Emergency Courses for Metallurgical Chemists in Africa R. S . YOUNG Rhokana Corporation, Limited, Nkana, Northern Rhodesia
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N 1941 the industrial manpower resources of North- laboratories, such as preparation of samples, setting out ern Rhodesia, in common with the rest of the equipment for senior men, washing glassware, etc., is British Commonwealth, were strained to the utmost. carried out in Africa by natives. Consequently our With the increase in work and the withdrawal of men learner chemists missed this splendid preliminary trainfor plant operations or for the armed forces, the chem- ing in manual manipulation and familiarity with reical laboratories of the large base metal producers in agents and apparatus. After a brief period of inthis territory became very understaffed. Relief could struction on the balance and the technique of volunot be obtained by the importation of university grad- metric determinations they were put at once on uates from South Africa, Britain, Canada, or the United simple analytical procedures such as sulfur and copper States, the principal prewar sources of technical men in mine samples or insoluble residue in slags, where the degree of accuracy desired was within the limits of their for these companies. For a variety of reasons the condition a t the labo- capabilities. ratory of Rhokana Corporation, largest copper proThe courses were given two nights a week, 7:30 to ducer in Northern Rhodesia and world's second biggest 930, for 10 months in the year. The months of Occobalt producer, was particularly acute. The man- tober and November, prior to the advent of the summer agement, foreseeing a long war, decided to employ rainy season in Northern Rhodesia, are usually rather local young men and women for routine analytical work, hot and trying and it was desirable to suspend evening and to give these "learner chemists" a comprehensive classes for this period. For the first four months one course in chemistry through the medium of classes two evening a week was devoted to mathematics and physnights a week. It was hoped that this course would ics, and when the work in mathematics had been comenable them to carry out their work in an intelligent pleted a t the end of this period the full time of one manner and eventually t o undertake satisfactorily evening per week was given to physics, both theonearly all the operations in a large metallurgical labo- retical and experimental, for the next four months. The other evening was given over entirely t o chemratory. From the limited white population of Nkana, a town istry, and on the conclusion of the work in physics both of less than 4000 Europeans, a group of eight, ranging nights were available for chemistry. The theoretical in age from youths of 16 to married women of over 30, matter and laboratory exercises in this subject were was selected with only one qualification-an educa- consequently speeded up a t the period when the tion equivalent to matriculation. None had any learners were rapidly enlarging their chemical exhigher education and many had never taken chemistry perience in the daily work and were being given more responsible or involved analytical work, such as iron, in their secondary schooling. The aim was t o give a lecture course in general calcium, etc. chemistry which would be a t least equivalent to the Courses for this small group were conveniently given usual first-year university course, and a laboratory in the laboratory with little additional equipment excourse in qualitative and quantitative analysis which cept a portable blackboard and better lighting arrangewould be considerably in excess of the requirements for ments for night work. Particular attention was paid to laboratory work in first-year chemistry. It was con- neatness and the necessity of clearing up all work before sidered that the practical training and experience of leaving. Provision was made for storage of demonthese learners would enable them to absorb much more stration equipment or the students' own apparatus in laboratory work than a college student in the same space cupboards to avoid interference with the routine laboof time. ratory work. The learners were encouraged to discuss It was deemed advisable to give our group in ad- .any problems with the instructors toward the close of dition brief courses in mathematics and physics which the normal working day when brief slack periods are would assist in a better understanding of the work in often encountered in a routine chemical laboratory. chemistry. These courses were abbreviated to a quick Advantage was taken a t all times by the instructors review of high-school mathematics and physics, and to to point out pertinent observations on theory and excursions into those fields in which some knowledge practice illustrating their courses during the daily operaof these subjects was a prerequisite to an intelligent ap- tions of the laboratory. It was felt that i t was too much for one man to proach to analytical chemistry. The work normally done by juniors in chemical lecture on general chemistry and to conduct laboratory. 253
