June 10, 1933
I N D U S T R I A L
A N D
ENG
N E E R I N G
C H E M I S T R Y
177
News of the Universities
Donnan Fellowship for England, given b y Walter A. Patrick, of the Chemistry Department of Johns Hopkins University, have been endowed. A. R. L. Dohme, of Baltimore, has renewed for a four-year period his lectureship established to bring noted scientists t o lecture at the university. THERMODYNAMIC S T U D I E S OF O R G A N I C COMPOUNDS At 2:30, C. Ε . Κ. Mees delivered a short address on "Scientific AT L I Q U I D H Y D R O G E N T E M P E R A T U R E S Research and Industrial Depression" over WBAL. Doctor Mees gave a more extended discussion of the same topic at t h e T H E PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE has recently installed a university at 4:00 o'clock. H e sought to defend scientific research cryogenic laboratory for the study of the heat capacities of against the charge that "the troubles of the modern world are organic compounds down to the freezing point of "hydrogen really due to the advance of science." (14° absolute). The work is under the direction of J. G. Aston · The evening program was opened with a dinner given b y Presi and is part of a general investigation of the thermodynamic dent Ames in honor of the donors, the chemistry faculty, and t h e properties of simple organic compounds. speakers, a t the Baltimore Country Club. Concluding the program, Doctor Langmuir gave an exposition of recent research in the field of "Two-Dimensional Gases, Liquids, and Solids." His topic was of especial interest t o advanced chemists and physicists.
SUMMER T E X T I L E C O U R S E AT Μ . Ι. Τ .
CBYOGENIC LABORATORY
An air liquefaction plant and a hydrogen liquefying cycle have been installed. The hydrogen liquéfier is of the Hampson type and of the design in use b y Latimer and co-workers a t the University of California and built by G. F. Nelson. It is operated b y a hydrogen compressor delivering 10 to 12 cu. ft. per minute at pressures of 1500 to 2000 lb. per sq. in., originally used in hydrogen production by the U. S. N a v y and obtained from them. There is storage capacity for 500 cu. ft. of pure hydrogen and an electrolytic generator for its production. Liquid air a t ordinary pressures is used for precooling the hydrogen before expansion. The hydrogen liquefying cycle was first run on May 19, 1933, and 1.5 liters of liquid hydrogen per hour were then produced. The apparatus is located in a room ventilated by a powerful fan. All sparks and flames are excluded. There are three other cryogenic laboratories employing liquid hydrogen in the United States—the Bureau of Standards, the University of California, and Johns Hopkins University. There is also one under construction at the California Institute of Technology. Eugene Willihnganz, a graduate student in chemistry, and J. E. Key, instructor in industrial engineering, have cooperated in the mechanical construction of the cycle. W. F. Giauque and G. F. Nelson, of the University of California, have rendered invaluable advice. The work has been aided b y two Grants-in-Aid from the National Research Council. T h e hydrogen generator was constructed by W. P. Davey and the graduate students in physical chemistry and chemical physics through a portion of an additional grant from the National Research Council. F O U R T H A N N U A L C O N F E R E N C E OF D O N O R S AT JOHNS HOPKINS
T H E DONORS of the fellowships established under t h e National Fellowship Plan of the Department of Chemistry of the Johns Hopkins University held their fourth annual conference a t the university on May 5. The program included addresses by C Ε. Κ. Mees and Irving Langmuir. Discussion of the fellowship plan, and visits to the research laboratories of the fellowship students also played a part in the program. Joseph S. Ames, president of Johns Hopkins University, opened the meeting. In the afternoon, discussion of t h e fellowship plan centered especially about the value of the selection of candidates b y personal interview; the present research work of the fellowship men; and a comparison of the careers of those appointed for the fellowship and those not appointed, based on a statistical report which was drawn from questionnaires returned b y the candidates of former years. President Ames announced the developments under the plan for 1932-33. He stated that t h e Η. Α. Β . Fellowship for Mary land, given b y Doctor Dunning of Baltimore, and the F. G.
