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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
2 . E should be of sufficient volume below G t o p r e v e n t air f r o m e n t e r i n g t h e s y p h o n between A a n d E while filling t h e b u r e t t e . 3. T h e side op,ening I p r e v e n t s air bubbles from e n t e r i n g t h e syphon. 4. D should be of sufficient volume below H t o p r e v e n t breaking t h e s y p h o n between D a n d B. A four or six ounce s a l t - m o u t h b o t t l e serves t h e purpose. j. C m u s t e x t e n d a b o v e H.
J
U Fig. I represents a n a r r a n g e m e n t for use of liquids which m u s t n o t be p e r m i t t e d t o come i n c o n t a c t with r u b b e r . A silver stopcock permits t h e use of lye. W h e n t h i s precaution is n o t necessary t h e container A m a y be s t o p p e r e d with a one-hole s t o p p e r bearing a glass t u b e corresponding t o t h e lower e n d of E , which i n t u r n is inserted in D inverted. A a n d D a r e now i n v e r t e d a n d placed on a s u p p o r t a n d B connected a s i n Fig, I . T h i s eliminates E a n d i t s connections. I n order t o fill t h e s y p h o n s h o w n i n Fig. I , t h e air passage is disconnected a t J a n d pinched. Apply suction t o a r u b b e r t u b e connected t o K, a n d bearing a pinch-cock, till D is filled. Close t h e pinch-cock, connect J , fill B b y suction applied t o C , a n d remove t h e r u b b e r t u b e from K. B y regulating t h e height of t h e lower e n d of C, t h e b u r e t t e m a y be a d j u s t e d t o deliver a n y desired volume. Fig. z represents a f o r m of a p p a r a t u s which would eliminate t w o r u b b e r s t o p p e r s a n d all inconvenience arising from t h e leaks which t h e y develop u p o n
deterioration. glass-blower.
This
could
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Vol. j, No. 9
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NUTRITION LABORATORY OF CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY BERKELEY
IMPROVED GOOCH CRUCIBLE HOLDER B y LORINH. B A I L ~ Y Received June 30 1913
There h a v e been developed i n t h e Bureau of C h e m i s t r y several forms of Gooch crucible holders. E a c h f o r m . while differing s o m e w h a t i n detail from t h e others, h a s for its foundation principle t h e s u b s t i t u t i o n of a solid r u b b e r holder for t h e rubber-covered glass Gooch holder which h a s been i n almost universal use. T h e particular form s h o w n i n t h e accompanying illustrat i o n h a s been i n use i n t h e P l a n t Chemistry L a b o r a t o r y for a b o u t a year a n d h a s given good satisfaction. It h a s also met t h e a p p r o v a l of a n u m b e r of visiting chemists. T h i s holder is m a d e t o fit a n ordin a r y z-inch funnel which is inserted i n a one-hole r u b b e r s t o p p e r i n a regular suction flask. T h e u p p e r edge of t h e holder projects over t h e edge of t h e funnel a n d t h u s m a k e s t h e seal. T h e lower edge of t h e holder rests o n t h e side of t h e funnel a n d s u p p o r t s t h e holder when t h e suction is on t h e flask. T h e opening is m a d e t o conform t o t h e size of t h e 2 5 cc. porcelain Gooch crucible, a n d t h e lower surface of t h e crucible projects beyond t h e holder so t h a t t h e filtrate does n o t come i n c o n t a c t with it. These holders can be c u t f r o m No. 1 2 r u b b e r stoppers, which was a t first done, or t h e y can be obt a i n e d a l r e a d y molded f r o m some of t h e large chemicala p p a r a t u s s u p p l y houses. BUREAUO F CHEMISTRY WASHINGTON
NOTE ON PRODUCER GAS ANALYSIS By JAMESG. VAIL Received June 26, 1913
I n t h e analysis of producer gas with t h e Williams modification of t h e Orsat a p p a r a t u s or with Moreh e a d a p p a r a t u s t h e residual gas after t h e absorption of COz, illuminants, 0 a n d CO i n t h e usual m a n n e r is often t o o lean t o be exploded without t h e addition of hydrogen. As t h e r e m a y be a certain a m o u n t of inconvenience a n d s o m e u n c e r t a i n t y a s t o t h e p u r i t y of t h e hydrogen, I h a v e f o u n d t h e following procedure more satisfactory for enriching t h e gas t o a point where it m a y readily be m a d e t o explode. After t h e usual absorptions C O z , illurninants, 0, CO, t h e residual gas is passed i n t o t h e CO? absorption p i p e t t e or i n t o t h e reservoir provided for t h e purpose i n t h e Moreh e a d a p p a r a t u s a n d t h e measuring b u r e t t e filled with water (acidified with sulfuric acid) which h a s previously been cooled t o room t e m p e r a t u r e . A c u r r e n t of 6 or 8 volts passed between t h e electrodes used for t h e explosion will quickly produce enough of
S e p t . , 1913
T H E JOL-R-\’AL
OF I N D U S T R I A L A S D EA\*GISEERI.YG C H E ; Z f I S T R Y
a m i x t u r e of h y d r o g e n and o x y g e n i n molecular p r o p o r t i o n s t o sufficiently e n r i c h the gas. This v o l u m e is r e a d off and a s a m p l e a d d e d and t h e whole d i l u t e d with air a n d , after t h o r o u g h m i x t u r e , exploded in t h e u s u a l
manner. This simplifies t h e calculation of r e s u l t s as t h e v o l u m e
of h y d r o g e n - o x y g e n m i x t u r e added m a y be subt r a c t e d f r o m t h e t o t a l c o n t r a c t i o n d u e t o explosion a n d t h e H and C H a~n d calculated though it h a d not been necessary to enrich the gas. CHESTER,PA. I
ADDRESSES THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES AND THE UNIVERSITIES’ By MARSTON TAYLOR BOGERT
