Industrial and Engineering
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Volume 6
JANUARY 20, 1928
Number 2
Second Organic Symposium The Second Symposium of the Division of Organic Chemistry
in organic compounds when ruptured by heat, and the importance" t o chemistry of this relationship. Ohio, on December 29-31, 1927, with the Columbus Section E. C. Franklin showed that t h e reactions of hydrazoic acid acting as t h e host. Chairman C. E. Boord was the welcoming are comparable in arnmono chemistry t o those of nitric acid i n official of t h e entertaining section and i n that capacity directed aquo chemistry. all of the arrangements pertinent t o the comfort and convenience J. A . Nieuwland's presentation was devoted t o the mechanism of t h e guests. W i t h but one exception the entire program, of t h e reactions of acetylene in the presence of a number of including luncheons and dinners, was presented in the Old metallic compounds. His account of the reactions of amChemistry Building and monium cuprazochloride the Faculty Club a t the w a s of very great i n Ohio State University. terest. The registration The spirit and enthusishowed an attendance of asm of the Symposium three hundred and fiftyreached a high point in five chemists. T h e prot h e presentation of Paul gram was p u r p o s e l y Walden, the p r e s e n t planned for serious busiG e o r g e F i s h e r Baker ness with n o place for Non-Resident Lecturer general excursions» and a t Cornell University. the interest of aU was T h i s w a s particularly e v i n c e d b y an almost evinced by a remark from prompt and complete at Doctor Hudson: " N o w tendance a t all o f the that we know Professor sessions. T h e s t r i c t l y Walden, we should n o social side w a s relegated longer speak of ' Walden's to t h e ample luncheon inversion/ b u t prefera n d dinner hours and ably of 'Paul Walden's after each of t h e two inversion.'" The evening sessions, a t one speaker in describing h i s of which the ladies o f the work manifested a fund Local Section were the o f h u m o r which porhostesses. trayed his excellent personality. A s i d e from t h e colNorris ; F r o n t R o w : , C . F r a n k l i n , W. A. N o y e s , P a u l W a l d e n , a n d J. Roger Adams made i n loquia and t w o other oc Rear R o w : C. E . Boord, W . L. Evans part a progress report o n casions, the m e e t i n g s the work which he is d o were presided over b y the ing on the synthesis of compounds which have a bactericichairman, W . L. Evans. Charles D . Kurd was the acting secre dal action toward Bacillus leprae. He enumerated a large list tary i n the forced absence of P. C. Whitmore. All of the papers of classes of compounds which are being studied for this purpose. brought forth pertinent and generous discussions. Doctor Adams has been able synthetically to produce acids, t h e C. S. Hudson showed t h a t we could predict the physical and esters of which are five t o six times a s effective as the correchemical properties of some of t h e higher saccharides b y a study sponding derivatives of chaulmoogric acid, with illustrations of t h e of their configurational structure from the standpoint of the effect of the esters of hydnocarpic acid o n typical cases of leprosy. hexose sugars. Homer Adkins described his work dealing with Charles H. Herty gave a careful account of the present status some of t h e relations of t h e structure to t h e reactivity and of the organic chemical interests i n America, in which he directed affinity manifested at oxygen-to-carbon linkages and carbon-toattention t o the new European combines in the nitrogen fixation carbon linkages. and d y e industries. American capital is being sought for t h e W. L-. Evans' paper dealt with t h e mechanism of t h e oxidation furtherance of these foreign projects which, in t h e last analysis, of glucose, fructose, and galactose by copper acetate in aqueous is extremely likely t o undermine these competitive industries solutions. in America. These loans also m a k e it possible for our European H. S. Fry gave b i s classification into type reactions of the ac competitors to offer extensive time credit to our mutual markets, tion of alkali hydroxides o n several types of organic compounds. particularly South America. H e offered no objection to giving In t h e evening Graham Edgar presented a description of the financial assistance i n getting Europe o n its feet, b u t was i n preparation and properties of trie nine isomeric heptanes and sistent that w e should exercise a keen sense of discretion as to showed specimens o f each. He pointed out that the small differ what use is t o be made o f these foreign flotations. Congress ences in physical constants hitherto attributed to experimental has seriously a t heart t h e development and maintenance of a error were, in fact, of deep-seated origin. T h e behavior of strong American chemical industry as essential to our wealth, these heptanes i n the automotive internal-combustion engine health, and security. Therefore, why should w e defeat our o w n was comparable t o cerbji». isomeric octanes; in general, the home efforts? greater the branching, the less the knock. Oliver Kamm first called attention t o the pituitrin extract A. J. Hill gave a n account of the synthesis of certain derivatives obtained from one o f the lobes of the pituitary body. There of naphthalene which possessed pronounced local anesthetic has been some question as to whether t h i s extract consisted of a properties. His work also dealt with some o f the differences single hormone, as i t s medical administration has long been known, produced b y substitutions i n the a and β positions in t h e naphtha to give two effects: (1) rise of Wood pressure; una (2) the con.— lene ring. J . F. îsTorcis described his studies of velocity constants of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY w a s held in Columbus,