TEXTILE MICROSCOPY, textile technical analysis, and textile laboratory are the special summer courses being offered again this year by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the direction of E . R. Schwarz. The work begins on July 2 6 and continues for six weeks, ending September 6. Textile microscopy consists of 30 lectures and 45 hours of laboratory. The lectures will be given a t 10:15 each week d a y except Saturday and the laboratory will be offered from 1:00 to 3:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. Textile technical analysis consists of 30 lectures given on each week day morning, with the exception of Saturday, from 9:15 to 10:15 and will cover the technic of the physical testing of textiles (exclusive of optical methods), as well as a discussion of methods of report writing, precision of measurements, graphical interpretation of data, and the elements of fabric and yarn structure. Textile laboratory may be devoted to work in textile technical analysis, to work in textile microscopy, or both, and is offered to fill a 15-hour per week schedule, arranged to suit the con venience of the student. Registration for the laboratory work is strictly limited, and an early application is necessary t o insure membership in the group. Excellent living facilities are available at very moderate cost in the new dormitory group. Reservations may be made a t any time. Groups aggregating fifty-eight men from the industry have taken these courses during the regular school year and t h e opportunity afforded during the summer has always met with gratifying response. At this particular time the sort of infor mation obtainable would seem of particular value to the industry.
W E S T E R N R E S E R V E SUMMER S E S S I O N WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY offers in the summer session
a complete program of courses in chemistry, including a number of unusual graduate courses not offered elsewhere. Besides t h e usual ones in general chemistry, qualitative analysis, and quanti tative analysis, it is possible to obtain a year's course in organic chemistry because of the establishment of a post session from July 31 to August 18. A condensed course in quantitative analysis, particularly suitable for premedical students, is also available. Professor Hovorka will offer a lecture and laboratory course in physical chemistry, and also a graduate course in physical chem istry laboratory. An unusual opportunity is afforded in t h e course by Professor Cleaveland on "Chemical Conversions b y Means of Microorganisms." The importance of the microorgan isms in chemical manufacture is stressed. Professor Lankelma will offer a course of thirty lectures in "The Chemistry of Essen tial Oils and Natural and Synthetic Drugs." Professor Booth will give a lecture and laboratory course in "Chemical Micros copy" and also a course in "Advanced Chemical Microscopy." The summer session opens June 19, 1933.
SUMMER
CHEMICAL E N G I N E E R I N G C O U R S E T H E OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
AT
T H E DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING at The Ohio
State University will offer a continuation of its usual summer program, which will include fundamental lecture and laboratory courses in chemical engineering and industrial chemistry for graduate and advanced undergraduate students and research courses for graduate students. Formal lecture work in t h e field of the organic chemical industry will be offered, while laboratory work will be largely devoted to the technical testing, analysis, and evaluation of the products of chemical industry,
178
N E W S
E D I T I O N
based upon t h e standard methods of t h e American Society for Testing Materials. Arrangements have been provided for gradu ate students t o carry on chemical engineering investigations involving t h e use of large-scale equipment, and an extensive supply of miscellaneous research apparatus and equipment will be available. There will b e opportunity for advanced work in related fields in chemistry a n d other departments. Programs of graduate students will be s o arranged as t o permit them t o take advantage of the offerings of other departments if they desire. Inquiries should be addressed to James It. Withrow, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Vol. 11, N o . 11 PHILLIPS MEDALIST,
i n the AMERICAN THREE
ILLINOIS C H E M I S T S
HONORED
O N M A Y 21, informal exer cises were held in t h e Chemis try Library a t the University of Illinois for t h e presentation of p o r t r a i t s of three of Illinois , most distinguished chemists—
THE
fche
C H I SIGMA A W A R D S
MEMBERSHIP
in
the
A. C. S.
AMERICAN
MEMBERSHIPS
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY
awarded annually b y Alpha Sigma Chapter of Alpha C h i S i g m a goes this year t o Chatten R. Haynes, of Camden, Ark., a senior in chemical engineering. T h i s award is made b y v o t e of fche chapter t o one of the four best students in t h e senior class in chemistry or chemical engineering a t the University of Arkansas. William S. Hayden, of Dahlgren, Va., i s the winner of the a n nual award made b y Alpha Kappa Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigxna t o the outstanding third-year student in chemistry or chemical engineering t o be designated by t h e chemistry faculty of -the University of Virginia. Mr. Hayden is a member of t h e T a u B e t a P i engineering fraternity, and i s the first student in chemical engineering t o receive t h e Alpha Chi Sigma prize, consisting of
NOTES
A. W. Palmer, S. W. Parr, and W. A. Noyes—from the Asso ciation of Illinois Chemists t o the University of Illinois. Pro fessor Palmer was head of the Chemistry Department a t the
CHEMICAL SOCIETY, which is given to
student who is a candidate for the bachelor of science degree in chemistry and w h o has the best record for the first three y e a r s . H e is a member of Pi T a u Phi and Phi Lambda Upsilon. The Phillips Medal is awarded annually in memory of the l a t e Francis Clifford Phillips, who was professor of chemistry in fche University of Pittsburgh from 1875 to 1915. ALPHA
W. A.
1933
JOSEPH PHILLIPS, who receives the degree of bachelor of science in chemistry in June from t h e University of Pittsburgh, i i a s been awarded t h e Phillips Medal. This honor i s conferred upon t h e student a t the University of Pittsburgh who is a c a n d i date for said degree and w h o has t h e highest scholastic record during t h e four years of his residence. A t the end of h i s fresh m a n year h e was awarded t h e Phi Lambda Upsilon prize for fche highest honor among freshmen chemists a n d chemical engineers. A t the close of t h e junior y e a r he was awarded a m e m b e r s h i p
membership in t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.
