News
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Edition
Published by the American Chemical Society
Vol. 2, No. 23
DECEMBER 10, 1924
Whose Who Among Local Section Officers The Arizona Section of the American Chemical Society was organized by a group of Arizona chemists in March, 1924 and was granted a charter by the Council in April, 1924. The present
Mr. H. B. Weeks presided. He laid stress on the great progress made during the year, and summarized the main developments, particularly the extended research program and the establish ment of a laboratory.
Chemistry at the Washington Meeting of A. A. A. S.
C.
F.
GUSTAFSON
ERNEST
ANDERSON
Chairman has the honor of going down into history as the first presiding officer of this new offspring. Ernest Anderson, chairman of the Arizona Section of the A. C. S. is also chairman of the department of chemistry of the University of Arizona located at Tucson, Arizona. He received his early collegiate training at the University of Texas, graduating with the B.S. in 1903 and M.S. in 1904. The Ph.D. was be stowed upon him by the University of Chicago in 1909, where he also served as instructor in chemistry from 1909 to 1912. He was professor of chemistry in the Massachusetts Agricultural Col lege from 1912 to 1917 and professor of chemistry in the Uni versity of South Africa from 1917 to 1920. Before coming to the University of Arizona in 1923, he was professor of chemistry at the University of Nebraska from 1920 t o 1923. Dr. Anderson has published thirteen research papers on a variety of subjects chiefly in physico-organic chemistry. The Chairman of the Kansas City Section is C. F. Gustafson, head of the science department of Manual Training High School, Kansas City, Mo. C. F. Gustafson received his A.B. from McPherson College, and A.M. from the University of Kansas. In 1904 he was made teacher of chemistry and head of the science department in the Manual Training High School, Kansas City, Mo. Since 1917, Mr. Gustafson has held in addition to his high school teaching work, the position of professor of chemistry in the Kansas City College of Pharmacy. Section offices are not new to Mr. Gus tafson, for he was at one time assistant secretary of the Kansas City Section. Many recall the industrial excursions which moved off so smoothly when the meeting of the American Chemi cal Society was held in Kansas City a few years ago. Mr. Gus tafson was then chairman of the committee which made these trips possible and it was due t o his work that all went so well.
Cast Iron Research Association Sir John Dewrance was elected president of the Cast Iron Research Association at its third annual meeting held in Condon on November 19th. In the unavoidable absence of Lord Weir,
An interesting program will be presented to the chemists at the Washington meeting of the American Association for the Ad vancement of Science, beginning Tuesday, December 30, ac cording to William D . Harkins, Secretary of Section C. The meeting is under the auspices of the Washington and other eastern sections of the American Chemical Society and Section C of the Association, but all chemists and others interested are invited to attend. The address of the retiring vice-president of the Association, Dr. E. W. Washburn, Editor of the International Critical Tables, will be presented Wednesday afternoon on the subject "Some Effects of the Weather upon Physical Measurements." A symposium on X-Rays in chemistry has been arranged, and will probably be held on Thursday afternoon. Dr. Arthur H. Compton will present an illustrated paper oh "X-Rays and their Scattering by Electrons;" Dr. Ralph W. Wyekoff of the Geo physical Laboratory will consider the topic, "X-Rays and Crystal Structure;" Dr. W. P. Davey of the General Electric Co., will speak on "Atomic and Ionic Radii," and Dr. George L. Clark of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will give a paper on "The Versatility of X-Rays." A few of the other papers to be presented are listed below: "Illustrated Lecture on Gels and Colloids," by Η. Ν. Holmes, Oberlin College; "European Lab oratories," by W. A. Noyes, of University of Illinois; "Excited Atoms," by Κ. Τ. Compton, of Princeton University; "New Aspects of Some Fundamental Properties of Matter," by Eugene C. Bingham, of Lafayette College; "A Method of Establishing a Potential Gradient for Organic Radicals," by M. S. Kharasch, of University of Maryland. "The Electronic Conception of Adsorption from the Standpoint of Gels," by Neil E. Gordon, of University of Maryland; The complete program will be pub lished later. On Tuesday afternoon the chemists will meet with the physicists and the astronomers. Hotel Raleigh has been chosen as headquarters for the chemists.