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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
traction of t h e uterine muscle quite frequently accompanied by diuresis. K a m m h a s separated two definite bodies (CK- and βhypophysin). The one produces contraction of the uterine muscle with no blood effect, and the other h a s t h e reverse, plus the diuretic effect. A pîiysician m a y give a drug for uterine contraction without an at t endant rise of blood pressure. E. C. Kendall described his m e t h o d for measuring t h e oxidation-reduction potentials of adrenaline, adrenalone, carmine red, glutathione and related compounds, a n d pointed out t h e factors •determining their chemical reactivity. T h e paper elicited splendid discussion on t h e part of t h e physiological chemists, particularly the applicati on of t h e methods of physical-chemical measurement in physiologicalchemistry. R. R. Renshaw p o i n t e d out that efforts have been made to connect the ncrcosis value of certain drugs with their partition coefficient. H e felt that t h e solution of a i e problem of correlation lay in t h e application of the laws of energetics to t h e physiological action. J. B . Ccnant determined the changes in Η-ion concentration produced w h e n various organic compounds, such as acetanilide, acetamide, :md similar derivatives, are dissolved in glacial acetic acid. He showed t h a t : Ο ) such measurements could be made; and (2) it is possible to build u p in t h i s w a y a series of buffer solutions which would give color changes in indicators correspond ing to those of the Clark and Lubs series. A. M . Patterson asked Doctor Hurd to present the changes proposed b y the International Committee o n Organic Nomen clature. Vigorous exception w a s taken to some of the proposals. The organic experience meeting under the direction of h. F. Fieser was s o m e w h a t unique. It w a s confined largely to per sonal experiences i n preparing or purifying twenty or more organic compounds. E. J- Crane discussed the policies pursued in the abstracting of organic chemical articles. The remarks of E. C. Britton relative t o the superiority of Chemical A bstracts over t h e other journals of its kind were generously greeted. Under t h e leadership of Roger Adams, the debate on the "Electronic Conceptions in Organic Chemistry," with Doctor Kharasch o n the affirmative against Doctors Conant, Clarke, Norris, and Fry, was extremely spirited. With W. L. E v a n s in the chair, D o c t o r s Adkins, Hufford, Hurd, McPherson, a n d Blanchard gave some vivid cross-sections of the problems in the teaching of organic chemistry. In the discussion of the lecture system Doctor Blanchard brought the program t o a close with the statement, "If y o u really enjoy lecturing t o your students and can fire t h e m with enthusiasm, lec ture t o t h e m ; if y o u d o n ' t enjoy doing it, then for goodness' sake, don't." Adjournment was takeia for two years.
Living Quarters a t t h e A. C . S . I n s t i t u t e of Chemistry The main body o f chemists attending t h e second session of the Institute, w h i c h meets in Evanston, 111., next summer, will live in one large dormitory and a number of nearby smaller dormitories located two blocks from one of the best bathing beaches on I,ake Michigan. The main dormitory, Willard Hall, is provided with a large dining-room which will seat two hundred and five at o n e time, a large hall which will be used for the informal mixers each night, a n d a number of social rooms which can be used for small informal gatherings, bridge foursomes, chess battles, and even for rehearsals of the choral groups which seem to be spontaneously generated when chemists gather—at least a t an Institute of Chemistry. Because t h e Institute m e e t s rom July 23 t o August 18,1928, and thus overlaps the t i m e of the regular summer session of North western University, the dormitories which can b e reserved for the Institute are necessarily limited. Since the greatest good can be obtained from t h e Institute b y living in t h e dormitories with t h e other chemists, i t is highly desirable to make dormitory reservations as soon as possible. Most of t h e rooms are double. The rate for board a n d room is nineteen dollars per week. Reser vations m a y be m a d e w i t h the executive secretary, Charles D . Hurd, Institute of Chemistry, Evanston, 111.
