2246
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
NOVEMBER, 1931
While the foregoing solutions demonstrate that formulas can readily be computed from weights, the author does not advocate that this method supersedes those which proceed from a percentage basis, for a formula would not rest v e q securely on the results of a single analysis. On the contrary, the purpose of this discussion is to demonstrate the fundamental relation of these methods to analytical data, and thereby to provide a means of counteracting the all-too-frequent tendency of pupils-and students likewise--to miss the chemical significance of the arithmetical operations involved in the calculation of formulas. Literature Cited (I)
STONE, "A Question of Procedure," J. CHBM.EDUC.,5, 465-6 (Apr., 1928).
X-Rays May Improve Useful Plants. A new tool of importance in the control of agricultural production of the future, may be in the use of X-rays or similar shortwave vibrations, Dr. W. W. Gamer, of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, believes. Experimentation in this field is so new that some of the mast striking e5ects have not been followed far enough to reveal their ultimate results. Wild corn plants appear to have been changed from annuals t o perennials a t Cornell University hy treating the seeds with X-rays. And in accordance with experiments elsewhere, the evidence seems t o be that under suitable conditions, X-rays do bring about a mutation. The scientist may therefore be able to take some sort of hand in plant evolution. The importance this could have on crop production cannot he over-estimated, Dr. Garner said. However, the future will show to what extent this new t w l can he effectively applied in crop improvement. Work along these lines upon plants is heing done a t the Universities of Missouri and California, while a t the University of Texas, the effect of X-rays an the progeny of certain flies has been studied.-Sciace Sem'ce Chemicals Open Up Pores of Wood. Treatment with chemicsls opens up the pores of some kinds of timber. I n a report to the American Chemical Society, A. J. Stamm, of Madison, Wis.. explained how chlorine gas was used on specimens of Douglas 6r and Sitka spruce. Measurements revealed that the chlorine, which was followed in some instances by ammonia, acted on the capillaries, the little hair-like tubes in the woad, and opened them up. This was thought due t o dissolving of the lignin, the substance that lines the woody cells and causes resistance t o the flow of liquids. The use of chlorine gas was found to innease the passage of materials through the wood by as much as 130 times.-Science Sernn'ce Practicable to Use Blast Furnace for Fertilizer Making. Use of the blast furnace to prepare phosphoric acid for fertilizer purposes was sanctioned in areport given a t the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society. Smelting tests lead to the conclusion that the method is economically practicable. I t was brought out in this report, prepared by P. H. Royster and J. W. Tmentine, that in any furnace process mare than two-thirds of the cost of the finished product is the cost of coke used as fuel. Low-cast phosphoric acid means an efficiently operating furnace. The factor most important to an efficient blast furnace is the preheating of the air to a high temperature before introducing i t into the furnace. The grade of phosphate rock, i t was pointed out, does not affect the heat production or influence the consumption of coke.-Scimcc Snvice
