REVIEWS The objpct of this department of theJournal is to issue, as promptly as possible, critical digests of allJourna1 articles that bear upon any phase of Physical Chemistry. General The true atomic weight of nitrogen. G. Hinrichs. Comptes rendus, 140, 1590 (r905).-A discussion of the atomic weight of nitrogen. The author believes that the true value is 14.000. I t must be admitted that the developments of the last few years have been bringing the experimental values of the atoniic W. D . B. weights nearer to those assigned years ago by Hinrichs. Compressibility of different gases under less than one atmosphere, and the determination of their molecular weights. G. Lemoirte. Comptes rendus, 140, r384 (rgo5).-The author has determined the compressibility at oo of hydrogen, oxygen, nitric oxide, ammonia and sulphur dioxide between 400 mm and 800 mm ; and of ammonia and sulphur dioxide between zoo mm and 400 mm. The values of the atomic weights, as calculated from the densities, agree with the W. D . B. gravimetric determinations except in the case of nitrogen. Atomic weight of nitrogen deduced from the ratio of the densities of nitrogen and oxygen. P.A . Guye. Comptes rendus, 140,r386 (rgog).-Six methods of calculating the atomic weight of nitrogen from its density give 14.0og as a mean value. W. D . B. Expansioq and density of some gases at high temperatures. A. Jnquerod and 140, '542 (r905).--The authors have determined the coefficients of expansion for nitrogen, air, oxygen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide between oo and 1067'. From the data the authors calculate the following molecular weights : nitrogen, 28.0155 ; carbon monoxide, 28.009 ; carbon dioxide, 43.992. D.B.
F. L.Perrol. Comptes rendus,
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Density of nitric oxide. P. A. Guye and C. Davila. Cowptes rendus, 141, 826 (z905).--The weight of a normal liter of nitric oxide is 1.3402. From this the authors deduce a value of 14.006 from the atomic weight of nitrogen.
W. D.B. Densities of carbon dioxide, ammonia and nitrous oxide. P. A . Guye and A . Pintza. Comptes ipendus, x41, 51 (rgog).--The authors obtain densities of 1.9768, 0.7708 and 1.9774 for CO,, h",and N,O, respectively, at pressures of atm. T h e atomic weight for nitrogen becomes 14,007, 14.006 or 14.009 if deduced from the ratios N,O : CO,, N, : CO or N, : 0,. W. D.B.
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Extraction of terbium. G. Urbain. Comptes vendus, 141, 5rr (rgo5).-Terbium has been prepared by fractional crystallization of the double nitrate with nickel ; of the nitrate in presence of bismuth nitrate ; and of the ethyl sul-
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phates The absorption spectrum of the neutral chloride has been determined. A value of 159.2 was obtained for t h e atomic weight. W. D.B. Victorium and the ultra-violet phosphorescence of gadolinium. G . Urbain. Comptes rendus, 141, 954 (~gog).-Gadolinium shows the same ultra-violet phosphorescent spectrum as victorium and i t is therefore believed that this latter element is non-existent. W. D. B. Dense liquids. Duboin. Coinpks rendus, 141,385(z905).-Thoulet’s solution contains potassium and mercuric iodides and has a density of 3.2. When sodium is substituted for potassium, a liquid is obtained having a density of 3.46. This liquid dissolves without change in a nuniber of organic liquids, such a s alcohols, aldehydes, acids, esters and acetone. I t causes cellulose to swell in a surprising manner. W. D. B. Thermochemistry of neodymium. C. Matignon. Comptes rendus, 141,53 (zpog).-Experiments on the heats of formation and t h e heats of solution of neodyniium salts show that these substances belong thermochemically between t h e magnesium salts and those of the alkaline earths. W. D. B. Combustion of sulphur in the calorimetric bomb. H. Givan. Comptes rendus, 140,1904 (zgog).-The formation of solid S,O, from solid SO, and oxygen is accompanied by an absorption of 9710 cal., while the heat evolved, when solid S,O, is dissolved in much water, is 56710 cal. The presence of hydrogen ip the compressed oxygen may introduce serious and unexpected errors. W. D . B. Methods of measuring heats of combustion of organic compounds. M. Bevthelot. Comp.ptesrendus, 140, (497 (z905).--A reply to Thonisen (9,7”). W. D. B.
