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IN HONOUR OF MELDOLA At this time of year when we announce the award of yet another ,Meldola Medal (see p. 217) it is natural for the younger generation to ask who was Raphael Meldola the man whose memory is being perpetuated by the Society of Maccabaeans and the Institute in this way ? In a short account it is wellnigh impossible to paint a canvas broad enough to give a complete answer to this apparently simple question, for it is difficult in these days to think of a man who was President of the Chemical Society (1 905-07) of the Society of Dyers and Colourists (1907-08) of the Society of Chemical Industry (1908-09) and of the Institute (1912-15) and who was also a friend of Charles Darwin the translator of Weismann’s Studies in the Theory of Descent the joint author of a book on the Essex earthquake of 1884 sometime President of the Essex Field Club and of the Entomological Society and the author of contributions to scientific journals on such subjects as “Fascination Exercised by a Frog,” ‘‘The Utility of Specific Characters,’’ “Mimicry between Butterflies of Protected Genera” and “Lamarckism uersux Darwinism.” Nor does it complete the picture if we add that he discovered the first oxazine dyestuff the first acid green and ‘alkali blue XG,’ that he was responsible for organising a solar eclipse expedition to the Nicobar Islands and that he was associated with General Pitt Rivers in issuing a “Preliminary Report of the Committee appointed to investigate the Ancient Earthwork in Epping Forest known as the Loughton Camp.” Raphael Meldola grandson of the Chief Rabbi of that name and a man unique even among his contemporaries in the breadth and depth of his scientific knowledge could trace his ancestry back to Isaiah Meldola of Toledo ( 1282- 1340) some members of the family having earlier established themselves at Meldola not far from Ravenna in Italy.Raphael however was born in Islington in 1849 and as a youth studied at the Royal College of Chemistry. After being an assistant for a time in a private laboratory he joined Williams Thomas and Dower working in their colour factory at Brentford until in 1872 still in his early twenties, he was appointed to the teaching staff of the Royal School of Mines and became Professor Edward Frankland’s private research assistant. Later he assisted Professor Lockyer in the Solar Physics Laboratory at the College became interested in astronomy and spectroscopy and in 1875 conducted and wrote the report on the British Eclipse Expedition to the Nicobar Islands.After this he became chemist at Brooke Simpson and Spiller’s colour works at Hackney Wick where in the next eight years he carried out important researches and discovered ‘Meldola’ blue. I t was not until 1885 that he was appointed for the remaining thirty years of his life to the work for which he is best remembered today -as Professor of Chemistry at the Finsbury Technical College. Apart from being called to the Presidential Chairs of a number of Societies he was honoured also with the degree of D.Sc. by Oxford 16 170 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY and that of LL.D.by St Andrews. The Royal Society admitted him to its Fellowship in 1886 and awarded him the Davy Medal in 1913; he was a Vice-president of the Society at the time of his death. He served the Institute as a member of the Council as Vice-president and as President from 1888 to 1915 with a break of only one year. He also found time for service to industry and the Government having been Chairman of the Advisory Council of British Dyes Limited and of the Glass Research Committee and a member from the outbreak of the first world war of the Board of Trade Advisory Committee on Chemical Supplies and of the Advisory Council on Scientific and Industrial Research. After a full life dedicated to the service of his fellow-men Meldola died on 16 November 1915 and was buried at the Jewish Cemetery, Golders Green.I t is ironical that his chemical work especially that on naphthalene derivatives and azo-compounds should for the most part have been overlooked in England; but it bore extensive fruit in Germany. In a paper to the Royal Society of Arts in 1886 he warned the country of the danger of its neglect to put the results of science to industrial use but ‘Meldola’ blue was never produced here although manufactured in large quantities in Germany under various names. He refused to admit that the decline of the colour industry in Great Britain was due to defects in our Patent Law as many maintained, but showed in several papers lectures and addresses that the real cause of the country’s loss was the inability of manufacturers to understand the need for combining uninterrupted research with manufacturing opera-tions not only to effect continual improvements in processes but also to produce a continuous stream of new products.In his final address to the Institute on 1 March 1915 only a few months before he died, he maintained that scientific direction and not merely assistance would alone ensure the prosperity of our chemical industries. “It is the expert and the expert only who can foresee the course of development; who can keep in touch with the progress of research and who can direct with intelligence the campaign against our competitors. If such scientific direction is withheld all schemes are sooner or later bound to end in failure.” To keep alive such ideas and the memory of the man who expounded them the Society of Maccabaeans (of which Meldola had also been President during his Presidency of the Institute) founded the Meldola Medal in 1921.It was first awarded in 1922-to Dr C. K. Ingold, who humbly hoped “that it may yet be possible to deserve it retro-spectively by making good.’’ Though originally intended as a reward for outstanding work in analytical chemistry it has never been restricted to this field of work. I t is fitting that we should close with a word of appreciation of the work done by Dr P. E. Spielmann F.R.I.c. who as representative of the Society of Maccabaeans has served on the Meldola Medal Com-mittee from 1921 onwards and whose advice has been of the greatest value. We hope that this link with Meldola will be retained for many years to come THE CHEMIST’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SOCIETY By H.J. T. ELLINGHAM PH.D. F.R.I.C. Secretary and Registrar Given on 28 February at a Symposium on “Chmistry and Society” organised br the University of Birmingham Chmical Society with whose permission it is now reproduced. I have been asked to look at the chemist and his social responsibilities in relation to his training and professional status as well as to speak of his duty to society as a scientist and as a citizen. To deal with the last of these first it is of course obvious that the chemist should try to become as good a scientist and as good a citizen as he can. The two aims are not incompatible. Many of my friends who are chemists have given valuable direct service to the community in such varied honorary capacities as town councillors church organists and secretaries of social clubs.Not all of us have the special talents required for such work but I believe that the more chemists can do in these and similar directions the greater will be the recognition accorded to the status of our profession. For the impression lingers in some quarters that the scientist regards himself as superior to mundane affairs or is so lacking in ordinary human qualities that he makes poor showing if he tries to pursue them. This I believe to be generally untrue at least as regards chemists. Most of the chemists I know-and there are a few thousand of them-hate to feel set apart from the rest of the community and enjoy disillusioning the cartoonists by looking uncommonly like butchers bishops or bookmakers.Nevertheless chemists still resent being confused with pharmacists as they so often are by people who should know better (though my musical friends have been largely cured of this error by my referring to the Royal Festival Hall as ‘that music hall’). But the way of science is hard and never-ending even if one is to keep in touch with developments in a relatively narrow field and the chemist may well feel that if he does his professional job to the best of his ability, pays his rates and taxes and cares for his family he has discharged his duty to society and should be left to use his small remaining leisure in playing golf growing geraniums or reading detective stories.After all, no more seems to be expected of the average citizen. But nowadays it is widely held that the scientist is no ordinary citizen. His work has so greatly transformed the material conditions of life that many people are beginning to turn to him for guidance on how they may adapt themselves to living-or even surviving-in this changed environment. This is encouraging to the scientist and especially to the chemist whose contri-butions to the welfare and comfort of the community have hitherto been credited largely to doctors pharmacists or some ill-defined class of inventors. I have no doubt that we should accept this challenge at least to the extent of using well the opportunities that arise in our day-to-day contacts with our fellow-men of answering such questions as they put 17 172 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL to us about scientific developments and their implications and especially of removing misunderstandings that still persist about the nature of scientific work and the outlook of those who pursue it.For some of us there are special opportunities for this through such media as the tech-nical and lay press and broadcasting and for all of us collectively through the support we give to our scientific societies and to our professional institution the Royal Institute of Chemistry. But I suspect that the layman will continue to base his opinions about chemists largely on his impressions of the individuals he happens to come across and his views about chemistry on what they say and do.This places a heavy responsibility on all of us for the status accorded to our profession by the general public may depend to a large extent on the personal qualities of a random selection of chemists. How then should we discharge this responsibility to ourselves and to society? In these days I believe that the popular assessment of the attributes of the scientist is in danger of swinging to an opposite extreme. The picture of the bearded alchemist preparing a loathsome elixir in a fuming alembic is giving place to that of the high priest of a new religion exercising remote electronic control over the destiny of the human race. Both pictures are false and we who professionally value truth above all else should disclaim them equally. I t is easier to resist disparagement than flattery but I believe that the time has come when it is our duty to try to dispel the mystery with which science tends to become invested and that we should emphasise the ‘ordinariness’ of our work.We should make it clear that in fundamental research we humbly seek to unravel the secrets of nature without preconceived notions of what they may turn out to be; that Rutherford in studying atomic disintegration was not trying to produce an atomic bomb or a treatment for cancer but solely to dis-cover the truth about atomic structure. We should insist that there is nothing mysterious about the ideas or methods of science; they are simple extensions of common sense and everyday practice. We should explain that the language of science has not been devised as a secret code to puzzle the uninitiated but has grown up like the jargons of the art critic, the financial correspondent or the sports editor to describe clearly particular groups of ideas and phenomena.A glossary is available to anyone who is prepared to take the trouble to use it but it is noteworthy that whereas few people \trill admit to a lack of appreciation of music art or literature there are still many who pride themselves on being ignorant of anything that has to do with science. We should proclaim that the so-called ‘wonders of science’ are essentially the wonders of nature and that though it is proper to admire the patience ingenuity and inspiration of the scientist who brings such wonders to light it should not be over-looked that they already existed before human curiosity began to seek them out.The chemist who synthesises an entirely new substance utilises his hard-won resources of knowledge and experience together with his insight to provide the conditions under which existing forces can operate to produce a new arrangement of atoms in a molecule; this may be a brilliant piece of scientific work which only a genius could plan and a skilled experimentalist carry out-but every step can be describe 19551 THE CHEMIST’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SOCIETY 173 and there is nothing mysterious about it. We do not deal in magic or miracles. When we come to consider the development and application of scien-tific discoveries other questions arise. Fundamental research is ethically neutral and it should by now be a commonplace that every discovery is capable of being used either for the benefit or to the detriment of indi-viduals of groups of individuals or of society as a whole.The early discoverer of how to shape the mud of the Nile or the Euphrates into small blocks and bake them in the sun not only gave his contemporaries the blessing of brick-built huts but also provided the more belligerent of them with handy missiles; probably the cry ‘heave a brick at him’ dates from that time. But now that the scientist is so much in the public eye it has become more customary to hold him responsible for the direction these developments take-or at least to blame him for the unpleasant while accepting the beneficial without question. There can be no doubt that the scientist has a special responsibility here to make clear the scien-tifically assessable consequences to society of the various possible applica-tions of his work-for only he can do that.This does not mean that he has any right to disclose the secrets of his employer whether he be in private industry or a government servant. Indeed that would be unprofessional conduct. But it is his duty to ensure that his seniors are kept fully informed of such consequences so that they may adapt their policy accordingly. If the scientist is troubled in his conscience through his advice on such matters being ignored his remedy is to seek another job. But even then he is not at liberty to publicise what he has been told in confidence or under pledge of secrecy. For when it comes to the wider social consequences of scientific developments responsibility must be shared by other sections of the community-industrialists public authorities the State-and ultimately by society as a whole.The concern of the scientist with these broader questions is largely in his capacity as a citizen-an enlightened citizen no doubt-and in my view it is of the highest importance that the public should know in which capacity he speaks and acts at any particular time. For the scientist can do a great disservice to science and to society if he lets it be thought that the views he expresses on moral or political issues are derived solely from his scientific knowledge and experience. From the statements of a few of the more vocal of our scientific brethren (seldom chemists I am pleased to say) it might be supposed that atheism and communism were cults established on the basis of scientific reasoning and that anyone who did not follow them was deliberately ignoring the teachings of science.On the other hand I would surmise that the proportion of adherents to the various religious denominations and to the established political parties is much the same among scientists as among other thoughtful members of the community. This if true would not be surprising for there is nothing in science as such-or at least in the physical sciences-that is relevant to moral or political beliefs or opinions. Indeed the philos-ophers point out that the scope of science has been deliberately restricted to the study of those features of nature that are measurable and that such non-metrical values as goodness beauty faith and love lie outsid JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL 174 its province; even truth which we specially revere may be bounded by that limitation scientific truth may not be absolute truth.Science is certainly not a religion. But because science is concerned with the material universe (or should we now say the ‘energetic’ universe) and, in the pursuit of truth is ethically neutral it does not follow that the individual scientist is less moral less appreciative of beauty less reverently devout or less filled with loving kindness than other men for such qualities belong to the human personality as a whole. Indeed I venture to think that the scientist who spends his working and leisure hours with a fair cross-section of his fellow-men is more likely to understand their hopes and fears and to share their interests and difficulties than many so-called humanists who live as recluses in order to pursue some narrow academic enquiry or to indulge in monastic introspection.Although the scientist should not claim superior wisdom in dealing with social problems-even those raised by science-he may reasonably maintain that his opinions on such matters are at least as worthy of attention as those of other thoughtful citizens. I t is said that the education and training of the scientist are essentially vocational and lack the warm human background provided for students of the arts. In so far as this is true I believe it to be largely irrelevant.The content of syllabuses is not so important as the spirit in which they are operated. Here I would plead for chemistry courses with a due proportion of laboratory work (for ours is a practical science) for making it clear that mathematics should be our servant not our master and that chemistry should not be treated as an apanage of physics. In any event university education depends not only on professors lecturers and tutors but also on dealings with non-academic persons such as landladies college porters and police-men-and the varied knowledge that they can impart is available to students of all faculties. Nevertheless it is often suggested that there should be introduced into science curricula some proportion of literary or other cultural studies so that the science graduate may be the better enabled to discharge his wider responsibilities to society.This sounds reasonable enough though I think a stronger case could be madefor including some science in the courses for the arts men so that those who become administrators might have a slight idea of what is going on in the world. But I have a suspicion that the introduction of extraneous sub-jects into undergraduate courses in science-especially into the already heavily overloaded honours course in chemistry-may defeat its own object. For my impression is that if you try to impose a set of conditions on British students they tend to react so as to nullify the effects of such external influences (peace be on Le Chatelier); they will discover ingen-ious methods of giving the minimum of attention to the extra subjects and will probably cause the imported exponents of culture to write off all science students as barbarians.Be this as it may I am convinced that students of science are second to none in the enthusiasm and energy they will bring to bear on organising and running societies and clubs of their own to promote interest in these selfsame subjects. In a long experience of a college officially concerned only with science and But the contrary view is widely held 19551 THE CHEMIST’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SOCIETY 175 technology I formed the opinion that if the authorities provided even the barest facilities the students could be relied upon to do the rest. And I feel that the majority derived more inspiration understanding and social grace from taking part in the activities of their own literary debating, musical and dramatic societies than they would have obtained from any formal lectures-especially if such lectures were linked with examinations.And I would include among the cultural clubs those whose ostensible purpose is merely the consumption of beer with the discussion of the universe as an incidental object. I had a special affection for one of these which also arranged occasional exhibitions of works of art by the members who between times were encouraged to read papers to one another on any subject other than science. Having found that true words are often spoken in jest and indeed that the greatest truths can often be made more assimilable if salted with wit there was introduced a salutary rule that if in the course of discussion any member spoke entirely seriously for more than three consecutive minutes it was the duty of the chairman to open at random the copy of the works of Rabelais that was always kept at hand-and to proceed to read from it in a louder voice.I think that moment has arrived! MANCHESTER SYMPOSIUM ON ORGANO-METALLIC COMPOUNDS The annual Conjoint Symposium of The Chemical Society The Institute of Petroleum The Royal Institute of Chemistry and The Society of Chemical Industry will be held in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre, The University Manchester on Thursday 2 1 April. PROGRAMME Morning Session 10.30 a.m.-12.45 p.m. Chairman Professor E. R. H. JONES P.R.S. Professor G. E. COATES Unicersity of Durham “A Review of some Recent Developments in the Chemistry of Organo-metallic Compounds” Dr J.CHATT (Z.C.Z. Ltd. Akers Research Laboratories) “The Structure of the Olefin Complexes with Metal Salts” Dr F. G. MA” F.R.S. (University Chemical Laboratory Cambridge) “New Reactions of Grignard Reagents and their Mechanisms” Afternoon Session 2.30 p.m.-4.15 p.m. Chairman Mr. G. OSGOOD Dr M. C. WHITING (UniuersiQ of Munchaster) “Organo-Iron Compounds” Dr E. A. BRAUDE (Imfierial College of Science and Technologj) “Organic Compounds of Lithium and their use in Synthesis’’ Evening Session 5 p.m.