New Text and L. R. Mason, entitled "Phase Dia grams in Fractional Crystallization Prob lems" Eric Winters, University of Tennessee, presented briefly the results of a study of "Crop Response to Potassium Fertiliza tion" conducted in more than 60 field plots located throughout Tennessee. The level of exchangeable potassium above which potassium fertilization ceased to in crease yields varied with the crop. A paper entitled "Nutritive Evaluation of Fused Phosphates" was presented by Dorothy E. Williams of the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Ten nessee. The phosphorus in fused phos phates appeared to be readily available and up to 0.3% fluorine seemed to have no deleterious effect. Growth, storage of phosphorus in the animal, tooth structure, and reproduction throughout several gen erations were used as criteria. A new method for calculating the true specific surface of catalysts by the adsorp tion of fatty acids was described by Hilton A. Smith of the University of Tennessee in a joint paper with John F. Fuzek en titled "The Adsorption of Fatty Acids on Nickel and Platinum Catalysts". The iso therms obtained indicate the formation of a continuous unimolecular layer on the metal surface. On the assumption that the molecules are oriented with the hydro carbon residues extended vertically away from the metal, the true specific surface can be calculated from the known cross section of the hydrocarbon chain. C. T. Simpson of Rohm and Haas Co., using the topic "Chemical Control in Industrial Processes", showed the vital
T H E East Tennessee Section of the ACS held its first meeting-in-miniature in Knoxville on May 19 with about 130 in attendance. The program of eight papers was diversified in subject matter and in cluded contributions from academic, gov-ernmental, and industrial laboratories. It is worthy of note that not one speaker exceeded his allotted time, that all spoke distinctly, and that their material was well organized. This was the visible evi dence of the careful thought and prepara tory work of J. H. Wood, Chairman of the Section, who presided, C. A. Buehler, -Chairman of the Program Committee, and the other officers of the Section. Lucas P. Kyrides gave the evening ad dress on "The Horizons of Organic Chem istry". He is research director, organic •chemicals division, Monsanto Chemical Co., an J .first recipient of the Midwest Award. Since details on the horizon axe never plain, except as we can interpret the silhouettes in the light of the clearer foreground, Dr. Kyrides drew a striking picture of the past and present of organic chemistry by relating personal experiences from his full and interesting life. It was obvious that he is a firm believer in the benefits of personal effort and initiative and that his greatest fear is that we shall yield to the temptation to live the soft and easy life that scientific advancement makes possible- One can be sure that he wants us to walk and work our way through to those horizons he envisages, rather than via jeep or 'plane, for by so doing we shall discover much pleasure along the way that we otherwise would miss. Frank S. Riordan, Jr., of the U. S. Bur eau of Mines, presented a paper by himself
Left to right. Lucas P. Kyrides, research director, organic chem icals division, Monsanto Chemical, and speaker οf the evening, whose topic was " t h e Horizons of Organic Chemistry"; H . L. Chamberlain,
importance of rapid and accurate methods of analysis. He described briefly what can be done with the infrared spectrometer and the mass spectrometer and presented a con trast of the time factor involved when us ing these tools as compared to "prespectrometer" methods. Mr. Simpson spoke feelingly of the too-prevalent "step child attitude" toward control. Carl T. Bahner, Carson-Newman Col lege, made a progress report on "Electroly sis of Sodium Salts of Secondary Nitroparafhns". By electrolysis of a concen trated aqueous solution of sodium aci-2nitropropane, he obtained at the anode an oil containing 2,3-dinitro-2,3-dimethylbutane and 2,2-dinitropropane. High cur rent density favored increased total yield of crude products and the relative propor tion of 2,2-dinitropropane. The history of the development of a small electrolytic manganese industry was described by H. L. Chamberlain of the Electro Manganese Corp. He sketched briefly the early and basic research of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the headaches which resulted when the laboratory method was transferred to the plant, and the ultimate development of commercial production. Although the one existing plant is located in Knoxville, obviously only a few of the audience knew of it and many questions were raised. Between the afternoon and evening sessions, a social hour and dinner were held in the University Cafeteria. Two humorous skits were presented at the proper time to aid digestive processes. The meeting served as the incentive to launch the first issue of a local publication to be known as The Branched Chain,
Electro Manganese Corp., who spoke on "Electrolytic Recovery of Manganese M e t a l and the Uses of Pure M e t a l " ; Eric Winters, U n i versity of Tennessee, "Crop Response to Potassium Fertilization"
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