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Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Chemical Society, Vol. 4, No. 51 |
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Proceedings of the Chemical Society, London,
Volume 4,
Issue 51,
1888,
Page 41-50
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摘要:
ABSTRACTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THR CHEMICAL SOCIETY. No. 51. Session 1888-89. March 28tth, 1888. Annual General Meeting. Mr. W. Crookes, F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The President delivered an address, of which the following is an abstract :-The number of Fellows of the Society is 1571, of whom 37 are honorary foreign members. Eleven Fellows have died during the year :-Prof. C. L. Bloxam ; J. B. Boussingault (foreign member) ; Patrick Duffy ; J. J. Field; .A. M. Graham ; Prof. T. S. Humpidge ; James Millar; A. Muter; H. H. MacMunns; W. B. Ritchie; Dr. Arthur Phillips ; (3. B. Sweetiiig ; and A. E. Wilson. 11 Fellows have withdrawn :-L. M. Deaiie ; H. W. Eve; G. F. Dowdeswell ; G. Gladst,one ; Hugh R. Mill; Ed. Packard ; T. A. Rickard; B.M. F. Rogers; C. A. Stitt; J. E. Tuit; and J. C. Wright. 36 Fellows have been removed on account of arrears :-Harry Allen ; A. W. Bickerton ; G. E. Barker ; Dr. H. C. Bartlett ; Benjamin Browning; G. E. Basu; C. N. Betts ; T. J. Barr; R. D. Courtney; Thomas Donnelly; W. T. H. Elsey ; H. W. Fenner; Wm. Fox; Thos. Gibbs ; G. A. George ; Chas. Gillett ; W. E. Heathfield ; E. A. Harris; Edwin Lapper ; R. T. Mntthews ; Alexr. Noble ; Arthur. Ness; 0.Davies Owen; J. A. Ogilvie; Thos. Palmer; Matthew Percy; J. Schweitzer; Sidney Trivick ; Rev. W, G. Whittam ; and Wm. Wilson. 116 Fellows have been elected during the year, including 7 honorary foreign niembem. There are 88 original Papers, occupying 871 pages, in the 1887 volume of the Transactions, as against 85 Papers of 865 pages in the 1886 volume.The Abstracts this year occupy 1159 pages, as against 1088 in 1886. The number of Abstracts is 2277, as aghinst 2164-the average of the five years preceding. 108 Papers have been commu- nicated to the Society during the session-10 fewer than iu the previous session ; but not a few have been of exceptional interest and value, a number of important questions having been brought forward for discussion: this view is confirmed by the fact that the Transac- tions contain a greater number of Papers than in any previous year. The Longstaff Medal has been awarded by the Council to Dr. W. R. Perkin, F.R.S., in racognition of the importance of his researches on the magnetic rotatory polarisation of compounds in relation to their chemica#l constitution.The President said that he was sure the Society would cordially join with him in congratulating Dr. Longstaff that, although he is near the ere of his 89th birthday, he is still hale and hearty, and in expressing the hope that he may long be spared. In bestowing the medal he remarked:- “It is not often that an opportunity such as that which has fallen to DF. Perkin’s lot is so fully made use of, and that one who has been engaged in industrial pursuits undertakes a research of such magnitude as that of which Dr. Perkin first gave an account to the Society in 1884 (Trans., pp. 421--579), and which it is know11 has since wholly engaged his attention.” The cost of publishing the Transactions and Abstracts during the past year has been no less $21 16.It is to be expected, said the Presi- dent, that as the number of Papers offered to the Society multiplies-as it surely will-and as the number of Papers to be abstracted augments, the cost will become even greater. Our publication is of such supreme importance to chemical science in this country, that the Society is not likely to shrink at necessary expenditure. But he felt impelled to refer to a question which ere long must be seriously considered, not only by us, but by scientific societies generally, viz., how far it is desirable that the same Paper should be published in more than one Journal. Our bye-laws only provide that authors shall not be at liberty, save by permisfiion of the Council, to publish in English the papers they have communicated to the Societyuntil such Papers, or abstracts of them, have either appeared in the Journal or have been returned to the writer.It must be taken for granted in this time OF culture that a paper published in English, French, or German is thus made known to the entire scientific world, and, in the case of a Paper published in full in one of these three languages, it is unnecessary to give triple repetitions ; an abstract of the essential facts, observations and conclusions would be all sufficient. Some such curtailment will probably find favour, not only as a means of diminishing the cost of publication to individual societies, but also because it will put an end to