h y d r o c a r b o n s with one, t w o , or three rings p e r molecule, 5 1 t o 4 3 % ; mixed cycloparaffin-aromatic h y d r o c a r b o n s with one a r o m a t i c ring a n d , in t h e same molecule, one, two, o r t h r e e cycloparaffin rings, 8.3%; mixed cyeloparafhn-aromatic hydrocarbons, with t w o aromatic rings (condensed a s in n a p h t h a l e n e ) and, i n t h e same molecule, t w o cycloparaffin rings, 8 . 1 % ; mixed cycloparaffin-aromatic h y d r o carbons w i t h three a r o m a t i c rings (condensed) a n d , in the. s a m e molecule, one cycloparaffin ring, 6 . 6 % ; " a s p h a l t i c " constituents, 8 % . T h e striking p a r t of this analysis of t h e l u b r i c a n t fraction is t h e absence of a n y significant a m o u n t of purely isoparaffin h y d r o c a r b o n s a n d , except in t h e " a s p h a l t i c " portion, of a n y purely aromatic hydrocarbons. Research
Requirements
I n conclusion, w e m a y s a y t h a t t h e r e searches necessary t o carry on a petroleum chemical industry, whose purpose is substantially t h a t of achieving a more economic utilization of petroleum, m a y logically be divided into t w o groups: fundam e n t a l researches a n d applied researches. T h e fundamental researches include t h e investigation of the chemical constitution of petroleum, t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the physical a n d t h e r m o d y n a m i c properties of hydrocarbons a n d their derivatives, a n d t h e s t u d y of t h e kinetics a n d mechanisms of reactions involving h y d r o c a r b o n s a n d related compounds. T h e applied researches include t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of p r a c tical commercial m e t h o d s for effecting t h e separation of w a n t e d hydrocarbons a n d their derivatives from petroleum a n d petroleum products, a n d t h e investigation on a large scale of v a r i o u s chemical reactions involving p e t r o l e u m h y d r o c a r b o n s a n d their derivatives for t h e purpose of obtaining n e w a n d desirable substances. T h e fundamental researches ought p r o p erly t o be carried on a n d encouraged i n the university a n d g o v e r n m e n t laboratories, leaving t h e c o m p e t i t i v e research a n d d e velopment u n i t s of t h e i n d u s t r y to m a k e practical application of t h e knowledge a n d d a t a obtained b y t h e nonprofit laboratories. T h e system should be a selfp e r p e t u a t i n g one wherein t h e i n d u s t r y , profiting from i t s applications of the basic knowledge a n d d a t a , would be anxious t o assure t h e continued flow into t h e proper channels of resources for researches on base-line problems. Achnoivledgment T h e a u t h o r wishes t o acknowledge t h e assistance of t h e research staff of A P I P r o j ect 6 a t the N a t i o n a l B u r e a u of S t a n d a r d s , consisting of Beveridge J . Mair, Charles B . Willingham, A u g u s t u s R . Glasgow, J r . , Alphonse F . Forziati, A n t o n J . Streiff, M o r t o n B . Epstein, V i n c e n t A. Sedlak, E v e l y n T . M u r p h y , A. J . S w e e t m a n , J a n i c e C. Cahill, a n d L a u r e l F . Soule. B A S E D on an address delivered Dec. 17, 1946, before t h e Western Connecticut Section of t h e A M E R I C A N C H E M I C A L S O C I E T Y a t Stamford, C o n n .