Metric Association to Meet in Washington The Metric Association will hold its annual meeting in Wash ington, D . C , on Dec. 29 and 30. A program of special interest to manufacturers, merchants, and educators, is being arranged. George F. Kunz, president of the association will preside. Among others scheduled to speak are Arthur E. Kennelly and Alexander McAdie of Cambridge, Mass.; Théo. H. Miller, F. L. Roberts, and Howard Richards, of New York; Charles L. Parsons, S. J. Macfarren, and G. H. Paine of the Columbia Section of the Metric Association, and representatives of the government departments interested. Experts in several industries are to hold conferences in connection with the meeting. An educational exhibit will be on display during the meeting and also throughout the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Modern methods of teaching metric weights and measures will be demonstrated and the educational booklets, rulers, and other devices will be considered. A visit to the Bureau of Standards will include the inspection of the national prototype standards. A "weights and measures luncheon" will be held on Monday, December 29th at 1 P.M., at the New Willard Hotel. The convention will close with a metric dinner" at the New Willard,
Be a Contributor to the A. C. S. Endowment Fund—Numbers Count!
INDUSTRIAL
2
AND ENGINEERING
Tuesday evening, December .'*(). M e n a n d women a r e invited to take part in the. entire program. Federal, state, and municipal departments and all organizations interested in international standardization a r e requested to send representatives. Programs, metric l i t e r a t u r e , etc., m a y b e secured from t h e M e t r i c Association, N e w Y o r k City. A t its coming session, Congress is t >v urged to enact a law establishing metric units of weights and measures in merchandising throughout t h e United States, after a transition period of 10 years. Metric advocates a r e also pointing ont t h e importance of the First Pan-American Standardization Conference, which meets in December of this year a t Lima, Peru, and which will be attended by m a n y delegates from the United States. AH American republics will participate.
Upson
Lectures o n Colloids Chemists
before
Arizona
D r . F . W. Upson, head of the chemistry d e p a r t m e n t of t h e University of Nebraska, g a v e an interesting talk on the "Relation of Colloids to Plant arid Animal Life Processes" a t the November meeting of the Arizona Section of t h e American Chemical Society. H e had preceded this lecture with a series of four others at the University of Arizona, in which l i e outlined many of the general principles of colloidal chemistry so t h a t a greater number of both students a n d faculty were able to appreciate the presentation of t h e final subject. Dr. Upson also spoke a t the University Assembly on t h e relation of chemistry to medicine. T h e visit of Dr. Upson to Tucson was m a d e possible largely through t h e efforts of the members of t h e Arizona Section, A. C. S.
C. W. S . Cooperates w i t h Entomologists In cooperation w i t h t h e Chemical Warfare Service, work is being carried o n by the Bureau of Entomology of t h e United States Department of Agriculture w i t h t h e so-called war gases and other materials developed at the Edgewood arsenal. M a n y of these substances have been tested for t h e purpose of determining their availability in insect-control work and for other practical uses. A few h a v e b e e n found which give promise of value. A smoke candle for use i n greenhouses h a s been developed and is being tested on a commercial scale. I t seems to have a distinct place in greenhouse insect-control work.
Tanners' Council H a s New Research Laboratory at Cincinnati On November H> the research laboratory of the Tanners' Council, located on the c a m p u s of t h e l'niversity of Cincinnati, was dedicated with appropriate exercises. The annual meeting of t h e Tanners' Council w a s held o n this occasion and t h e dedicatory program included a n address of welcome by the Alayor of Cincinnati, an official presentation of the laboratory t o the university by V. M. Moffat, president of t h e T a n n e r s ' Council, official acceptance of the laboratory by F . C. Hicks, president of t h e University of Cincinnati and a delightful address in characteristic style by Martin H. Fischer of t h e School of Medicine of t h e University. T h e laboratory i s a convenient a n d well equipped building, resulting from an appropriation of over $100,000 announced some time ago. T h e work in the laboratory will be conducted under t h e auspices of the University, particularly of t h e College of Engineering and Commerce. P o s t g r a d u a t e students are to be admitted for special work on t h e problems of animal skin. To facilitate this work, seven individual student laboratories are included in the equipment. T h e r e is a special laboratory for t h e director of research and private laboratories for each of the three associate directors who have charge of chemistry, histology, and bacteriology. There are lecture rooms, seminar rooms, and a museum besides many pieces of special apparatus, a n d rooms equipped for t h e three principal d e p a r t m e n t s of the work. George D. McLaughlin is t h e head of t h e laboratory. A noteworthy u n i t is t h u s added t o the gradually increasing list of laboratories supported by trade associations. Once again it h a s been demonstrated t h a t to become convinced of t h e utility of research, business m e n whether a s individual manufacturers or as associations, need b u t give t h e scientist a fair opportunity to demonstrate what m a y be accomplished. One after another these industrial groups begin with fellowships under a n y one of a variety of plans and soon find the transaction of work on a broader scale much in demand. The new laboratory of t h e Tanners' Council will be a busy place and the nucleus of a n institution that will undoubtedly grow in order to k e e p pace with the wide variety of problems t h a t will be referred to t h e organization.