the grievance undoubtedly felt by subscribers to scientific journals, OF paying more than once for the same set of facts.With pci.haps two inconiplete exceptions, we have not witnessed 43 clnring the past session the dawn of ally epoch-making, far reaching discovery which opens out new and tempting prospects of truth. The two exceptions are the researches of Kruss and Nilson, and the mathematical discussions of spectra by Professor Grunwald ; these latier seem at least to foreshadow the conclusion that hydrogen, oxygen, ca,rbon and magnesium are not simple bodies but compounds, and if the phenomena admit of no other explanation, and if no iinexpected source of error be detected, we may consider ourselves to be within measurable distance of a truly new chemistry. But here time must decide.The President next drew particular attention to tphs tardy justice accorded to Mr. J. A. R. Newlands by the award of the DavS Medal of the Royal Society ; and he referred to the action taken by Professor Prankland in bringing about the recognition of Mr. Newlands’ claim to be the discoverer of the periodic law. After remarking on the evils arising from the system of competi- tive examinations, and after deploring the action taken by the London University in making chemistry an optional subject at the Matriculation examination -by certain of the licensing bodies of the medical profession in allowing preliminary training in natural science to be obtained elsewhere than iu a college or school with recognised facilities-and by the mi1itar.y authorities in ha,ndicapping the study of physical science, the President then proceeded to direct attention to the possible existence of bodies which are not elements in the strictest sense of the word-bodies which he terms meta-elements.No one doubts that oxygen, chlorine, sulphur and sodium are ele- ments ; even cobalt and nickel, near as they are to each other, are not denied separate elemental rank-although had solutions of their com- pounds presented identical colours it may he doubted whether their distinct nature would even now have been recognised. But on passing to the rare earths, the difficulcy of arriving at a decision is very great, as in the case of Neodymium and Ptmeodymium: between which there may be said to be no well marked chemical difference-- their chief claim to separate individuality being slight differences in basicity and crystallising power-though their physical distinctions a,s shown by spectrum observations are very marked.The majority of chemists probably would admit these two bodies within the charmed circle : but whether in so doing they would be able to appeal to any broad principle is an open question ; and liaving once ad-mitted them, how in justice can the elemental bodies or meta-elements made knowu by Kruss and Nilson-which exhibit well iiiarked spectral differences-be excluded 2 In the same category are to be included the numerous separate bodies into which yttrium, erbium, samarium and ot,her " elements '.coniinouly so-called have been, and are being split up. What then is the criterion of an element? Where shall the line be drawn ? What is to be said when the only chemical difference is an almost imperceptible tendency of the one member of a couple or group to precipit,ate before the other; or when the chemical differences reach the vanishing point, though well-marked physical differences still re- main ? Is there no way out of the difficulty-must the elementary exaniinstiori either be made so stiff that only nome 60 or 70 candidates can pass, or must the examinatlion doors be opened so wide that the number of admissions is limited only by the number of applicants ? The real difficulty encountered by any un-limited multiplication of elements arises from the periodic theory, a theory which is so abundantly verified that we cannot lightly accept any interpretation of phenomena which fails to be in accordance with it.But if the usual conception of an element be modified, and for element we read " elementary group," such elementary groups being put into the places of the old elements in the periodic scheme, the difficulty is no longer felt. Let it be said, for example, that the sma,llest ponderable quantity of yttrium is an assemblage of ultimate atoms almost infinitely more like each other than they are to the atoms of any approximating element, but not all absolutely alike among themselves; that the atomic weight which we ascribe to yttrium, in fact, represents a mean value around which the weights of the individual atoms of the " element " range within certain limits.Ifthis conjecture be tenable, could we separate atom from atom, we should find them varying within very narrow limits on each side of the mean. The very process of fractionation implies the existence of such diflerences in certain bodies. Afr. CROOKESthen proceeded to