THE

COLUMN T h e Committee on Analytical

Reagents of the American Chemical Society has recently re­leased the fourth edition of "Rea­gent Chemicals." Previous editions of this valuable volume appeared in 1950, 1955, and 1960. Informa­tion in the new book becomes of­ficial effective December 1, 1968. The new edition offers significant

changes over the 1960 version, the most basic of which is the addition of 38 new reagents and the dele­tion of only one. Greater empha­sis has appropriately been placed on reagents that are important for the proper and effective use of many instrumental methods.

I t may be surprising to previous users of this book, but a significant amount of information that in­volves new research is "hidden" in some of the recommended proce­dures. In fact, many of the mem­bers of the present committee offer the services of their laboratories for checking the procedures before they are adopted.

Committee members, many of whom are prominent analytical chemists, meet twice a year at Washington ACS headquarters to discuss the many details that are necessary for adopting new proce­dures, discussing old ones, and pre­paring for subsequent publication of the results of their delibera­tions.

History of the Analytical Reagents Committee

It is interesting to trace back to the beginnings of the standard pro­cedures for testing reagent chem­icals, because it is essentially a story of the American Chemical Society's role in advancing the state of laboratory science in this cen­tury.

COLEMAN 40 R-F REACTOR

will prepare samples for microscopy, elemental

analysis, radio chemistry, and reaction chemistry

...all by itself! R-F ashing at low temperature with the Coleman Model 40 Reactor is the ideal way to prepare samples for analysis. It's simple, clean and safe. Molecular oxygen is the only reagent required. Organic content is removed without loss of volatile elements, without reagent con­tamination and without danger of fire or explosion. The low tempera­ture preserves mineral patterns and cell structures. R-F ashing is the most practical method of preparing samples for microscopy. Organic matter is removed from skeletal substructures revealing inorganic details which cannot be observed by other pre­paratory systems. The R-F Reactor has been used successfully to improve analyses based on mass spectrometry, atomic absorption, emission spectroscopy, neutron activation, UV and IR spectrophotom­etry and conventional "wet" methods. For complete information or a demonstration, write . . . W. H. Curtin & Company, P.O. Box 1546, Houston, Texas 77001.

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253 Circle No. 125 on Readers' Service Card

VOL. 40, NO. 11, SEPTEMBER 1968 · 1 0 9 A

EDITORS'

CURTIN

EDITORS' COLUMN

The first ACS Committee on the Pur i ty of Chemical Reagents was formed in 1903. Although the com­mittee managed to wield sufficient influence to improve the quality of reagents and to discourage mis­labeling, the group was essentially disbanded around 1915, without ever having issued any official pub­lished materials . However, ACS members continued to register con­cern over the purity of materials, so the Committee on Analyzed Reagents was formed in 1917; this group later evolved into the fore­runner of the present Committee around 1924.

"Reagent Chemicals" and the chemistry contained therein is of part icular importance to analytical chemists. Because of this, the ed­itors of ANALYTICAL CHEMISTEY

have agreed to publish supplemen­ta ry material for the fourth edition when the material is made avail­able by the committee. Announce­ment of the availabili ty of supple­mentary material will be made at the appropriate time.

SPACE PROGRAM

In the March 1968 issue (page 125A), the editors touched briefly on the activities of the Technology Utilization Division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra­tion, and made two other points: (1) where does the analytical chem­ist stand as regards feedback from space technology, and (2) what con­tributions are analytical scientists making to the space program?

Some authori tat ive answers to these questions have appeared, in part , in the booklet "Analytical Chemistry Instrumentat ion—A Survey," prepared for the Technol­ogy Utilization Divison of NASA. Although only those developments through par t of 1966 are covered, an excellent overview is given to the activities and developments in, and contributions to, the space program by analytical scientists. The book­let is available, for 60 cents, from the U. S. Government Printing Of­fice, Washington, D. C. 20402.

Pick the spectral response that up-grades your instruments RCA Photomultiplier Tubes broaden your selection of sensitivity and wavelength

1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 7,000 Î.000 9,000

Nomina l Diameter,

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inches S-11

Nomina l Diameter,

inches S-20

Nominal Diameter,

inches Bia lkal i

1/2 Side-on

RCA-8571 1V2 Head-on

RCA-4460, -7764,-7767

?4 Head-on

RCA-8644, -8645 1V2

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RCA-4516

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RCA-

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RCA-2060, -2067, -4438, -4439, -4440, -4441,-4441 A, -4461,-6199

IV2 Bulb Dormer

Window Side-on

RCA-4526* 1'/2

Head-on

L- - .. -

2

Head-on

RCA-4517

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1P21, -931A, -4471, -4472, -4473, -6472,

2 Head-on

RCA-2020, -2061, -2062, -2063, -5819,-6342A,-6655A, -6810A, -7264, -7746, -7850, -8053

2 Head-on

RCA-4459, -4463, -7265,-7326

1'/2 Head-on

L- - .. -

2

Head-on

RCA-4518, -4523, -8575 11/2

Side-on

-7117 3

Head-on RCA-2064B, -8054

3 Head-on

4464 3 Head-on

BCA-4524

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5 Head-on

RCA-2065, -8055

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4465 5

Head-on RCA-4522, -4525

"Modified S-20 spectral response.

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Circle No. 164 on Readers' Service Card RCA VOL. 40, NO. 11, SEPTEMBER 1968 · 1 1 1 A

100

8

6

4

2

10'

8

6

4

2

1

8

6

4

2

0.1

< ε ι '> 'vi C ω ω

Bialkali on 7740 glass

S-11

S-4

S-20

S-4

Bialkali on 0080 glass S-11

Wavelength—angstroms 5,000 6,000