ICAL ANALYSIS. THE USE OF AMERCURY CATHODE IN ELECTROCHEM-BY EDGAR F. SMITH.Received J u n e 26, 1~03.THE suggestion of precipitating metals in the form of amalgams was first made (181%) by Wolcott Gibbs,l who described a new scheme for the electrolytic determination of metals, before the National Academy of Sciences, in which scheme he recommended weighing out in a small beaker a definite amount of metallic mercury which was, by means of a platinum wire, connected with a battery and made the cathode, while in the salt solution, contained in the beaker, was suspended a strip of platinum, serving as the anode. The currents used varied greatly in strength. Salts of mercury, tin and cobalt were apparently decomposed, their respective metals being precipitated upon or in the mercury cathode. QuantitatiGe results do not appear. The author of this method believed that possibly sodium and potassium might be separated in this manner and Professor H u n t remarked that the "process came with the beauty and force of a revelation."

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The deposit of metal was in each instance beautiful, light gray in color, metallic, and perfectly adherent. The arsenic existed in the solution as a sulpharsenate = (0.2000 gram of arsenic). Universityof Pennsylvania.[Contribution from the John Harrison Laboratory of Chemistry, No. 99.] THE USE OF THE ROTATING ANODE AND MERCURY CATHODE IN ELECTRO-ANALYSIS.

From the first crystallization, 8. 5 kilograms. From the second crystallization, 3. 4 kilograms. From the third crystallization, 2. z kilograms. From the fourth crystallization, I 5 kilograms (crystals A)

Stannous chloride found. Stannous chloride theory. Gram. Gram.

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Men-overshadowed, neglected, forgotten-are found in all walks of life. In the great Guild of Chemists they are numerous. One conversantwith the volumes devoted to the history of this science will experience no difficulty in naming, in an off-hand manner, those whose achievements are recorded and whose praises are sung. The group of the "forgotten" contains many whose life-work has been most commendable. A few of these are here presented. Would that the hundreds of others could be called in at the same time.These several pictures had never been seen until recently by the writer. It was on prowling about through early chemical publications-journals and text-books-that they were brought to light. Their discovery was the reward of this exceedingly worthwhile thing, viz., a study of early chemical literature. Attention has been directed to it as one means of evoking an interest in the history of chemistry. To review the work of such pioneers is fascinating. It enables one to seize upon the personal * Delivered at the Los Angeles meeting of the A. C. S. under the title, "Neglected Chemists.

THE ELECTROLYTIC DETERMINATION OF nOLYBDENUM. BY LILY GAVIT KOLLOCK AND EDGAR F. SMITH. Recehed July 5. rgor ORE than twenty years ago Smith,' in describing his ex-M perience in the electrolysis of solutions of ammonium molybdate, wrote : l ' The deposition, although complete, was so very slow that this method of determination was practically of little value." During the last few months attention has again been given in this laboratory to the subject. Sodium molybdate (Na2Mo0,.2H,O) was dissolved so that 0.1302 gram of molybdenum trioxide was present in 125 cc. of solution, which was exposed for several hours to the action of a current of 0. I ampere and 4 volts. The temperature of the electrolyte was 75' C. No ~IOLYBDENUM-SULPHUR RATIO. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. A COMPARISON O F THE SOLUBILITY OF ACETYLENE AND ETHYLENE.