discuss at length the meaning of the phenomena presented on fractionation, and also the processes of elemental evolution. Then, after quoting various statements of Clerk- Maxwell relating to our conceptions of molecules, among others, the passage-" Our molecules are unalterable by any of the processes which go on in the present state of things, and every individual of each species is of exactly the same magnitude, as though they had dl been cast in the same mould like bullets, and not merely selected and grouped according to their size, like small shot," he went on to say :-" I think it evident that the statements referred to, some of which involve no small amount of assumption, no longer accord with facts, foy we actually do find variations between the properties of certain molecules which heretofore had been pronounced ident'ical with each other.Take the case of yttrium. It has its definite atomic weight; it behaves in every respect as a simple body, an element, to which we 45 may indeed add, but from which we can not take away. Yet this yttrium, this supposed homogeneous whole, on being submitted to a certain process of fractionation is resolved into portions not absolutely identical among themselves, and exhibiting a gradation of properties.Or taking the case of didymium: here was a, body betraying all the recognised characters of an element. It had been separated with much difficulty from other bodies which approximated closely to it in their properties, and during this crucial process it had undergone very severe treatment and very close scrutiny. In short, until lately we might have said of it just what Clerk-Maxwell sap of hydrogen, that the equality which we assert to exist between the molecules of didymium applies to each individual molecule, and not merely to the average of groups of millions of molecules.But then came another chemist, who, treating this assumed homogeneous body by a peculiar process of fractionation, resolved it into the two bodies praseodymium and neodymium, between which certain distinctions are perceptible. Further, we even now have no certainty that neodymium and praseo- dymium are simple bodies. On the contrary, they likewise exhibit symptoms of splitting up. Now if one supposed element on proper treatment is thus found to comprise dissimilar molecules, we are surely warranted in asking whether similar results might not be obtained in other elements, perhaps in all elements, if treated in the right way? We may even ask where the process of sorting-out is to stop ? a procees which o€ course presupposes variations between the individual molecules of each species.And in these successive sepa- rations we naturally find bodies approaching more and more closely to each other. Dr. Auer von Welsbach, the discoverer of neodymium and praseodymium, remarks that these bodies " approximate more closely to each other than any two supposed simple bodies yet known." Thus we approach nearer and nearer either to a regular gradation in the molecules or to the recognition of those intermediate links, which I have named "meta-elements." The conditions of elementary evolu- tion were then discussed with reference to a periodic scheme modified from that of Prof. Emerson Reynolds, and the President then termi- nated his address thus :-" In this fashion, gentlemen, it seems to me that the great question of the elements may be provisionally treated.Our slender knowledge of these first mysteries is extending steadily, surely, though slowly. Whilst certain ardent chemists are testing the commonly received view of the homogeneity of the elements by methods of fractiona'tion, others, by means of the spectroscope, aTe carrying on another form of assault; each worker bent on the one idea of undermining the secret. I earnestly recommend such researches. However successfully pursued, they cannot, 1know, lead directly to any results capable of being turned to industrial account. 46 If,however, we consider the small but firm foothold we have gained in pursuit of this line of investigation, I venture to think there is reasonable ground to hope that these researches may tend to place chemistry upon a new foundation, by penetrating down through loose, superficial matter to the solid rock.” ‘‘ The application of tlhe luminous principle of evolution has remodelled and vivified many branches of biology ; and philosophers are eagerly invoking its aid in other depa,rtments of science ; I would fain hope that I may not be deemed unduly sanguine in believing that the application of this regenerating principle to chemistry will produce far-reaching effects on its harmonious and progressive development.’’ Dr.Gladstone then moved that thanks be given to the President for his address, and that he be requested to allow it to be printed.The motion was seconded by Dr. Atkinson, and carried with acclama- tion. The President having replied, the Treasurer, Dr. Russell, gave an account of the financial condition of the Society. The receipts by admission fees and subscriptions had been $3158 ; by sale of Journal, $351 11s. Id. ; by dividends on invested capital, $317 125. 9d. ; the whole income being $3896 2s. 1.Od. The expenses on account of the Journal had been $2116 10s. 4d.; on account of the Abstracts of Proceedings, $140 15s. 5d. ; on account of the Library, $365 7s. 10d. ; the total expenditure being $3194 1s.4d. $300 had been invested in Metropolitan Board of Works 34 per cent. stock, and there was a balance in hand of $2672 19s. 3d. Dr. Stevenson moved that the thanks of the Society be tendered to the Treasurer for his services during the past session; Mr.3. A. R. Newlands seconded the motion. Dr. Russell acknowledged the vote. A vote of thanks to the auditors was proposed by Professor Rarnsay, seconded by Mr. Friswell, and acknowledged by Professor Dunstan. Mr. Heaton proposed a vote of thanks to the Officers and Council ; the vote was seconded by Professor Dunstan, and acknowledged by Dr. Armstrong. Professor Cloaes moved that the thanks of the Society be tendered to the Editors, Abstractors, and Librarian for their important services during the year. Dr. Plimpton seconded the motion. Mr. Groves and Dr. Thorne replied. Messrs. Heron and Jackson having been appointed scrutators, a ballot was taken, and as result the following were declared elected as Officers and Council for the ensuing session :-President : W.Crookes, P.R.S. Vice-Presidents who have~filled the ofice of President : Sir F. A. Abel, C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S.; Warren de la Rue, D.C.L., F.R.S.; E. Frank- 47 land, D.C.L., F.R.S. : J. H. Gilbert, Ph.D., F.Rl.S.; 5.H. Gladstonc, Ph.D., F.R.S.; A. W. Hofmann, D.C.L., F.R.S.; H. Muller, Ph.D., F.R.S.; W. Odling, M.B., F.R.S.; W. H. Perkin, Ph.D., F.R.S.; Sir Lyon Playfair, Ph.D., K.C.B., F.R.S. ; Sir H. E. Roscoe, LL.D., F.R.S. ; A. W. Williamson, LL.D., F.R.S. Vice-Presidents : G. Carey Foster, F.R.S. ; David Howard ; J. W. Mallet, M.D., F.R.S. ; H. McLeod, F.R.S. ; Ludwig Mond ; C. Schor-lernmer, Ph.D., F.R.S. Secretaries : H.E. Armstrong, Ph.D., F.R.S. ; J. Millar Thornson, F.R.S.E. F’oyeign Secyetary : F. R. Japp, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. Tyeasurer : W. J. Rassell, Ph.D., F.R.S. Ordinary Mem,hers of Council: Messrs. T. Carnelley, D.Sc. ; A. H. Church ; Frank Clowes, D.Sc. ; Wyndham Dunstan: P. F. Frank-land, Pb.l).; R. J. Friswell; Charles W. Henton; E. Kinch; H. IF. Norley, M.A.; R. T. Plimpton, Ph.L>.; Thomas Purdie, B.Sc. ; W. Ramsay, Ph.D. April 5th, 1888. Mi-. W. Crookes, F.R.S., President, in the Cliair. Messrs. Sidney Skinner, Arthur W. Clayden and T. A. Elwood were formally admitted Fellows of the Society. Certificates were rend for the first time in favour of Messrs. John Campbell Fell, 15, Granby Street, N.W. ; Albert Harrison, 66, Osborne Boad, Forest Gate, E.; Egbert Grant Hooper, 24, Bloomfield ‘l’errace, Ruckingham Palace ltoad, S.W. ; John Hughes, 3, West Street, Finsbury Circus ; Henry James Kirkman, London Alkali Works, Swansea ; William Parsons, 5, EarIsrnead Road, South Tottenham, N. ; Henry Charles Reynolds, 8, The Avenue, Clifton, Bristol ; Frank Goodell Wait, University of Toronto, Canada. The following Papers were read:- 27. “Researches on the Constitution of Azo-and Diazo-derivatives. 111. Compounds of the Naphthalene /$-series.” By It. Meldola, Y.R.S., and P. J. East. The authors describe the action of nitrous acid on the azo-corn-pounds produced from the diazotised nitranilines and p-naphthyl-ttmine. The prcducts vary according to the mode of operating: if the nitroazo-compound be dissolved in a large quantity of acetic acid and sodium nitrite be added to the cold solution, a diazo-compound is formed, which decomposes normally on boiling the solution, thus :- 48 NO,.C,H,.N2.CloH,.N2.OH = NOz.CsH4*N2*CloH6*OH+ N2.If less acetic acid be used and the temperature be not allowed to exceed 60-70" at any stage of the operation, tlhe change is of a different character, the acetic acid itself taking part : NO',.C,H4.N,*CloH,.NH2+ 2C2H30*OH -i-NaN02 = NO,.C6H,.N,.C,,H,.OC,H,O + N2 + C2H,0*ONa. The details of the methods are given in the paper. The authors propose to make a specid study of this last interaction, which promises to be of general application as a means of displacing NH, by -O-C,H30. Metanitrobenzenazo-/3-naphthyl acetate melts at 161-1 62O, and the corresponding paranitro-compound at 192-193".The authors have also found that the acetyl-derivatives of the azo-p-naphthol compounds can be obtained by direct acetylation by long boiling with acetic anhydride and anhydrous sodium acetate. Metanitrobenzeneazo-6-naphthyl acetate thus prepared is identical with that, obtained from the corresponding p-naphthylnmiue-com- pound by means of the diazo-compound and acetic acid in the manner described. Benzeneazo-P-naphthyl acetate prepared by the acetyla- tion of benzeneazo-/?