Chemistry at the British Association

Abstract

IN a paper on experiments to ascertain the amount of carbonic anhydride absorbed from sea water, Prof. E. A. Letts and Mr. W. Caldwell stated that they are experimentally testing the validity of Schloesing's theory that the ocean serves as the regulator of atmospheric carbonic anhydride, with the aid of a specially devised piece of apparatus. Prof. E. A. Letts also read a paper on the corrosion of copper by sea water and on the detection of traces of impurity in the commercial metal, in which it was suggested that rapid corrosion of copper by sea water may be due to electrolytic action between particles of a copper-arsenic alloy embedded in the copper plates and the copper itself. Prof. F. Clowes, in a paper on the action of distilled water upon lead, showed that dissolved oxygen first acts upon the lead, and the oxidation product is subsequently converted into a hydroxy-carbonate by carbonic acid. Dr. C. E. Fawsitt gave a paper on the decomposition of urea, showing that on heating urea in aqueous acid or alkaline solution at 99°, the decomposition does not proceed in accordance with a bi- or tri-molecular reaction as would be expected theoretically, but in accordance with the formula of a monomolecular reaction. The apparent anomaly is explained by the formation of ammonium cyanate as an intermediate product; on heating with water, urea first undergoes isomeric transformation into ammonium cyanate, and this then decomposes into ammonia and carbonic anhydride. In a paper on the telluric distribution of the elements in relation to their atomic weights, Mr. W. Ackroyd employs the purchasing power of a given sum as an indication of the abundance or rarity of the different elements; he shows that in each of the natural groups the rarity of the element increases with the atomic weight. In a paper on the proposed standardisation of methods of chemical analysis, Mr. B. Blount protested against the growing tendency to apply the principle of standardisation to analytical methods for the determination of chemical entities, such, for instance, as the constituents of steel; at the same time, he agreed that arbitrary methods, such as those applied to the examination of waters, oils, milks, &c., should be standardised. Prof. T. Purdie, F.R.S., and Dr. J. C. Irvine, in a paper on the alkylation of sugars, described a method for alkylating hydroxyl groups in methylglucosides. On boiling methylglucoside in methyl alcohol with methyl iodide and dry silver oxide, the trimethyl ether of methylglucoside, CH(OCH3).CH(OCH3).CH(OCH3).CH(OCH3)CH.OH, is produced; on further heating with methyl iodide and silver oxide, it is converted into a tetramethyl ether. Under similar treatment, acetonerharonoside yields a dimethyl ether. In dealing with the synthetical action of enzymes, Dr. E. F. Armstrong showed that the enzyme lactase is capable of converting glucose into a disaccharide, to which the name isolactose was given. The same author gave a paper on recent synthetical researches in the glucoside group; the pentacetylglucoses are converted into aceto-halogen-glucoses by anhydrous hydrogen chloride or bromide, the acetyl group attached to the aldehyde group beiiig replaced by halogen. These substances are converted into alkylglucosides by treatment with alcohols. A report of the committee appointed to collect statistics concerning the training of chemists employed in English chemical industries, of which Prof. G. G. Henderson is secretary, was read; information concerning their course of training had been received from 502 managers and chemists employed in English chemical industries, III of whom are fellows or associates of the Institute of Chemistry. The following figures give more detailed information:—