One-Component System Some physical properties of propane. P. Lebeazb. Coinfifes rendus, 140, 1454 ( ~ g o j ) . - P u r e propane boils a t - 4 4 . 5 O ; its critical temperature is 9 7 . 5 O , and its critical pressure 45 atm. Both ethane and propane are still liquid a t -195~. Propane is more soluble in many liquids than either ethane or methane.
W. D. B. Mechanical properties of crystallized iron. I;: Osmond and C. Frkmont. Coinptes rendus, 141,361 (rgog).-The authors were able to obtain samples of a steel rail from which they could extract large crystals of practically pure iron. I t was found that this iron broke readily along the cleavage planes, but that it W. D . B. showed marked plasticity in all other directions. Distillation of copper. H. Moissan. Comjtes vendus, 141, 853 (z905).With a 300 ampere, I I O volt arc, fifty grams of copper can be distilled in five minutes. I t seems to the reviewer that a resistance furnace would be much more satisfactory. W. D. 3.
Two-Co~~ponent Systems Constitution of the copper-aluminum alloys. L . Guillet. Comptes rendus, 141, 464 (1905).-The author believes that the following phases occur in t h e copper-aluminum series : a, a solid solution containing 0-10 percent aluminuni ;
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p, probably the compound Cu,Al; 7 ,a solid solution stable at higher temperatures only ; 6, a solid solution containing 14-30 percent aluminum ; €, a solid solution containing 44-46 percent aluminum ; 7, the compound A1,Cu ; H, either pure aluminum or aluminum containing only a small amount of copper.
W. D. B. Equilibrium diagram for the carbon steels. G. Charpy. Comptes rendus, 141,948 (rpog).-Steels containing less than two percent carbon show no graphite when cooled slowly from the melt. A steel containing 2.9 percent carbon shows no graphite if cooled rapidly but up to 2 . 2 percent graphite, if cooled very slowly. [These two sentences are inconsistent.] The eutectic for while theeutectic for cementite graphite and solid solution is put at 1160~-1165~ D. B. and solid solution is put at 1150~.
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Fusibility of mixtures of antimony sulphide with cuprous and mercuric sulphides. H. Pklabon. Corizptes reizdzrs, 140, r389 (rgog).-The freezing-point curve for antimony sulphide and cuprous snlphide appears to consist of two branches with a eutectic of 498O. No attempt was made to determine the nature of the solid phases. With antimony sulphide and mercuric sulphide there is a eutectic at 455O. The complete curve could not be determined owing to the W. D. B. volatility of mercuric sulphide. Bromine trifluoride. P. Lebeau. Compks lendus, 141, ror8 (rgog).Fluorine and bromine conibine, forming the compound BrF3, a substance which melts at about 4O. W. D . B . The state of matter near the critical point. G. Berlrand a?zdJ. Lecarnbe. Conzpies vendus,141)320 (19o5).-A little below a certain temperature a tube containing alcohol and alizarine shows a red liquid layer and a practically colorless gaseous layer. At a little higher temperature the contents of the tube become homogeneous and the color is uniformly distributed. The authors take this to mean that particles of liquid exist above the critical teniperatuye. If this were so the alizarine should precipitate if the solution were heated to a still higher temperature. D.B.
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The state of matter near the critical point. C. Raveau. Coizples rendus, 141)348 (~gog).--h criticism of the conclusions of Bertrand and Lecambe (pre. ceding review ). W. D. B. Distillation of gold and its alloys. H. Moissan. Comptes wizdus, 141, 977 (Z905).-h an arc furnace the author has distilled gold. From a gold-copper alloy, copper distils faster than the gold. Tin is only slightly more volatile than gold. The material which condenses during the distillation of a gold-tin alloy has the properties of the purple of Cassius. W. D. B. New preparation of rubidium and caesium. L . Hackspill. Coinpies rendus, (r9og).-The chlorides of rubidium, caesium and lithium are readily reduced by metallic calcium, I t is possible to distil off the rubidium or the caesium ; but with lithium an alloy of calcium and lithium is obtained. W. D. E. 141, ro6
Oxidation of powdered aluminum. Kohn-Abwst. Comptes rendus, 141, 323 (IpOg).-If powdered aluminum be heated in a porcelain crucible for ten
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minutes to a temperature of 625O-750° in an electric furnace, the mass becomes grayish blue and the amount of oxygen taken u p corresponds pretty closely to that required for the formula A10. W. D. B. The reduction of thorium oxide by amorphous boron. Biizet dc Jassoneix. Comptes vendus, 141,r9r (rpo_i).-When borium and thorium oxide are heated together in an electric furnace, two borides of thorium are formed ThR, and W. D. B. ThB,. Action of silicon on pure aluminum. E . Yigouvoux. Comptes vendus, 141, 951 (1905). -It is believed that silicon and aluminum form n o compounds. I n presence of a third metal, alumino silicides of the third metal may be formed. No proof is offered for either of these statements. W. D. R.