CHEMISTRY
News
Edition
Future Chemical Meetings in New York The following meetings are scheduled to be held a t t h e Chem ists' Club, New York, during t h e winter a n d spring of 1925: Jan. 9 t h - American Chemical Society J a n . K U h - -Society of C h e m i c a l I n d u s t r y Veh. i i t h - - A m e r i c a n K l e c t r o c h e m i c a l S o c i e t y (in c h a r g e ) J o i n t M e e t i n g S o c i e t y of C h e m i c a l I n d ' u s t r y . Société de Chimie Industrielle. American Chemical Society. M a r . fith- A m e r i c a n Chemical Society Mar. 20th S o c i e t y of C h e m i c a l I n d u s t r y . . Regular Meeting A p r . 1 7 t h - - S o c i e t y of C h e m i c a l I n d u s t r y (in c h a r g e ) . . . American Chemical Society. American Ivlectrochemteal Society. S o c i é t é ci:· C h i m i e I n d u s t r i e l l e . M a y 1st -- A m e r i c a n C h e m i c a l S o c i e t y S o c i é t é d e C h i m i e I n d u s t r i e l l e (in c h a r g e ) . May bth Joint Meeting American Chemical Society. American Ivlectrochemical Society. S o c i e t y of C h e m i c a l I n d u s t r y . M a y l.-,th S o c i e t y of C h e m i c a l I n d u s t r y J u n e ">th A m e r i c a n C h e m i c a l S o c i e t y
Chemicals in Metric Packages The American Chemical Society expects t o publish twice a year a list of those manufacturers a n d dealers in reagent chemicals who h a v e informed t h e Society t h a t t h e y stock reagent chemicals in standard metric packages; m a k e bids in m e t r i c units; supply chemicals in metric containers; a n d m a k e a regular commercial practice of supplying chemicals in t h e m e t r i c system. T h e list t o d a t e is as follows: Baker & Adamson (General Chemical Co.), Easton, Pa. J. T . Baker Chemical Co., Phillipsburg, N . J . Buffalo Scientific Co., Buffalo, Ν . Υ. Burrell Technical Supply Co., P i t t s b u r g h , P a . Chemical R u b b e r Co., Cleveland, Ohio. A. Daigger & Co., Chicago, 111. E d w a r d P . Dolbey & Co., Philadelphia, P a . E a s t m a n K o d a k Co. (fine organic chemicals), Rochester, Ν . Υ. Eimer & Amend, N e w York City. Fries & Fries, Cincinnati, Ohio. H e n r y Heil Chemical Co., S t . Louis, M o . Howe & French, Boston, M a s s . Kauffman-Lattimer Co., Columbus Ohio. L a b o r a t o r y Materials Co., Chicago, 111. Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. Louis, M o . Pfaltz & Bauer, New York City. Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Pyroelectric I n s t r u m e n t Co. (hydrogen-ion chemicals'!, Tren ton, N . J . Reynolds, Teschner & Volk Co., N e w York City. Schaar & C o m p a n y , Chicago, 111. Scientific a n d Cinema Supply Company, Washington, D . C. Special Chemicals C o m p a n y (rare sugars, amino acids, etc.), Highland Park, 111. Will Corporation, Rochester, Ν . Υ . Williams, Brown & Earle, Philadelphia, P a . Purchasers from all laboratories who have agreed t o specify metric units or who wish t o assist in this movement are especially requested t o make o u t all bids in metric units and t o specify the quantities desired in packages of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 or multiple liters or kilograms, as recommended b y the Committee on Guaranteed Reagents and S t a n d a r d A p p a r a tus of t h e American Chemical Society.
Baskerville
Portrait Presented City College
t o N e w York
A portrait of t h e late Professor Charles Baskerville, head of the d e p a r t m e n t of chemistry of t h e College of the City of N e w York up to t h e time of his death in J a n u a r y , 1922, was presented to t h e chemistry d e p a r t m e n t of t h a t institution a t a seminar meeting on October 30. T h e presentation was made on behalf of the Baskerville Chemical Society, a s t u d e n t organization, b y its president. The gift was subscribed for entirely by s t u d e n t s of t h e College. I t was accepted on behalf of t h e chemistry d e p a r t m e n t b y Professor H e r b e r t R . M o o d y a n d t h e portrait now hangs in the chemistry lecture room of t h e College.