vVillstatter's Lectures Available In April, 1927, Richard "Willstatter, of the University of Munich delivered t w o lectures on "Problems and Methods in Bnzyme Research" a t Cornell University. T h e s e lectures were given on comparatively short notice, s o that a considerable number of those interested d i d not nave a n opportunity to attend. How ever, the Départaient of Chemistry has h a d the lectures prepared for limited distribxition b y means of a grant from the income of the George Irisher jftsker Non-resident Lectureship in Chemistry at Cornell Uk-lyersity, and application for the .book should be m a d e to i_*. M. xjennis.
News
Edition
Thesis Problems for Master's Degree T h e following topics are suggested b y the members o f the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY t o students in small colleges a s good problems for their master's degree theses. Study of solubilities of calcium and magnesium soaps. Equilibrium conditions of solutions of sodium soaps in -which small amounts of calcium and magnesium salts are present, and of softener salts, such as sodium carbonate a n d phosphate. N 2 0 as low-temperature refrigerant. Solvents and solvent mixtures for pyroxylins in different uses. System of accurate and comprehensive gas analysis. Nature of cyclic paraffins and other non-benzenoid bodies in important crude oils. A non-crystallizing high temperature silica refractory body, non-porous and of low expansion. Determination of solubility of inorganic salts in water from the eutectic point to t h e boiling point. Determination of freezing-point diagrams of ternary systems. Solubility determinations in absolute and 9 5 per cent alcohol. Influence of surface tension of boiler waters on their tendency to prime and foam. Influence of viscosity o n the foaming and priming of boiler waters. Influence of the p H value of boiler waters o n their tendency to foam and prime. Influence of the p H value of boiler waters o n pitting a n d corrosion. A method for the determination of surface tension of boiler waters. A method for the determination of the viscosity of boiler waters. Colorimetric determination of p H in soap solutions. Estimation of detergent powers of textile scouring agents. Swelling of wool in solutions of various p H values a n d temperatures. Electrolytic production of quinone. Effect of reducing atmosphere on refractories at high temperatures. The effect of organic compounds—tannins, sugars, and starches—on solubilities and chemical reactions of t h e common alkaline earths a t boiler temperature and pressure. The influence of small quantities of the above organic compounds o n precipitation and crystallization at temperatures from 150°-350° F. What is the relative efficiency of sodium tannate to potassium pyrocallate as a n oxygen absorbent a t various temperatures? In how great dilution is it effective? Factors influencing rate of cooking of macaroni. Measurement of rate of cooking of macaroni products. Factors influencing coefficient of expansion of macaroni. Capillary corrosion of metals [See J. Am. Chem. Soc, 4 7 , 1940 (1925)]. Does camphor in vaseline prevent metal tarnishing a n d if so, how? Also camphor vapor? Corrosion of aluminum a t anode and cathode. Study of magnetic ferric oxide. Study of t h e influence of variations in the method u p o n the dependability of any or all of the analytical methods used in specific and control work, whether of an engineering, food, or merchandising character, using as a basis the standard methods gotten out b y the Government in connection with specifications, or ir connection w i t h the work of t h e official agricultural chemists. Check existing data of specific volume and vapor pressure of chloride from its boiling point to 100 ° C. The analysis of liquid chlorine, particularly for H 2 0 and. HC1. The action of hot concentrated caustic soda o n iron. The expK sive limits of hydrogea-chlorine-air mixtures. Pressures and heat developed in a hydrogen-chlorine-air explosion. Identification and determination of t h e sugars of orange juice. Identification and determination of t h e sugars of lemon juice. Extraction and purification of hesperidin from oranges. The optimum concentration of S 0 2 obtainable through the combustion of sulfur in air, under various pressures. Constitution and properties of hydrocarbons of the gasoline type. T h e formation of gums in unsaturated hydrocarbons. The best filling materials for t h e Hempel column. Rate of evaporation of gasoline into air at temperatures close to the dew point. T h e control of narticle size in reactions involving solid pliases,. An investigation to study the general problem discussed in the paper by Dorr a n d Bull, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 19, 558 (1927). What happens when platinum-ammonium chloride is ignited? W h a t is the effect of slight impurities on t h e surface tension of molten platinum? H e a t of formation or cementite from measurements of the
