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JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
JANUARY, 1930
Purdue University's New Chemical Laboratory. M. G. MELLON. iVm Ed.. Ind.Eng. Chenz., 7 , 1 3 (Oct. 20,1929).-Article contains a description of the new building, stressing the unique features.
Architect's sketch and floor plan included. M. W. G. Contributions to Aviation Feature Meeting of Electrochemical Society. EDITORIAL S T AR~EPORT. Chenz. & Met. Eng., 36,600-2 (Oct., 1929).-The main session of this convention was devoted to a symposium on the contributions of electro-chemistry t o aeronautics. This report summarizes the papers presented. For the complete program see THISJOURNAL. 6,1836-7 (Oct., 1929). M. W. G. Measurements. W. BLOCK. Inst~umenls, 2, 3 3 7 4 6 (Oct., 1929).-Instruments has secured the complete rights for publication in the English language of the latest book an measurements-"Measurements. Industrial and Scientific: An Instruction Book for Engineers" by Dr. Walter Block. This article is the first instalment of this series-cH~~TER I. The Historical Dmtlopment of the Measuring Scicnu and the Syrferns of Length end Weight. M. W. G. The Popularization of Chemistry. EDIT. Science, 70, 302 (Sept. 27, 1929)."An endowed program utilizing the women's d u b s throughout the country to educate the public to a n understanding of chemistry and its function in national defense was officially adopted on September 12th by the Division of Chemical Education a t the semiannual meeting of the American Chemical Society meetingin Minneapolis." (Editor's Note: This program will be pubhhed i n an early issue of THISJOURNAL.) G. H. W. The Synthetic Chemistry of the Fnhue. J. F. THORPE. Chem. Age, 31, 2 3 5 4 (Sept. 14, 1929).-The next step which is likely to aid research inorganicchemistry involves a proper understanding of the part played by electrons in determining the course of organic chemical reactions. X-ray analysis and the intimate study of colloids should supply the means by which many of the obscure processes of nature can be understood.
GENERAL
E. R.w.
Physical Chemistry in the Science of Biology. F. G. DONNAN. J. Chen. Soc., July, 1929, 1387-98.-First Livemidge Lecture delivned before the Chemical Society on Nou. 29,1928. A brief historical account of the development of the chemical facts and theories in the 19th century and the relation of these t o the biological sciences.
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hd I X T A.A,
W. R. W I T N E Gen. Elec. Rev..32, 519-20 (Oct., 1929).-The ability to obs6rvrve dosely and accurately is worthy of development. The hydrogen-copper brazing process a ~ l dthe atomic hydrogen arc-welding process are the result of the development of ohservations which appeared to have no particular value a t the time they were made. The former came from observing that copper flowed over an iron gauze which was being treated in an atmosphere of hydrogen. From a study of certain reactions in the evacuated tungsten lamp came the deduction that hydrogen atoms were present under those conditions and were extremely active, and that they could be produced in the electric arc. The atomic hydrogen arc was perfected H. T . B. from the result of subsequent investigations. Building the ZOO-Inch Telescope. G. E. HALE.Harpers, 159,720 (Nov., 1929).An account of the vast enternrise now enramne Amencan and Euronean scientists t o
An Example of the Use of Observation.
Preservation of Publications. The National Research Council has received a fund of $10.000 for a coiiperative investigation with the Bureau of Standards on the preservation of publications. The investigation planned consists of surveys in public libraries t o find the existing conditions as t o the deterioration of publications and t o find means of remedying conditions found t o be harmful. Consideration will be given to all materials used in books and to the influence of the atmospheric conditions in libraries. Librarians and others concerned with the preservation of valuable records published in hook form have noted with considerable alarm the rapid deterioration of many such publications, and there has sprung up a general demand for accurate information which will assist in developing measures t o prevent deterioration.-Science
