New-York tribune., 1901-01-06
IT HAS BEEN BUILDED INTO SCIENCE BY THE WORK
THE LAST THREE GENERA 7YONS.
by PROFESSOR CHARLES AVERY DOREMUS d, Ph D,
Chemistru Phgsics College Of The City Of Neo-York

) avery DOhEnOS, Ii. D.r IH ~,
ge of the City Of Ne0-YOrk.
sible and actual forms is produced unequalled
/ yet by the combination of any other two
elements. When oxygen is added to them the
system expands and includes a multitude of
well known substances, such as the groups OF
starches, sugars fats alcohos and ethers When
nitrogen enters with the foregoing we have the
essentials of those proteid bodies common to all
living organisms.
Daltons crude symbolism of differently colored
balls to represent carbon, hydrogen and other
, elements gave way to structural formula
Though fad for time, formula worship has
given way to more concrete ideas, based on
molecular structure and crystallOgraphic FORM
Quartz crystals differ from each other as do
right and left handed gloves. IL is the relation
, of object and image. The earlier observations
of Blot the influence of such crystals on the
rays of pOlarized light We're further elucidated
by the researches of Pasteur on the tartarlc
acids, and with this a beginning there has
arisen study of the grouping of the atoms in
space. 1t has been said that most people think
in two, some in three, dimensions. but none in
four" Chemistry has emerged from the for
mulse spread on a plane surface to the concep-
tiOns of stereo or three dimension chemistry
The aSymetric carbon groups of the sugars ap-
pear to impart the rotary powers which charac-
teriZe them.
Substitution" or the possibility of replacing
elements o. groups of elements by means of
other elements or groups in compounds, thereby
producing new substances has been the means
of extending the list OF compounds into the
thousands. The processes of condensation and
nolymerization enable the chemist to rival the
architect in his ability TO build complex struct-
ures from simple forms. Thus six carbon sugar
is producible from one carbon atom formal
dehyde.
Observing nothing but motion in all about
him, the chemist. though he may be called a
visionary, ascrbes motions TO the atoms within
the molecule. Many groups are in unstable
equilibrium, as the atoms in ozone, acetylene
and nitrOglycerin. In the tautomeric COM
pounds there seems to be a transitional change
in the position whereby the substance assumes
different properties at different times. This
spontaneous shifting of position is like the
movements of a comet in a solar system where
the periodic alterations lend varying character
to the whole
THE MOVEMENTS OF ATOMS
The development Of the theory of heat as
mode of motion; the study OF the thermal re-
lations of the elements to one another in all
chemical changes: the relations CT chemical sub
stances TO the motion call light the
influence Of excessive heat in modifying chemical
affinities, the absence OF heat. or. we say,
cold. on the extinction Of chemical change-all of
these and other experimental data have paved
the way TO the acceptance on the part OF many
chemists of the advanced views of the migratory
movements of the atoms both within and with
out the molecule. The study OF the dissertation
of gases. of the ionzation OF compounds in un-
GergOing solution. and their behavior in osmo-
sis and electrolysis lend further experimental
proof OF this incessant, vibratory alteration OF
relative position The devotees of physical chem
istry, such of them. at least, who are the eX-
affirm that matter Is collection OF energies
In space" and attempt 20 elucidate chemical and
physical phenomena from this standpoint.
That chemical reaction is accompanied by def
inite thermal changes was determined about the
middle of the century The facts thus ascer-
tanned. together with those resulting from the
experimental and theoretical studies of physi-
cists on the equivalence OF heat TO mechanical
work have led TO the creation Of special field
known mo-chefaistry
Faraday's experiments the liquefactiOn of
gases have resulted in even hydrogen being
turned 20 a liquid. Many substances hitherto
used gases commodities as liquids.
Elements such fiuorin. rarely met with in a
free state, have been isolated in quantity. The
allOtrOpism OF the elements has shown how
phosphorus may be made TO lose it's spontaneous
infiammability and it's poisonous character; how
silver may be converted into a gold colored
metal; how charcoal may be made TO glisten in
the form Of diamond
PRACTICAL USES OF CHEMISTRY.
To Americans the practical has generally had
a greater charm than the ideal. except in Ma
tonaI politics. Let us consider the services of
chemistry TO arts and manufactures While
recognizing the advances made in Europe. our
theme may be illustrated by instances taken
from country.
The Hatch act of 1887 provided for the estab-
lishment by the National Government of the
most complete and efficient system for the pro-
motion of agricultural chemistry in the world
In 1899 there We're fifty-sx experiment stations
in full running order, requiring the services OF
oiS skilled scientists. and having income of
S1.1S3,OoO for the prosecution of the work
These stations published 445 annual reports and
bulletins in that year. This is the chief depart
ment or applied chemistry. for us, at least who
are the purveyors of the world in foodstuffs
live stock and of vegetable and animal products
not thus classified The territory of the I,ouis-
lana Purchase, first thought useless has in its
wheat fields. by the aid OF the reaping machine
and the guidance of the science of agriculture
become one of the sources of our National pros
perity. In the forties Lebig's experimental work
in Germany was spread far and wide by our
Government publications Fertilizers such as
ammonium sulphate, potash and the phosphates
We're then described.
The Florida Purchase has since become i'm it's
great beds of fossil phosphate, a source of
the fertilizers for the Northwest In Europe
blast furnace Stag has been used successfully
The byproduct coking ovens of Alabama and
Tennessee are giving nitrogen as ammonia
The potassium salts must continue to inn
port from the Stassfurt mines until we discover
a natural supply at home.
BENEFITS TO AGRICULTURE
Soils have been critically studied during the
last decade. Barren tracts haye been made
fertile through irrigation Equally worthless
swampy lands have been redeemed by subsoil
plants to absorb nitrogen directly from the at
mosphere. The danger of famine as a result
of the exhaustion of the nitre beds is no longer
nightmare. Chemical manufacturers are culti-
waiting the nitrfying bacteria for the incubation
of unfruitful soils.
The ability TO fatten stock for market in one
half the former time has justified the expendi-
lures for elaborate feeding experiments. The
respiration calorimeter has enabled the Division
of Chemistry TO study the food of man and sug-
lieturlcS Food fera+ iap will