-6.30 p.m. Chairman Sir ROBERT ROBINSON o.M.. P.R.S. Professor K. ZIEGLER (Max-Planck-Instituvur Kohlenforschung Mulfuirn) “Progress in the field of Metalorganic especially Aluminium Organic Compounds SCHOOLS OF CHEMISTRY IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND XVI-THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Bjv SIR HAROLD HARTLEY K.c.v.o.F.R.S. Honorary Fellow of Balliol College Oxford, and Honorary Fellow of the Institute PART I1 The Dyson Perrins Laboratory When Odling retired in 1912 the electors unanimously offered the Waynflete Chair to W. H. Perkin Jnr. who came to Oxford in 1913. He started work at once in the inadequate accommodation of the Old Chemical Department but with the generous help of Mr Dyson Perrins a fine new laboratory was soon being built for him to which he moved in 1916. The war revealed the weakness of our dye industry and Perkin soon had a team working for British Dyes Ltd. on dyes and intermediates to help to meet the shortage of dyes manufactured in this country.After the war the eastern wing of the laboratory named after its generous benefactor was completed and opened in 1922. Perkin soon suggested an alteration in the Final Honours School of Chemistry in order to strengthen the position of research. Under his scheme the examination was divided into two parts; Part I is an examina-tion by means of written papers and practicals success in which entitles a candidate to the degree of B.A. without Honours and Part I1 consists of a thesis based on a year’s research under supervision; a candidate’s class in the honours list depends on his performance in both Parts I and 11. This innovation as Perkin had foreseen did much to increase the output of research from Oxford after 1920.The research accommodation in Perkin’s new laboratory was for long the envy of all other university chemistry departments and with such a head to inspire research and what is more to set a grand personal example by working six to seven hours each day at the bench in his delightful research laboratory it is not surprising that organic chemistry at Oxford went ahead by leaps and bounds. At the end of each afternoon a good part of his bench space was covered with dirty apparatus! He always arrived early for his morning lectures and paced up and down in his private room turning over the subject matter in his mind. In consequence the lectures were always clear and invariably inspiring. In them as for instance his well-remembered lecture on terpineol at the Alembic Club he made his audience feel that they were actually engaged in the work and sharing the hopes and disappointments invariably encountered in synthetic work.17 XVI-THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 177 I t is probably true that the largest single factor in his chemical greatness was his remarkable intuition. A well-remembered instance is an experiment in which the hydrolysis product under alkaline condi-tions of the remaining small amount of a valuable substance under investigation went through the bottom of the flask into the water-bath. When Perkin appeared as was his regular custom early in the morning and enquired whether the problem had been settled he was told of the accident and at once said “Filter the contents of the bath at the pump concentrate acidify and collect the precipitate and dry it on a plate.” When he came again a few hours later the small amount of white solid obtained was drying on the plate and Perkin’s eye and thumb combined to identify it as anisic acid and such it was! He worked in the laboratory through the day from 9 a.m.to between 3 and 4 p.m. with only a short interval for a fruit or sandwich lunch often brought in by Mrs Perkin preceded up the stairs by John (the terrier). On one such occasion the Professor had forgotten to put the kettle on for the coffee and the appearance of John caused him some confusion as he hurriedly rectified the omission saying “How naughty of me to have forgotten.” Perkin had great charm much wordly wisdom and a striking capacity for what might be termed restoring the perspective.Once at a meeting when a high university official had made a long personal attack on Perkin he was completely disarmed by Perkin’s reply “Don’t you think Mr X we should get on much faster with the business if we stopped being rude to one another.” On another occasion he had to propose a vote of thanks to a distinguished visiting lecturer who com-plained that his own field of work on carbohydrates was being invaded by a certain continental worker. Perkin said he had listened with the greatest interest to a most striking lecture which he hoped would stimulate work on carbohydrates in Oxford! Perkip’s researches at Oxford are described fully in the special number of the Journal of th Chemical Society that is dedicated to his memory. The chief fields he investigated during this period were cryptopine and protopine harmine and harmaline strychnine and brucine and the isoquinoline group his main collaborators in addition to Robert Robinson being G.R. Clemo J. M. Gulland and R. D. Haworth all of whom carried the Perkin tradition to other universities. Further development of organic chemistry at Oxford the growth of which had been a notable feature of the decade after the first world war was assured by the appointment of Robert Robinson to the Wayn-flete Chair in 1929. The number of research students in the Dyson Perrins Laboratory about 35 in 1930 rose steadily to about 60 in 1939. There were fewer (about 45) during the succeeding war years but the numbers have now risen to more than 80. Of these about 40 per cent are fourth-year students working for Part I1 of the Final Examination in Chemistry while of the more senior research students rather more than a half are Oxford men who have remained the rest being students from other universities.The average number of candidates for Part I of the Final Examination was about 55 in the years between the wars 178 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL in which period about I00 undergraduates attended the practical classes in organic chemistry each term. In recent years the numbers of under-graduates have been doubled. In addition to the above since 1930 the classes in organic chemistry for medical students which during the preceding years were held first in a temporary laboratory at the Examina-tion Schools and then in the University Museum have been conducted in the Dyson Perrins Laboratory.The Queen’s College Laboratory which for thirty years had provided accommodation for teaching and research in organic chemistry was closed in 1934. The resulting increased demand for places in the Dyson Perrins Laboratory was partly met by the erection on the north side of a one-storey structure to which the classes for medical students were transferred. This was demolished in 1940 to make way for a much larger extension of the laboratory made possible by a generous offer of L23,OOO from the Rockefeller Foundation. This much-needed addition, designed primarily for research led to the reorganisation and modernisa-tion of the department as a whole. Much of the impressive volume of research conducted on the organic side in the last twenty years or so has been concerned with the structure of natural products.Sir Robert Robinson and his collaborators have played a leading part in the solution of many of the most notable problems of this type. A long series of investigations into the chemistry of strychnine and brucine made it possible ultimately to advance acceptable constitutional formulae for these complex substances and the related vomicine. Other studies in the alkaloid field have embraced morphine physostigmine (eserine) quinamine ajmaline the chelidonine-sanguinarine group and alkaloid biogenesis the latter being only one part of his classic studies of the structural relationships running through natural products.Special mention must be made of the spectacular syntheses of the anthocyanins and other pyrylium salts as well as iso-flavones and other oxygen ring compounds which were mainly conducted about twenty years ago. A prominent part in the investigation of the anthocyanins was taken by the late Lady Robinson whose work in Oxford received recognition when the University on 21 January 1954, conferred upon her the degree of M.A. honoris causa shortly before her tragic death. Another vast field of investigation carried out by Robinson and his pupils has been the synthesis of substances related to the sterols. The constitution of penicillin has also been studied and an extensive series of attempts to find new antimalarials have been made. These headlines give no more than an indication of the scope of some of the main features in a vast collection of researches which have made Robinson the out-standing organic chemist of his time and have earned for him recognition in many forms including the conferment of a knighthood in 1939 the award of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1947 the Order of Merit in 1949 and the Priestley Medal of the American Chemical Society in 1953.Among the many other researches carried out in the Dyson Perrins Laboratory since 1929 mention may be made of the following fields 1955) XVI-THE UNIVEFLSITY OF OXFORD 179 the physical properties of organic compounds (N. V. Sidgwick; L. E. Sutton); some aspects of the chemistry of oximes (T. W. J. Taylor); the study of higher aliphatic compounds and the preparation and physical properties of hydrocarbons (J.C. Smith) ; studies of decarboxylation, some molecular complexes and certain aspects of quinaldine chemistry (D. L1. Hammick); the chemistry of several groups of heterocyclic compounds (S. G. P. Plant; M. L. Tomlinson) ; oxygen ring compounds (W. Baker); the aporphine alkaloids (J. M. Gulland); new potential chemotherapeutic agents (F. E. King) ; the mechanism of oxidation reactions and reacticns involving free radicals (W. A. Waters) ; branched-chain fatty acids (N. Polgar); amino-acids and peptides (G. T. Young); reduction by dissolving metals (A. J. Birch). Nevi1 Sidgwick was one of the earliest migrants to the Dyson Perrins from a college laboratory. He was one of Harcourt’s pupils and after a short time with Ostwald at Leipzig he spent two years at Tubingen doing organic research.He returned to Oxford in 1901 and his keen mind his breadth of view and his penetrating criticism made him a stimulating influence in the chemistry school for half a century. This was recognised later by the conferment on him of the title of Professor in 1933. His main contributions were to chemical theory through his books* and lectures starting with his Organic Chemistry of Nitrogen in 1910. Later his main interest was the application of the Rutherford-Bohr theory of the atom to the problems of valency and molecular structure. Sidgwick was no mathematician; so the need he felt to express physical theories in concepts which he could grasp and use and his ability to do this and communicate them to others made him a most valuable inter-preter.He was however much more than an interpreter for having grasped such concepts he would use them most vigorously and effectively to sort out and to order the vast numbers of facts he collected from the literature so systematically and with such unflagging zeal. In particular, he was one of the important figures in the revival of inorganic chemistry and in breaking down the barriers between this and organic chemistry. Chemistry was one subject to him he was one of the few people who saw it whole. This breadth of view was evident in all his writings, which reveal his gift for clear and compelling exposition. Sidgwick was always insistent like Harcourt on the contribution the college laboratories had made to chemistry in Oxford.At almost our last meeting I incurred one of his characteristic biting reproofs because I had not yet written their history. I t reminded me of Har-court’s final entence in his address on the jubilee of the Museum in 19 10. ‘ ‘In the Museum sometimes one study advances more rapidly and attracts mov pupils sometimes another . . . but when ‘the tired waves vainly break‘ g seem here no painful inch to gain,’ the college laboratories * The Organic Chemistry of Nitrogen Clarendon Press 1910; The Electronic Theory of Valency Cl,..endon Press 1927; Some Physical Properties of the Covalent Link in Chemistry Carl. :11 U.P. 1933; The Chemical Elements and their Compounds 2 vols., Clarendon I’- ass 1950. In this way he gave form to a great body of knowledge 180 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL with young and eager teachers are prepared to supply any deficiency that may occur.” This was true once of chemistry but now with the fine university laboratories there is no longer need of them.The Physical Chemistry Laboratory In 1937 Hinshelwood succeeded Soddy as Dr Lee’s Professor with responsibility for the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory for Chemical Crystallography and Physical Chemistry. At that time physical chemistry was taught in the Balliol and Trinity Laboratory with some help from Jesus under an agreement with the University. The pre-1914 arrange-ment under Baker’s scheme had been continued after the war when the two colleges had managed to make available increased accommoda-tion to provide both for the laboratory teaching and the constantly growing amount of research in three main fields-the kinetics of gas reactions photochemistry and electrochemistry.In kinetics Hinshelwood was continuing the tradition of Harcourt and Dixon and the effectiveness of his frontal attack on the mechanism of gas reactions was shown by the appearance of the first edition of his book The Kinetics of Chemical Change in 1926. This contained the first comprehensive treatment of the whole range of gas reactions and it was based to a considerable extent on his own work with his pupils. At the same time E. J. Bowen was among the first to investigate the quantum yields of photochemical reactions. Until 1933 Hartley and his pupils were investigating the electrochemistry of non-aqueous solvents which had acquired a new interest through the Debye-Hiickel theory.After the war there was a strong link between the physical chemists and the Clarendon Laboratory to which F. A. Lindemann (Lord Cherwell) came as Lee’s Professor in 19 19. His interest in the mechanism of gas reactions led to his suggestion that collisions and not radiation were responsible for the activation of molecules. This was shown to be correct by Hinshelwood’s work on unimolecular reactions. In 1919 T. R. Merton was appointed to a Professorship of Spectro-scopy and in 192 1 A. C. G. Egerton to a Readership in Thermodynamics. Both of them worked at the Clarendon in close touch with the physical chemists. Egerton’s first investigations in Oxford were on the deter-mination of chemical constants.Later in 1924 he began his study of combustion. The connection between the Clarendon and chemistry was fostered by Sidgwick by the stimulus of the weekly colloquia. After 1930 the point of attack widened as new teachers chose their own lines of investigation and this together with the growing size of the chemistry school had made the provision of a university laboratory an urgent need when Cyril Hinshelwood became Professor. Thanks to Lord Nuffield’s generosity a start was made with the building in 1939; in 1941 the Balliol and Trinity Laboratory was closed, and Hinshelwood moved into the new laboratory adjoining the Museum with its modern accommodation and equipment so badly needed for the growing school of physical chemistry.During the war it was used mainly for a number of service problems with a depleted staff. I 19551 XVI-THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 181 1945 when everyone returned to Oxford a number of researchers trans-ferred their work to the new laboratory to take advantage of its facilities. In recent years the number of research workers in physical and inorganic chemistry and in chemical crystallography has averaged about a hundred in addition to the permanent staff and groups of investigators are working in many different fields. In chemical crystallography H. M. Powell (the holder of the Readership established in 1944) has done distinguished work on a great variety of compounds all of chemical as well as of crystallographic interest the most notable being his discovery of clathrate compounds-one molecule or even an atom of an inert gas occupying a ‘cage’ in a lattice of other molecules.The work of Mrs Hodgkin (Dorothy Crowfoot) in the same section on the elucidation of protein structures and of penicillin is well known. In metallurgy W. Hume-Rothery and his pupils have continued his pioneer work on the general principles underlying the constitution of the series of alloys formed by copper silver magnesium aluminium and the transition metals while J. W. Christian is studying the kinetics of transformation in alloys and the structures produced by deformation and twinning. In the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory a number of different groups are at work. H. M. N. H. Irving is investigating complex formation in solution and solvent extractions both ofwhich have a bearing on analytical techniques and on the extraction of radioactive elements.J. W. Linnett is doing experimental work on flames and combustion particularly on the speed of flame propagation and also theoretical work on molecular vibrations and the quantum theory of valency. C . S. G. Phillips has worked on gas densities (with B. Lambert) and on gas chromatography. L. A. Woodward is doing refined work on Raman spectra in relation to molecular structure and the state of electrolyte solutions. F. M. Brewer is continuing his research on the rarer elements. In the Physical Chemistry Laboratory E. J. Bowen’s photochemical work has recently been devoted mainly to fluorescence following his pioneer work on the photolysis of carbonyl compounds.R. P. Bell has worked mostly on kinetics of solutions with special reference to organic reactions and isotope effects with some theoretical papers on quantum theory. R. F. Barrow’s measurements of ultra-violet spectra have thrown additional light on dissociation energies e.g. the recent drastic revision of the figure for the dissociation energy of fluorine. J. D. Lambert has investigated ultrasonic dispersion in gases and also the viscosities and equations of state of organic vapours. R. E. Richards has been studying paramagnetic proton resonances in addition to calori-metric work. H. W. Thompson’s accurate work in infra-red spectro-scopy has proved a valuable analytical tool as well as a useful means of elucidating interactions in solution.L. E. Sutton has continued his investigations of electron diffraction and dielectric constants and has correlated the inductive and mesomeric effects in aromatic compounds with observations of their dipole moments. L. A. K. Staveley’s work has been on thermochemistry and on phase equilibria of matter at low temperatures 182 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL It is perhaps rather invidious to pick out individuals but the list of their researches is an indication of the wide range of investigations in progress in the laboratory. Another outstanding feature has been the interest taken in the laboratory in the application of the quantum theory and statistical mechanics to theoretical chemistry which was greatly strengthened by the appointment of A.C. Coulson as I.C.I. Fellow in 1945. Under his influence a number of younger men devoted themselves to research in this field and two of them H. C. Longuet-Higgins and W. E. Moffitt, now hold Professorships at other Universities. Coulson himself returned to Oxford in 1952 as Rouse Ball Professor of Applied Mathematics to continue his work in theoretical chemistry so there is a close tie between the Physical Chemistry Laboratory and the Mathematical Institute. A succession of Visiting Professors like Linus Pauling and Robert Mulliken has been a great stimulus in the same direction. Meanwhile Hinshelwood has concentrated in recent years on two main groups of researches. His original interest in gas reactions con-tinues and is directed chiefly to the oxidation and pyrolysis of organic molecules.In his recent book on T h Structure o f Physical Chemistry he has outlined the great changes in outlook that have taken place since his early work-the recognition of the complexity of the mechanisms, the part played by atoms and radicals and the various factors that may contribute to the activation process. On all these his own work has thrown much fresh light. His other group of researches on the chemical kinetics of the bacterial cell is a natural sequel to his work on individual reactions. Its objective is to explore the possibility of explaining the life history of bacteria in terms of the simultaneous enzyme reactions which constitute their meta-bolism and determine their growth. In this connection Hinshelwood has studied particularly the phenomena accompanying the adaptation of bacteria to change in their supply of nutrients and their power of gradually developing resistance to the inhibitory effects of drugs.This leads directly to the old question of the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Is the adaptation due to the selection of mutants or to a change in all individuals consequent on exposure to a new environ-ment? Hinshelwood’s book Th C h i c a l Kinetics of the Bacterial Cell summarised his views in 1946 and the last chapter of The Structure of P/y.ricaZ Chemistry deals with the organic world. It is a bold and suggestive attempt to apply chemical kinetics to the interlocking reactions that are responsible for the growth and reproduction of the simplest living organisms.T h Department of Biochemistry The relations between chemistry and biochemistry have been so close in Oxford that this sketch would be incomplete without a brief note of the history of this department. The study of biochemistry traces its descent not directly from that of chemistry but from the original study of medicine through physiology. The reason for this seems to have been that although chemists wer 19551 XVI-THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 183 interested in natural products their primary interest was in their chemistry rather than in their biology. For the biochemist as for the physiologist, the smallest unit of real interest is the whole living organism; indeed, the field of study of the biochemist is hardly to be distinguished from that of the physiologist except by his bringing to bear on the same problems experimental methods and ways of thinking learnt from the physical sciences.Thus the development of biochemistry had to await the founding .of the chair of physiology in 1882 to which J. S. Burdon-Sanderson was appointed. Five years later his nephew J. S. Haldane came as his assistant in chemical physiology followed by Ramsden Vernon and Marsh. The growing importance of the chemical approach fostered in particular by Gowland Hopkins at Cambridge and the generosity of Edward Whitley led to the founding of the Whitley Chair of Bio-chemistry in 1920. With this event biochemistry in Oxford came of age. The first holder Benjamin Moore survived his appointment by only two years. I t was left for a pupil of Hopkins R.A. (now Sir Rudolph) Peters appointed in 1923 to set up a separate department; this financed in large part by the Rockefeller Foundation was opened in 1927. The choice of its site a shrubbery to the south of the University Parks adjoining the department of physiology is said to have caused enormous disputes within the governing circles of the University. How-ever the thing was done and Peters presided over a thriving and growing department until 1954 when he was succeeded by Professor H. A. Krebs. Contact with the physiology department has naturally been close, because most of the students taught in both have been medical students, reading for the Physiology Final School. Naturally also fairly close touch has been kept with other pre-medical departments particularly those of pathology and pharmacology.Special mention should also be made of the biochemistry department of the Radcliffe Infirmary, whose director J. R. O’Brien was originally a member and remains a part-time member of the department of biochemistry. These relation-ships would be expected. I t is however a pleasure to record also the continuous understanding and friendship with the departments of chemistry which have been fostered in a number of ways-by the lively interest of chemists especially of Sir Robert Robinson and Sir Cyril Hinshelwood ; by the “supplementary” course in biochemistry for students of chemistry; by a small but steady flow of students trained in chemistry into the biochemistry department to read for research degrees; by the presence on the staff of the department of people originally trained in chemistry; finally by the establishment in 1948 of a four-years honours course in biochemistry during which students spend nearly half their time learning fundamental chemistry in the chemistry departments.There has thus always been a close link between the biochemistry and chemistry departments. Peters’ main work beginning with an interest in the biochemical functions of vitamins has been on problems of cellular oxidation systems, especially those of nervous tissue. There have been important practical 184 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL as distinct from purely academic results from his work in human nutri-tion in the discovery of the anti-Lewisite substance BAL and in light thrown on the action of mustard gas.Among many associates and pupils. must be mentioned Carter Long Kinnersley O’Brien Ochoa Sinclair, Stocken Thompson and Whittaker. Peters has contributed aIso to the problem of cellular organisation and the part played in this by inter-phases. Other fields of study in the department have been nitrogen metabolism and intestinal absorption (Fisher Parsons) ; enzyme specificity (Whittaker) ; enzyme systems (Elliott) ; biochemical effects of radiations, in collaboration with the MRC Radiobiological unit Harwell (0 rd,. Stocken) ; carbohydrate biochemistry (Kent). In 1937 one of the two Svedberg ultracentrifuges in Great Britain was installed and used, together with other techniques in the study of proteins and other macro-molecular substances by Philpot and later Cecil and Ogston.In 1946 a unit was set up for the study of the biochemistry of micro-organisms, under D. D. Woods. The department has now 16 members of staff and about thirty research students apart from the M.R.C. Research Unit in Cell Metabolism which Professor Krebs brought with him from S heffield . In writing this sketch of the history of the Oxford School of Chemistry I have been helped by many of my former colleagues to whom I offer grateful thanks. SCOTTISH SECTIONS SYNIPOSIUM RECENT ADVANCES IN THE CHEMISTRY AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF CELLULOSE 111. Industrial Applications of Cellulose and its Derivatives The final group of lectures dealing with industrial applications of cellulose and its derivatives viz.