The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-23
THE THIRD PARTY
CAUSES A STIR.UP
MYSTERIOUS ACTION IN CHEMIs-
TRY CALLED "CATALYSIS.o
Important Feature in Modern Manu-
featuring Founded on Something Not
Yet Understood-All Ferments Are
Catalysts.
New York Globe.

There are some people who irritate
one by their mere presence, who, with
out doing anything Of which just COM
plant can be made, rapidly generate
state of internal ebullition out OF all
proportion to its cause. The unpleas-
ant action of these telepathic nuisances
is described as psychological effect.
A simi1a-. phenomenon of the inorganic
world has been for a long time known
to chemists under the name OF cata-
lysis.
In the current issue of Harper
Magazine, Professor R. K Duncan, the
chemist of Washington and Jefferson
college, describes this remarkable
branch Of chemistry. and points out
how rapidly it is becoming an impor-
tant feature of modern manufacturing.
To bring out the vast difference be
tween the ordinary chemical reaction
and catalytic action, he uses the fol-
lowing illustration:
On one corner is an Italian with a
cart of peanuts, on the other boy with
nickel. Bring the two together! 1t
the boy is hungry and likes peanuts, in
chemical phrase, if he has an affinity
for the peanuts, there is a reaction
which results in combination of the
Italian with the cents and the boy
with the peanuts. This might be rep
teocAteu SIdpu1Cdily do 4olloWs. !edt
ian) (peanuts) plus iboy) (niekel)
(peanuts). Substitute some ordinary
compounds for the above elements and
you have typical chemical reaction.
When we consider catalysis, however,
no such beautiful simplicity prevails.
Some Of it's results are almost as re-
markable, says Professor Duncan, as If
by throwing a pound of salt into the
bay at the Battery, we could immediate,
ly dissolve off the map the whole of
Manhattan Island. Obviously such &C.
tiou is very remarkable.
Two substances lie side by side for
years, paying no attention to one an
others adjacency. Suddenly third
appears on the scene. It touches the
others, and, wonder Of wonders, each
Immediately manifests a frantic inter
est in his neighbor, which finally results
in the appearance OF one or several new
compounds. The third substance, or
in size and quantity, takes no part In
the reaction, and remains unchanged
after it is all over. Its action might
| be likened to the opening Of door
| between two rooms or the construction
of a bridge over previously lmpassa-
BILE stream. But as a matter of fact
these are nothing but the widest OF
guesses, and no zone knows how cata'
lyst achieves it's miracles. Catalysis is
still one of the mysteries Of chemistry
Despite, ignorance of it's modus oper
andi. catalysis is very largely used to-
day in various chemical manufacturing
processes. All ferments are catalysts
The commercial manufacture of many
/ chemicals now depends on catalytit
processes. Artificial indigo and bleach
ing power are among it's products: One
! Of the newest and most interesting Oh
these is said by Professor Duncan tt
have just been placed on the market
in Germany. It consists OF contact
method Of photographic printing, with
out sunlight, known as the, catatype ,.
process. Both Professor Duncan anc
the German chemist Ostwald predict the
most far-reaching changes in technology
as result of the applications of cata
i lvsis. "a.a +@