Before this audience it is wholly unnecessary to dwell upon the tremendous importance of chemistry to the material growth and prosperity of the nation, or its vital bearing upon the health and happiness of the individual. Suffice it to point out that the amount of a country’s appreciation of the value of chemistry in its development and the extent to which it fosters the manifold applications of this science in its every-day life is generally a measure not only of the industrial progress and supremacy of that country, but also of its real civilization. Two of the most important factors in the advancement of chemistry are the universities and the chemical industries, and it is consequently a matter of concern to all of us whether they are working together a t present to the best advantage or not. My own observation leads me to believe that they are not, and this address is intended primarily to indicate some of the lines along which it seems to me there might be much closer cooperation. As the majority of my fellow-members are themselves manufacturers, or are connected in one way or another with our chemical industries, I shall endeavor to present the case principally from the university side, and I trust that what I shall have to say will be judged from this point of view. Robinson has defined education as “the process of fitting the individual to take his place and do his part in the life of his age and nation,” and no educational institution a t the present day can discharge its responsibilities faithfully unless it accords, in its equipment and in its curricula, adequate recognition to so comprehensive a science as chemistry, which in its wide sweep, in one way or another, touches almost every phase of human life and endeavor. That our universities are realizing this more clearly every day seems evidenced by the frequent construction of new laboratories and the steadily increasing size of the chemical staff. It is worth noting that, almost without exception, additional laboratory accommodations are immediately taken up by an increased number of students. As indicative of the extent to which chemistry enters into our modern university curricula, I may be permitted to refer to my own Alma Mater, Columbia University, where this subject is taught under seven of the eleven constituent faculties; and, as proof of the demand for higher education in this same field, I would call attention to the doctorates conferred in 1 9 1 1 (the latest compilation I have seen; Science, N. S., 36, 1 2 9 , Aug. 2/12) by the leading universities of the United States, when more than twice as many were awarded in chemistry as in any other subject (78 out of a total of 49z), the nearest competitor being English (with 34). The universities are active in everything which concerns the life and welfare of the nation, and it can be truly said of them, in the words of Terence, “humani nil a me alienum puto.” So far as the chemical industries are concerned, it should not be overlooked that the universities, in addition to training chemists, also educate men for the non-chemical positions, whether clerical, financial, or commercial; and that everything which they accom1 President’s address at the thirty-second annual general meeting of the Society of Chemical Industry, Liverppol, England, July 16, 1913. Reproduced from the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, 14, 7 2 0 .
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plish to increase the security of the rights of the individual or of property, or which ministers to the general prosperity, comfort and happiness of the nation, is obviously of direct advantage t o the chemical manufacturer as well, and in all such matters therefore the universities have the right to expect cordial and active cooperation on the part of our chemical industries. I n the training of men for the chemical profession we are all immediately interested, and in this direction the universities are doing the best they can with staff and equipment available and with the raw material represented by the student body. Equipment and staff are increased as funds are provided and entrance and graduation requirements steadily advance. The chemical industries can and do cooperate by giving employment to properly trained and qualified graduates; and higher training, as represented for example by a higher degree should, other things being a t all approximately equal, secure for a man a higher initial salary. It goes without saying that the salary should in any event be a fair one, commensurate with the service the man is expected to render, and with good chance of promotion for demonstrated efficiency and ability. I n many cases, chemists employed by manufacturing concerns are required to execute iron-clad contracts by which they definitely waive all patent rights to anything they may discover while in the employ of the company. These discoveries then become the property of the employer, who is under no legal obligation to remunerate his chemist therefor. Employers, however, who are really desirous of assisting the universities in their work of training chemists, will see to it that their chemists are well rewarded for all discoveries of value. Many of our leading chemical manufacturers have cooperated with the universities very helpfully with advice and suggestions in arranging the most effective curriculum for the training of the industrial or engineering chemist. But the curriculum is not everything, and even with the best one possible it is not an easy matter to turn out men who, in addition to adequate scientific training, are clear-headed and masterful, honorable and dependable, sober and of high moral tone, of broad and creative scholarship and conspicuous inventive ability, of unwearying energy, and with the necessary health and physique to stand plenty of hard work. Of course, such paragons are scarce and much sought for in all lines of human activity. Nor is it ordinarily feasible for a university to turn out men who are experts in the manufacturing details of the various lines of chemical industry. The best they can do is to give their men the necessary broad, theoretical and practical foundation upon which all lines of chemical manufacturing rest. Munitiae can be learned only in special schools or, preferably, in the plant itself, and manufacturers can help here by giving a good man a chance to learn these details. Many a high-class university graduate has lost his first position because of his employer’s impatience in this respect. And yet, if the manufacturer but knew it, ‘he is often throwing away gold and accepting dross in exchange. The properly trained chemical graduate is, in the vast majority of cases, a far more valuable man to a chemical concern than the employee who knows only mechanical details and has not had the benefit of any real scientific education. At first the latter may appear to greater advantage because of his familiarity with
