Societies and Academies

Abstract

LONDON. Chemical Society, January 17.—Prof. Thorpe, President, in the chair.—The following papers were read:—The preparation of iodic acid, by A. Scott and W. Arbuckle. The authors prepare iodic acid by heating powdered iodine with nitric acid in a glass flask fitted with a ground-in reflux condenser and a tube by means of which oxygen is passed through the boiling liquid.—Note on isomeric change and meta-substitution in benzenoid amines, by A. Lapworth. The author explains the action of fuming sulphuric acid on dimethylaniline by means of an extension of his previously published views on the occurrence of isomeric change.—The preparation of esters from other esters of the same acid, by T. S. Patterson and C. Dickinson. It is shown that ethyl tartrate can be converted into methyl tartrate by the action of methyl alcohol and hydrogen chloride, and that methyl tartrate can be converted into ethyl tartrate by an analogous process.—Tecomin, a colouring matter derived from Bignonia tecoma, by T. H. Lee. The wood of Bignonia tecoma yields a yellow crystalline colouring matter, and is used locally as a dye for cotton and as a stain for wood.—A new method for the measurement of ionic velocities in aqueous solution, by B. D. Steele. The method consists in enclosing the liquid to be examined between two partitions of gelatine which contains the indicator ion in solution. On the passage of the current the cation of the solution is followed by the cation of the indicator, and the anion of the solution by the corresponding anion of the indicator. It is necessary in all cases that these indicator ions should move more slowly than the ion to be measured; the motion is followed by means of a cathetometer.—Metal ammonia compounds in aqueous solution, Part ii. The absorptive powers of dilute solutions of salts of the alkali metals, by H. M. Dawson and J. McCrae.—The amide, anilide and toluidides (ortho-and para) of glyceric acid, by P. F. Frankland, F. M. Wharton and H. Aston.