“Cellulose Ethers and their Applica-tions,” by Dr W. A. Caldwell of I.C.I. Limited Nobel Division; “Textile Finishing in Relation to Cellulose,” by Dr H. A. Thomas of Courtaulds, Ltd.; “Cellulose Materials as Packaging Media,” by Mr F. A. Paine of the Printing Packaging and Allied Trades Research Association ; and ‘‘Coloured Film,” by Dr A. W. Baldwin of I.C.I. Limited Dyestuffs Division were delivered on 1 and 2 July. In the first lecture Dr W. A. Caldwell reviewed briefly the structure of cellulose and related this to the mechanism of ether formation pointing out that etherification takes place at the free hydroxyls in the 2 3 and 6 positions of the anhydroglucose residues forming the cellulose chain. The extent to which etherification occurs and the nature of the substituent groups determine the solubility and other properties of the cellulose ether.Within a certain range water-solubility is obtained. Such water-soluble cellulose ethers e.g. methyl hydroxyethyl an 19551 THE CHEMISTRY AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF CELLULOSE 185 carboxymethyl cellulose are prepared industrially by causing soda cellulose to react with the appropriate alkyl halide or other etherifying agent. After the reaction the excess alkali is neutralised and the by-product salts removed by washing with spirits or sometimes hot water. A description was given of the physical properties of these ethers, special mention being made of the insolubility of methyl cellulose in hot water and the variation of viscosity with concentration and temperature.The rate of solution which was also discussed is determined partly by the physical form of the material and partly by the method of manufacture. A special quick-dissolving high-viscosity sodium carboxymethyl cellulose has been developed. The uses of sodium carboxymethyl celluloses include the waterproofing of blasting explosives the waterproofing effect being dependent on the formation of a thick jelly of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose through which water permeates only slowly. Other uses are the improvement of oil-well drilling muds to prevent excessive water loss and as an additive to paper-making stock whereby either the beating time may be reduced or the strength of the paper increased. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is also used in the stabilisation of ice cream a smoother texture and better ‘over-run’ being obtained.It also assists in promoting detergent efficiency in the washing of cotton fabrics owing probably to the formation of a protective soil-repellent layer on the cloth. Methyl ethyl cellulose is of importance because of its foaming and emulsifying powers. The special purified grade is used for foodstuffs, finding employment in the preparation of synthetic creams and meringues. In the former the combination of foaming and emulsifying properties allows the preparation of a thin cream which can be beaten up to a firm consistency. Such creams are considered to have better keeping proper-ties than normal egg creams. Dr H. A. Thomas gave an account of textile finishing in relation to cellulose.Dyeing and finishing are often dealt with as one subject with the more spectacular aspect of colour and its ‘sales appeal’ taking priority. Finishing however plays an important role in the life and serviceability of textiles and also affects ‘handle and drape.’ Dr Thomas considered his subject under the headings of (a) purpose, ( b ) chemistry (c) laboratory evaluation and ( d ) difficulties in finishing. He dealt at some length with crease resistance as one of the most valued finishes used at present. This is intended to make the fabric recover rapidly from crushing and yet be able to retain permanent creases intended in the design of a garment. The nature of the fibre and fabric structure is important. Filament fabrics woven from very long continuous fibres (many miles in length) are more obviously creaseable than ‘spun fabrics’ from fibres of shorter length.Resins have been applied to viscose rayon to impart crease resistance. The thermoplastic fibres of terylene or nylon are themselves extremely satisfactory for crease resistance and are superior to either natural fibres or regenerated cellulose rayons. For resin treatment urea-formaldehyde has been successfully employed. A difficulty arises in inducing resin formers to enter crystalline regions o 186 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL cotton cellulose. The resin is deposited on fibre surfaces in such cases, causing embrittlement of the fibre and low abrasion resistance. The fabric is harsh to the feel. Cotton therefore requires mercerisation with soda before finishing.A more satisfactory treatment is carboxymethyla-tion which has the double advantage of increasing accessibility to the fibre and providing at the same time ‘built in’ acid groups to catalyse resin polymerisation. The carboxyl groups however reduce the affinity for certain dyes. For this reason cyanoethylation with acrylonitrile has been recently introduced. The finished product resists micro-organisms, heat and abrasion and has an improved affinity for dyes. Current research in this field is also directed towards the improvement of ‘catalysts’ for polymerisation of resin finishes. I t is important to avoid the fishy odour and chlorine retention that sometimes occur. Dr Thomas then turned to a discussion of the cross-bonding or methylene-ether bridges between glucose chains found in the cellulose molecule and their importance for crease resistance.In the ‘evaluation’ of the finish measurement of water imbibition is a rough guide to the degree of cross-bonding. The treated viscose rayons are insoluble in cuprammonium solutions and resist parchmentisation by sulphuric acid. The percentage resin in the finished fabric is usually determined by solvent extraction and the amount of free formaldehyde is also measured. Colorimetric tests are employed to check the uniformity of the distribution of resin which affects the affinity of the finished material for dyes. Physical tests include crease recovery and stiffness tests in which crease angles are measured after a fixed ‘recovery time.’ Tensile strength and extensibility are usually measured.An important part of serviceability testing is the ability of the fabric to ‘make up’ into garments. In particular behaviour during sewing requires investigation. Funda-mental work indicating improvements in sewing machine design was described. Among the difficulties considered was the production of materials overloaded with resin and of fabrics designed to give an impression of toughness which did not last in use. Such unscrupulous practices had done much to damage the reputation of crease-resistant fabrics. Dr Thomas dealt briefly with shrink-resistant finishes which may be achieved by a blend of viscose and cellulose acetate staple. The latter has less tendency to swell than the viscose.Cross-bonding with formal-dehyde stabilises the fabric under laundering conditions. Waterproofing has been successfully achieved by treatment with silicones and attractive stiffened finishes have been obtained with aryl di-isocyanates. In discussing cellulose materials as packaging media Mr F. A. Paine first considered paper and wood as the basis of most packaging materials. Packaging often regarded as an unfortunate cost has for long been the Cinderella of manufacturers. The late war showed up past ignorance of and lack of interest in packaging. The object is to deliver manufactured articles in good condition. The container may have to fulfil many different requirements. It may have to be suitable for semi- or fully automatic making filling and closing. I t must withstand many type 19551 THE CHEMISTRY AND INDUSTRrAL APPLICATIONS OF CELLULOSE 187 of shock and be proof against weather and pilfering.Finally it must be readily identifiable in order to possess ‘sales appeal’ and consequently requires to be printed upon. Compatibility with the nature of the products packed and the cost must also be considered. The properties of materials for packaging have only recently been examined scientifically. Instruments for recording different shocks have been designed for inclusion in packages carried by various forms of trans-port. A number of ingenious machines have also been designed by PATRA for subjecting packages to a wide variety of laboratory ‘rough-usage’ tests. Attempts are being made to correlate laboratory and actual transport test results with the properties of packaging materials.Particular attention has been paid to the investigation of paper for packaging. The performance of paper bags depends on the design of bag as well as on the properties of the paper. The particle size of the material to be packed in paper bags is also of importance. The rates of loading of paper used in packaging are usually higher than in other uses and consideration must be given to this in testing. The performance of machines handling paper packages such as bags is also under investigation. I t has often been found that packaging materials fail because packing machines are out of adjustment. Varia-tion in paper board for carton blanks must also be avoided if dimensional changes in packages and failure to cut or crease properly is to be avoided.Scientific studies of packaging problems are still in the preliminary stages but efforts are being made to improve ad hoc experimental methods and to pursue more fundamental studies of the relationships between the properties of materials laboratory tests and performance in use. In the final lecture Dr A. W. Baldwin reviewed the history of photo-graphic reproduction in natural colours from the first additive reproduc-tion achieved by Clerk Maxwell and demonstrated before the Royal Institution in May 1861. The interrelationship of all present-day applications of colour photography was revealed covering such widely differing techniques as the making of subtractive colour transparencies in the ordinary camera motion pictures in natural colour both Tech-nicolor and the newest multilayer processes and colour photographic illustrations in magazines.I t was interesting to note for example that the principle of taking the colour photograph namely recording the blue green and red light separately is as essential to-day as in Maxwell’s first experiment. I t was also significant that the image-wise hardening of gelatin and similar substances either by the action of light in the presence of dichromate or by the action of a tanning agent during bleaching, runs like a thread throughout the whole theme. The importance in photography over the last 60-70 years of gelatin and cellulose which appeared to have been selected quite arbitrarily in the first place was also brought out and indications given that there are now signs of a departure from these natural macro-molecules although it would be difficult to say how soon the new polymers now being used are likely to replace the old to any great extent EXAMINATIONS JANUARY 1955 ABSTRACT OF EXAMINATIONS BOARD REPORT Examinations were held as under :-For the Associateship.Entered Passed Examiners Dr H. M. N. H. Irving Dr D. J. G. Ives Professor R. P. Linstead. The examination was held at the University of London South Kensington and at the University of Delhi India theoretical papers being taken also at various local centres in the periods 17 to 22 and 25 to 28 January 1955. 122 44* For the Fellowship. The examinations were held at the University of London South Kensington at the Postgraduate Medical School of London, and at the office of the Institute in the week beginning 10 January 1955.Branch D.l Clinical Chemistry Branch E The Chemistry including Mk~oscopy of Food and Drugs Examiners Professor E. J. King and Dr W. Klyne. and of Water Examiners Dr D. C. Ganatt and Dr H. E. Archer. Industry Examiners Dr N. J. L. Megson and Dr W. Preston. 2 1 8 4* Branch G Industrial Chemistry with special reference to the Plastics 1 I t - -133 50 * Some candidates completed their examination by satisfying the Examiners in those parts in which they had previously failed and some failed in part only of the examination. t Completed the examination. EXAMINATION FOR THE ASSOCIATESHIP MONDAY 17 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.1. In what ways has the Periodic Classification proved useful in predicting the behaviour of hitherto unknown elements ? Make reasoned predictions of the chemistry of EITHER Astatine (ekdodine) OR Promethium (the rare-earth element No. 61). Describe the preparation properties and structure of FOUR of the following :-(a) BrF, (b) KICl, (c) N2H4 (d) Na,[Fe(CN),NO], What are the principal sources and the economic importance of Describe how 2. (4 Hg(CN), (f) LiH* 3. (a) bromine (6) germanium (c) caesium (d) uranium? a very pure sample of any ONE of these elements could be prepared. 18 EXAMINATIONS 189 Interpret THREE of the following observations :-(a) The addition of mercuric chloride to a solution of potassium chloride raises the freezing point; ( b ) Sodium nitrate and calcium carbonate are isomorphous; (c) Zinc is not precipitated as a sulphide in the same analytical group as cadmium and mercury; (d) Hexammine cobaltic chloride is dia-magnetic but tetrammine cupric sulphate is paramagnetic.Discuss various ways of determining end-points in volumetric analysis. Explain what you understand by the terms complex ion co-ordination number covalent bond and clathrate compound with reference to the following substances :-(a) Ni(CO), ( 6 ) Ni(CN),,NH,,C,H,, (c) K,Ni(CN) and (d) [Ni(NH,),]Br,. Compare and contrast the chemistry of EITHER beryllium mag-nesium and strontium OR nitrogen phosphorus and antimony. 4. 5. 6. 7. MONDAY 17 JANUARY 1955 2 to 5 p.m. [Answer FOUR questions ONLY.] 1. Answer TWO of the following :-(a) The boiling point of acetone is 56.5" C and its latent heat of evaporation at the boiling point is 124 cal/g.Derive an equation for the vapour pressure of acetone over a range of temperatures near the boiling point; ( b ) Derive a thermodynamic expression applicable to solids or liquids for the difference between heat capacities at constant pressure and at constant volume; (c) Half-change times for the thermal decomposition of nitrous oxide were found to be 255 sec and 212 sec for initial pressures of 290 and 360 mm respectively. Assess the order of the reaction explaining the principles of the method you use. The miscibility of various alkylpyridines with water has been recently studied and many systems have been found which show soh-bility curves of the closed loop type with upper and lower consolute points.3. 2. Discuss the physical chemistry of such phenomena. Write an essay on ONE of the following :-(a) The significance of ionic strength in the physical chemistry of solutions of electrolytes; ( b ) Statistical aspects of chemical equilibrium; (c) Phase Rule studies of industrial importance. 4. Describe with experimental detail any ONE experiment that you have conducted in the physical chemistry laboratory. Give a concise account of the theoretical basis of the experiment and of the calculation, applications and limitations of accuracy of the result. Derive the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation from fundamental thenno-dynamic definitions. Discuss the applications and limitations of this equation.Show briefly how the third law of thermodynamics was instrumental in removing these limitations. 5 190 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL Indicate briefly the theoretical reasons for the following experi-mental facts :-(a) A dilute solution of anthracene in benzene shows marked fluorescence which falls off as the concentration is increased; ( b ) The photochemical decomposition of hydrogen iodide has a quantum yield of two; ( c ) Hydrogen containing mercury vapour becomes chemically active when exposed to light of wavelength 2537 A. Write an essay on colloidal electrolytes showing how electro-chemical measurements have played an important part in the elucidation of their behaviour in solution. 6. 7. TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m.to 1 p.m. [Answer FOUR questions ONLY.] 1. 2. 3. Describe the methods used for the determination of the structure Discuss the formation of olefines by elimination reactions. How are the following reagents prepared and what are their uses :-(i) diazomethane; (ii) 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid; (iii) dimethyl glyoxime; (iv) parabrom-phenacyl bromide ? Give an account of the chemistry of the natural fats and fixed oils. “Absorption spectroscopy is now one of the most powerful physical Discuss this statement. Compare the chemistry of pyrrole furan and thiophene. Write an essay on ONE of the following topics :-(i) The steroid group; (ii) The use of tracer elements in organic chemistry. of disaccharides and illustrate your answer by reference to sucrose.4. 5. 6. 7. tools available to the practical organic chemist.” TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 1955 2 to 3.30 f.m. [The use of dictionaries is allowed.] FRENCH Translate into English :-On donne indistinctement B toutes les combinaisons mktalliques des alcools le nom d’alcoolates sous lequel on a design6 initialement les produits de la +action des alcools avec les mCtaux alcalins. I1 ne semble pas cependant que toutes ces combinaisons soient comparables et si le caractkre salin des alcoolates almlins est bien Ctabli la constitution des autres alcoolates n’a le plus souvent pas CtC ClucidCe. I1 en est ainsi en particulier des alcoolates d’aluminium et sp Ccialement de 1’ Cthylate, bien que ce cofps en raison de son emploi comme catalyseur d’oxydo-reduction en chemie organique soit denenu un produit industriel dont la fabrication fait l’objet de plusiers brevets.Comme le fait remarquer Sidgwick l’kthylate d’aluminium par ses propriCtCs physiques parait se classer plut8t comme un composC homopolaire que comme un sel, et s’apparenter plus au borate d’Cthyle qu’a 1’Cthylate de sodium. En vue de prkiser sa constitution nous en avons mesurC la conductibilite Clec trique 19551 EXAMINATIONS 191 GERMAN Translate into English :-Der besondere Charakter der Flusssaurechemie liegt wie bereits fruher ausgefuhrt wurde einerseits in der grossen Fulle neuartiger kom-plexer Kationen andererseits in dem Mange1 an Anionen und dem dadurch bedingten Fehlen d er fur wassrige Losungen so charakteristischen Neutralisations- und Fallungsreaktionen.Die Ausnahmestellung des Fluorions das bisher als einziges in Flusssaure bestandiges Anion bekannt war ist auf Grund der ausserordentlich grossen Affinitat die das Fluor zu fast allen anderen Stoffen besitzt verstandlich doch bedurfte die Frage ob auch das spurenweise Auftreten anderer Anionen unmoglich ist einer besonderen Priifung. Im Verlauf dieser Untersuchung ergab sich dass in beschranktem Umfange Perchlorat Perjodat Sulfat und wahrscheinlich auch Chlor- Brom- und Jodionen best andig sind. Als Kriterium fur das Vorhandensein der Anionen diente das Auftreten von Fallungsreaktionen und die Analyse der ausgefallenen Niederschlage. Practical First Group WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 4.30 P.m. *[Lengthy descriptions o f practical work are not required.of your experiments as they are made and whre possible in tabular form. Make concise notes State your j n a l conclusions clearly.] Standardise the approximately 0.05 M mercuric nitrate solution (A) (i) volunietrically against 0-1 M potassium chloride and (ii) gravi-metrically using the methods prescribed. 7 It is said that mercury can be determined volumetrically according to the equation Hg(NO,) + 2KCNS + Hg(CNS) + ZKNO, using ferric alum as an indicator. slightly dissociated. ) Test the truth of this statement. upon the end-point. 1. 2. (Mercuric thiocyanate is only very Examine the effect of chloride ions 3. Identify the single substance (B). [(B) = EITHER sodium per-borate OR potassium chlorochromate.] THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m.to 4.30p.m. 4. Determine the percentage of boron in the given sample of impure borax (C) using the volumetric method prescribed. 7 5. Identify the six radicals in the mixture (D). [(D) = EITHER potassium tetroxalate cadmium bromide and lead carbonate OR sodium oxalate mercuric chloride and copper carbonate. In the first mixture most of the carbon dioxide had been lost during storage but candidates were not penalised for failure to detect it.] * This note was repeated on each of the seven following papers. 7 Not reproduced [APRIL 192 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY FRIDAY 21 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. From the 5 g of a-naphthol (E) provided prepare specimens of the following substances by the methods described on the separate sheet? :-1.(a) 2 4-dinitro-1-naphthol; (b) the hydrochloride of the amino-quinoneimine (I) ; 0 NH,+Cl-(c) the diacetyl derivative of (I). Leave specimens of the dinitro compound and the diacetate and a bulk sample of the hydrochloride (I). Record the yields and write des-criptions of the three products including their colour melting points (if any) and any marked colour reactions with alkali or sulphuric acid. (Time required 4-5 hours.) 2. Write a preliminary report on the nature of the single substance (F). [(F) = EITHER sodium citrate OR sodium tartrate.] SATURDAY 22 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. 3. Report on the composition of the mixture (G) which was obtained Leave samples [ (G) = methylcyclohexane p-methylcyclohexanone p-methylcyclohex-by the catalytic hydrogenation of a phenolic substance.of any materials isolated to illustrate your report. anol and p-cresol.] Practical Second Group TUESD44Y 25 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. 1. Standardise the approximately 0.10 N mercurous perchlorate solution (H) (i) volumetrically against 0.1 M potassium bromide and (ii) gravimetrically using the methods prescribed. t ( Th grauimetric determination must be completed to-morrow.) 2. I t has been stated (Pugh 1945) that ferric iron can be determined quantitatively by reduction with mercurous perchlorate using thio-cyanate ions as indicator. Can the reaction be represented by an equation? [( J) = EITHER lead chromate OR potassium persulp hate .] Test the correctness of this statement.3. Identify the single substance (J). WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 4.30p.m. Complete yesterday’s exercise 1. 4. f Not reproduced. Determine the weight of potassium persulphate per litre of the solution (K) provided using the volumetric method prescribed. 19551 EXAMINATIONS 193 [(L) = EITHER sodium ammonium hydrogen phosphate aluminium nitrate and zinc oxide OR potassium hydrogen phosphate zinc sulphate and man-ganese carbonate.] 5. Identify the six radicals present in the mixturs (L). THURSDAY 27 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 4.30 P.m. 1. 2. (N). As exercise 1 Friday 21 ,January (p. 192). Write a preliminary report on the nature of the single substance [(N) = EI’rHm sodium succinate OK sodium fumarate.] FRIDAY 28 JL4NUARY 1955 10 a.m.to 4.30 p.m. 3. Leave samples of any materials isolated to illustrate your report. Report on the composition of the mixture (0) which was obtained by the catalytic hydrogenation of a phenolic substance. [ (0) = methylcyclohexane o-methylcyclohexanone o-methylcyclohex-anol and o-cresol.] EXAMINATION FOR THE FELLOWSHIP BRANCH D.l CLINICAL CHEMISTRY MOXDAY 10 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY and equations where possible.) (Answer THREE questions ONLY. Illustrate your answe9-s with chmical formulae 1. 2. 3. 4. Discuss recent work on the metabolism of porphyrins. Write an essay on the formation and calcification of bone. Outline modern ideas on EITHER (a) the structure of proteins OR Write an essay on acid-base balance and its disturbances.( b ) the specificity of enzymes. MONDAY 10 JANU14RY 1955 2 to 5 p.m. CLINICAL CHEMISTRY formulae and equations where possible.) (Answer Question 1 and TWO others. Illustrate your answers with chmical 1. Discuss salt and water depletion. Indicate how the clinical 2. laboratory may be used in diagnosis and control. Give an account of the digestion and absorption of fat. 3. 4. Write an essay on the factors involved in the control of blood Discuss the use of chemical methods in the investigation of gastric sugar concentration. and intestinal function 194 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL Write notes on FOUR of the following:-(a) the chemistry of the cerebrospinal fluid (b) pregnanediol determinations (c) follicle-stimulat-ing hormone (d) urobilin and urobilinogen (e) Cushing’s syndrome.5. TUESDAY 11 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (ANALYTICAL) (All the quations should be attempted. Illustrate your answers with chemical formulae and equations where possible.) 