periods, and two instructors were accordingly selected from the senior laboratory st&. Both were university graduates with some years' experience in a chemical laboratory, but without experience in teaching or college demonstrating. The course in physics was given by a senior chemist who had been graduated in physics and had done a little demonstrating in college. The work in mathematics was carried out by a science graduate who had recently been promoted from the chemical laboratory to plant operation and who had some previous experience in high-school teaching. The work of these men was coordinated by a joint program and a close knowledge of the scope and progress of the work of the other instructors. The cooperation of the chief chemist, and the encouragement and financial assistance of the management were available a t all times. The brief course in mathematics reviewed high-school work as i t applied to analytical chemistry in such fields as standardizing, dilution, normality, atomic weights, color comparison, pH, etc. Lectures were given on the theory of sampling, meaning of significant figures, errors in analytical work, probable error of determinations, and other useful statistical information seldom given in college chemistry courses. The work in physics was designed briefly to review high-school courses in this subject and to cover the physical basis of many laboratory determinations. The latter included electrolysis, colorimetry, spectrography, calorific measurements, conductivity, and similar physicochemical work camed on in a large metallurgical laboratory. Equipment, necessary to demonstrate fundamental laws, which was not obtainable around the laboratory, could usually be secured from the well-equipped electrical or mechanical shops of the corporation and assembled by the instructor. In the chemistry courses the usual first-year university program was followed, commencing with delinitions and chemical laws freely illustrated from everyday laboratory work and the well-known processes of mining, concentrating, smelting, and refining known to the learner. The elements were then systematically taken up, particular attention being paid to those encountered in the metallurgical laboratories of Northern Rhodesia. A number of elementary texts and reference books were provided by the company for the learners, and these were available a t all times in the laboratory. No one text w& used exclusively; the instructor usually prepared his lecture or laboratory period from several standard British and American reference books on general inorganic chemistry and inorganic analysis. The chemical course was originally designed to cover one year but i t was found that over 18 months were required to complete the work. When the learner chemists were engaged it was indicated that their salary increments would be dependent on attendance at, and satisfactory completion of, these courses. Reg-
ular reports, quiz periods, and determination of unknowns kept the instructors informed of the progress of these students. A final examination was held a t the conclusion of the courses. The results of this training have been very satisfactory. For the learner chemists i t has transformed a mysterious routine task, performed mechanically, into an intelligible analytical procedure which he or she understands and therefore can perform much more logically and satisfactorily and in a reproducible manner. This solid background of chemical training, together with a little mathematics and physics which has been acquired, has stimulated several of the learners to enroll for extramural work and correspondence courses in science. The scheme has enabled the corporation to meet an emergency successfully and has provided the company with a group of employees who can perform in an intelligible and capable manner most of the operations of their chemical laboratory, thereby releasing senior men for special analyses and studies on improvements in methods. Some peculiar local conditions which were encountered may be of interest to readers in North America. The employment of natives for the work done by laboratory juniors elsewhere has already been referred to, and the hot period of October and November, which is the end of spring-and precedes the commencement of the summer rains. In volumetric and colorimetric texts we had to explain to students that "light from a northern exposure" referred only to the northern hemisphere. The oft-encountered reference in American texts to paraffin, such as "paraffin-coated glassware or labels" or "a layer of paraffin" had to be amplified for the bewildered student by explaining that "paraffin" in North America did not mean kerosene. The starting time of 7: 30 P.M. for the evening classes was a compromise between the writer, who favored 7 P.M., and those who declared it was impossible to finish late afternoon sports, have a bath, a sundowner, and dinner before 8 P.M. The critical thing was the sundowner; exercise, hygiene, and food were secondary! The chemical laboratory was not screened and we wondered whether a few mosquitoes might wander in during the night classes in the rainy season. Fortunately the Anopheles type, carriers of malaria, does not like bright light or moving objects, and we did not.need to screen the laboratory or spray the rooms. This account of a rather unusual effort to provide specialized chemical training, devised, of necessity, under emergency conditions in a remote part of the .world and carried on successfully in spite of lack of experience on the part of instructors, a varied background among the students, and the inevitable lassitude inherent in night courses in a tropical country, may serve as an illustration of what may be accomplished by other industries under more favorable conditions.