A#
w . PALMER
University of Illinois from 1894 to 1904; Professor Parr was professor of applied chemistry from 1890 t o 1926; and Pro fessor Noyes was head of the de partment from 1907 t o 1926. Norman W. Krase, Ί 8 , who had charge of the arrangements for t h e painting of the portraits, presided. Roger Adams, pres ent head of the Department of C h e m i s t r y , a f t e r speaking briefly of t h e h i s t o r y of t h e Chemistry Department at the "university of Illinois and of the accomplishments of Professors Palmer, Parr, and Noyes, pre sented the portraits to the uni versity. P r e s i d e n t Harry W. PARR Woodburn Chase accepted the portraits. W. A. Noyes related some of the interesting facts connected with the development of the Chemistry Department with which he has been so long associated. O R E G O N H I G H SCHOOL P R I Z E C O N T E S T U N D E R T H E A U S P I C E S of th e Oregon Section of the AMERICAN
CHEMICAL SOCIETY, the fifth annual high school prize contest for chemistry in t h e state has been concluded, and on t h e basis of examina uons given t o teams in 2 8 high schools, first place was won b y the Ashland Senior High School. Second place was won b y the Washington High School, Portland; three teams tied for third; and another three for fourth place, there being less than t e n points difference between the rating of the first and the eighth teams. Teams were made up on a per capita basis, high schools having 24 or fewer students enrolled in second semester chemistry on April 7, entering a team of three students each. High schools having 25 or more students entered one additional member for each full quota of 10 students above 15. T h e basis of the contest was an examination o n five questions, each with a value of 2 0 points, with a sixth question being offered as a substitute for any one of t h e others. T h e examination required about 2.5 hours, and was based on one year of high school chemistry. A suitably engraved trophy will be presented at the commence ment exercises b y a representative of the Oregon Section and it will be t h e permanent property of the Ashland Senior High School. T h e contest committee consisted of F. L. Cooper and R. K. Strong. T h e winning team will represent t h e state in t h e Pacific Coast contest of the American Association for t h e Ad vancement of Science this month.
SABATIER RECEIVES FRANKLIN
MEDAL
T H E S E C O N D F R A N K L I N M E D A L has been awarded
toQPauI
Sabatier, dean of t h e F a c u l t y of Science of Toulouse University, Toulouse, France, in recognition of his numerous and fruitful contributions t o t h e general field of chemistry, and especially t o organic chemistry, in which h e discovered the catalytic a c t i v i t y of finely divided common metals a n d devised methods for tfcieir use in science and industry. AWARD THE
HERTY
OF H E R T Y
MEDAL
FOR 1933
M E D A L for
1933 was presented to Fred Allison, of Auburn, Ala., for his work on magneto-optics on May 26 at the meeting of t h e Georgia Section of the AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SO
CIETY a t the Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, Ga, The official presentation took place at 8 P. M., when Miss India Brown, p r e s i d e n t of the College C h e m i s t r y Club, gave t h e medal t o Osborn E . Quayle, president of the s e c t i o n , w h o asked Sam Guy, chairman of the com mittee, t o make the official report on t h e award. The presentation a d d r e s s was made b y Charles H . Herty, and Doctor Allison in accepting the medal spoke of the applications of magneto-optics. Prior to t h e presentation, the ladies of the College Chemistry Club were hostesses a t an informal tea i n the boxwood gardens of Westover Plantation at 5 P. M., and at 6 : 3 0 they were the guests of t h e college a t an informal banquet in t h e dining hall of the famous old governor's mansion. The Herty Medal, awarded by t h e Chemists Club cooperating with t h e Department of Chemistry of t h e Georgia State College for Women and friends of Doctor Herty, is awarded annirally for t h e most outstanding work done in t h e field of c h e m i s t r y in the South. I t is financed b y the interest of a student loan fund» known as the Herty trust fund. T H E D A Y T O N SECTION of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY- an
nounces election of the following officers a t its meeting o n M a y 9, 1933: Chairman, Carroll A . Hochwalt; Vice Chairman, î?aul Rothemund; Secretary, Fred H. Pfarrer; Treasurer, W i l b u i A. Yackley.
