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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
The phosphomolybdate solutions after titration are filtered through glass wool to remove paper pulp and combined with the filtrates and washings separated from the yellow precipitates. To this is added a n excess of a saturated solution of ammonium phosphate, and after standing a t least over night, the supernatant liquid is siphoned off. When a convenient amount of ammonium phosphomolybdate has been collected in this manner, it is washed by decantation with hot water until the washings begin t o come through cloudy, requiring about z 1. of water for each IOO g. of precipitate. After washing, the precipitate is dried on the steam bath and contains approximately 9 2 per cent of molybdic acid (85 per cent MOOS). Five hundred and ten grams of the dry salt are dissolved in ammonium hydroxide made by diluting 620 cc. of ammonia (0.90 sp. gr.) t o 1000 cc. To this a solution of 85 g. of magnesium nitrate in zoo cc. of water is added, and after settling for z or 3 hrs. the filtrate is tested for phosphorus by adding a
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Mr. Ellwood Hendrick lectured on “Science in the Humanities,” at Columbia University, on December 4, 1916,under the combined auspices of the Gamma Chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon and the Institute of Arts and Sciences. The Dyestuffs Census compiled by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce is now available in its revised form. Provost Edgar F. Smith, of the University of Pennsylvania, visited Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, where he was professor of Natural Science in the early eighties, and the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, on November 24, 1916, where he delivered a lecture before the Columbus Section of the American Chemical Society on “Robert Hare, a Pioneer American Chemist.” Dr. 0. R. Sweeney, for the past six years instructor in qualitative analysis a t the University of Pennsylvania, has been appointed instructor in industrial chemistry at the Ohio State University where he formerly graduated from the chemical engineering course. Mr. George A. Burrell, consulting chemical engineer and president of the Natural Gas Products Company of Pittsburgh, was in Louisiana last month making tests of natural gas for gasoline content with the view of installing absorption plants. The Natural Gas Products Company uses an absorption process, worked out by Mr. Burrell, that is independent of other processes. The President and Council of the Royal Society, London, have made the following awards: A “Royal” Medal to Dr. J. S. Haldane for research in chemical physiology; a “Royal” Medal t o Mr. H. M. Macdonald for research in mathematical physics; “Copley” Medal to Sir James Dewar for research in physical chemistry; “Rumford” Medal to Prof. W. H. Bragg for research in X-ray radiation; “Davy” Medal to M. Henri Louis Le Chatelier for research in chemistry; “Darwin” Medal t o Prof. Yves Delage for research in zoology and botany; “Sylvester” Medal to M. Jean Gaston Darboux for research in mathematical science; “Hughes” Medal to Prof. Elihu Thomson for research in electricity. Dr. H. E. Armstrong has been elected a manager of the Royal Institution, t o succeed the late Prof. Sylvanus P. Thompson.
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few cc. to double the amount of nitric acid (I : 2.5). It is important not to add the acid to the ammoniacal filtrate so as t o avoid the precipitation of molybdic acid which might be mistaken for phosphomolybdate. If a yellow precipitate is formed, more magnesium nitrate must be added. When precipitation is complete the magnesium ammonium phosphate is filtered off, washed, and the filtrate made up t o a volume of 2 1. Two liters of concentrated nitric acid are diluted to 4668 cc. and both solutions are allowed t o cool. The ammonium molybdate solution is now added very slowly t o the nitric acid with constant stirring, preferably by means of filtered compressed air, timing the addition so that it will require a t least an hour. The solution is allowed to stand over night, or preferably several days, and after filtering 320 cc. of concentrated nitric acid are added. The resulting solution is ready for use. CHEMICAL LABORATORY, ARMOUR & COMPANY UNIONSTOCK YARDS,CHICAGO
PERSONAL NOTES
The Youngstown Chemists’ Club, recently organized, held its first regular meeting on December 14, 1916. The officers elected are: President, Edwin G. Pierce, consulting chemist; Secretary, Carl Weesner, Carnegie Steel Company; Treasurer, H. E. Moyer, Brier Hill Steel Company.
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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has appointed the following assistants, with the grade of instructors, t o the new chemical engineering stations: Bangor, Me., Wilfred A. Wylde; Everett, Mass., William B. Leach, Jr.; Niagara Falls, Winthrop E. Caldwell; Stamford, Conn., Edwin S. Wallace; Allentown, Pa., John S. Little. Azel W. Mack has been appointed research assistant in applied chemistry. Emeritus Professor John Ferguson, who held the regius chair of chemistry in the University of Glasgow from 1874t o 1915, died November 3, 1916,aged seventy-nine years. Dr. Rudolph R. Rosenbaum, formerly of the Central Commercial Company, Chicago, has opened the “Western Chemical Laboratories” a t j 3 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago.
It is reported that the Swedish Academy of Science has decided not to award this year the Nobel prizes for physics and chemistry. Mr. Clarence W. Marsh, engineer, announces the establishment of his New York office a t IOI Park Ave. Dr. G. H. A. Clowes, director of the Gratwick Research Laboratory, spoke on “Colloidal Equilibrium” a t the December 8th meeting of the Indiana Section of the A. C. S. Dr. Wilder D. Bancroft will address the Indiana Section on March g, 1917,and Dr. E. V. McCollum on May 11, 1917. Dr. Severance Burrage, of the Indiana Section, is leaving Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, t o take up a new work a t the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. Dr. Burrage has been in Indiana for z I years as professor of biology a t Purdue University and later as director of the biological laboratories of Eli Lilly & Company. The new address of the General Bakelite Company is z Rector Street, New York City.
It is planned t o erect a memorial a t the University of Vermont to the late Prof. N. S. Merrill, of the department of chemistry. Prof. E. C. Jacobs has been appointed chairman of a committee for this purpose. The University of Washington campus has been selected as the site of the government mining and metallurgical station for the Pacific Northwest states, to the maintenance of which Congress appropriated $25,000 a year. Dorsey A. Lyon, formerly professor of mining engineering a t the University of Washington, will be in charge of the station. Dr. V. A. Coulter, P.hD., has been appointed assistant professor of chemistry in the University of North Carolina.