1. Discuss the control methods available to ensure reliability in routine clinical laboratories. 2. Discuss critically the methods available for the determination of inorganic and total phosphate in biological fluids. 3. Outline ONE method for the determination in blood of EACH of the following :-(a) acid phosphatase (b) alkaline phosphatase ( c ) amylase (d) ascorbic acid (e) calcium. Indicate probable sources of error. 4. Discuss the principles involved in the assay of members of the vitamin B group.WEDNESDAY to FRIDAY 12 to 14 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 5 P.m. each day, SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1. Plasma and urine from a patient (A) are provided. Determine sodium potassium carbon dioxide combining power chloride and urea on the plasma and sodium potassium and chloride on the urine. Values for calcium phosphate and protein will be given. Construct a block diagram of the plasma electrolytes and indicate any abnormalities found. 2. A galactose tolerance test is to be carried out on patient (B). Samples of blood will he provided. Determine on these (a) ‘reducing sugar’ by the Folin-Wu method (b) ‘true sugar’ by the Harding method, (c) non-fermentable sugar. Design and carry out a recovery experiment to test whether the fermentation method is adequate for this purpose.Comment on your results. 3. Examine the three urines (F) (G) (H) for reducing substances. (Facilities for paper chromato- Identify any reducing sugars found. graphy will be available.) 4. The renal function of patient (2) is to be examined bypara-amino-Samples of plasma Measure the PAH and thiosulphate clearances hippurate (PAH) and thiosulphate clearance tests. and urine are provided. and comment on your results 19551 EXAMINATIONS 195 BRANCH E THE CHEMISTRY INCLUDING MICROSCOPY, OF FOOD AND DRUGS AND OF WATER MONDAY 10 JANUARY 1955 10 to 11.30 a.m. 1. The Ministry of Food agreed with informed trade opinion on certain codes of practice to which manufacturers should conform. Dis-cuss the value of this decision illustrating your answer with examples.Indicate the source of the free and albuminoid ammonia nitrite, nitrate and chloride found in a water supply and the significance of these impurities in assessing its condition. Under what conditions would you consider it necessary to make a chemical analysis of a water supply when its bacteriological condition had been found to be satisfactory ? 2. 3. Write an essay on extraneous matter in food. MONDAY 10 JANUARY 1955 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1. What specimens should be examined in a case of suspected arsenical poisoning ? What method would you employ in the determination of the arsenic content of such specimens ? 2. What are the possible toxic effects that may follow treatment by drugs of the sulphonamide group? How would you determine the concentration of sulphanilamide in blood ? 3.Write an account of the pharmacology of THREE of the following :-(a) cocaine ( b ) ephedrine (c) paraldehyde ( d ) codeine ( e ) amyl nitrite. MONDAY 10 JANUARY 1955 2 to 5 p.m. 1. Outline the manufacture of dried milk. Describe briefly without analytical details methods used in the examination of this product and the significance of the tests described. 2. Write an essay on the selection and training of both qualified and unqualified staff for an analytical laboratory concerned with foods and drugs. 3. Describe with essential details how you would conduct a sterility test (aerobic and anaerobic) on a powdered drug. 4. Indicate the value of statistical methods in the examination of analytical results.How may the following be used in assessment :-(a) standard deviation ( b ) standard error (c) analysis of variance ? 5. Write an essay on ONE of the following subjects :-(a) Microbiological determination of vitamins; ( b ) A critical study of the destruction of organic matter for deter-mination of traces of metals; (c) Use of ion-exchange resins in analytical practice 196 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ~NSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL TUESDAY 11 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The declaration of constituents reads as follows :-Flour sugar edible emulsified fat, egg albumen golden raising powder salt flavouring. 1. Report on the formal sample of Cake Mixture. A certificate form is provided. WEDNESDAY 12 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 5p.m. 2.3. Make an accurate determination of the alcohol content of the Report on the sample of Lemon Curd. sample of Spirit of Camphor. THURSDAY 13 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 5p.m. 4. 5 . Examine the sample of calcium acid phosphate for its suitability Examine the samples of ( a ) dried sage and ( b ) tapioca under the Draw characteristic structures of any foreign ingredient as a constituent of a raising powder. microscope. and identify it if possible. FRIDAY 14 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 6. EITHER ( a ) Determine the vitamin A content of the cod-liver oil by use of the ultra-violet spectrophotometer ; OR ( b ) Determine the vitamin C content of the syrup of black currant. Selection of question 6 ( b ) will be considered less Favourably than that 7.of 6 ( a ) . Report on the sample of mustard. SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 5p.m. 1. Make a microscopical examination and report on the sample of Sketch powdered Ginger root (A). and describe the structures seen. Identify the powders (B) and (C). 2. 3. 4. Examine the urine (D) for the presence of a hypnotic drug. Make a qualitative analysis of the sample of urine (E) and report Identify the principal constituent of the tablet (F) and determine on the presence of any constituents that might be caused by disease. the amount present . BRANCH G INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY MONDAY '10 JANUARY 1955 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.* (Answer question 1 and THREE othrs.) Between 1920 and 1930 novel ideas were put forward which led 1.* The candidate had previously passed the examination in General Industrial The theoretical papers were supplemented by an Oral Examination. Chemistry 19551 EIL~MINATIONS 197 to important advances in the development of polymers. Discuss these ideas with special reference to Staudinger’s concepts of molecular size and constitution of polymers and Kienle’s theories of functionality. Describe the syntheses of TWO fibre-forming polymers other than products based on cellulose and compare their properties. Give an account of the methods available for the production of low density foamed or expanded plastics. What do you know of their properties and applications ? larly to its importance in the synthesis of polymers. 2. 3. 4. Write an account of the chemistry of acetylene referring particu-5.Discuss the use of ionic catalysts in polymerisation. the role played by traces of water in such reactions. Explain why polystyrene is resinous polyisobutylene is rubbery and polyethylene is partially crystalline at room temperature despite the fact that all are hydrocarbons. 7. Discuss the use and value of plastics in the manufacture of chemical plant. Account for 6. MONDAY 10 JANUARY 1955 2 to 5 #.m. (Answer question 1 and THREE others.) 1. Age.” to the size of the industry and its impact on modern life. Several writers have referred to the present era as “The Plastics Give your views on this generalisation with particular reference 2. Discuss the chemistry of the phenol-formaldehyde reaction, explaining how older views have been modified by investigations since 1939.3. Explain how glass-reinforced resins are used in low-pressure moulding operations. Mention any practical difficulties of which you are aware and discuss the properties of the resulting products. Compare the properties of polytetrafluorethylene (P.T.F.E.) and polychlorotrifluorethylene (P.C.T.F.E.) and account for the fact that the replacement of one fluorine atom by one chlorine atom causes such important differences in properties. What are the main applications of P.T.F.E.? 4. 5. What do you know of the mechanism of plasticiser action in a polymer ? Co-polymerisation of two monomers sometimes causes “internal” plasticisation; explain with the aid of examples. 6. Much attention has recently been given to rubber modified resins.How are these made and what are their general properties and applica-tions ? 7. Describe TWO methods by which natural rubber can be modified Summarise the properties and chemically to yield useful products. applications of the resulting products 198 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL REPORT OF THE EXAMINERS Examination for the Associateship Inorganic Chemistry Most candidates attempted Q. 1 vu. “In what ways has the Periodic Classi-fication proved useful in predicting the behaviour of hitherto unknown elements ?” Though few gave a direct answer to the question as set many predictions of the chemistry of astatine and promethium were well reasoned and full. Only one candidate who answered Q.2 was aware that KIC1 is a crystalline yellow solid, or knew how it is readily obtained. Mercuric cyanide was commonly stated to be insoluble in water iron was stated to be trivalent in the nitroprussides and the graphical formula of hydrazine appeared more than once with pentavalent nitrogen! There were some very good and full accounts of the preparation of pure germanium and of bromine from sea-water but the uses of caesium appeared to be unfamiliar. The various ways of determining end-points in analysis (Q. 5) and the comparisons of the chemistry of beryllium magnesium and strontium, or of nitrogen phosphorus and antimony (Q. 7 ) were well presented by the better candidates though the weaker ones produced a jumble of facts without any attempt at their organisation.In answers to Q. 6 difficulty was found in giving a clear statement of what was meant by the term ‘complex ion’; covalency was sometimes confused with co-ordination and co-ordination number with effective atomic number. The erroneous statement that “a covalent bond is the number of electrons needed to complete a stable octet” appeared a surprising number of times and the clathrate compound Ni(CN),,NH3,C6H6 was often described as a cage of nickel cyanide molecules enclosing both benzene and ammonia and even as a lattice of crystalline benzene in which molecules of nickel cyanide and ammonia were trapped “by the action of van der Waal forces.” Practical.-Several excellent practical exercises were submitted but many candidates obtained comparatively few marks for the quantitative exercises.Many whose actual measurements were sound were unable to use them correctly in the subsequent calculations. Qualitative analyses by the weaker candidates were often very wide of the mark. Physical Chemistry The general standard of answers was poorer than in recent examinations the main defect apart from lack of knowledge being lack of ability to apply know-ledge. This is illustrated by Q. 2 which received only weak answers hardly any candidate even thinking to mention Raoult’s Law and the reasons why binary liquid mixtures show deviations from this law; few candidates even applied the Phase Rule to these systems. Lack of workmanship was evident in Q. 1 (a), where no satisfactory vapour pressure equation was forthcoming. Many can&-dates in answer to Q.1 ( b ) thought that C - C was either equal to R or tended to zero for solids and liquids.The essay questions Q. 3 and Q. 7 were not well answered. No candidate understood what was meant by “statistical aspects of chemical equilibrium” and far too many long and stereotyped essays were written on ‘colloids,’ without attention to the terms of the question. Mention must also be made of the unsatisfactory answers to Q. 4 for which surely no candidate could be excused. It appears however that much practical physical chemistry is done without interest or attention and without benefit to theoretical knowledge. It is deplorable that many candidates were unable to remember the procedure or principles of an experiment they had carried out. As always a few candidates showed great superiority in ability to marshal their thoughts clearly and to set them down in a logical and orderly manner, Organic Chemistry The gap between the best and the worst candidates was wider than ever.19551 EMINATIONS 199 number of first-class performances were achieved but the need for hard systematic study by the weaker candidates was never so apparent. The questions on the chemistry of natural products were on the whole well answered. The essay question on steroids was not selected by many candidates, but most of those who did select it gave very good answers indeed. On the other hand many poor answers were given to the simple and straightforward Q. 3 on analytical reagents. Most of the candidates who selected the question on elimination reactions failed to discuss the more theoretical aspects.Many candidates showed more enthusiasm than knowledge in describing the use of absorption spectroscopy in organic chemistry and very few dealt adequately with both the ultra-violet and the infra-red regions. In the essays on the use of tracer elements a considerable number failed to distinguish clearly between ‘heavy’ and radioactive isotopes. Thus a common mistake was to describe the investiga-tions of the hydrolysis of esters as having been carried out with radioactive instead of with heavy oxygen. Practical.-A few very good specimens of each compound asked for in Q. 1 were produced but the general level was not above average. Many candidates sacrificed marks by not reporting colour reactions.The better candidates left themselves adequate time for Q. 2. Less skilful workers had time for only a cursory examination. In Q. 3 most candidates did not think enough about what were likely to be the hydrogenation products of the phenolic substance. Many missed either the ketone or the alcohol; very few reported the hydrocarbon. The unchanged cresol was frequently not detected although looked for. It seems that many candidates lack experience of dealing with problems which not being of the ‘spot’ type, require them to fall back on their own resources. Examination for the Fellowship Branch D.l Clinical Chemistry Since this Branch was instituted in September 1952 nine candidates have been examined. Nearly all have shown an adequate grasp of the procedures of clinical biochemistry and the elementary interpretation of results.The examiners have been favourably impressed by the frequency with which candidates have drawn on their own laboratory experience in answering questions. Candidates should note that modern techniques (such as paper chromatography of sugars) supplement and do not replace the older techniques. However most candidates with a few notable exceptions have had only a weak understanding of the fundamental chemistry and physiology essential for the intelligent practice of clinical biochemistry. This general statement is based not only on the papers on general biochemistry but also on the remaining papers in which there has been an almost complete lack of chemical formulae and equations. Branch E The Chemistry including Microscopy of Food and Drugs and of Water Several of the candidates had been before the examiners on a previous occa-sion and it was gratifying to notice the considerable improvement in the quality of the work presented.The answers in the written examination in Food and Drugs were reasonably satisfactory although too many candidates still consider less than a page of terse discussion sufficient for an answer; from this the examiner must conclude that the candidate’s knowledge is likewise superficial. The question on statistics was poorly answered and the candidates’ thoughts on training in the laboratory were very conventional. The analysis of the cake mixture was generally well planned and little diffi-culty was found in concluding that it was genuine.A few assessments of the egg in the lemon curd were done remarkably well and showed a familiarity with this determination ; reliance on total phosphorus was obviously unsatisfactory. The practical work has in general been sound 200 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL A preliminary examination of the calcium acid phosphate would have dis-closed excess of lead and arsenic and the laborious determination of fluorine would then have been avoided. The contaminants for the exercise in microscopy were mullein and sweet potato starch; few candidates detected them. Nearly all candidates showed a good practical knowledge of the photoelectric spectrophotometer and assays of vitamin A were close to the true.figure. The mustard answered the requirements of the Food Standards (Mustard) Order but had been deprived of about half of its fixed oil; the observations by candidates who had ascertained this fact showed good reasoning.The answers to the questions in the theoretical paper on Therapeutics Pharm-acology and Microscopy were on the whole go+. In answering the question on arsenical poisoning the majority of candidates did not distinguish between acute and chronic poisoning in choosing specimens for examination. In the practical examination the microscopy was well done. Some candidates failed to appreciate the significance of the numerous lignified elements in the sample of powdered ginger. The detection of the sulphonal in the urine did not offer much difficulty but the attempts to identify and assay the tablets of ephedrine hydrochloride were poor.The findings and presentation of the results of the urine examination showed that most candidates had little exper-ience of such investigations. PASS LIST EXAMINATION FOR THE ASSOCIATESHIP Adams Gordon Ernest College of Technology Birmingham. Atkinson Edmund Philip West Ham Municipal College London South-East Essex Technical College Dagenham and Municipal College Southend. Berrisford Derek Samuel College of Technology Manchester and Royal Tech-nical College Salford. Boardman William B.SC. (LOND.) Municipal Technical College Bolton and Royal Technical College Salford. Brooke Malcolm Terence The University Leeds and College of Technology, Bulmer Kenneth David College of Technology Liverpool. B u m Henry Leonard B.SC.(LOND.) University College of the South-West of Castledine Stanley Albert Technical College Coventry. Cottam John Christopher Acton Technical College London. Dalton Donald George BSC. (LOND.) University College Hull The Polytechnic, Downes Alan William Medway College of Technology Chatham. Duvall Ronald College of Technology Liverpool and Royal Technical College, Dyer Thomas Frederick College of Technology Liverpool. Edwards John William College of Technology Art and Commerce Oxford. Evans Ronald Technical College Coventry. Forfar Alfred College of Technology Liverpool. Gibson George College of Technology Rotherham. Gower David Benjamin Battersea Polytechnic London. Grice Clifford George College of Technology Liverpool. Hodgson Thomas Lancaster and Morecambe College of Further Education, Honiball Alan Edward College of Technology Liverpool.Howard Michael Cavendish Northampton Polytechnic London. James Brian Percival Harold BSC. (SOUTHAMPTON) The University Southamp Jones Alan Patrick BSC. (LOND.) Technical College Kingston (Surrey) and Knight Peter College of Technology Manches ter and Royal Technical College, ' Birmingham. England Exeter and Medway College of Technology Chatham. Regent Street and Battersea Polytechnic London. Salford. Lancaster. ton. The Polytechnic Regent Street London. Salford 19551 EXAMINATIONS 20 1 Lister Leslie Technical College Coventry. Loughna Joseph College of Further Education Widnes. Mainprize John Henry Denbighshire Technical College Wrexham. Middleton Arthur John B.PHARM.(LOND.) M.P.s. Nottingham and District Pinot de Moira Pierre Marie Jules B.SC. (LOND.) The Polytechnic Regent Street, Russell Harold College of Technology Liverpool. Simpson Peter College for Further Education Stockport. Solly Stanley Roy Butler B.SC. (LOND.) Medway College of Technology Chat-Steel Hugh Mining and Technlcal College Barnsley. Stokes Frank Elliott College of Technology Liverpool. Stuffins Leslie Norwood College of Further Education Widnes. Swallow David Harris Institute Technical College Preston and Technical Thompon Edwin Royal Technical College Salford. Toole James B.SC. (LOND.) Royal Technical College Salford. Tyson Norman Gordon Harris Institute Technical College Preston. Walters Deryck John College of Technology Birmingham.Wheeler Henry Alfred B.SC. (LOND.) South-East Essex Technical College, Williams Clifford Royal Technical College Salford. Young Douglas Stuart Municipal Technical College Blackburn. Technical College Nottingham. London. ham and Chelsea Polytechnic London. Institute Whitehaven. Dagenham. EXAMINATION FOR THE FELLOWSHIP Branch D.l Clinical Chemistry Baar Stella. Branch E The Chemistry including Microscopy of Food and Drugs and of Water Brown Eric Richard F.P.S. Cottam James B.SC. (LOND.). Snashall Arthur Frederick Edmund. Underwood Ernest Philip BSC. (LOND.). Branch G Industrial Chemistry with special reference to the Plastics Industry Watkins Ronald Charles B.SC. (LOND.). on Errata. the pages given:-The following corrections should be made to the March issue 152.elected a Fellow in January 1954. 153. Edmondson . 166. end of the entry against CURTIS Ronald George. Dr W. A. Hayward was wrongly designated Associate. He was Under “Retirement,” for Zeally read Zealley; for Edmlrson read TJnder “Associates elected to the Fellowship,” delete (LOND.) at th BOOK REVIEWS Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry. Edited by M. C. Sneed J. L. May-nard and R. C. Brasted. Volume 3. The Halogens. R. C. Brasted. Pp. x + 250. (New York D. Van Nostrand Co. Inc.; London Macmillan and Co. Ltd. 1954.) Any fears that may have been aroused that this series was tending to move too far away from pure chemistry and from the avowed aims of the editors will be set at rest by the content of this volume.The halogens (including astatine) are well treated and although at first sight the allocation of space to individual elements seems meagre (e.g. 8 pages to bromine) this is only apparent and results from the layout of the book; the hydrogen halides oxyhalogen compounds and interhalogen compounds are all dealt with in separate sections. The chapter on pseudo-halogens forms an interesting tailpiece to the book. There is a judicious blend of theory and practice. The treatment of certain matters with a theoretical bearing such as the electron affinities of the elements, is not as clear as it might be and could undoubtedly confuse a reader not already completely familiar with this topic. The author has not been able to resist the temptation to include a few formidable diagrams when describing the commercial production of fluorine and chlorine diagrams which are not really any help to the average chemist and which are too detailed to convey anything of value to anyone at their existing size of reproduction.After reading the description of the commercial production of fluorine one is by no means certain of the optimum conditions. Also the first paragraph on p. 13 describing electrolyte composition, and the table of specific gravities of KF.HF electrolytes appears to contain several unexplained contradictions. Radiochlorine and radio-bromine alone are indexed though radioiodine and radiofluorine are mentioned in the text. Incidentally the treatment of these is rather uneven being for no apparent reason fuller in some cases than in others.Under the heading “Reac-tions of fluorine with metals” is to be found discussion of its reactions with sulphur, selenium silicon carbon glass and asbestos! The division with chlorine is more orthodox. The older knowledge is competently arranged and the account of such topics as the chem-istry of fluorine and of interhalogen compounds is as up-to-date as one can hope for in rapidly expanding fields. The account of the perfluorocarbons is probably as full as one is entitled to expect in an inorganic textbook. This third volume of the series fully deserves to be favourably received. 35s. net. One could find other points of minor criticism. However the volume as a whole makes a very good impression. CECIL L. WILSON Isotopic Tracers. G. E. Francis W.Mulligan and A. Wormall. Pp. xvi + This book is an introduction to the theory and practice of tracer techniques, with special emphasis on application to problems in biological chemistry and physiology. The authors after discussing the general principles involved give an elementary account of the properties of atoms and then lead the student gently on to more advanced topics such as the preparation of isotopes the synthesis of labelled organic compounds and an exposition of the properties of radioactive isotopes. One chapter is devoted to a simple but sound description of the mass spectrometer and this is followed by an explanation of the basic principles in-volved in measurement of radioactivity and the description of the ionisation chamber and the Geiger-Mueller tube.The authors also discuss briefly perhaps too briefly scintillation counters and modern developments in gas counting. The technique of radioautography is also described but perhaps not enough 202 306. (University of London The Athlone Press 1954.) 