June 10, 1 9 3 3
I N D U S T R I A L
CHEMISTS' C L U B ELECTS
A N D
E N G I N E E R I N G
OFFICERS
L E W I S H . M A R K S , executive secretary o f the Industrial Alcohol Institute, was elected president of The Chemists' Club at i t s annual meeting on M a y 3, 1933. D o c t o r Marks has been active in t h e affairs of the club for some years past, having most recently served as chairman of t h e house committee a n d as a member of t l i e committee i n charge of recent improvements. T h e other officers of t h e club e l e c t e d to serve for t h e year 1 0 3 3 - 3 4 are: r e s i d e n t vice p r e s i d e n t , W a l t e r S. Landis, American Cyajiamid C o . ; nonresident vice president, Victor G . Bloede, Victor G. Bloede Co., Baltimore, M d . ; secretary, Robert T. Baldwin, Treasurer of
the
AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY; treasurer, Stephen J. W h i t e , N i a g a r a Alkali C o . ; t r u s t e e s (for t h r e e y e a r s ) Frederick E. Breithut, Brookl y n College of the College of t h e City of New Y o r k ; and Burke Blank & Stoller, Inc. H . Knight, K n i g h t & Clarke. tfiwis H . MARKS The condition o f the club a s shown b y reports of officers and committees presented at t h e annual meeting is good, despite t h e loss of members occasioned b y the bad business situation generally.
C H E M I S T R Y
I believe t b a t Mr. Tumbler's letter makes i t evident that I do not endorse the claims m a d e either in his catalog or in any of his paid advertisements. I should be glad if y o u could publish this communication in t h e N E W S EDITION SO t h a t t h e whole matter m a y become one of public record. W H E E L E R P. D A V E Y P E N N S Y L V A N I A S T A T E COLLEGE, STATE C O L L E G E , P A .
M a y 29, 1933
CATALOG
O F D A V E Y ' S N A M E UNAUTHORIZED I N A U T O M O B I L E P O L I S H ADVERTISING
Editor, News Edition, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: •The J. A. Tumbler Laboratories o f Baltimore, M d . , have circulated certain printed matter in connection w i t h a n automobile polish in which t h e y m a k e truly remarkable claims for p u t t i n g back into a lacquer materials said t o be taken out b y the sun's rays. In t h i s printed matter t h e y have made unauthorized use of my name in such a way as t o make i t appear that t h e article b y Duncan, Wiggam, a n d D a v e y [LND. Ê N G . CHEM., 23, 9 0 4 - 6 (1931)J supported their opinion as to the effect of light on lacquers. Until I saw their printed matter, I had never even heard of t h e J. A. Tumbler laboratories nor of their products. Since no one could possibly read into t h e published article a n y t h i n g which w o u l d support the published claims of the J . A. Tumbler Laboratories, I demanded a public apology and retraction on t h e part of t h e J. A . Tumbler Laboratories. I h a v e received in reply t w o letters. T h efirst,from G. F . Smith, general sales manager, s t a t e s : " O n behalf of ^Ir. Tumbler and this organization, I want t o extend o u r sheerest apology for the unauthorized u s e of your name, "which w a s done without the knowledge and consent of our executive officers.." T h e second letter from J. A. Tumbler is as follows: PROFESSOR W H E E L E R P . D A V E T , PENNSYLVANIA STATE C O L L E G E , STATE COLLEGE, P A .