January
20, 1928
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
heat of formation of ferric chloride from cementite a n d chlorine. Perhaps ditto from bromine and iodine. Composition of hydrocarbons formed b y the action of acids o n Fe 3 C. Composition of hydrocarbons formed b y the action of acids o n Martinsite and Austenite. Composition of hydrocarbons formed by the action of acids o n Boydenite. See location of carbonation in Boydenite {Am, Soc. Steel Testing, 277 (1927)]. K o w should the analytical procedure be changed in accordance with changes in t h e composition of the sample? (a) What is the effect of varying the copper content from 6 0 to 100 per cent? (We are referring particularly now t o t h e simultaneous electrolytic determination of copper a n d lead.) (6) What is the effect of varying the tin from 0 up to 2 p e r cent? (c) What is the effect of varying t h e lead from 0 u p to 3 . 5 percent? id) What effect does iron produce? W h a t is t h e effect of the size of t h e brass chips used; t h e amount and composition and temperature of t h e acid used to dissolve i t ; t h e current density; the acidity of the cell; t h e effect of air agitation i n varying amounts, etc. ? Introduce sulfur into isoprene to form a thiophene derivative. Separation by sublimation of CrCl 3 , A1C13, and FeCl3. (a) Atmospheric pressure. (b) At other pressure. Determination of t h e identity of t h e basic zinc carbonate precipitated from concentrated ZnSOi solutions by concentrated NasC03 solutions. Preparation of N a O H free from carbonate by high t e m perature (110° C.) hydrolysis of CH 3 ONa. Effect of current density on composition of cathode deposit in electrolysis of mixed copper and zinc (brass) solutions of constant composition, using insoluble anode. Distillation under reduced pressure of an aqueous mixture of glycol and glycerol.
Chemical Industry Invited to Trade Conference Marketing and other business problems confronting t h e chemical industry a t home and abroad will be discussed a t a business conference of t h e chemical industry of t h e United S t a t e s which has been called by t h e Department of Commerce for February 16, 1928, in Washington. T h e meeting is being called at t h e suggestion of the Committee of Chemical Execut i v e s appointed by Secretary Hoover to cooperate with t h e Department of Commerce in guiding its market promotion activities. The first meeting of this kind was held in Washington in December, 1926, when a resolution was adopted urging periodical gatherings of t h e same nature. T h e director of t h e Bureau of Foreign a n d Domestic Commerce, Doctor Julius Klein, will be t h e principal speaker. H e will discuss the foreign trade situation on the basis of first-hand information gathered during his extensive tour of Europe, when he attended t h e Economic Conference at Geneva, the International Chamber of Commerce Conference i n Stockholm, a n d t h e meeting of American Trade Representatives i n Vienna. Domestic business impressions obtained as a result of his more recent tour of t h e United States will also be made available to the chemical executives. Doctor Klein will be the first speaker a t t h e morning session, which will open at 10 o'clock. H e will be followed by C . C. Concannon, chief of the Chemical Division of the Department of Commerce; b y Ray M . Hudson, an assistant director of t h e Bureau of Standards, who has specialized for years on problems connected with simplification a n d w a s t e elimination; and b y T. W . Delahanty, assistant chief of the Chemical Division, w h o will discuss opportunities in export trade. A . Cressy Morrison, chairrran of the Department's Chemical Advisory Committee, will preside. A t 2 o'clock the meeting will again convene to hear a n address by Colonel William J . Donovan, assistant t o the United States Attorney General. I t is understood that Mr. Donovan will dwell upon recent developments in Europe connected with t h e consolidation of foreign chemical industries through international agreement. Assistant Commercial Attaché D . J. Reagan, from the Paris office of t h e Commerce Department, and Tradr? Commissioner William T . Daugherty, from i t s Berlin office, are scheduled to appear a t the afternoon session t o discuss conditions of interest t o t h e chemical trade in this country regarding the situation in Kurope. Both of these men have been specializing in chemical matters at their respective posts for some time. T h e afternoon session will conclude with an open forum at which timely qaestkfiAd from the floor will be answered.
