(1) Catalysis with special reference to Newer Theories of Chemical Action: A General Discussion held by the Faraday Society (2) Some Physico-Chemical Themes (3) The Theory of Allotropy (4) Colloid Chemistry of the Proteins (5) Laboratory Manual of Colloid Chemistry (6) Atomic Form: with Special Reference to the Configuration of the Carbon Atom

Abstract

(I) THE Faraday Society's general discussion on L “Catalysis with Special Reference to Newer Theories of Chemical Action “was apparently arranged in view of the simultaneous presence in England of Prof. Perrin, Dr. Irving Langmuir, and Prof. Arrhenius. The first session of the discussion dealt with the radiation theory of chemical action and the second session with heterogeneous reactions, and these form Parts I. and II. of the report. The discussion on the radiation theory (which postulates that chemical action is due to radiation and that its velocity is proportional to the prevailing radiation-density) was characterised by two dramatic incidents. Prof. Lindemann pointed out that, if the original form of the radiation theory were correct, the inversion of cane sugar must be determined by the density of radiation of wave-length 1.05 μ; on this basis, the inversion should proceed 50 billion (5 × 10¹³ times more rapidly in sunlight than in the dark), whereas actually the acceleration is almost negligible. Following up this criticism, Dr. Langmuir said that the radiation theory “has all the characteristics of the typical unsuccessful hypothesis,” since it has been made progressively more complicated, as successive attempts at verification have failed. Probably no theory has ever been put forward in which discrepancies of such magnitude have appeared, and it is at least a sign of courageous optimism that the authors should still hope to bring it into line with facts.

(1) Catalysis with special reference to Newer Theories of Chemical Action: A General Discussion held by the Faraday Society.

(Reprinted from the Transactions of the Faraday Society, Vol. 17, Part 3, May.) Pp. 545–675. (London: The Faraday Society, 1922.) 9s. net.

(2) Some Physico-Chemical Themes.

By Prof. A. W. Stewart. Pp. xii + 419. (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1922.) 21s. net.

(3) The Theory of Allotropy.

By Prof. A. Smits. Translated from the German with the Author's sanction, by Dr. J. Smeath Thomas. (Text-books of Physical Chemistry.) Pp. xiii + 397. (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1922.) 21s. net.

(4) Colloid Chemistry of the Proteins.

By Prof. Dr. W. Pauli. Translated by P. C. L. Thorne. Part I. Pp. xi + 140. (London: J. and A. Churchill, 1922.) 8s. 6d. net.

(5) Laboratory Manual of Colloid Chemistry.

By Prof. H. N. Holmes. Pp. xii + 127. (New York: J. Wiley and Sons, Inc.; London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1922.) 10s. net.

(6) Atomic Form: with Special Reference to the Configuration of the Carbon Atom.

By E. E. Price. Pp. iv + 140 + viii. (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1922.) 5s. net.