V O L U M E
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National Science Foundation Bibliography CHEMICAL
of Articles
AND ENGINEERING
Which Have Appeared in (See Editorial, Page 223)
NEWS
Page Vol. 23, 1945 1316 (Aug. 10) B a c k g r o u n d of N e w K i l gore Bill 1420 (Aug. 25) " S c i e n c e — t h e Endless F r o n t i e r " . R e p o r t t o P r e s i d e n t by Vannevar Bush 1500 (Sept. 10) N a t i o n a l Science F o u n d a t i o n Discussed in P o t o m a c P o s t scripts 1532 (Sept. 10) P r o p o s a l s in Congress for P r o m o t i o n of Scientific Research 1737 (Oct. 10) J o i n t H e a r i n g s on Science Bills 1943 (Nov. 10) F u t u r e P a t t e r n of R e search—Editorial 1966 ( N o v . 10) H e a r i n g s o n N a t i o n a l Science F o u n d a t i o n 1987-1998 (Nov. 10) H e a r i n g s on Scientific Legislation 21S1 ( D e c . 10) S u p p o r t N e e d e d for M a g nuson Bill 2218 (Dec. 10) C o m m i t t e e Organized t o S u p p o r t M a g n u s o n Bill 2328 (Dec. 25) R e s e a r c h , I n d u s t r y a n d G o v e r n m e n t , Bruce K . B r o w n Vol. 24, 1946 70 ( J a n . 10) N e e d for N a t i o n a l Science Legislation 173 ( J a n . 25) R e v i s e d Kilgore Bill I n t r o duced in Congress 449 ( F e b . 25) Scientific R e s e a r c h D i s cussed in P o t o m a c P o s t s c r i p t s 733 ( M a r c h 25) N a t i o n a l Science F o u n d a t i o n Discussed in P o t o m a c P o s t scripts 786 ( M a r c h 25) Science Legislation, R e vised K i l g o r e - M a g n u s o n Bill, S. 1850, a n d t h e Willis Bill, S. 1777
1027 (April 25) Atomic E n e r g y a n d Science Mobilization Legislation— Editorial 1214 ( M a y 10) Science F o u n d a t i o n — R e p o r t of C o m m i t t e e S u p p o r t i n g t h e Bush R e p o r t 1224 ( M a y 10) Directors' M i n u t e s , A t lantic C i t y Meeting, April 7, 1946 1228 ( M a y 10) Council M i n u t e s , Atlantic C i t y Meeting, April 7, 1946 1229 ( M a y 10) Interim R e p o r t of t h e Secretary, Atlantic C i t v Meeting, April 7, 1946 1323 ( M a y 25) " T h e R a c e against T i m e " —Editorial 1333 ( M a y 25) Vannevar B u s h — " P l a n ning in Science" 1481 ( J u n e 10) Pending Legislation Discussed in News a n d Views, ACS Washington News Bureau 1629 ( J u n e 25) Science Legislation Discussed in News a n d Views, ACS W a s h i n g t o n News B u r e a u 1885 (July 25) Passage of National Science F o u n d a t i o n Bill Discussed in P o t o m a c Postscripts 1899 ( J u l y 25) "A D e p a r t m e n t of Science?"—Editorial 2005 (Aug. 10) Science Legislation R e viewed in News a n d Views, ACS Washington News Bureau 2156 (Aug. 25) G o v e r n m e n t Research Discussed in N e w s a n d Views, ACS Washington News Bureau 2741 (Oct. 25) Research B o a r d Discussed in N e w s a n d Views, A C S Washington News Bureau 3013 ( N o v . 25) Views on N a t i o n a l Science F o u n d a t i o n Legislation Discussed in N e w s a n d Views, A C S Washington News B u r e a u
WAA Destroys 10 Tons of Sodium T h e disposal of surplus w a r materials often poses as perplexing a problem a s did the original p r o c u r e m e n t . T h u s , when t h e residents near L a k e Lenore, W a s h . , were treated t o a spectacle s o m e w h a t reminiscent of t h e a t o m i c b o m b t e s t s i t w a s in reality only t h e W a r Assets A d m i n i s t r a tion's solution t o a problem involving t h e disposition of excess war material. T h e m a t e r i a l in question was 20,000 l b . of metallic sodium stored in large d r u m s of oil. T h i s is a s m a l l q u a n t i t y i n comparison with t h e h u n d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s of pounds t h a t were used in t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of incendiary b o m b s b u t i t w a s sufficient t o arouse t h e i n t e r e s t of several companies when t h e material w a s advertised for sale. I t was t h e n discovered t h a t t h e containers in which t h e metallic sodium w a s stored had deteriorated t o such a n e x t e n t t h a t handling a n d shipping w a s extremely hazardous. T h e railroads refused t o
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handle t h e material in» t h e s u b s t a n d a r d containers a n d t h e cost of p u t t i n g it in new containers was prohibitive. T w o bidders offered t o t a k e t h e material for n o t h i n g a n d would t h e n assume t h e task of r e m o v i n g t h e material. Since no m e t h o d appeared to offer t h e G o v e r n m e n t any financial gain a n d since t h e handling of t h e h a z a r d o u s material might m a k e the G o v e r n m e n t liable to d a m a g e suits, i t was decided t o dispose of t h e metallic sodium b y d u m p i n g in t h e waters of L a k e Lenore. T h e material was carefully transported on t r u c k s a n d rolled into t h e lake from a 100-foot cliff. T h e vigorous reaction taking place when t h e metallic sodium was immersed in w a t e r m a d e i t a p p e a r t h a t t h e w a t e r h a d c a u g h t fire a n d e r u p t e d . Eyewitnesses report t h a t a column of smoke rose 1,000 feet in the air and w a s visible 8 miles a w a y . 233