General discussions will probably include matters such a s foreign tariffs, trade disputes, foreign credits, domestic distribution problems, statistics, foreign investments, advertising, a n d similar subjects associated with t h e successful transacting of business at h o m e and abroad. In t h e evening Secretary Hoover will be t h e guest of honor a n d the speaker at a banquet.
N. Y. Group of A. C. S. Rubber Division Meets British rubber producers now agree with t h e rest of u s that restrictions on rubber production are almost, if n o t quite, useless i n insuring t h e prosperity of the industry, according t o Francis R . Henderson, president of the Ν . Υ . Rubber Exchange, in an address t o the first meeting and dinner of the N e w York Group o f the R u b b e r Division, AMERICAN CHEMICAI, SOCIETY, a t the
Palais d e s Beaux Arts o n January 1 1 , 1928. More than t w o hundred and fifty members and guests were present a n d par ticipated in t h i s first meeting of the group, under the chairman s h i p of A . A. Somerville, of the R . T. Vanderbilt Co. Tracing t h e history of the last thirty years in rubber mer chandising under t h e title, "The Buying and Selling of Crude Rubber," Mr. Henderson showed the disadvantages t o the rub ber-consuming industries of a method of trading which placed so l o n g a period between t h e actual purchase and t h e delivery of t h e crude rubber t o the consumers without a n y means of re straining price fluctuations and insuring quality in t h e mean time. T h e growth of the plantation system from a production of 4 tons in 1900 t o an output of 563,000 tons i n 1927, h e said, h a s been a stabilizing force. Contrasted with the hazards of collection of wild rubber from t h e wilds of t h e Amazon Valley, t h e present situation w a s characterized as ideal. I n 1900, 55,000 t o n s of wild rubber were collected by traders in t h e forests of Brazil> which a t that time was the principal source of supply, while w i l d rubber now constitutes not more than 6 per c e n t of the world's consumption. Under such circumstances wide fluctua tions of price have been inevitable and quality highly uncertain. A buying stampede in 1910 forced rubber up t o S3 p e r pound, while a selling market in 1920-21 brought a low of 14 cents per pound. The organization of t h e New York Rubber Exchange is tending t o stabilize this market b y setting prices and guaranteeing quality, and v/ill permit a more logical basis of purchase of supplies for future delivery in a strictly competitive market. The E x c h a n g e tradings i n 1927 represented approximately 90 per c e n t of our rubber imports. W. A . Gibbons, of the research laboratory of t h e U. S. Rubber Co., w a s elected Chairman of t h e N e w York Group, a n d Donald F. Cranor, of Binney & Smith, was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Announcement was made of the publication within a short time of a supplementary journal b y the Rubber Division t o contain reprints of a l l matter of interest t o t h e rubber technologists appearing in t h e SOCIETY'S publications, together with reprints and abstracts of other matter.
Nichols Medal Award The William H. Nichols medal for 1928 will be awarded to Hugh S . Taylor of Princeton University for his studies in cataly sis. T h e presentation will take place a t the meeting of the New York Section on March 9, 1928. T h e other speakers will be James K e n d a l l , of N e w York University, and Wilder D . Bancroft, of Cornell University.
Importance of Research Recognized For some years the research laboratory of the California Fruit Orowers Exchange has been operated as a part of the field department. On November 1, 1927, the laboratory became a full department of the Exchange. Excellent work h a s been done b y the scientific staff, of which C. P. Wilson as manager of t h e research department i s the head. Economies effected for the fruit growers by t h e application of t h e results of this research have b e e n substantial a n d t h e recognition given t h e research laboratory b y this change in status is a well-merited mark of approval.
University of Michigan Industrial Fellowships Six industrial fellowships of a value of $750 each will be avail able for the year 1928-29 in t h e Department of Chemical E n gineering of t i e University of Michigan. Application should be made prior t o April 1, 1928. Full information concerning these fellowships, a s well as a copy of t h e latest bulletin describing facilities and opportunities for special study available a t the University, m a y b e obtained b y addressing t h e Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, A n n Arbor, ^/Tich.
