration of the older laws, Eddington, Jeans, Heisen- order t o show that scientific principles are not goddesses t o he berg, and Bavink have been led t o abandon the principle of wonhipped hut handmaidens to be directed: and t o discover causality as a scientific doctrine. On the other hand, Einstein, how far and in wbat manner they can best be directed in the tasks in agreement with Planck, believes that, while strict causality of life as a whole. S. W.
Sch. Sci. Reu., 16,449-57 (June, 1935).-In