Gomberg to Receive Willard Gibbs Medal Professor Moses Gomberg, head of t h e d e p a r t m e n t of organic chemistry in t h e University of Michigan a n d one of t h e leading organic chemists of t h e country, h a s been elected b y t h e j u r y of award to receive t h e Willard Gibbs M e d a l in 1925. T h e medal will b e presented t o Professor Gomberg a t t h e regular M a y meeting of t h e Chicago Section of t h e American Chemical So ciety a t which time t h e recipient will deliver a n address.
December 10,
1924
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Grasselli Medal Awarded to Saklatwalla Dr. B. D. Saklatwalla, General Superintendent of t h e Vanadium C o m p a n y of America, Pittsburgh, received the Grasselli Medal a t a meeting of the American Section of the Society of Chemical I n d u s t r y , held at the Chemists' Club, New York, on Friday evening, December 5. Dr. Saklatwalla's work in developing t h e technical side of the vanadium steel industry in this c o u n t r y has been of a pioneer character and it is in no small degree due to his efforts t h a t there is such an industry today. His life and principal activities from t h e time of his birth in B o m b a y , India, t o the present day when he occupies so conspicuous a position in t h e field of American metallurgy were traced b y F . M. Turner, J r . His education was begun in India and continued in Germany and England. Upon coming to America h e became connected with the parent of t h e present Vanadium Corporation and h a s continued in this field ever since. M r . T u r n e r stressed the b r e a d t h of interest of Dr. Saklatwalla in m a n y fields and called attention t o his method of careful painstaking research which leaves no possible source of information uninvestigated. T h e presentation of the medal was made by D r . William H. Nichols, past president of the Society of Chemical Industry. Dr. Nichols briefly told of the history of the medal, of its foundation b y t h e Grasselli Chemical Co. in 1918, a n d of its subsequent history. T h e medal, which m a y e be given annually for the thesis submitted t o t h e American Section of the Society containing t h e most useful suggestion in industrial chemistry, has been awarded only three times, to Dr. Allen Rogers, to W. H. Fulweiler and t o Dr. Saklatwalla. Dr. Nichols characterized it as the highest honor in the gift of the Section. I n accepting it, Dr. Saklatwalla spoke of "Fundamentalism in Ferrous M e t a l l u r g y , " dealing with the possible application of the methods of physical chemistry to metallurgical problems. C. M . Smith, of t h e U. S. D e p a r t m e n t of Agriculture, presented a paper t o the meeting on t h e subject, "Some Aspects of Research on Insecticides and Fungicides." H e was followed by R . N . Chipman, of the Chipman Chemical Engineering Co., on " M a n u f a c t u r e of Insecticides and Fungicides."
3
Imports of Dyes and Other S y n t h e t i c s The imports of coal-tar dyes for November. 1924, through the Port of New York totaled 300,200 pounds with an invoice value of $351,887. Imports of dyes through other ports are as follows : Boston 10,800 pounds S 10,103 value Providence 8,294 pounds 7,741 value St. Louis 125 pounds 89 value Detroit 25 pounds 71 value The total imports of dyes reported from five ports in the United States for the month of November, was 378,554 pounds with an invoice value of $3(59,951. D Y E S R E M A I N I N G IN BONDED C U S T O M S W A R E H O U S E
August 31, 1924 Sept. 30, 1924 Oct. 3 1 , 1924
Coal-tar dyes anci colors Coal-tar intermediates Coal-tar dyes and colors Coal-tar intermediates Coal-tar dyes and colors Coal-tar intermediates
507,338 pounds 1,081,287 pounds 559,061 pounds 1,111,056 pounds 552,550 pounds 1,050,037 pounds
I M P O R T S OF D Y E S THROUGH T H E P O R T OF N E W Y O R K ,
January February March April May June July August September October November
288,743 158,874 293,802 174,880 107,245 147,380 140,810 64,540 152,978 440,400 359,200
pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds
$232,571 170,057 302,010 182,253 105,521 151,331 137,075 71,290 159,020 455,787 351,887
1924
value value value value value value value value value value value
F I V E L E A D I N G D Y E S BY Q U A N T I T Y IMPORTED
Iiidanthrene blue G C D , single strength Rhodamine B, single strength Ciba violet B, single strength R h o d a m i n e 6G, single strength Cibanone yellow R, single strength
18,020 17,220 12,120 11,805 8,816
pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds
P E R C E N T BY QUANTITY OF COUNTRY OF S H I P M E N T