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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
News
Edition
Hougliton υ. United States
Akron Rubber Group Meeting
An opinion'has now been handed down by t h e Circuit Court of Appeals in t b e case of Houghton v. t h e United States. The points involved were explained in detail in the editorial on *'Federal Research a n d Privately Owned Patents" [Ind. Eng. Chem. 19, 1075 (1927)]. T h e Circuit Court of Appeals beard arguments in tfcie case on November 3 , 1927, and affirmed the decision of the District Court in an opinion handed down on January 10, 1928, in which i t decided, in harmony with the Peck case, that, in v i e w of t h e facts of t h e case, the result of i loughton's labors belonged t o t h e United States—i. e., that title in t h e invention (and necessarily therefore in t h e patent for that invention) equitably belonged to t h e United States. The pertinent part o f the Court's decision is as follows:
The first meeting of t h e Akron Group of the. Rubber Division will be held at t h e Akron University Club on February 15, 1928. Dinner will be a t 6:30. The speaker will be G. F. Lamb, pro fessor of geology at M t . Union. H e will talk on a subject of interest to all rubber men—"The Distribution and Seasonal Fluctuation of Akron's Water Supply—Both Surface and Underground." Interest will be further stimulated by a brief discussion by local engineers of water problems arising in Akron's rubber factories. It is expected that a formal organization of the Gr.:ap will b e effected and provisions made for the establishment of local membership. Any regular member of the Rubber Division of t h e
It is clear, we ttaink, upon these facts that t h e case presented is n o t the ordinary case of a n invention made by a n employee who, while discharging the duties assigned to him in his department of service, conceives and per fects an invention. In such cases the rule is that the invention is the prop erty of the employee. Hapgood v. Hewitt 119 U. S. 226; Solomons v. U. 5. 137 U. S. 34:2, 346; Dalzell v. Dueber Mfg. Co. 149 U. S. 315. Nor is it a case where the only claim of the employer arises out of the fact that the employee, while employed in a certain line of work, has devised an improved method or instrument for doing that work, using the property; of his em ployer and the services of other employees to develop his invention, and has assented t o the employer's use of same. In such case t h e rule applies which Houghton seeks to> invoke, viz., that t h e invention is the property of the employee subject t o an irrevocable license on the part of the employer to use it. McClurg -v. Kings!and 1 How. 202; Solomons v. U. S., supra; LaneSc Bodley Co. v . Locke 150 U . S. 193; Gill v . U. S. 160 U. S. 426. But the case here presented is that of an employee who makes a discovery or invention while employed t o conduct experiments for t h e purpose of making it. Houghton did not conceive t h e idea of combining an irritant gas with hydrocyanic acid s a s so a s to produce a safe fumigant. That w a s the idea of Dr. Gumming, t h e Surgeon General, under whom he was work ing. He did not conceive the idea of using cyanogen chloride gas a s the irritant with the deadly g a s . That idea has been advanced in a German periodical and experiments and studies along that line had previously been conducted at the direction of the Health Service. All that he did was to take the idea of trae Surgeon General upon which the Health Service had been experimenting: and conduct experiments under its direction for the purpose of determining h o w best t o produce and combine the gases so as to achieve the result which the Surgeon General had in mind. For this, he was relieved of other work and sent to t h e Edgewood Arsenal to make the experiments. His regular salary was paid to him while he was thus en gaged; and when l i e deduced from the experiments t h e method to b e fol lowed in producing; and combining the gases, h e did merely that which he was being paid his salary t o do. Under such circumstances, we think there can be no doubt t h a t his invention is the property of his employer, the Inited States. If. S. v. Solomons supra; Gill v. U. S. supra, 160 XJ. S. 426; 435-6; Standard Parts Co. v . Peck 264 U. S. 52.
members of t h e AMERICAN
Subjects for Discussion a t A· C. S. institute of Chemistry Following is a tentative list of subjects for conferences for the A. C. S. Institute of Chemistry which will be held in Evanston, 111 , from July 2 3 to August 18, 1928. Suggestions and criticisms should b e sent t o F. C . Whitmore, National Research Council, Washington, D . C. There will b e twenty-eight conferences, arranged at t i m e s when two and one-half hours will be available for each. Thus, several conferences can be devoted t o the same subject if it is deemed sufficiently important. One group of subjects will deal with t h e help which chemistry can give for the fcetter utilization of raw materials: (1) Agricultural Products (3) Petroleum (2) Coal (4) Metals (5) Animal Products Obviously, only certain aspects of these subjects can b e covered. In addition, s o m e miscellaneous subjects have been suggested for conferences : (6) Chemotherapy (10) Chemistry Life Proc(7) Disposal of Municipal esses Wastes (11) Synthetic "Raw" Ma(8) Rubber terials (9) Science a n d National (12) Antioxidants Defense (13) Cellulose Suggestions a r e needed regarding special phases of these topics which should be treated and t h e best men t o lead the discussions. T h e conferences will n o t be limited to t h e subjects listed above. Suggestions of other subjects are earnestly sought.