Dear Sir: I n our catalog a n d nowhere else, the following appeared: W H A T L A C Q U E R O X I D A T I O N IS
The ultra-violet rays of the sun, accelerated by dements of the atmosphere, rob lacquer of essential ingredients, causing drying-out of the finish, dulled luster, "checking," and subsurface cracking. This trteth, discovered several years ago by J. A. Tumbler, was recently substantiated by Dr. Wheeler P. Davey, of Pennsylvania State College {who, in j>art, states the effect was traced to "ester gums" in lacquer), a n d b y Dr. J . S. L o n g of Lehigh University w h o eaid " A u t o finishes become ' s u n b u r n e d ' in ultra-violet, r a y s of sunshine as t r u l y as d o unprotected h u m a n skins.'* Y o u h a v e written u s stating that t h i s article gives the impression t h a t you have a c c e p t e d employment from u s . We d o not believe that t h e article gives such a n impression. However, we want t o correct a n y possible erroneous impression a n d w e therefore state t h a t y o u have never accepted e m ployment from u s , t h a t you a r e n o t one of our consultant chemists, and t h a t the basis for the above was a n article in t h e Evening Sun of October 18, 1932. Secondly, you s t a t e t h a t y o u are unwilling to have y o u r n a m e used in connection with t h e s t a t e m e n t above italicized. "We a r e withdrawing y o u r n a m e from this s t a t e m e n t a n d on a reexamination of t h e article in t h e Evening Sun of October 18, 1932, we find t h a t the italicized s t a t e m e n t is reported t o express t h e views of a man who h a s made scientific experiments in t h i s field. H o w e v e r , it w a s a n error to attribute thh s t a t e m e n t to y o u and we a r e sorry t h a t w e fell i n t o this error. T h e employee who w a s responsible for this error is n o longer in o u r employ a n d we therefore have n o way t o discipline him for his m i s t a k e . ΒΑΙ/ΠΜΟΒΕ, M D .
M a y 23, 1933
J, A.
TUMBLER L A B O R A T O R I E S
O F ALCHEMICAL
MANUSCRIPTS
A D E S C R I P T I V E CATALOG of alchemical manuscripts in the
United States and Canada has recently been undertaken by the Library of Congress in cooperation with t h e American Council of Learned Focieties. I t i s t h e intention t o describe w i t h con siderable fullness all pertinent items in Latin or Greek and also (if they do n o t prove embarrassingly numerous) i n t h e vernacular languages of Europe. T h e Census of Medieval a n d Renaissance Manuscripts i n the U n i t e d States and Canada, prepared under t h e same auspices and now in t h e press, lists some 2 5 manuscripts on the subject, but these are all prior t o t h e year 1600. For the present purpose there is n o time limit; handwritten treatises on alchemy of e v e n t h e present century, if such exist, m a y be in cluded. Anyone w h o can give information regarding t h e loca tion of alchemical manuscripts in this country i s sirged t o com municate w i t h W. J. Wilson, Director of Project E , Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D . C .
AMERICAN USE
179
POTASH A N D CHEMICAL
CORP.
A BOOKLET describing t h e development and unusual features of the plant a n d process a t Trona, Calif., which since 1917 have produced from Searles Lake brine a considerable portion of the potash consumed i n America, has recently been issued under t h e title of " T h e Story of t h e American Potash & Chemical Corporation.'' Pictures show recent additions t o the plant and the town of Trona. The booklet is an attractive one of 2 5 pages and is available on request from the American Potash & Chemical Corp., 233 Broadway, N e w York, Ν . Υ .
Necrology WILLIAM P.
RYAN
WILLIAM P . R Y A N , professor and head of the Chemical Engi neering Department of t h e Massachusetts Institute of Tech nology, died suddenly at his home in Wollaston M a y 3 1 , at t h e age of 38. Professor R y a n w a s graduated from the Massachu setts Institute of Technology in 1918, w a s appointed instructor in chemical engineering practice in 1920, and i n 1921 w a s made director of t h e chemical engineering practice station a t Bangor, Me. I n 1922 he returned t o Cambridge as assistant professor and director of chemical engineering practice. H e was advanced to associate professor in 1927 and in 1929 w a s appointed head of the Chemical Engineering Department. Professor R y a n enlisted as a private in 1917 and in 1919 was commissioned a lieutenant in t h e Chemical Warfare Service. H e was a member of t h e American Institute of Chemical Engineers and of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, serving as chairman of
the Northeastern Section in 1931-32, and being a local councilor at the time of his death. H e is survived by h i s wife and three daughters. GUY CLINTON TOWNSEND
G U Y CLINTON T O W N S E N D , who for the past five years had been associated w i t h the Advertising Department of INDUSTRIAL AND E N G I N E E R I N G CHEMISTRY and the Chemical Catalog C o . in N e w
York, died of typhoid fever at t h e Essex County Isolation Hos pital o n M a y 25 after a brief illness. Mr. Townsend w a s a graduate of Harvard w h o had spent his entire business experience in the field of industrial publishing. His early work had been with the Hill Publishing Co., and he had held responsible executive positions with McGraw-Hill and t h e Chilton Class Journal. A t the time of his death h e was a tower of strength in t h e Advertising Department of INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, where his keen insight into the market ing problems of industries was particularly welcome to manufac turers of equipment and materials alike. The genuineness of his interest and his sincerity were appreciated everywhere, and h e had built u p a wide circle of loyal friends. Mr. Townsend is sur vived b y his wife and three children.