37s. 6d. net BOOK REVIEWS 203 attention is given to the statistics of counting. Examples of biological applica-tions of the tracer technique are well chosen and the hazards which are in fact very small in tracer work are discussed in considerable detail. The final section of this book consists of a series of practical exercises in which the student is taught to handle a variety of material labelled with both stable and radioactive isotopes. The authors have had extensive experience in the use of tracers in research and have been pioneers in teaching these relatively novel techniques to advanced students Professor Wormall and his colleagues have done a most useful service in writing this book and thus allowing a wide circle of students and research workers to benefit from their great experience.The book can be warmly recom-mended as an introduction to tracer methods particularly for the young biologist and biochemist. A. NEUBERGER Luminescence (with particular reference to solid inorganic phosphors). British Journal of Applied Physics Supplement No. 4. Pp. iv + 120 + iv. (London Institute of Physics 1955.) The subject of luminescence remains more of an art than a science and this is true both of the laboratory search for phosphors and of the treatment by theoretical concepts.The use of phosphors in large quantities by industry in the last two decades has stimulated extensive research in which the prizes have been awarded as much by luck or intuition as by established principles. This supplement contains 21 papers by experts delivered at a Conference held at Cambridge in April 1954 dealing particularly with phosphors for lamps and cathode-ray tubes and for electroluminescent effects. Like the Faraday Society Discussion of 1938 it provides a stimulating and provocative account of results and views of the greatest importance to all interested in the subject. The physical treatment of ‘energy band’ theory is gradually giving place to chemical ideas of charge compensation valency changes and structural sites in crystals.In few examples however can chemical principles be unambiguously used ; opinions differ on the actual valencies to be assigned to activator ions on their positions in the crystal lattice on their association with charge-compensating ions on the overall ‘size’ of the luminescence centres on the nature of electron traps on the interpretation of absorption and emission spectra and so on. Progress in detailed understanding of the many effects known appears slow but it is steady and offers a challenge to newcomers to the field. The value of these papers is the education they provide of how a wide variety of methods of attack, practical and theoretical can be strategically brought to bear on the target. 25s. net. E. J. BOWEN Chemisorption. B. M. W. Trapnell. Pp.vii + 265. (London Butterworths Scientific Publications 1955.) 35s. net. This is a timely book which serves to draw attention to and to summarise some chemical phenomena occurring at surfaces. It has hitherto been notable that although several monographs have appeared dealing with the phenomena of physical adsorption no author has apparently felt equal to the cognate task of reviewing work in chemisorption. The present book has remedied the position and has provided the missing link between physical sorption on the one hand and catalysis on the other. The topics dealt with can be gauged from the following chapter headings experimental methods ; velocities of adsorption and desorp-tion; adsorption isotherms ; heat of adsorption ; mechanisms of chemisorption ; mobility of adsorbed layers ; catalytic specificity; and mechanisms of catalytic reactions.A typesetting error appears on p. 88 where “C, k T = p” should read ‘‘C,kT = p,” and on p. 824 where “Langmuir” becomes “Langsmuir,” and the spacing of an adjacent mathematical expression is confusing. There is in my opinion need for more care and for correction in the use of entropy of sorption in estimating the mobility of chemsorbed films The number of misprints is small 204 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL (chap. 8 Table 43). The entropy of sorption AS = AH AG as derived from sorption equilibrium data is A S = S - S, S is the entropy per mole in the gas phase and This experi-mental entropy in column 5 of Table 43 appears to have been compared with a calculated value of S - S from figuresgivenincolumn6 of the Table.For a perfect two dimensional gas Although one is only concerned with the orders of magnitude of ASexp. and AScalc. this point should be clarified. Perhaps a more important matter in the same connection is that AScalc. assumes a chemisorbed film so dilute that no co-area term (analogous to ‘6’ in the van der Waals equation of state) need be considered. This is not the case for chemisorbed films in general nor for the films actually considered (cf. column 3 of Table 43). Introducing the co-area but neglecting lateral interactions, - z z is the partial molar entropy of sorbed gas. 5 - - + R = S,, R8 1 - 6 changes the calculated partial molar entropy 3 by Rln(1 - 0) - - units. The above points apart however it is felt that this is a very useful book which should stimulate further interest in chemisorption and find a place in the book-shelves of those interested in Surface chemistry.The format is attractive and author and publisher are to be congratulated upon the result of their work. R. M. BARRER Quantitative Spectrochemid Analysis of Silicates. L. H. Ahrens. Pp. (London Pergamon Press Ltd. 1954.) . 25s. net. In this slim volume a scheme of spectrographic analysis of the naturally occurring silicates based on the investigations of the author and his colleagues a t the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is described. The scheme avoids the use of chemical methods of pre-enrichment and involves only the simple technique of exciting the sample in t‘he direct current arc.This leads to a rapid and sensitive procedure which is amply accurate for many geochemical investi-gations such as studies of the concentration variation of several common elements across igneous rock contacts or of the compositional changes in rocks and minerals brought about by weathering. The procedure is described in detail and there are full notes on calibration and the preparation of standards. A useful chapter is included on spectro-chemical error which should help the investigator to provide a reliable statement about the accuracy and reproducibility of his results. A feature that may puzzle the non-specialist is that the spectrographic equipment necessary for the job receives no mention throughout the book. One can perhaps read between the lines that this is a tribute to the reliability of the procedure; too often in the past methods have been found to be tied rather too closely to one particular type of instrumental arrangement.Though it may be claimed that this book will be of use to all concerned with the analysis of minerals rocks meteorites soils and sediments it is the prac-tising spectroscopist who will really be able to benefit from the publication of Dr Ahrens’s experience. vi + 122. B. S. COOPER Margarine. A. J. C. Andersen. Pp. viii + 327 with 105 figures. (London: The first thought prompted by this book is that although the manufacture of margarine is nowadays an industry with an annual output of about 400,000 tons in this country and of nearly 2,000,000 tons in the world no comprehensive mod-ern description of its composition and technological processing has hitherto been produced in England.This somewhat disconcerting reflection is however soon followed by a happier one namely that the task of rectifying this omission should have fallen to Mr A. J. C. Andersen a man of long and wide practical experience in the industry and one moreover who has for many years kept as closely in touch Pergamon Press Ltd. 1954.) 63s 19551 BOOK &VIEWS 205 with the fundamental principles as with the technical aspects of margarine produc-tion. To his friends and professional associates no further introduction of the book will therefore be necessary than to say that Mr Andersen is its author; but a few words about its general plan may be of interest to many others to whom the work may be commended.The volume begins with a lucid and interesting history from the origin of margarine in 1870 down to the very much altered and extended condition of the industry at the present time; special attention is given in these introductory pages to the comparative nutritive values of margarine fats and butter and to the discoveries of forty years ago which led to knowledge of fat-soluble vitamins and their consequent incorporation into modern margarine. The natural fats and oils used in margarine are next discussed first with reference to the general constitution of glycerides (which is described very clearly and accurately) then by detailed descriptions of all the fats and oils utilised by the producers of margarine.The modification of some natural oils by hydrogen-ation crystallisation or interesterification is described together with briefer references to polymerised oils and fats synthesised from acids produced by oxida-tion of hydrocarbons. The composition and preparation of fat mixtures (‘blends’) as used in the industry receives full consideration. Each of the non-fatty adjuncts to margarine-milk and its ‘ripening,’ concentrates of vitamins A and D antioxidants colouring and aroma ingredients, lecithin egg-yolk and monoglycerides (as emulsifiers) -are given separate and detailed attention in ensuing sections and the theoretical aspects of the churning and emulsification processes are discussed at length. The description of the actual manufacture naturally occupies a considerable part of the monograph.This is excellently illustrated by numerous diagrams and photographs of all the more important types of plant which are or have been used in the preparation of the margarine emulsion and in its subsequent chilling, kneading rolling and finally packing. There is a very useful short account of ‘special types’ of margarine for pastry cakes or cream; and of the Indian ‘vanaspati’ or vegetable margarine in its relation to the native animal ‘ghee’. A later chapter on the storage and preservation of the final product the chem-ical and bacteriological control of the manufacturing process and also the control of production losses contains many practical hints that should be of particular value to the reader. The book is completed most usefully by full accounts of the statutory regulations governing the sale of margarine in Great Britain and in a number of other countries and by diagrams showing factory arrangements and lay-outs for a number of typical margarine plants of varying capacity.Inevitably there are a few minor blemishes but they in no way mar the general excellence of the volume; here and there a typographical error has escaped correction but these are few. One feels great satisfaction that at last we have an authoritative English monograph on margarine in keeping with the immense importance of the industry in this country. Yeast Technology. J. White. Pp. xvi + 432. (London Chapman and Mr White’s book is the only up-to-date volume available to-day that covers with any degree of completeness the technology of bakers’ yeast manufacture, and it is therefore greatly to be welcomed.The most valuable chapters are those dealing with modern industrial techniques. Each stage in the process is clearly described in detail and there are a number of photographs of equipment. Other chapters deal with the theoretical aspects of yeast propagation. It is, for example useful to find a review of the mathematics of yeast growth in relation to the supply of nutrients and to factors such as aeration and temperature. Problems of consistency and colour of pressed yeast are considered and some aspects of the biochemistry of yeast are also discussed. Those responsible for the control of yeast manufacture clearly ought to under-stand something about yeast nutrition.To cover this thoroughly would require The printing and illustrations reflect credit on the publishers. T. P. HILDITCH Hall Ltd. 1955.) 55s. net 206 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY a book to itself but Mr White has done his best in 24 pages. The conclusion seems to be that growing yeast cells like growing boys do best when given a good mixed diet. The nutrients of most practical significance i.e. possible deficiencies in the customary molasses substrate are thiamin biotin pantothenic acid and inositol. One chapter gives descriptions in general terms of the microbiological assay methods for such vitamins but working details are given only for thiamin, riboflavin and nicotinic acid in a supplement by Mr J. Park. Although the two last are of significance in the biochemistry of yeast an exogenous supply is not required for most normal strains.In the description of the methods them-selves it might have been prudent to mention that microbiological assay is a difficult technique requiring experience and skill and that a statistical assessment of the precision of the results obtained should form an integral part of the analytical procedure. The analysis of most importance to the yeast manufacturer is the estimation of the total amount of yeast present during the different stages of the propagation process. Mr White devotes a chapter to a description of the various methods used to assess yeast concentration in solution and to determine the dry matter of filtered yeast. Chemical analysis like politics is always to a very large degree the art of the possible.Consequently the method most commonly used is simply to subject the mass of complex living and metabolising cells which make up pressed yeast to the heat of a drying oven at 102” F for five hours. There are chapters on the analysis of molasses yeast genetics the use of yeast in animal nutrition and the disposal of effluent from yeast factories. The bio-chemistry of panary fermentation is reviewed and a sensible chapter covers the microbiological control of yeast growth processes. Mr A. J. Tipper has con-tributed a section on yeast in the baking industry and a separate essay by Dr C. Rainbow on brewers’ yeasts has been interpolated as a chapter towards the end of the volume. The book is not altogether easy reading but this is because the author has compressed so much into it.It is however a rewarding book to read because in a remarkable number of places Mr White has supplemented information compiled from the literature with original observations of his own. M. PYKE PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry. Volume 1 Nos. 1/2. Edited by J. J. Katz H. C. Longuet-Higgins and H. A. C. McKay. (London : Pergamon Press Ltd.) Subscription A (normal) 90s. per volume; Subscription B (for individual subscribers certifying that the journal is for their private use) ~ O S . both including postage. In a foreword by Warren C. Johnson and H. J. EmelCus it is said “Between the wars the subject branched off in at least two new directions as a result of the electronic theory of bonding and of the work on both stable and radioactive isotopes.Since about 1940 we have witnessed two other revolutions in the subject with the coming-of-age of theoretical inorganic chemistry on the one side and the discovery of the fission process and of the transuranium elements on the other.” The editors and publishers of this journal “have not gone light-heartedly into this new venture but have assured themselves first of all of the support of a great many distinguished American and European chemists. The new journal will be international in character and will be glad to publish research papers of the necessary scientific standard wherever they may come from.” An Educational Adventure. A History of the Woolwich Polytechnic. Collin Brooks (London The Woolwich Polytechnic 1955.) 6s.Annual Report on the Progress of Rubber Technology. Volume XVIII, 1954. (Cambridge W. H. Heffer and Sons, I,td. for the Institution of the Rubber Industry.) Edited by T. J. Drakeley. 21s LOCAL SECTION AFFAIRS Belfast and District.-On 25 January Mr A. L. Abel Technical Director of Pest Control (U.K.) Ltd. lectured on “Modern Insecticides and their Uses” at a meeting arranged by the Society of Chemical Industry. Mr Abel described various types of modern insecticides and indicated how economic considerations as well as suitability influenced the user’s choice. He also showed a film of Pest Control personnel at work in Switzerland. The Tilden Lecture of the Chemical Society was delivered in Belfast on 10 February by Professor H.C. Longuet-Higgins. His subject was “The Role of the Pi-Electron in Aromatic Chemistry.” The Local Section arranged a lecture on 22 February when Professor M. Stacey F.R.s. read his paper on ‘ ‘The Immunochemistry of the Pneumonococcus Polysaccharides.” Professor Stacey first described the nature of immunochemistry and then went on to speak about the chemistry of immunisation against pneumonia. The S.C.I. were responsible for arranging the final joint lecture meeting of the Session on 10 March when Dr R. J. W. Reynolds of I.C.I. Ltd. Dyestuffs Division lectured on “The Influence of Structure on Some Properties of Polymers.” Cardiff and District.-A joint meeting of the Section with the S.C.I. was held at the Technical College Newport on 19 January when Dr R.0. Jones gave a lecture on the work of the D.S.I.R. Dr Jones explained by means of slides the organisation of the D.S.I.R. from the Lord President of the Council, through the varisus research committees to the National Physical Laboratory, the Chemical Research Laboratory and the numerous co-operative Industrial Research Associations. At a joint meeting with the S.C.I. on 11 February Dr J. R. Nicholls spoke on ‘‘Some Applications of Modern Techniques in Analytical Chemistry.” The meeting was held at the University College Cardiff with Mr S. J. Chard in the Chair. Dr Nicholls described how in analytical chemistry use is made of the chemical and physical properties of the elements and radicals in such a way that specific characteristics can be observed or measured.This may be achieved by separating the entity possessing the desired characteristics or by removal of, or nullifying the effect of other interfering entities. The older methods of separation depended largely on one or more chemical reactions although physical operations such as distillation and dialysis were also employed. More recently, the properties of chelate and clathrate compounds have found analytical applica-tion and use has been made more and more of physical phenomena for the isolation of particular substances. Some of the newer techniques were described and examples given of their application in particular to medical and clinical analysis plastics analysis and forensic work. The lecture was followed by a very stimulating discussion which concluded a very successful and informative evening.The joint Annual Film Show with the S.C.I. was held on 23 February at the Technical College Newport when the following films were shown “Bubble on the Surface of a Metal,” “The Technique of Sampling,” “The Phase Contrast Microscope” and “Some Examples of Work with the Phase Contrast Microscope.” Cumberland and District.-Mr E. Stables of I.C.I. Limited visited Sea-scale on 25 February to lecture on “The Manufacture Properties and Uses of Titanium Metal” to a joint meeting with the Liverpool Section of the Society of Chemical Industry. Mr Stables described the various processes available for carrying out the extremely difficult reduction to titanium metal giving particular attention to the commercial production by reduction of the tetrachloride with magnesium.He then showed how the problem of handling the molten metal, which is very reactive had been overcome by the use of a protective atmosphere of argon. The metal is used where remarkably good resistance to corrosion and/or a very favourable weight to strength ratio would repay the high initial 207 The Chair was taken by Mr A. S. Minton 208 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL cost of the rpetal. Dr H. H. Evers and Mr A. G. Jones the Chairman and Hon-orary Secretary of the Liverpool Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, represented their Section at the meeting. Mr I. Waide expressed the thanks of the audience for a most interesting and informative lecture. Glasgow and West of Scotland.-A meeting was held in the Royal Tech-nical College on 14 January under the chairmanship of Professor F.S. Spring, F.R.s. when a lecture was delivered by Professor W. Baker F.R.s. of the University of Bristol. His subject was “The Nature of a Red Oxidation Product of Coal-Tar Phenols.” The lecture described much fresh and as yet unpublished work. The lecturer said that the higher-boiling phenols of coal tars particularly those resulting from low-temperature carbonisation processes gave red solutions in dilute aqueous alkalis resulting from aerial oxidation. It was now known that the colour arose from the simultaneous oxidation of a homocatechol and a resorcinol. The reaction had been studied with 3 5-dimethylcatechol and 2 4-dimethylresorcinol and the oxidation was found to give more than 90 per cent yield of an intensely red crystalline mono-sodium slat of a quinone, C,,H!402(OH)2 derived by the loss of two hydrogen atoms from the initial coupling product.The lecturer went on to indicate the structure of the substance. It was realised that the salt of the quinone was certainly not the only colouring matter formed by the alkaline oxidation of phenols but it might be of major importance in the production of the very stable red colours. The great intensity of the colour of the quinone salt detectable at a concentration of 1 in 10,000,000 parts of water and its rapidity of formation made it admirably suited for the colorimetric determination of traces of oxygen. The lecture was followed by a valuable discussion in which Dr J.D. Loudon, Professor Hugh Nicol Dr J. McLean Dr Quintin Moore and others took part. The meeting accorded a vote of thanks to the lecturer on the proposal of Dr S. H. Tucker. The 36th Annual General Meeting of the Section was held in the Studio Cinema Scottish Film Council Woodside Terrace Glasgow on 11 February, when formal business was transacted and the following Officers and Committee members were elected for the ensuing year Chairman Professor Hugh Nicol; Hon. Secretary Dr W. Gibb; Hon. Treasurer Dr A. C. Syme; Members of Committee Dr E. A. Dawes Dr W. A. Caldwell Dr I. M. Dawson Mr Magnus Herd Mr H. C. Moir Dr Quintin Moore and Professor P. D. Ritchie; Hon. Auditor Dr W. Good. The Chairman expressed the thanks of the Section to Mr W. G.D. Wright, the retiring Hon. Secretary and to Dr W. C. Hutchison retiring member of Committee for their years of service. The vote of thanks to the retiring Chair-man Professor F. s. Spring was proposed by Mr H. C. Moir and heartily accorded by the meeting. Following the business meeting a show of films was given in the Studio Cinema to the members present. The programme lasted for about two hours and the following films were shown “Alcohol and the Human Body,” “A Thousand Million Years,” “Principles of Ultrasonics,” “Rig 20,” “Walkabout,” “Quick, das Eichhornchen,” “Spectrograph.” Professor Hugh Nicol proposed a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the meeting. Dundee and District.-A meeting was held at the Technical College, Dundee on 18 February Mr James Smart presiding.Mr Patrick A. Keiller, formerly chief chemist of the Colombo Commercial Company in Ceylon delivered a paper on “The Cultivation of the Coconut Palm.” In a general survey of the life history of the coconut palm he emphasised the amazing adaptability of the tree to varied environments and its dependence for existence on a single vegetative bud at the apex. Mr Keiller then gave an account of some fertiliser trials which he had carried out during 1914-1945 and concluded with a brief account of the damage done to coconut palms by the rhinoceros beetle oryctes rhinoceros and the red beetle rhymhphom fergmsiemis 19551 LOCAL SECTION AFFAIRS 209 A vote of thanks was proposed by Dr T. C. Downie and warmly accorded. Afterwards members and friends were entertained to tea by Dr T.J. Morrison, Head of the Chemistry Department at the Technical College. East Anglia.