New Plasticizing Resin The Hercules Powder Company announces the development of a new lacquer ingredient, ethyl abietate, which has been re ferred to as a plasticizing resin. Preliminary investigation work, covering a period, of several years, has indicated that this material offers attractive possibilities i n lacquer formidation. The novel features of e t h y l abietate are light color, non-volatility, good odor, complete rniscibility with ordinary lacquer solvents, and n o t only resinous properties, but a plasticizing action on nitro cellulose. It h a s value when used in pyroxylin-coated textiles, rubber fabrics, floor-coverings, condensation products, and .oil varnishes.
AMERICAN CHHMICAL SOCIETY m a y become a member of t h e
Group b y stating his wish t o do so. Individuals who are n o t CHEMICAL SOCIETY may
become
associate members of t h e Group b y payment of dues—approxi mately four dollars per annum—and this will also entitle them t o the periodical issues of reprints of rubber papers which the Rubber Division plans t o issue. Since two of t h e primary purposes of this meeting are to dis cuss subjects of general interest to rubber men and to allow ample opportunity for complete discussion of these subjects by t h e membership, i t is hoped that the attendance will be large and discussion liberal. Although i t is desired that as many men a s possible who are connected with the rubber industry be present, everyone interested in t h e subject is invited. Obviously, in a new venture of this kind, it is difficult to forecast the number for whom t o make provision and i t will be greatly appreciated if a s many as possible will purchase in advance tickets which will b e given the widest possible circulation.
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Institute of Chemistry On December 14 and 15 t h e Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland celebrated its fiftieth birthday. Partici pating in the events were t h e Chemical Society, Society of Chemical Industry, Society of Public Analysts, Biochemical Society, Oil and Colour Chemists Association, Society of Dyers and Colourists, International Society of Leather Trades Chemists, Institution of Chemical Engineers, and the Chemical Industry Club. Over fourteen hundred people attended the Conver sazione on the first evening. During the, day there was shown an exhibition of films of the chemical industries—coal and i t s products, heavy chemicals, steel manufacture, the magic of nitrate of soda, and the romance of oil. Many relics of chemical history and of the Institute were shown a t the Institute headquarters. Some of the oldest concerned Priestley. There were several of his letters, a Wedgewood retort, his microscope, several portraits and medallions, and a series of medals. T h e celebration w a s concluded by a banquet, attended b y some of Britain's foremost men of science.
Refractories in Zinc Metallurgy The School of Mines and Metallurgy of the University o f Missouri has issued, as a part of their technical series (volume 10, N o . 2 ) , a bulletin o n the "Properties of Refractories in Zinc Metallurgy," b y E. S. Wheeler, A. H. Kuechler, and H. M . Lawrence. The investigation covers raw materials and body mixtures now in use, the comparative value of various grog mate rials and clays, and the effect of reclaimed retort materials and zinc oxide upon the physical properties of retort mixtures. There are detailed discussions of t h e results obtained by the a u thors under each subject. The report covers 139 pages, which include much tabular matter and a great many charts.
Non-Resident Lecturers at Cornell The Non-Resident Lecturer in Chemistry at Cornell University under the George Fisher Baker Foundation for the second term of the present university year will be George Barger, of t h e University of Edinburgh, who will lecture on "Some Applications of Organic Chemistry t o Biology." The Non-Resident Lecturer for the first term of the university year 1928-29 will be H a n s Pringsheim, of the University of Ber lin. H e will take for his subject, "The Chemistry of the Mono saccharides and Polysaccharides." The Non-Resident Lecturers are provided with a private research laboratory, and Cornell University will be glad to ex tend the privilege of t h e Department of Chemistry to visiting chemists who m a y wish t o carry on research under the direction of the lecturers. Since space in this research laboratory is limited, those who may desire t o secure places in it for any particular term should apply for such accommodation with the Department of Chemistry a t as early a date a s possible.