Alcohol M o s t Satisfactory Anti-Freezing Mixture Says Bureau of Standards Alcohol still holds t h e lead as the best material to keep a u t o mobile radiators from freezing, in t h e opinion of t h e Bureau of S t a n d a r d s . If wood alcohol is used, care m u s t be taken t h a t it does not contain acid which is likely to corrode the radiator or other p a r t s of the circulatory system. T h e great drawback to alcohol is t h e fact t h a t it evaporates from t h e solution and has to be replaced. Glycerine does not have this drawback, b u t is more expensive. T e s t s on a number of different kinds of anti-freeze preparations h a v e been m a d e by t h e Bureau of Standards, and the conclusions drawn, together with t h e opinions of members of the Automotive Section, are embodied .in Letter Circular 28 recently issued in revised form. Copies m a y be had on application to the Bureau of Standards. This letter circular gives a table showing the percentages of alcohol, of glycerine, a n d of combinations of the t w o t h a t are necessary to produce a solution having a certain freezing point. Among t h e other anti-freeze solutions discussed a r e calcium chloride, honey, glucose, and kerosene. The use of kerosene is not recommended. Its vapors are inflammable, and its high and uncertain boiling point is likely to lead to serious overheating of the engine or even t o t h e melting of the solder in t h e radiator. I t also has a slight solvent action for rubber. Calcium chloride is frequently used to prevent freezing, and is found to be very effective. I t has, however, a decided corrosive action, especially on solder a n d aluminium. This salt forms t h e basis of m a n y of t h e p a t e n t anti-freeze solutions on t h e market, and to some of these a soluble chromate is added for the purpose of preventing corrosion. T h e bureau found very little corrosion of most of the engine and radiator materials when t h e chromate was included, t h e aluminium parts alone being a t t a c k e d . Another troublesome effect of calcium chloride is found t o be its tendency t o cause short circuits when it gets on the spark plugs or ignition wires. W h e n cold it absorbs moisture and forms a very good conducting layer where such a layer is n o t desired. I t is very difficult to remove, and short circuits caused b y it are h a r d t o find because they disappear when the engine gets hot. Honey a n d glucose are found unsatisfactory in t h a t a high percentage solution is required to prevent freezing, and such solutions flow very slowdy. T h e r e is danger also of depositing sugar from t h e m in the circulating system. Low percentage solutions do not lower t h e freezing point to any great extent, but they do prevent bursting of t h e radiators. When such a solution freezes it t u r n s first t o a slush which must be cooled to a considerably lower temperature before it finally turns solid.
Germany 45 per cent Switzerland 40 per cent Canada 4 per cent Holland 4 per cent Kngland 3 per cent Belgium 2 per cent Other countries 2 per cent T h e total imports of synthetic aromatic chemicals for the month of November were 11,304 pounds with an invoice value of $32,900. I M P O R T S O F SYNTHETIC AROMATIC C H E M I C A L S
January 3,448 pounds $8,854 value 5,930 value February 2,299 pounds March 4,145 pounds 8,182 value April 3,228 pounds 5,058 value May 4,002 pounds 15,943 value June 4,895 pounds 10,500 value July 4,537 pounds 7,700 value August 7,108 pounds 10,853 value September 3,621 pounds 14,518 value October 12,803 pounds 45,204 value November 11,304 pounds 32,900 value T h e total imports, through five ports, of medicinals, intermediates, photographic developers, and other coal-tar chemicals for the m o n t h of November were 010,205 pounds with an invoice value of $77,074.
Compressed Gas Manufacturers to M e e t Next Month T h e Compressed Gas Manufacturers' Association will hold its twelfth annual meeting on J a n u a r y 20th, 1925, at t h e Hotel Astor, N e w York City. The meeting will be followed by the annual dinner on the evening of the same day. This association represents manufacturers of all industrial gases, such as acetylene, ammonia, carbonic gas, chlorine, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur dioxide and various hydrocarbon gases. T h e production of gasoline in the United States during October amounted to 700,040,784 gallons, based on statistics compiled by the Bureau of Mines. T h e figures represent an increased gasoline production over the previous m o n t h of more than 10,000,000 gallons. T h e daily average production for October, however, was below t h a t for the preceding month, being 24,500,000 gallons, as compared with 25,000,000 gallons daily production for September.
