ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY October 1960, Vol.
32, No. 1 1
APPLIED JOURNALS, ACS Director of Publications, C. B. Larrabee Editorial Director, Richard 1. Kenyon Executive Editor, James M. Crowe Assistant to the Director of Publications, Joseph H. Kuney Assistant to the Editorial Director, Rodney N. Hader Director of Editorial Research, Robert F. Gould ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Editor, Lawrence T. Hallett Managing Editor, Robert 0. Gibbs EDITORIAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Teletype W A 23 Phone REpublic 7-3337 Associate Editors: G. Gladys Gordon, Stella Anderson, Katherine I. Biggr, Sue M. Solliday, Ruth Reynard, Louis A. Agnello Assistant Editors: Robert J. Kelley, Molvina B. Lester Editorial Assistants: Katherine H. Ginnane, Virginia E. Stewart, S. S. Rogers, Lorraine M. Beriuzzi layout and Production: Joseph Jacobs (Art Director), Melvin D. Buckner (Art); Betty V. Kieffer, John V. Sinnett Editorial Reference: Barbara A. Gallagher BRANCH EDITORIAL OFFICES CHICAGO 3, ILL. Room 926, 36 South Wabosh Ave. Teletype CG 725 Phone Slate 2-5148 Associate Editors: Arthur Poulor, James H. Krieger Assistont Editor: Donald J. Soisson HOUSTON 2, TEX. 718 Melrose Bldg. Phone FAirfax 3-7107 Teletype HO 72 Associate Editor: Bruce F. Greek NEW YORK 16, N. Y. 2 Park Ave. Phone ORegon 9-1646 Teletype NY 1-4726 Associate Editors: William 0. Hull, Harry Stenarson, D. Gray Weaver, Walter 5. Fedor, Laurence J. White, Earl V. Anderson SAN FRANCISCO 4, CALIF. 703 Mechanics' Institute Bldg., 57 Post St. Teletype SF 549 Phone EXbrook 2-2895 Associate Editor: Richard G. Newhall Assistant Editor: Joseph Sturchio EASTON, PA. 20th ond Northampton SIS. Phone Blackburn 8-91 11 Teletype ESTN Pa 7048 Associate Editor: Charlotte C. Sayre Editorial Assirtont: Elizabeth R. Rufe EUROPEAN OFFICE Bush House, Aldwych, London Cable JIECHEM Phone Temple Bar 3605 Associate Editor: Albert S. Hester Assistant Editor: Erendan F. Somerviile ~-
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Contributing Edifor. R. H. Muller Advisory Board: W. H. Beamer, F. E. Beamish, C. E. Bricker, W. D. Cooke, D. D. DeFord, M. T. Kelley, C. L. Luke, W. M. MocNevin, W. J. Moder, W. B. Mason, F. W. Mitchell, Jr., N. H. Nachtrieb, E. J. Rosenbourn, B. F. Scribner, F. H. Strops Advertising Management REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. (For Branch Offices ree page 157 A )
New ReagentChemicalsBook Due AXALYTICAL chemists will welcome the arrival of the newest revision of "Reagent Chemicals" which is scheduled for publication this winter. The B C S Committee on Analytical Reagents has worked continuously on revising and updating the standards set forth in the last edition (1955). Since 1955 significant advances have been made in the manufacture and testing of reagent chemicals. Manufacturers have improved the quality of their chemicals, many new reagents have been added to the list, and many revisions have been made in specifications and test methods. I n addition to better and more reliable agents, improved methods and instruments are specified. Examples are the brucine test for nitrate and use of the flame photometer for determination of sodium, pota+iuni! calcium, and strontium. Such iinproyenients have made it poabible t o eliminate many uses of the phrase "to p : test" ~ v i t h a numerical limit, and in the test for "free acid" and "free alkali" to specify a definite p H range as determined with an accurate p H meter. The revised edition includes a new section entitled "The Gravimetric Determination of Small Amounts of Impurities" which will be of assiqtance to less skilled analysts. This edition and earlier ones draw on the work dolie by the committee since its inception in 1917. It is t o be expected that the new edition will receive the nide acceptance by the chemical profession and industry accorded earlier editions. -4s yaluable as this publication is, it is confined primarily to those reagents used most commonly and specifies standards of purity which are practical for average analytical use. There is still a problem. however, of meeting needs for ultra pure chemicals i i w l in the newer fields. Xs noted by the National Research Council's Subcciinmittee on Radiochemistry, those working in this field need reagent& free of natural or man-made radioactive materials. Others doing trace analysis work where determinations in the parts per billion range arc not uncommon, must know what impurities are present in minute amounts. The lack of chemicals and methods to analyze them to meet these needs has forced the research analytical chemist t o prepare his own chemicals and develop methods of analysis. As long as thic prol)lc:n confronts only those in the research area. it prohahly will not create a sufficient demand for concertea action on the part of manufacturers t o prepare these special chemicals nor on the part of interested groups to prepare standards for such chemicals. At the rate at which some of these fields are developing, however, it seems that it will not be long before this problem must be faced. I t is entirely possible, that, as in the case of the ACS reagent committee, other similar groups will be needed to face the new problems.
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