580 DAVID L. WEBSTER. IJ. F. I.

If physics is the study of inanimate things, then it is the study of

things, and not of numbers; and if things choose not to lend
themselves to numerical analysis, that does not mean they are
not worth studying. And airplanes, as noted at the beginning of
this paper, are not the only inanimate things that sometimes make
this choice. If things as they are can be understood best by
correct analyses of a few typical subjects., quantitatively where
things lend themselves to quantitative work, and qualitatively
but rigorously elsewhere, then let us change our courses to make
such analyses.

Caking of Salts.-This phenomenon has been studied by T.

MARTIN LOWRY (Chen~ical Trade Journal and Chemical Engineer,
1920, lxvi, 2g7--2g8). Marked caking of ammonium nitrate may
occur when the crystals are dried in a commercial drier, or when
the molten salt containing a small per cent. of moisture is poured
at a temperature slightly above the melting point of the dry salt;
distinct caking may take place if the milled salt be left under
slight pressure all night. A change in the crystalline form of the
salt liberates inclosed moisture which then cements the tiny par-
ticles. Mechanical disintegration may liberate moisture and
thereby produce caking, but to a lesser extent. In an edge-
runner mill, the moisture evaporates as rapidly as it is released
by milling, and therefore has but slight effect ; consequently, seri-
ous caking does not occur. The following compounds m’ay
undergo caking: Sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, cupric ni-
trate, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potash alum,
Rochelle salt, soda ash, common salt, borax, sodium sulphite,
sodium hydrosulphite, sodium phosphate, citric acid, and tartaric
acid. Certain directions are given for the prevention of caking:
“ Care should be taken to reduce to a minimum the number and
amount of soluble impurities; when possible, the substance
should be left in large crystals, as the fewer the number of points
of contact, the smaller will be the tendency for the material to
bind together; when a finer product is required the mo,st satis-
factory way of supplying it is in minute unground crystals;
when a substance is specially required in a finely powdered form,
there should be careful drying, with agitation after grinding; as
far as possible the drying should be carried out at low tempera-
tures; substances should not be packed hot unless all traces of
moisture have been removed; steps should be taken to maintain
a dry atmosphere during packing; care should be taken to pre-
vent access of moisture to the substance after packing; and cak-
ing may,be minimized by keeping the temperature as constant
as possible during storage ” J. S. H.