-naphthol forms orange scales melting at 117". A det,ailed exaniiriation of the products of complete reduction of the acetyl- and alkyl-derivatives is in progress. The authors refrain from expressing any view as to the constitution of the naphthalene p-azo- compounds till more experimental evidence has been obtained ; but point out in conclusion that the present evidence indicates distinctly the presence of hydroxyl and amidogen in the P-oxyazo- and P-amido- azo-compounds of naphthalene respectively.28. "The Action of fineIy divided metals on solutions of ferric salts, and a rapid method for the titration of the latter." By D. J. Carnegie, B.A. Ferric salts, whether in aqueous or acid solution, are very rapidly, indeed almost instantaneously, reduced to ferrous salts by shaking with zinc-dust. The author describes ;I simple, very accurate, and very expeditious modification of the method for determining ferric salts by titration with permanganate, founded on this observation.The author considers that the zinc directly reduces the ferric salt, Fe2C16Aq+ Zn = ZnC12Aq + Fe2C14Aq. If acid is not present some of the iron is precipitated partly as ferrous and partly as ferric hydroxide. Many other finely divided metals, besides zinc-dust, effect the reduction of' ferric chloride ; in erery case examined the heat of for-mation of the chloride of the metal is greater than the negative value of the thermal change accompanying the passage from Fe2C& to Fe2C14. 49 DiscussIoN. Professor RAMSAYremarked that he had for some years past em-ployed zinc-dust instead of granulated zinc or zinc-foil to effect the reduction of ferric salts.When ferric salts are reduced by stannous chloride, the excess of reducing agent can readily be removed by the addition of mercuric chloride to the solution previous to titration with bichromate. Mi,. CARNEGIEstated that the use of powdered zinc had been sug- gested some years ago by Brown ; the reduction, however, took place in the presence of acid, and was not a direct dechlorinating process such as that referred to in the paper. ADDITION8 TO THE LIBRARY. I.Donations. The Increase in the Produce of the Soil through the Rational Use of Nitrogenous Manures, by P. Wagner. Translated by G. G. Hender-son. London 1888. From the Translator. A Manual of the Geology of India. Part IV, Mineralogy, by F. R. Mallet.Calcutta and London 1887. From the Author. Collection des Anciens Alchimistes Grecs, par M. Berthelot. Paris 1887. From the Author. Ueber Paranitroso-diphenylamine,von M. Ikuta. Erlangen 1888. (Pnmpldet.) From t,he Author. Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Control of the New York Agricultural Experimental Station ; for the year 1887. New York 1888. From the Board. 11. By Purchase. Die Technologie der Fette und Oele des Pflanzen und Thier-reichs, von C. Schaedler. Leipzig 1883. Die Thiophengruppe, von Victor Meyer. Braunschweig 1888. Kurzes Handbuch der Kohlenhydrate, von B. Tollens. Breslau 1888. Die Mikrophotographie, von P. Jesserich. Berlin 1888. Des emplois chimiques du bois dans les Arts et l’hdustrie, par 0. Petit. Paris 1888.A Treatise on Earthy and other Minerals and Mining, by D. C. Davis. London 1888. Practical Treatise on Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils, by W. T. Brannt. Philadelphia and London 1888. 50 Experimental Researches in Chemistry and Physics, by M. Faraday. London 1859. A Course of Six Lectnres on the Chemical History oE a Candle, by M. Faraday. Edited by W. Crookes. London 1861. The Subject-Matter of a Course of Six Lectures on the Non-metallic Elements, by M. Faraday ; arranged by J. Scoffern. London 1853. On the Various Forces of Nature and their Relation to each other, by M. Faraday. Edited by W. Crookes, London. Aluminium, its History, Occurrence, Properties, Metallurgy, and Applications, including its alloys, by J. W. Richards. London 1887. -______ -NOTICE TO AUTHORS OF PAPERS. To facilitate the preparation of the abstract accounts of the Pro-ceedings at the meetings of the Society, all authors are requested to furnish abstracts of their communications, and to send their papers SO that they may bc in the hands of the Secretaries, if possible, on the Monday before the day of meeting. Authors are also requested to write on their papers the address to which they wish proofs to be sent. At the next meeting on Apid 19tjh, the following paper will be read :-" The influence of temperature on the composition and solubility of hydrated calcium .sulphate and of calcium hydroxide." By W. A. Shenstone and J. Tudor Cundall.
ISSN:0369-8718
DOI:10.1039/PL8880400041
出版商:RSC
年代:1888
数据来源: RSC
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