Mu 21;. Component Systems Constitution and properties of aluminum steels. L . Guidlet. Comptcs vendus, 141,35 (r9o5).-The physical properties of steel are changed but slightly by addition of aluminum u p to three percent. When over seven percent of aluminum is present the steel becomes very brittle. The micrographic examination brought out nothing positive except that aluminum decreases the solubility of carbon in iron. W. D.B. Classification and comparison of ternary steels. L Guillet. Comptes rendus, 141,107 (r905).-The author distinguishes five classes of carbon steels containing a third component, those showing pearlite, martensite, y-iron, carbide and graphite. T h e author believes that he has shown the great importance of the micrographical study of the steels as a t present carried on. To the reviewer it seems that a n exhaustive study of the carbon steels is more desirable a t present than a superficial examination of a number of more complicated alloys. D . B.
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Cpnstitution and properties of steels containing tin, titanium or cobalt. L. Guillet. Comptes vendus, 140,1689 (1905) .-Steels containing tin, titanium or cobalt have been examined under the microscope and have been tested for tenW. D. B. sile strength. No especial results were obtained. Equilibrium between acetone and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. P.Landn'cu. Comptes rendus, 140, '392 (rpog).-The author shows that a mass law equation represents fairly well t h e reversible equilibrium between the system, acetone plus hydroxylamine hydrochloride, and the system, oxime hydrochloride and W. D. B. water. Action of fluorine on the oxides of nitrogen. 13.Moissan and P.Lcbeau. Comptes rewdus, 140,1573 (1905) .-At ordinary temperatures fluorine does not react with nitrogen peroxide or with nitrous oxide. It does react with nitric oxide, the reaction at low temperatures being represented by t h e equation W. D. B. N. 2NO 4- F = NO,F
+
Action of silicon chloride on iron. E . Vigouvoux. Comptes vendus, 141, 828 (zgo5).-Below red heat iron reacts with silicon tetrachloride, forming W. D. B. Fe,Si and ferrous chloride. Preparation of binary metallic compounds by means of aluminum.
A . Colani.
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Comptes rendus, 141,33 (rgog).-The author h a s prepared a number of compounds by reducing with aluminum the mixture of a metalloid or an oxide of L>. B. a metalloid with an oxide of a metal.
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Preparation of binary metallic compounds by means of aluminum. C.Mntignon and R. Trannoy. Comptes rendus, 141, 190 (rgog).--The authors have prepared phosphides, arsenides, silicides and borides by methods somewhat W. D. B. similar to those of Colani [preceding review).
A sub-iodide of phosphorus. R.Bouloch. Comptes rendus, 141,256('905). -If a solution of phosphorus and a little iodine in carbon bisulphide be exposed to sunlight, there precipitates a n amorphous red powder, P,I. It is believed that the catalytic action of iodine o n phosphorus is represented by the following equations : 7P (white) PI, = 2P41 .= PI, 7P (red). 2P,I Some red phosphorus has a density intermediate between that of white phosphorus and PI, the first reaction, and consequently the second, could not take D. B. place in a vertical tube.
