Apr.,
1920
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
type should definite bonds be indicated in chemical formulas. One of the particular advantages of the present theory is that it becomes easy to distinguish between covalence and the other types and thus t o predict with certainty in what way electrolytic dissociation will occur if a t all.
389
RSFERSNCES W. Kossel, Ann. Physik, 49 (1916), 229. G . N. Lewis, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 88 (1916), 762. Langmuir, J. F r a n k . Inst., 187 (1919). 359; J . Am. Chem. Sac., 4 1 (1919), 868, 1543; 42 (1920), 274; Proc. N Q ~A.c a d . Sci., 5 (1919). 252.
FOREIGN INDUSTRIAL NEWS B y A. MCMILLAN,24 Westend Park St.,Glasgow, Scotland
SYNTHETIC AMMONIA According to Comptes Rendus, Professor D’Arsonval has made an important communication in the name of M. Georges Claude to the Academy of Science, Paris. M. Claude recently showed that it was not only possible, but very easy t o produce and turn to industrial uses, pressures of 1,000atmospheres and more. He has now succeeded in applying these pressures in the synthetic production of ammonia. Hitherto this has been done only in Germany, but M. Claude has surpassed the German scientists in that under the new conditions the combination of hydrogen and nitrogen takes place with such intensity that a very small apparatus is capable of a considerable output. He proposes shortly to show to the members of the Academy a tiny apparatus capable of producing daily zoo 1. (44 gal.) of liquid ammonia. Whereas Haber could get only 0 . 3 3 g. of ammonia per catalytic gram, M. Claude gets I O g. ISOTOPES An important communication, says the Chemical News, on the spectra of isotopic lead and thallium was brought before the Royal Society, London, by T. R. Merton. Interferometer measurements of the principal line in the spectra of ordinary lead and in lead from pitchblende showed-that, in the latter case, the line was less refrangible by o.oosoA., wherea: the lead from Ceylon thorite was more refrangible by 0 . oozzA. Thallium, which occurs in pitchblende in very small proportion, was examined by alloying it with pure cadmium and was found t o give a line more refrangible than that of ordinary thallium by 0.oo55A. MANGANESE IN BRAZIL According to a report from the Bank (British) of South America, stocks of manganese ore continue to accumulate and as there is practically no demand for export, there appears to be little immediate likelihood of a demand occurring under peace conditions. The only solution likely to relieve this situation would seem to be the construction of suitable electric smelting apparatus for the reduction of the ore in Brazil. The stocks in hand a t Rio de Janeiro on November 1 2 amounted to 256,279 tons. ARTIFICIAL HONEY During the war large quantities of artificial honey were used in Germany. The products of different firms did not show much uniformity, a thin fluid being much in evidence. According to an article in Schweiz. Chem. Zed., 1919,for the production of the thick variety, the water content and the degree of inversion of the cane sugar are matters of great importance. The water content must not exceed 2 2 per cent and the inversion must be complete to within 5 per cent. The inversion proceeds best when a t least 0.I .per cent of formic acid is present. The strongly acid taste of the product is removed by neutralizing with sodium carbonate. On economic grounds, thick artificial honey is an indispensable product in Germany, and it is recommended that legislation be introduced to prevent confusion between natural and artificial honey.
METAL-MELTING FURNACE A feature of the Alldays-Charlier metal-melting furnace is that no crucible is employed. It consists of a heavy steel