-The seventh meeting of the session took place at the Oriental Cafk Ipswich on 17 February. Mr E. S. Sellers of Cambridge University Chemical Engineering Department spoke of “The Training and Employment of Chemical Engineers.” The audience thoroughly appreciated this talk which has recently been printed in Chemistry and Industry. The discussion was lively and informal and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr D. Friend. On 16 March we were the guests of the Norfolk and Norwich Medico-Chirurgical Society at a meeting held in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The speaker was Dr N. R. Lawrie of Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cambridge and his subject “Biochemical Methods in Diagnosis and Treatment.” Dr I.Green, President of the host society took the Chair. The speaker began with a review of the very great increase in the use of clinical biochemistry over the last quarter of a century and went on to stress the need for ever closer co-operation between clinician and biochemist. The greater part of the talk however dealt with four selected modern tools and the clinical use made of the information gained with their aid. They were the flame photometer paper chromatography, paper electrophoresis and radioactive isotopes. Dr S. H. Edgar proposed a vote of thanks on behalf of the chemists and Dr M. H. Clement seconded on behalf of the medicals. The meeting was most successful and was greatly enjoyed by all present.Mr G. H. Whyatt took the Chair. Edinburgh and East of Scotland.-At the Annual General Meeting on 24 February the following Officers were elected for 1955-56 Chairman Mr H. H. Campbell; Vice-chairman Dr J. Stewart; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Dr E. S. Stern; Hon. Recorder Mr R. P. A. Pride. Mr C. Cochrane was elected Hon. Auditor. The following new members of Committee were also elected: Dr J. K. Grant (replacing Dr E. S. Stern) Dr G. 0. Aspinall Mr F. J. Bolton, Dr G. S. Boyd and Mr D. M. Peutherer. A joint meeting of the local sections of the Society of Chemical Industry, the Chemical Society and the Institute was held in the North British Hotel, Edinburgh on 13 January with Dr T. R. Bolam in the Chair. Professor W. Baker F.R.s. gave a. lecture on “Organic Inclusion Compounds.” After describing the preparation of a number of 2-hydroxy-2 :4 :4-trimethylflavans, it was noted that the flavans show reluctance to crystallise except as inclusion compounds with e.g.ether dioxan some ketones and a great variety of amines, and that molecular size and shape as well as a weakly basic character are probably the controlling factors in their formation. The capacity of tri-o-thymotide to form inclusion compounds could be used to effect highly efficient resolutions of e.g. the d and 1 forms of 2-bromo-n-butane. Finally an account was given of a compound first prepared by Dianin in 1914 and now known to be 4-p-hydroxyphenyl-2 :2 :4-trimethylflavan. It forms inclusion compounds with a great nuniber of organic compounds of all types and even with iodine, argon and carbon dioxide.A lively discussion followed which included the following topics the mechanism of binding and formation of inclusion compounds; the colour and structure of the Dianin’s compound-iodine inclusion compound compared with that of the well-known starch-iodine complex which is also an inclusion com-pound ; resolution by means of inclusion compounds and the structural analysis of these compounds by X-ray methods. A vote of thanks was proposed by Dr N. Campbell who remarked on the clarity and interest of Professor Baker’s lecture. Leeds Area.-A meeting of the Section was held at the University of Leeds The on 14 March the Chairman of the Section Mr A. C. Francis presiding 210 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL Chairman introduced Dr F.N. Woodward Director of the Institute of Seaweed Research and made him specially welcome recalling that his predecessor, Mr B. G. McLellan was well-known to members of the Section during his sojourn in York. Dr Woodward then lectured on “The Biochemistry of the Marine Algae.” An outline of the classification and distribution of sea-weed was followed by a very comprehensive account of the chemical constitution of brown and red sea-weeds and the variations due to season of harvesting depth of immersion and so on. The comparison with the corresponding constituents of land plants was particularly interesting. The lecture was followed by a film showing some of the work of the Institute on seaweed harvesting and under-water photography.The ensuing discussion ranged over the suitability of brown seaweed meal as an additive to animal foodstuffs (on account of the trace elements and vitamins it contains) the nitrate content of the sea as a source of nitrogen for the plants and enzymatic hydrolysis of the sugar polymer content. Dr W. Cule Davies congratulated the lecturer on his Institute’s successful attack upon a complicated subject and expressed the thanks of the meeting for a very fine paper on such an unusual topic. Liverpool and North-Western.-A small audience braved the snow storms on 16 February to attend a Section meeting at the Widnes College of Further Education. Mr G. H. Bottomley presided and welcomed the speaker, Dr G. Baddeley of the Manchester College of Technology.His subject was “The Geometry of Chemical Reactivity,” and his delivery was both witty and informal. Using molecular models lantern slides and the blackboard the lecturer showed how the outer atoms of molecules tend to keep as far apart as the structure will allow and how under certain conditions e.g. release of an atom by ionisa-tion the remainder of the molecule becomes flattened by a twisting of the plane. Dr Baddeley gave examples of molecules whose geometry allows a forecast of the reactivity of a particular component atom to be made. There was a short discussion with Messrs J. H. T. Brook and G. H. Bottomley taking part followed by a vote of thanks to the lecturer proposed by Dr F. E. Coleman. The Liverpool Joint Chemistry Societies’ Exhibition of Apparatus organised by the British Association of Chemists was held on 24 February.A report of this meeting is given on page 224. A joint meeting of the Section with the lnstitute of Petroleum Stanlow Branch was held at the Grosvenor Hotel Chester on 3 March. The Section Vice-chairman Dr J. B. Matthews presided and introduced Professor G. Gee, F.R.s. of the Department of Physical Chemistry University of Manchester who lectured on “Polymerisation of Sulphur.” The lecturer showed that sulphur in the ordinary state formed an eight-membered ring and that the vapour was a mixture of several forms in which S, s6 and S had been identified. Liquid sulphur polymerised in long chains to give a molecular weight as high as 106. Addition of a very small amount of iodine could by limiting the chain-length, cause viscosity to drop as low as 5 per cent of the normal value.The dependance of chain-length on temperature was shown to be very critical by a sudden jump (by a factor of lo3) in viscosity at about 160” C. The lecturer discussed the thermodynamics of polymer formation and the means of detecting such formation ; free sulphur radicals could be detected by magnetic methods. After questions from several members of the audience had been answered, the Chairman concluded with a vote of thanks to the speaker. The 36th Anniversary Dinner and Social of the Section was held on 4 March, at G. H. Lee’s Restaurant Basnett Street Liverpool with an attendance of 150. The Chairman of the Section presided and proposed the toasts to the guests and the new associates.He congratulated the latter on their success and hoped they would play their part in Section affairs. He referred also to the great effort required to pass the examination for the A.R.I.C. He then asked each of the new associates to rise in turn and each received an ovation 19551 LOCAL SECTION AFFAIRS 21 1 Mr Bottomley on behalf of the Section then presented a pair of binoculars to Mr B. D. W. Luff the principal guest in appreciation of his long and faithful services as an officer and member of the Section Committee. Mr Luff who has retired and is now living at Leatherhead Surrey replied with a very entertaining speech. Thanking the members of the Section he recalled that he first came to Liverpool in the ‘twenties’ from Edinburgh where he had been the first Hon.Secretary of that Section. In Liverpool he had been Section Chairman on two occasions Hon. Treasurer and Member of the Council. A new feature of the evening which it is hoped will be repeated in future years was the taking of a group photograph of the new associates present. There were about twenty in the group and photographed with them was the ‘father’ of the Section the oldest Fellow Mr. F. Robertson Dodd. Following the very enjoyable dinner was an entertainment arranged and comp6red by Mr H. Weatherall. The top-hatted red-nosed Carlett Park (Technical College) Choristers led by Mr H. R. Jones topped the bill. They rendered a chemically flavoured “song and drunk” act which gave the audience much amusement. The change in venue this year has met with general approval.Mid-Southern Counties.-Since the last report three more lectures and a works visit have taken place. On 10 February at the Municipal College, Bournemouth Dr A. Charlesby of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell gave a lecture entitled “The Effect of High Energy Radiation on Polymers.” The effect of such radiation on most of the polymers examined (e.g. polythene) is to cause cross-linking with consequent alteration of properties (e.g. raising of melting point) and this can be of considerable practical im-portance. A few polymers however such as polymethylmethacrylate suffer degradation and Dr Charlesby considered some of the possible reasons for this difference. The lecture was illustrated by many specimens and slides and by demonstrations of some of the differences in properties between ordinary and irradiated polymers.On 18 February at the University of Southampton a joint meeting with the Chemical Society and the University Chemical Society heard Professor Wilson Baker F.R.s. of the University of Bristol speak on “Recent Work on Inclusion Compounds.” Professor Baker discussed compounds of the tri-o-thymotide type which crystallise with inclusion of a large variety of organic compounds (see Edinburgh p. 209). On 10 March at the Municipal College Bournemouth Mr A. E. Robinson of the Admiralty Materials Laboratory Holton Heath spoke on “Crystal Growing” and described the methods used to grow large crystals for optical and piezo-electric use. He mentioned the production of synthetic quartz and described in detail his own experience in growing large crystals of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and of lithium sulphate.The lecture was illustrated by samples of very large crystals of these substances and by many slides. The Section is indebted to Mr Robinson for giving this lecture at very short notice to replace the advertised lecture by Mr A. L. Bedingfield which unfortunately had to be cancelled at the last minute. This meeting was preceded by a visit to the B.D.H. Laboratory Chemicals Group at Poole. Members of the Section were entertained to an excellent lunch and tea and taken on a conducted tour of the factory where a very large variety of pure laboratory chemicals is manu-factured. At the conclusion of the visit Mr C. M. Bere the Chairman of the Section expressed the thanks of members to the Directors and staff of B.D.H for their generous hospitality and for their efforts in making the visit so interesting.Newcastle upon Tyne and North East Coast.-A joint meeting with the Plastics Institute (North East Section) was held on 16 February in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre King’s College Newcastle upon Tyne when Professor P. D. Ritchie Young Professor of Technical Chemistry University of Glasgow lectured on “The Mechanism of the Thermal Breakdown of Linear Polyester and Related Polymers.” The thermal decomposition of linear polyesters was described 212 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL Relevant work in the field of ethenoid polymers was discussed (e.g. the pyrolysis of polyvinyl acetate) together with new work on the pyrolysis of polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (Terylene) and polyethylene maleate.A meeting was held on 23 February in the Technical College Sunderland, when Dr R. N. Haszeldine of the University Chemical Laboratory Cambridge, gave a lecture on “Fluorocarbons and their Future.” The historical development of fluorocarbon chemistry was outlined and the salient features of the synthesis of fluorocarbons and their derivatives were discussed. Some of the uses of these compounds were described and illustrated with several striking practical demonstrations. Future developments and possible applica-tions were also considered. A vote of thanks proposed by Dr J. H. Wilkinson was carried with acclamation by an enthusiastic and appreciative audience.North Lancashire.-At a meeting held at Preston on 24 February Dr F. Howlett spoke on “Some Trends in the Development of Polyamides.” The lecturer reviewed the work in this field over the last ten years and devoted particular attention to the difficulty of producing fibres with predetermined properties. An interesting discussion followed in which Messrs W. G. Creasy, A. N. Edmondson and B. C. James took part. The lecturer was thanked by Mr A. B. Crowther. On 10 March Mr R. J. P. Bayley Technical Manager of Bexford Ltd., spoke at Lancaster on “The Casting of Film Base.” Mr Baylev gave an interesting resume of the development of film manufacture over the last 150 years and then went on to describe recent methods in the casting of film base using cellulose triacetate.The speaker ended with a short description of experiences in the development of his firm since its inception in 1945. Dr C. W. Long thanked Mr Bayley on behalf of the meeting. North Wales.-A meeting was held at the new Flintshire Technical College, Connah’s Quay by kind invitation of the Principal Dr C. G. Lyons on Friday, 11 March. Dr A. H. Leckie of the Iron and Steel Board spoke on “Chemical Aspects of Some Problems the Steel Industry Faces in the Future.” The Section Chairman Mr W. E. Hanier introduced the speaker and thanked Dr Lyons for his hospitality and for the opportunity of visiting the new College. The problems the steel industry faces concern the removal from both raw materials and fuel of deleterious impurities.The sulphur content of home-produced coal has shown an upward trend during the past few years at the same time as-it is increasingly necessary to utilise the somewhat lean indigenous ores rather than import raw materials. The removal of phosphorus becomes more important as the practice of cold-pressing steel components becomes more widespread while the use of high proportions of recovered scrap necessitates methods for the removal of small concentrations of non-ferrous metals present in the scrap as alloys. These are problems for the chemist as much as for the metallurgist. ‘The lecture provoked a very keen discussion to which the following contributed Messrs Hamer V. H. Williams C . G. Lyons Harold Edwards, G. S. Aston and E. Taylor-Austin. In proposing a vote of thanks Dr W.Rogie Angus recalled that Dr Leckie had worked with him at University College, London as his first research student. South Wales.-On 25 February Professor C. W. Shoppee presided at a meeting in the Chemistry Department University College Swansea when Dr T. P. Hughes of the Ministry of Supply Royal Aircraft Establishment Rocket Propulsion Department lectured on “Chemistry in Rocket Propulsion.” Dr Hughes first gave a general description of the principles of rocket propulsion and of typical liquid and solid propellant rocket motors and then summarised the elementary physical theory needed to explain how the rocket motor works and how it obtains its thrust. He concluded by showing a short film of the test-firing of a rocket. After a number of questions the thanks of the meeting were expressed by Dr W.J. G. Beynon 19551 LOCAL SECTION AFFAIRS 213 On 11 March a meeting was held jointly with the Chemical Society and the College Chemical Society at University College Swansea with Professor Shoppee in the Chair Dr J. W. Cook F.R.s. Principal of the University College of the South West Exeter and a past-president of the Institute lectured on “The Chemistry of Colchicine.” After explaining the effect of colchicine in mitosis Dr Cook outlined the chemical reactions that led Windaus to suggest a formula for the compound. He then described how the use of modern tech-niques including X-ray analysis had shown that two of the three rings in the compound were seven-membered and no six-membered as had been previously supposed.After a discussion Mr E. E. Ayling proposed the vote of thanks. At a meeting held jointly with the College Chemical Society at University College Swansea on 14 March Dr A. D. Walsh of the University of Leeds and Professor-Elect of Chemistry Queen’s College Dundee lectured on “The Anti-Knock .4ction of Lead Tetraethyl.” First explaining that ‘knock’ in an engine is due to the interference by pre-flame reactions on the smooth ignition initiated by the spark Dr Walsh then described experiments showing that the effect of lead tetraethyl is due to the formation of a colloidal fog of lead oxide, which inhibits the pre-flame reactions. Kinetic studies on the influence of surfaces of a number of compounds on the combustion of methane showed that they can be divided into two types exemplified by ( a ) boric and phosphoric acids and (6) lead and many other metallic oxides the latter being better for anti-knock effects.These results were discussed in the light of the probable reactions of the HO radical at these surfaces. Professor C. W. Shoppee presided and a vote of thanks to the lecturer was proposed by Dr D. E. Hoare. Madras.-The Fourth Annual General Meeting was held in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre Presidency College on 27 November when the following Officers were elected :-Chairman Professor P. S. Sarma; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer Sri K. V. Sundaram Ayyar ; Joint Hon. Secretary Sri K. R. Srinivasan; Hon. Auditor Dr T. R. Govindachari. During the year 1953-54 the following lectures were arranged :-Professor S.Rangaswami of the University of Andhra spoke on “Glucosides of Nerium Odorurn,” Professor W. E. S. Turner F.R.s. on “The Chemical Composition and Physical Properties of Glasses,” Professor E. S. Schlittler on “Chemistry of RauwolJia Serpentina Alkaloids” and Sri B. M. Das on ‘‘Some Aspects of Leather Manufacture.” At a symposium on “The Role of Solvents in Chemical Reactions,” Professor S. V. Anantakrishnan Dr V. S. Padmanabhan Dr D. Sita Rao and Mr I. M. Mathai took part. Malaya.-At the Annual General Meeting held on 4 March in the Seminar Room the Chemistry Department University of Malaya the following Officers and Members of Committee were elected for 1955-56 :-Chairman Dr A. Jack-son; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer Mr R. C. Norris; Members of Committee, Dr D.A. Frye Professor R. A. Robinson Mr Lee Kum Tatt Mr T. A. Spillane, Mr T. H. Elliott. Hon. rluditor Mr Pereira (Accountant of the University of Malaya). It was resolved that a member of the Institute should be appointed to the editorial board of the Malaya Pharmaceutical Journal since material was now being regularly contributed to it by members of the Section. Thus, during the previous session two lectures had been printed in that Journal and reprints with special covers bearing the name and crest of the Institute, had been distributed to members. Other reprints are in course of preparation. In his report the Hon. Secretary recalled that the 1954 Malaya Medal in Chemistry had been awarded to Mr Phang Sing Eng. During the year Dr D. A. Frye the Section Chairman had been on leave in the U.K.for about seven months and in his absence Professor R. A. Robinson acted as Chairman. During his leave Dr Frye had visited the Institute in London and had met the President and other Officers of the Institute and been introduced to the permanent officials. Dr R. W. Green had been on leave in New Zealand from June to Septembe 214 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL and had attended the Joint Meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry and the New Zealand Section of the R.I.C. conveying the good wishes of the Section to these bodies. Owing to the small strength of the Section it had been impossible to assemble large numbers of members for works visits and it had been decided that the best policy was for the Section to combine with other societies for such activities.A number of lectures had been given throughout the year on several diverse subjects. These were 25 January “Impressions of a Chemical Sojourn in the United Kingdom by Mr Lim Chin Kuan; 3 March “Scientific Evidence in Crimes involving Firearms,” Dr D. A. Frye; 5 April “Counter Current Dis-tribution,” Mr T. H. Elliott; 26 April “Appetite Analysis,” Dr J. M. Bowness; 10 May “The Art of Brewing,” Dr I. Bels; 11 October “Power Station Chemistry,” Mr J. N. Stokoe; 15 November “Some Aspects of the Chemistry of the Petroleum Industry,” Mr R. C. Warnes; 13 December A Symposium on Spectrophotometry and a display of equipment when the following addresses were given “Application to Pure Science,” Professor R. A.Robinson; “Analytical Applications,” Mr A. I. Biggs ; “Fluorescence Spectrophotometry,” Mr T. H. Elliott; “Flame Photometry,” Mr R. C. Norris. A further lecture was held in Kuala Lumpur on 30 August at the Institute for Medical Research when Mr J. D. Peel spoke on “Wood Pulp Production in Malaya and its Possibilities.” A visit was also arranged to the premises of Industrial Gases (Malaya) on 25 March. The Section has now welcomed to its ranks three servicemen who are com-pleting their National Service and members have shown them round their laboratories. The newly-formed Science Society of Malaya has been well supported by members of the Section Professor R. A. Robinson having been a leading member in its foundation and Mr A. I. Biggs the treasurer until his transfer to Kuala Lumpur.INSTITUTE AFFAIRS EXAMINATIONS Examinations will be held in August-September 1955 as follows :-For the Associateship : Theoretical papers in London Birmingham and Glasgow and if required, in other centres on Monday and Tuesday 5 and 6 September. Practical exercises in London Birmingham and Glasgow on Wednesday to Saturday 7 to 10 September inclusive and in London on Tuesday to Friday, 13 to 16 September inclusive. If the number of entries is large some candidates in the London area may be required to do their practical exercises on Tuesday to Friday 30 August to 2 September inclusive. Candidates will be asked to state their preference as to the centre for their theoretical papers and the period and centre for their practical exercises but it must be elearly understood that no guarantee is given that their wishes can be met as laboratory accommodation at each centre is limited.Candidates who have not yet been accepted for examination and who wish to present themselves in September should obtain from the Assistant Registrar without delay the prescribed Application Form so as to allow ample time to secure thereon the necessary signatures certifying that they have complied with the Regulations concerning their courses of training. The completed Applica-tion Form must reach the Institute not later than Wednesday 1 June, 1955. No Application in respect of the September Examination will be considered if received after that date 1955) INSTITUTE AFFAIRS 215 Entry Forms will be sent as soon as they are ready to all accepted candidates.The last date for the receipt of Entry Forms will be Monday 27 June, 1955. For the Fellowship: In the week beginning Monday 29 August in London or elsewhere at the discretion of the Council. Last dates for application and for entry will be as for the Associateship except that candidates who desire to present themselves for examination in Branch G Industrial Chemistry with special reference to a particular field of work or in a Special Branch must submit their Entry Forms not later than Wednesday 1 June. No Entry will be accepted if received after that date. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING The Council has decided that if the resolution under item 5 of the agenda for the Annual General Meeting is passed a Special General Meeting shall be convened on a date to be fixed by the Officers (preferably in June) to consider proposed changes in the By-laws of the Institute and other matters relevant to the introduction of the new scheme for conditions of admission to membership.In that event the formal notice of the Special General Meeting with the agenda and explanatory notes will be sent out with the May issue of the Journal. In the meantime the Council has considered a first draft of the revised Regulations to be made under the provisions of the amended By-laws but final conclusions on matters of detail may not be reached until the changes in By-laws have been approved in General Meeting and allowed with or without modification by the Privy Council. SALARIES OF SCIENTISTS POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THE NEW SPECIAL ALLOWANCES FOR TEACHERS In the House of Commons on 10 March the Minister of Education announced his approval of the recommendations of the Burnham Main Committee for a new schedule of special allowances for teachers of advanced pupils in secondary schools (J.1955 159). “The proposed increases in pay will greatly improve the career prospects for these teachers. No distinction is drawn between teachers of different subjects but as the House knows the greatest anxiety is in the field of science and mathematics. The Government are therefore reviewing the whole question of scientists in the public service so as to ensure that the best and most economical use is made of them in the national interest. Mean-while the Federation of British Industries is asking all its members to refrain from raising salaries in competition with the Burnham proposals and to review the use they make of science graduates.” In view of the widespread concern that has been expressed about possible implications of this pronouncement the Council has authorised the publication of the following statement which has been communicated to the Minister :-The Council of the Royal Institute of Chemistry would welcome pro-posals for ensuring that the best use is made of professionally qualified chemists in industry and the public service and favours the more extensive employment, under suitable supervision of less highly qualified staff for duties that do not require to be carried out in person by fully qualified chemists.The Council can understand why industrial employers (and presumably Government departments also) might be asked to exercise some restraint in raising the initial salaries offered to newly-qualified chemists in an endeavour to secure recruits who might otherwise be attracted by the improved career prospects for teachers in schools; but the Council strongly opposes any suggestion that restraint should be exercised in the provision of progressive salary increments for chemists who prove their worth in any field of employment, He went on to say 216 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [fiPRlL GROUP SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE BENEVOLENT FUND The need for increasing the income of the Benevolent Fund is clear from the Report and Accounts for January to September 1954 in which it was stated that the proportion of members who are subscribers continues to decrease.The Committees of the various Local Sections have undertaken to consider ways in which wider support for the work of the Benevolent Fund can be secured, and members may be interested to hear about some preliminary work the London Section Committee carried out during the year. It seemed likely that among the many reasons for a falling off in the proportion of subscribers to the Benevolent Fund there were two major ones. On the one hand some members feel that they can only afford a small subscription and on the other many members need a more effective reminder than can be achieved by a notice from the Institute. On further consideration it seemed that these two difficulties might be overcome by group subscriptions with local collectors each in frequent contact with a group.Clearly the most promising field for group subscriptions is in organisations employing an appreciable number of members of the Institute. Before the war there were 30 such groups but at the beginning of 1954 there were only six. The London Section Committee noted that there were only two in their area. In order to test the reaction of the membership the Chairman made a personal approach to the senior member of the Institute in each of several organisations where a considerable number of members were employed e.g. industrial organisations, Government departments and research associations. It was made clear that the Section Committee was not asking the person approached to use any persuasion or to offer to make himself responsible for a group subscription but rather that he should discuss the suggestion with some of his colleagues and if he felt it appropriate give the idea his blessing and suggest a method of organisation.It was also made clear that no one who was an individual subscriber to the Fund should be persuaded to become a group subscriber. The response was sufficiently encouraging for the Chairman and his successor to make further approaches. The matter has now been raised with 23 organisa-tions and nine of them have sent favourable replies. There were seven negative replies-two reporting that nearly all members were already subscribing two pointing out that the number of potential contributors was very small and three saying that a group subscription was not thought to be appropriate.The remain-ing six answers were delayed for various reasons although most expressed sympathy with the scheme. Of the nine organisations that immediately gave favourable replies three had allied establishments outside the London Section’s area and were proceeding to arrange for group subscriptions in these estab-lishments as well. It is too early to know what financial success is being achieved as the effect of group subscriptions will only begin to be visible at the end of the present financial year of the Fund. There has certainly been an indirect result however, even in the organisations that decided to take no action for the work of the Fund and its needs have been brought to the notice of many Institute members in a different way from usual.No particular pattern of organisation has emerged but it is clear that there should be a collector who is sufficiently interested to carry out his duties in a regular and tactful manner. There seems to be no desirable minimum size of organisation although it seems desirable that there should be not less than five and preferably not less than ten members who are not subscribing in any other way to make it worth while appointing a group collector. It is hoped that this note will be read by members who wish to consider the establishment of a group subscription to the Benevolent Fund in their own organisation. If they would like advice or suggestions as to how this might be done they should make contact with their Local Section Secretary or with the Secretary of the Benevolent Fund Committee at the offices of the Institute.The idea of group subscriptions is not new 19551 INSTITUTE AFFAIRS 217 AWARD OF THE MELDOLA MEDAL 1954 The Meldola Medal which is the gift of the Society of Maccabaeans is awarded each year to the chemist who being a British subject and under 30 years of age at 31 December in that year is considered to have shown the greatest promise as indicated by his or her published work. Awards are made on the recommendation of the Council of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. Since its establishment in 1921 the Meldola Medal has come to be recognised as one of the most notable marks of distinction that can be conferred on a young research worker in chemistry.Of the first nineteen recipients of the Medal (in the period 1921-40) no less than fourteen have since been elected Fellows of the Royal Society and several of the later recipients are already occupying chairs of chemistry in universities. For 1954 the Medal has been awarded to JOHN SHIPLEY ROWLINSON BSC., J. S. ROWLINSON was educated at Rossall School and at Trinity College, Oxford where he was Millard Scholar. He graduated with first class honours and started research work with Mr J. D. Lambert on some of the physical properties of organic vapours. The main part of this work was a study of the factors leading to the dispersion of ultrasonic waves in gases. Parallel work on the theory of the equilibrium and transport properties of such vapours led in 1950 to the offer of a post of Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin with Professor J.0. Hirschfelder. He worked for a year on the theory of im-perfect gases and with Dr C. F. Curtiss made some advances in the lattice theory of the liquid state. He came to Manchester in 1951 as an I.C.I. Fellow and was subsequently appointed Lecturer in Chemistry. Here he was encouraged by the late Pro-fessor M. G. Evans to extend the work on liquids to regular solutions. Im-provements effected in this theory have recently been applied to the order-disorder transitions of alloys. Other theoretical work at Manchester has included a study of the surprisingly high solubility of solids in compressed gases. This was shown to be due to forces in the gas-phase between single molecules of the solid and clusters of molecules of the gas.The virial coefficients needed for this theory were calculated on the University electronic computer. Much work has recently been put into developing a perturbation treatment of the effect of molecular shape on the bulk properties of fluids. This has been successfully applied to many single substances and has now been extended to mixtures where it explains the behaviour of some classes of solutions which form an azeotrope only over a limited range of temperature. Experimental work on the properties of liquids and compressed gases has been designed to provide ma. erial with which to test theory and recent investigations on highly polar substances on fluorine compounds and on iodine solutions will serve also as the basis of further theoretical work.Dr Rowlinson is a member of the thermodynamics committee of the D.S.I.R. Mechanical Engineering Research Board and is writing the chapter on “The Properties of Real Gases” for the new edition of the Handbuch der Physik. M.A. D.PHIL. (OXON.). SIR GEORGE BEILBY MEMORIAL AWARDS 1954 The Administrators of the Sir George Beilby Memorial Fund representing the Institute of Metals the Royal Institute of Chemistry and the Society of Chemical Industry have made awards from the Fund for 1954 each of 150 guineas to-H. K. HARDY M.SC. PH.D. A.R.s.M. in recognition of his work in physical metallurgy with special reference to precipitation hardening and to the thermodynamics of phase equilibria in alloy systems and J.W. MENTER M.A. PH.D. A.INST.P. in recognition of his work on surface phenomena with special reference to the application of electron optical techniques to the elucidation of a wide range of problems 218 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL Awards from the Fund are made to British investigators in science as a mark of appreciation of distinguished work particularly in such fields as fuel economy, chemical engineering and metallurgy in which Sir George Beilby’s special interests lay. In general the awards are not applicable to more senior investi-gators but are granted as an encouragement to relatively young men who have done independent work of exceptional merit over a period of years. H. IS. HARDY graduated with first class honours in Metallurgy at the Royal School of Mines Imperial College University of London in 1940.While at the Research Department of Northern Aluminium Co. Ltd. and at Aluminium Laboratories Ltd. he was concerned with the metallography of duralumin-type alloys and the development of high strength aluminium-zinc-magnesium alloys. Particular attention was paid to the nature of the extrusion process and to the microstructural effects associated with the onset of overheating. His interest in precipitation dates from this period. In 1946 Dr Hardy joined the Fulmer Research Institute as Head of the Physical Metallurgy Section and was later appointed Senior Metallurgist. A full study was undertaken of the precipitation process in aluminium-copper alloys over a wide range of supersaturations.Con-siderable attention was given to the ways in which very small quantities of additional elements could significantly influence the mode of precipitation. An understanding of the phenomena was sought in thermodynamic principles and work has also been carried out on the thermodynamics of phase equilibria in alloy systems. Other published work has been concerned with phase diagrams, the development of aluminium-tin alloys for bearings the development of aluminium-copper-cadmium alloys and the behaviour of industrial slags. J. W. MENTER was educated at Dover Grammar School and entered Peter-house Cambridge as State Scholar and College Scholar in 1940. In 1942 he joined H.M. Anti-Submarine Experimental Establishment where he assisted in the development of a number of asdic devices.In 1945 he returned to Cam-bridge and after completing the Natural Sciences Tripos in Physics joined the Research Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Surfaces Department of Physical Chemistry as a research student. He gained the Ph.D. degree in 1949 for a study by electron diffraction of the orientation of long-chain hydrocarbon compounds on metal surfaces. He then received a grant from the Warren Fund of the Royal Society and later was awarded an I.C.I. Fellowship which allowed him to pursue the application of electron optical techniques to a wide range of problems. The subjects on which he has worked in collaboration with other scientists include the inhibition of the corrosion of iron by alkaline solutions, the quench-ageing of iron and the effect of surface films on creep.More recently he has been investigating the fine structure of plastically deformed and heated metal foils. Three years ago he became interested in the possibilities of the reflection electron microscope as a tool for studying surfaces and following some earlier German work on this technique succeeded by a simple adaptation in converting a commercial transmission electron microscope for this purpose. This has been used for the study of many problems including the mechanism of polishing diamond the shape surface structure and frictional wear of fibres the nature of an insect’s surface the form of diffraction grating rulings and the structure of electrodeposits. He has lectured extensively on reflection electron microscopy and other electron optical methods and read several papers at the Second Inter-national Conference on Electron Microscopy in London in 1954.He has recently joined the Tube Investments Research Laboratories Hinxton Hall as a research scientist where he leads a group working on surface phenomena. Sir Edward Frankland Medal and Prize.-The Council on the recom-mendation of the Assessor has decided that no award shall be made for 1954. It is proposed to re-examine the conditions of this competition in view of the small number of entries in recent years and the poor quality of the majority of essays submitted 19551 INSTITUTE AFFAIRS 219 PERSONAL NOTES Honours and Awards Professor Leslie Xitchison Fellow has been selected for a special Insignia Award in Technology by the Council of the City and Guilds of London Institute, for his work in metallurgy.Professor G. R. Clemo F.R.s. Fellow is to have the honorary degree of Sc.D. conferred upon him by the Senate of the University of Dublin. Professor Sir Cyril Hinshelwood F.R.s. Fellow Meldola Medallist for 1923, is to receive the honorary degree of Sc.D. of the University of Cambridge on 7 June. Dr S. S. Subramanian Associate has been awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship, sponsored by the U.S. Foreign Operations Administration and the U.S. Public Health Service for advanced training and research in pharmacognosy at the University of Washington. Dr R. J. P. Williams Associate of Merton College Oxford has been elected to an official Fellowship in Chemistq. The Royal Society.-The following Fellows of the Institute have recently been elected Fellows of the Royal Society :-Dr Alexander Fleck Chairman, Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.and Professor D. H. Hey Daniel1 Professor of Chemistry at King’s College London. The Royal Society of Edinburgh.-The following members of the Institute have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh:-Dr W. A. P. Black Fellow Head of the Chemical Division Institute of Seaweed Research; Dr R. L. Mitchell Associate Head of the Department of Spectrochemistry, Macaulay Institute for Soil Research i\berdeen; Dr A. E. Oxford Fellow Head of the Department of Microbiology Rowett Research Institute Aberdeen; Dr G. A. Reay o.B.E. Fellow Superintendent of the Torry Research Station, Aberdeen; Professor A.B. Stewart Fellow Department of Agriculture University of Aberdeen; and Dr D. Taylor Associate Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, University of Aberdeen. Educational Dr E. J. Bourne Associate has been given the title of Reader in Organic Chemistry in the University of Birmingham. Dr T. C. Calloway Associate headmaster of Coleford Secondary School, Gloucestershire has been appointed headmaster of the new Droitwich County Secondary School as from 1 June. Dr J. G. Davis Fellow has been invited by the College of Veterinary Surgeons in Spain to give a series of lectures on recent advances in dairy science and public health in relation to food. He will be away from England from 28 April to 26 May. Professor W. T. J. Morgan Fellow has been invited to attend a Conference on “Polysaccharides in Biology” organised by the Macy Foundation New York.He will be lecturing subsequently at the Universities of Harvard and Yale. Dr B. Naganna Fellow has been appointed Professor of Biochemistry Andhra Medical College India. Dr Neville Smith Fellow lecturer in physical chemistry in the City College of Technology Liverpool has been appointed senior lecturer in physical chemistry at Rutherford College of Technology Newcastle upon Tyne. Societies and Institutions Mr C. R. Fox Associate water superintendent of the Sudan Light and Power Co. Ltd. has been elected a Professional Associate of the Institution of Water Engineers 220 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY Dr K. A. Williams Fellow was installed as President of the Society for Analytical Chemistry at the 8 1st Anniversary Dinner held at Fishmongers’ Hall on 4 March.Public and Industrial Dr J. N. Aldington Fellow has joined the Board of Siemens Bros. & Co. Dr Aldington is managing director of Siemens Electric Lamps and Supplies and also of Alfred Graham & Co. Mr G. E. Bessey Fellow has been appointed Director of Research of the new Chalk Lime and Allied Industries Research Association. He was previously Director of Research Research Council of the British Whiting Federation. Mr A. E. Billington Associate Canning Officer Department of Agriculture, Federation of Malaya has been appointed senior chemist in the Department. Mr F. Clark Associate has resigned his position as Editor of the monthly Journals and Annual Reports of the Society of Chemical Industry and has taken up the appointment of Secretary to the Editorial Board of the Biochemical Society.Mr G. C. H. Clark Associate has been appointed an additional director of Bowmans Chemicals Ltd. Dr T. B. Crow Fellow formerly technical director of Emery Bros. Ltd. has joined the research and development staff of Foundry Services Ltd. Birmingham. Mr J. G. N. Drewitt Fellow has been appointed deputy works manager of the Spondon factory of British Celanese Ltd. Dr E. M. Evans Fellow has been appointed manager of the research and development laboratories of the British Resin Products Ltd. at Sully near Penar t h. Mr S. D. Gangolli Fellow has been appointed Government Chemist Uganda, and will be leaving England on 5 May to take up his new appointment.Mr R. Faraday Innes Fellow formerly of the British Leather Manufacturers Research Association has recently returned from a three months survey of the leather and allied industries in Egypt on behalf of the Technical Assistance Board of the United Nations. Dr A. Jackson Associate Chief Chemist Federation of Malaya has been appointed Director of Chemistry Federation of Malaya. Mr Richard Jones Fellow is to be pastor of Hyfrydle Calvinistic Methodist Church Holyhead. Mr L. Merrick Fellow chief chemist Storey Brothers of Lancaster has been appointed divisional manager of J. J. Davies & Sons Sale Victoria Australia, and will be taking over a new plastics production unit there. Mr C. J. Regan Fellow has been appointed Chairman of the Atmospheric Pollution Committee of the D.S.I.R.Dr B. P. Ridge Fellow who has recently retired from the service of I.C.I., Ltd. Terylene Council is now undertaking consultant work on textiles and textile processing and chemistry with particular reference to the new synthetic fibres. Mr Harold Rose Fellow has been appointed deputy managing director of Expandite Ltd. Mr Rose has been technical consultant to the company since 1948 and was appointed to the Board in 1953. Mr J. W. H. Turner Associate has been appointed manager of the technical service division of British Resin Products Ltd. at Sully near Penarth. Mr A. T. S. Zealley J.P. Associate has been appointed a director of Remploy, the company established by the Government to provide sheltered employment for severely disabled persons NEWS AND NOTES COURSES Coventry Technical College.-A course on Chromatography has been The course is in (a) Lecture Cozuse.-Six lectures on Fridays at 7 p.m.from 6 May to 24 June. Survey of the subject by lecturers from research organisations universi-ties and industry; questions and discussion. (6) Laboratory Course.-Six sessions on Saturdays at 9.30 a.m. from 7 May to 25 June. Use of paper strips discs etc. and of columns of a variety of materials; emphasis on separation and estimation of inorganic ions. Fee 20s. Further details may be obtained from the Principal Technical College, Butts Coventry. Loughborough College of Technology.-The Department of Chemical Engineering has arranged a Vacation Course in Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering to be held at the College from 18 to 30 July.The course will consist of lectures and practical work on heat transfer and fluid flow distillation, evaporation absorption filtration drying and humidification. Some degree of specialisation will be possible in individual cases. The lectures will run consecutively and students may elect to attend the complete series. Students may however concentrate on four or fewer of the unit operations thus allowing themselves more time for practical work. Inclusive fee 20 guineas or without accommodation or mid-day meals, 12 guineas. Further particulars may be obtained from the Head of the Department. Ministry of Education Short Courses for Teachers.-The Ministry of Education is arranging a Short Course in Chemistry for teachers from technical colleges.The course will be concerned withachemical and other apsects of large-scale chemical manufacturing operations and will include lectures on selected processes and visiis to the Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. plants at Billingham and Wilton. Those taking part in the course will be accom-modated at the Wynyard Hall Training College Wolviston Billingham. The charge for board and lodging covering the period from dinner on 18 July to lunch on 27 July will be E l 1 but there will be no fee for tuition. The Ministry will assist towards travelling expenses necessarily incurred by teachers in grant-aided service and in schools recognised as efficient. Appli-cants are asked to be reasonably certain that they will be able to attend if selected.Forms of application (Form 106 RSC) are obtainable from Local Education Authorities; they should reach the Ministry not later than 30 April. University of Leeds Postgraduate Summer School.-The University of Leeds has arranged a Postgraduate Summer School on Polarisation Micro-scopy and Optical Crystallographic Methods to be held from 5 to 16 September. The course will deal with the theory and use of the polarising microscope in chemistry and other branches of science and technology and will consist largely of practical work. The study of opaque materials by reflected polarised light and of fibres and biological material will be included. Tuition fee 15 guineas. Full details may be obtained from the Secretary Department of Adult Education and Extra-Mural Studies The University Leeds 2.Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Technical College.-Vacancies exist in the Department of Applied Science for full-time Research Assistants, as a result of the proposed expansion of the existing research group which is under the direction of the head of the department Mr J. A . Waddams. 22 1 arranged in the Department of Chemistry and Metallurgy. two parts :-Fee 20s 222 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL Those appointed will undergo preliminary training in silicate chemistry, the use of new physical techniques (radiochemical methods spectrochemical methods X-ray diffraction and chromatography) the use of scientific literature, research methods French and German translation basic electronics and special postgraduate courses.Thereafter assistants will work under direction on approved problems and facilities will later be granted for periods in other laboratories in this country and overseas. The duties will include not more than six hours per week demonstrating and/or lecturing. Applications from men or women honours graduates should be made on forms obtainable from the Clerk to the Governors Education Offices North Street Wolverhamp ton. Salary 4500-550. NEW AWARDS Coke Oven Managers’ Association Medal.-The Council of the Associa-tion has decided to award a Silver-gilt medal annually to the member of the Association presenting the best paper to any of its Sectional or General Meetings in each year ending 31 August. The winner in 1955 will in addition receive a prize of 25 guineas generously offered by Dr T.P. Colclough C.B.E. It is hoped to present the medal annually at the Annual Dinner. Worshipful Company of Horners Award.-The Council of the British Plastics Federation as administrator of the Worshipful Company of Horners Award is offering a prize or prizes not exceeding 50 guineas each to young craftsmen under 30 years of age on 30 September 1955 for the design of an article suitable for moulding and/or fabricating wholly or mainly from plastics materials. The competition is open to employees of firms engaged in the plastics industry or who regularly handle plastics. Full details and conditions of entry may be obtained from the British Plastics Federation 47-48 Piccadilly, London W.l. CONFERENCES AND LECTURES Documentation of Applied Chemistry.-Some particulars of the forth-coming International Congress on Documentation of Applied Chemistry were given in the March issue (p.156). The Congress will take place in London from 22 to 25 November and the meetings will be held in the Lecture Theatre of the Institut Franqais Queensberry Place South Kensington, London S.W.7 where also there will be an exhibition of books and apparatus open to Congress members. The Congress will begin with a session on the International Scene including papers on the International Abstracting Bureau the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation and on Unesco. The next session entitled the National Scene will deal separately with France Germany Scandinavia Switzerland, the U.K.and the U.S.A. On the second day papers will be presented on particu-lar problems-publications abstracts special documents language problems, mechanical methods indexing library and information services. The third day will be devoted to the future and to conclusions and recommendations and among the subjects for consideration will be the role of governments industry, professional and learned societies and ways of furthering co-operation. Full particulars and applications for membership can be obtained from the Hon. Secretary of the Congress 56 Victoria Street London S.W.1. Textile Industry International Research Congress.-In connection with the Second International Textile Exhibition an International Congress of Scientific Research applied to the Textile Industry is being organised at the Free University of Brussels on 27-29 June by the Centre Scientifique et Tech-nique de 1’Industrie Textile Belge with the support of the International College of Textile Science.Registration forms can be obtained from the Secretary of the Congress 24 rue Montoyer Brussels to whom they must be returned before 10 May 19551 NEWS AND NOTES 223 Conjoint Chemical Council of Ireland.-A lecture tour has been arranged under the joint auspices of the Conjoint Chemical Council of Ireland and Uni-versity College Dublin. Professor J. H. de Boer of the Dutch State Mines, will speak on “The Fundamental Principles of Catalysis” in University College, Dublin 10 May; University College Cork 13 May; and University College, Galway 16 May.He will also give a lecture entitled “The Nature of Adsorption Forces” at University College Dublin on 9 May. Control of Plant Virus Diseases.-The chemistry and physiology of virus infection and virus control remain obscure although substances inhibiting infec-tion by virus have been known since 1945. The 1955 Fernhurst Lecture on “Virus Diseases of Plants,” given on 23 February to the Royal Society of Arts by Dr F. C. Bawden F.R.S. was mainly devoted to means of control. Of these the chief is heat therapy which consists of warming the plant (usually a cutting or tuber) to about 40” C. The efficacy of this method as of other techniques based on irradiation or chemical treatment is far from being understood. Mere inactivation of the virus is not the answer since the responses vary greatly with the kind of virus and other factors; complex changes in plant metabolism must be invoked as well.Chemical inhibitors include various substances with large molecules such as ribonuclease a polysaccharide and an ester Cl,H210 of the ketonic alcohol tricothecolone ; among small molecules thiouracil has been most widely studied. The quantitativt and qualitative effects of these substances differ widely. Though it can be said that of the plant viruses whose chemical constitu-tion and molecular shape are known the elongated ones have caused lesions in plants at 36” and the spherical ones have not a real clue to questions of infectivity is still lacking. An approach to control by insecticidal treatment is promising (for those viruses spread by insects).“Many of the problems in controlling virus diseases would be overcome by the discovery of a persistent substance that either kills insects as they alight or prevents them from settling on plants.” The lecturer recognised that this is “a tall order,” but one worth trying to meet [HUGH NICOL] OVERSEA NEWS Commonwealth Scientific Visitors.-Among recent arrivals in this country are-Australia.-Mr M. Ranpach Research Officer Division of Soils C.S.I.R.O., who will remain until March 1956 for work in colloid chemistry and soil chemistry. South A.ica.-Mr H. H. Sephton Research Officer in the National Chemical Research Laboratory C.S.I.R. who is here for a year to obtain experience in the field of cellulose and cellulose products as a guest worker with the British Rayon Research Association.Government Laboratory Jamaica.-Mr N. Kirby the Government Chemist in his report for the year ending 31 March 1954 recalls that Mr W. L. Barnett retired during the year after having had charge of the laboratories for 31 years. That year also saw the advent of the system of Ministerial Responsi-bility in Jamaica and the Department now falls within the sphere of the Ministry of Health and Housing. Apart from performing the duties normally associated with a Public Analyst’s laboratory the Department acts as scientific adviser to the various Ministeries and other Government Departments and as consulting chemist to numerous industries and individuals. Patent Specifications are examined where chemical or physical principles are involved.The Department also manufactures a cattle dip (Paranaph) sells arsenite of soda and dip-testing solutions and provides the free service of testing cattle dips for strength 224 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL LIVERPOOL EXHIBITION OF LABORATORY APPARATUS An Exhibition of Laboratory Apparatus was on view during the afternoon and evening of 24 February at the College of Technology Liverpool. It was arranged as a joint meeting of the Liverpool Chemistry Societies and was organised by the British Association of Chemists. Despite appalling weather conditions and a local railway strike nearly 500 attended. The B.A.C. Liverpool Section Chairman Mr T. Q. Matthews welcomed the President of the B.A.C. Mr George T. Gurr who gave a brief address in which he stressed the value of provincial exhibitions and referred to the Liverpool district as the centre of a rapidly growing industrial and chemical area.Mr E. Myer who has been organising these exhibitions annually since the war proposed a vote of thanks to the exhibitors and to the Staff of the College. Only a few of the more outstanding exhibits among those shown by the 17 companies taking part can be mentioned here. One of the main exhibits by J. W. Towers & Co. Ltd. was the automatic distillation apparatus originally designed by the Shell Development Go. This automatically plots a curve of distillate volume against vapour temperature for a pre-selected heat input. Apart from the operator filling the flask and setting the controls everything is automatic and recorded.Noteworthy amongst the remainder of the Messrs Towers & Co. exhibits was the automatic fraction collector designed at the National Institute for Medical Research. This comprised an electrical turn-table carrying a circular rack for 100 collecting tubes arranged in a spiral. The instrument was designed for use with either ion exchange or chromatograph columns. Unicam Instruments Ltd. gave pride of place to their SP500 photoelectric quartz spectrophotometer which can be used for both visible and ultra-violet investigations. This instrument gives rapid identification both qualitative and quantitative by absorption or transmission of light of wave-lengths between 2000-10,000 A. Both the hydrogen discharge lamp and the tungsten lamp are located in the same housing and the change-over from one to another is made by a switch controlling the position of the condensing mirror.Amongst their other exhibits was the SP600 spectrophotometer for visible light only. Messrs A. M. Lock of Oldham had one of the most interesting displays, as evidenced by the persistence of the onlookers throughout the day. As agents and service engineers they were exhibiting on behalf of four organisations. For Evans Electroselenium Ltd. they showed a colorimeter absorptiometer and flame photometer. The last-mentioned is attracting increasing interest for the routine estimation of the alkali metals in solution. For Isotope Developments, Ltd. they showed a widely applicable radioactivity meter for which there will doubtless be a greater demand.On behalf of Loma Electronic Equipment, Ltd. they demonstrated a metal detector for use in industry. Processed foods on a conveyor band may be passed through the detecting head. If a small metal particle is embedded in the product the conveyor is automatically stopped and both visual and audible warnings given. Whilst not exactly laboratory appara-tus this was nevertheless given a great deal of attention. Amongst pH meters shownfor W. G. Pye Ltd. was a compact portable meter at a very competitive price. Griffin & Tatlock now a branch of Griffin & George Ltd. displayed an electrochemical analysis apparatus. This was of improved design with an output of up to 10 amps at 12 volts for speedy and accurate alloy analysis. Another item of interest was the Heywood photoelectric sedimentometer used for particle-size analysis in the sub-sieve range.Baird & Tatlock Ltd. who have recently opened a branch in Manchester, displayed their new Van Slyke gas analysis apparatus. This follows the modern trend in having as much as possible of the apparatus enclosed in a white enamel housing. Opancol Ltd. of London showed a large range of German-made (Lambrecht) hygrometers all based on the fibre-contraction principle. These included instru-ments for automatic humidity control and also for the moisture testing of various materials 19551 NEWS AND NOTES 225 Quickfit & Quartz Ltd. probably had the largest number of exhibits among which were some interesting types of glass stills and equipment for chromatography.Other exhibitors were Townson & Mercer Ltd. H. J. Elliott Ltd. Donald Brown (Brownall) Ltd. The Cygnet Joinery Co. Ltd. Industrial Tapes Ltd., The Laboratory Apparatus & Glassblowing Co. and Research Utilities Ltd. RECENT PUBLICATIONS Biology as a Career.-The Institute of Biology has now prepared a second edition of the booklet bearing this title obtainable from the Institute at Tavistock House South Tavistock Square London W.C. 1 price 2s. 6d. Various minor errors and omissions have been remedied facts have been brought up to date and an appendix listing the biological departments of British Universities and their special fields of study has been added. British Plastics Federation.-Twenty-one years’ history of the British Plastics Federation is briefly reviewed in its Annual Report for 1954.The Federation’s most noticeable achievement the report states has been the expan-sion of its technical work to keep pace with the rapid growth of the industry during the past ten years. In 1943 there were only two technical committees; to-day there are 33 active technical committees and sub-committees and 17 B.S.I. plastics committees. Activities mentioned in the report include the completion of a case in the Science Museum South Kensington illustrating the processing of plastics ; the compilation of a new edition of the Bver’s Guide and a code of practice for anneal-ing polystyrene both shortly to be published ; the Surface Coating Resins Index, just published (see below); and work on the drafting and revision of numerous British Standard Specifications.British Surface Coating Resins Index.-The first comprehensive index of Britkh surface coating resins has been compiled for distribution to the industries concerned. Prepared jointly by the Surface Coating Resin Section of the British Plastics Federation and the Surface Coating Synthetic Resin Manu-facturers Association it gives in 14 tables the basic information on 733 British-made surface coating resins at present available to the paint printing ink and allied trades. The resins are classified according to type and are listed within each classification in alphabetical order by trade names. This 52-page booklet is available from the British Plastics Federation, 47 Piccadilly London W.1 or the Surface Coating Synthetic Resin Manu-facturers Association 79-80 High Holborn London W.C.1 price 3s. (post free). University of Sheffield Jubilee Celebrations.-In connection with the Jubilee celebrations four main blocks of the University buildings will be open to visitors from 28 to 30 April at 2.30 p.m. on each day:-The Western Bank buildings which include those opened in 1905 by His Majesty King Edward VII and house the Faculty of Pure Science, the Faculty of Medicine and the University Library. (2) The new Chemistry Building opened in 1954 in Brookhill. (3) The Applied Science Departments in the University Buildings in St George’s Square. (4) The Department of Glass Technology of which the present building in Northumberland Road was opened in 1939. (1) Glasgow Careers Meetings.-The annual series of careers meetings for senior secondary pupils arranged by the Youth Employment Service of the Corporation of Glasgow Education Department are being held this year in the Hall of the High School of Glasgow Holland Street.In all 36 talks are bein 226 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY [APRIL given of which the following will be of particular interest to those who are thinking of taking up chemistry as a career :-Teaching. 20 April. Mr H. P. Wood Director of Studies Jordanhill Laboratory Technology. 9 May. Mr J. Kirkland o.B.E. Supervisor of Biochemistry. 13 May. Professor J. N. Davidson Professor of Physiological Metallurgy. 13 May. Professor R. Hay Royal Technical College Glasgow. Chemistry. Dr James Bell Assistant Director of the Chemical A warm invitation is extended to boys and girls and their parents.Training College. Apprentice Technician Training Scheme University of Glasgow. Chemistry The University of Glasgow. 18 May. Laboratories UniveIsity of Glasgow. CORRESPONDENCE SPECIAL ALLOWANCES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS SIR,-I note in your March issue page 159 a paragraph headed “Grammar School Teachers New Salary Proposals.” The new Special Allowances are payable in all types of schools providing work of the necessary standard is being done-that is to say above the “0” level of the General Certificate of Education. Work of this standard is done in some Technical Secondary Schools and other schools of a bi- or multi-lateral character. The Education Act of 1944 regards Secondary Education as a unity and the great majority of teachers and I believe Local Education Authorities are opposed to any attempt to divide secondary schools from the point of view of status or salaries of teachers.Secretary, Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions. E. A. SEELEY NEED FOR A GRAMMAR SCHOOLS APPOINTMENTS BUREAU SIR,-About 175 Conference Schools are well served by the Public Schools Appointments Bureau and by their own careers masters who have the opportunity to gain experience and make contacts with industry through the Bureau and its conventions. The Youth Employment Service where it operates a strong Careers Advisory Section for the older leaver (as in London) serves equally the grammar and public schools who wish to use it.Here however the school’s contact is indirect and the Section is the intermediary between the careers masters and industry. In view of industry’s urgent need for increased numbers of recruits it would seem that the best use is still to be made pf all available material in particular of the older leavers from the grammar schools. It is here that an extension of the work of the Public Schools Appointments Bureau might well be considered, by setting up a bureau specifically concerned with improving relations between industry and the grammar schools. The need for such a bureau is apparent in the interest shown by professional engineering bodies in the Arts VIth boy and in the possibility of their making him an engineer if he so wishes. Here the absence of an “0” level in science is often the only stumbling-block to his path-and this would point to the de-sirability of science being taught as an integral part of general education to the end of the Vth form year and as a safeguard for the future in the event of the boy changing his mind about a career.The feasibility of this rests on a sufficiency of science masters on which the Institute and the Federation of British Industries have said much already. A second pointer appeared in a letter published in The Financial Times of 7 January and referred to in this Journal (J. 100). Here it was pointed out 19551 THE REGISTER 227 by the editor of a careers magazine with a free circulation to all grammar and public schools and to the universities that the grammar school is not so well served-indeed if at all in some cases-and that its VIth form boys with those in the public schools are the equal possessors of those qualities of leadership and intelligence that industry greatly needs.The inference to be drawn is that the setting up of a bureau to serve the grammar schools is overdue. Such a bureau would act as a clearing-house for information relating to student apprenticeships and vacancies in industry; of information on trends and future requirements; short works courses films, speakers and relevant literature. It would serve some 1400 grammar schools in the U.K. function largely through their careers masters and justify both their work and itself by a selective and increased recruitment to industry. The professional bodies which maintain the right standards in science recruits to industry and look to the grammar and public schools for their supply, are in a strong in fact a unique position to make the first move to ensuring this adequate recruitment.As an examining body with a membership rapidly approaching 14,000 the Royal Institute of Chemistry with other equally powerful bodies in the engineering professions might well explore the possibilities of such a bureau. Crystal Palace Park Road M. G. CREWE Sydenham S.E.26. THE REGISTER [Bracketed letters indicate Local Sections. For key see page 1671 NEW FELLOWS EVANS Alwyn Gwynne D.SC. PH.D. (P) PAYNE George William B.A. (CAN-MILLER Nicholas B.SC. PH.D. (P) POPJAK George Joseph M.D. (SZEGED) (MANC.) TAB.) ( LOND.) A.R.c.s. D.I.C.ASSOCIATES ELECTED TO THE FELLOWSHIP ANDERSON George (P) PARKER Leslie Frederick John BSC. BROWN Eric Richard F.P.S. (LOND.) PH.D. (BIRM.) COTTAM James BX. (LOND.) (U) UNDERWOOD Ernest Philip B.SC. GAGE John Charles B.SC. PH.D. ( LOND .) (LOND.) (P) WATKINS Ronald Charles B.SC. HALL Charles Edward ( LOND .) HENLEY Eric Douglas B.SC. (LOND.) (SS) WATSON Gordon B.SC. (LOND.) LEE David Claude B.SC. (LOND.) (P) WHITTET Thomas Douglas B.SC. LINDOP Norman B.SC. (LOND.) (LOND.) F.P.S. MAPSTONE George Edward M.SC. (N.Z.) NEW ASSOCIATES ADAMS Gordon Ernest (P) ATKINSON Edmund Philip (N) ANTROBUS Robert John A.R.A.C.I. (P) BAILEY Dennis Raymond BANFIELD Reginald Henry BRAITHWAITE Richard Stanley Wil- (U) BROOKE Malcolm Terence BULMER. Kenneth David (PI A.F.INST.PET.(P) liam B.SC. (R’DG.) (PI id) (C) CASTLEDINE Stanley Albert id) ( SHEFF.) (0) (LOND.) (P) (LOND.) (El (OF) CHATTERJEE Devaprasad B.SC. (BOM- (0) BAY) M.SC. (CALCUTTA) PH.D. (C) (R) CHISNALL Thomas Donald B.SC. (D) CLARCO Arthur Henry BSC. (LOND.) (0) (M) CLARK Frederick William B.SC. (U) COTTAM John Christopher CROSS Kenneth Nelson CRUNDEN Edward Walter hut. DALTON Donald George B.SC. DAVISON Peter Maurice B.SC. (LOND.) DICKINSON Lionel Arthur M.A. DOWNES Alan William DUVALL Ronald DYER Thomas Frederick EVANS Ronald EVANS William Price B.SC. PH.D. FISH Albert Ronald B.SC. (LOND.) FORFAR Alfred GIBSON George GLAS Eugen (LOND.) ( LOND. ) (OXON.) (WALES JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY GOWER David Benjamin GREEN Brian B.SC. (LIV.) GREEN Colin B.SC. (LIV.) GREEN William John B.SC. PH.D. GRICE Clifford George HALL Ronald Gibson HEPWORTH Matthew Arnold B.SC. HOBDEN Joan Frances B.SC. (ADEL.) HODGSON Thomas HOLLINGSHEAD Reginald George William M.A. (OXON.) HONIBALL Alan Edward HUTCHEON John Malcolm BSC. (LOND.) JAMES Brian Percival Harold B.SC. (SOUTH AMPTON) JAMESON Reginald Frank B.SC., PH.D. (LOND.) JONES Alan Patrick BSC. (LOND.) KEMP Eleanor Scott A.H.-W.C. KENNEDY Stanley Wallace BSC., KNIGIIT Peter LEISEGANC Ernest Cecil M.SC. PEI.D. LISTER Leslie LOGAN William Reid B.SC. (GLAS.) LOUGHNA Joseph MAINPRIZE John Henry MESLEY Robert John M.SC. (LOND.) MIDDLETON Arthur John B.PHARhI. PARR-BURMAN Harold Benjamin PATRICK Colin Russell B.SC. PH.D. POMEROY John Anthony George, PORTER Maurice Richard BSC. R HINSON Michael Alan B.A. (OXON.) (LOND.) ( DUNELM.) PH.D. (Q.u.B.) (NATAL) (LOND.) M.P.S. Alastair (BIRM.) B.SC. (LOND.) ( NOTT.) DEATHS Fellows BANNISTER Professor Charles Olden (K) A.R.s.M. M.ENG. (LIV.). Died 22 February 1955 aged 78. F. 1914. MLich 1955 aged 76. -1. 1901, F. 1904. FRANCIS William. Died 27 Febru- (P) ary 1955 F. 1921. GODDEN William B.SC. (LOND.), A.R.C.S. Died 3rd September 1954, CCV-BFR Albert Walter. Died 2 (Q) aged 69. A . 1907 F. 1910. (G) ROOK John Allan Fynes B.SC. (WALES) RUSSELL Harold RUZICKA Joseph Henry Ambrose, B.SC. (LOND.) SIMPSON Anthony James B.SC. (LOND.) SIMPSON Peter SKERRETT John Norton Haigh M.SC. (BIRM.) SOHN Esther Grete B.SC. (RAND.) SOLLY Stanley Roy Butler B.SC. (LOND.) STANNARD Derek Charles Henry, B.SC. (LOND.) STEEL Hugh STOKES Frank Elliott STUFFINS Leslie Norwood SWALLOW David TAYLOR Michael Eric Upcott B.SC. TOMLINSON Leslie B.SC. (LIV.) TOOLE James B.SC. (LOND.) TYSON Norman Gordon WALKER William Norman BSC. WALTERS Deryck John WATTS Theodore B.SC. (LIV.) WEST Antony John B.SC. (LOND.), WHEELER Henry Alfred B.SC. WHITE John Howard B.SC. (LOND.), WILLIAMS Clifford WILLIAMS Frederick Ronald BSC. WILLIAMS Maurice B.SC. (BIRM.) WILLIAMS-WYNN David Ernest YOUNG Laurence Carvan BSC. (LOND.) (LIV.) A.R.C.S. (LOND.) A.R.C.S. (WALES) Arthur B.SC. (s.A.) (LEEDS) HILL John Stableford. Died 31 August 1954 aged 76. A . 1919, F. 1941. JACKSON Stanley Ridings B.SC.TECH. (MANC.). Died 9 March 1955, aged 55. A . 1921 F. 1927. PUGH Professor William PH.D. (CAPE) D.SC. (LOND.). Died 12 March 1955 aged 58. A . 1921, F. 1931. REED Walter William M.SC. (WALES). Died 19 March 1955 aged 69. A . 1908 F. 1911. Associates O'NEILL Thomas Gerard. Died (P) WALKER Charles M.SC. (VET.). 13 February 1955 aged 43. Died 6 March 1955 aged 75. A . 1942. A . 1919

ISSN:0368-3958    

DOI:10.1039/JI9557900169

出版商:RSC    

年代:1955

数据来源: RSC