+
+
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Decomposition of ammonium sulphate by hot sulphuric acid in presence of platinum. M. Delkpine. Co,mptes rendus, 141, 886 (r905).-1f a solution of ammonium sulphate and sulphuric acid be boiled in presence of platinum black, nitrogen is evolved. T h e author believes that the platinum is dissolved W. D . B. by the sulphuric acid and reduced by the ammonium sulphate. Hydrogenization of ketoximes. A . Mailhe. Comptes rendus, 141, rz3 (r905).-If hydrogen and acetoxime are passed over pulverulent nickel, heated to 1 5 0 ~ - 1 8 0 ~ ,they are converted into propylamine and diisopropylamine. This is a n excellent method for preparing the secondary amines. W. D.B. Hydrated ferric sulphate. A. Recozwa. Coinptes rendus, 141,io8 (r905).-If a solution containing ferric sulphate be allowed to evaporate at constant temperature a basic salt precipitates first. On evaporating to complete dryness If this be redisthe yellow hydrated ferric sulphate IS formed Fe,(SO,),gH,O. solved in a small amount of water and allowed to evaporate from a large surface, a white salt is formed having the same composition but different properties. [Since the author has not determined what constitutes the real difference W. D.B. in the two cases, the work will have t o be done over again.]
A property of the alloys of aluminum with tin, bismuth or magnesium. H. Pkcheux. Coinjtes rendus, 140,r535 (z905).-The alloys of aluminum with magnesium or tin decompose water. Both these alloys, as well as the aluminumbismuth alloys react with copper sulphate solution, precipitating copper and W. D. B. setting free hydrogen, Effect of electrolytes on the mutual precipitation of colloids with opposite electrical charges. Lnrguier de Bancels. Comptes rendus, 140, r647 (Zgo5).-If two electrically opposed colloids be mixed in proper proportions, the mutual precipitation is complete. The addition of a n electrolyte, which can precipitate one of t h e colloids, tends t o keep the other in solution, W. D. B.
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Osmotic Pressure and Difusion Permeability of glass vessels. LV. Berthelot. Cowiptes rendus, 140, rrX6 (1905).-Ordinary glass is readily permeable to hydrogen above 550°, to nitrogen at 600' and to oxygen or caibon monoxide at 6 5 0 ~ . No hydrogen passes through Jeiia glass at 700" but diffusion occurs a t 75oo-77j0. Oxygen does not diff iise until the temperature exceeds 800'. W. D. B.
Velocities Rate of ci-ystallization of supersaturated solutions. C. Leenlznrdt. Cofnples rendus, 141, 188 (1905) .-Crystallized sodium acetate melts a t 55'. Between 58' and z j o supercooling increases the rate of crystallization. From 2 3 O to -zoo the rate is practically constant while at -40' the rate of crystallization is practically zero. T h e constant rate is independent of the diameter of the tube, W. D. B.
Electromotive Forces Thermoelectric force and the Thomson effect. A.Ponsot. Coinptes rendus, 140, 1585 (rpo5).-The author deduces a relation between the coefficient of the Thornson effect and the thermo-electric series which holds for a temperature below that of the lowest neutral point in a series of metals. The relation does W. D. B. not hold actually for all known cases.
Electrolysis and ELectrolytic Dissociatioiz Molecular heats of strong and weak electrolytes. P. T. Mullerand C. Fuchs. Coin@ rendus, 140, r639 (r905).-The apparent molecular heat of the salt in a solution of a strong electrolyte varies with the composition while this is not the case with weak electrolytes. The author adopts the hypothesis of hydrated W. D. B. ions as an explanation. The specific heats of copper sulphate solutions. P. Vazllant. Coirzptes rendus, 141, 658 (1go5).-The solutions weie heated by an incandescent lamp instead of by a wire. The actual specific heat decreases with increasing concentration. If one calculates the hypothetical specific heat of dissolved CuSO,jH,O, the value is found to pass through a maximum with increasing W. n.B. concentration.
Dieledmcity and Optics Specific inductive capacity of benzene and water. F. Beaulard. Comptes a wave-length of j o m the author finds a dielectric constant for thiophene.free benzene lying between 1.615 and 1.700. For water a value of 11.04 was obtained, which differs enormously from the D.R. usual value of eighty odd.
rendus, 141, 656 (rgog).--With
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Experiments on liquid dielectrics. p. Goui.6 de Villemonfke. Comptes rendus, 141, 179 (1905). -The propagation of electrical charges through petroleum or paraffin oil is comparable to the values found for crystals by Curie. D. B.
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