PREFACE .

The effect of high temperatures on the absorption spectra of nonaqueous

solutions was worked out in the Johns Hopkins University and published
in monograph No. 160 . By means of a form of apparatus devised by Dr .
Strong , this work has now been extended to aqueous solutions and the
results are herein recorded .
Our previous the absorption spectra of solutions , which has now
work on
been in progress continuously for eight years , had shown that the effect of
dilution on absorption spectra is much less than had hitherto been supposed .
A form of apparatus and method of procedure were worked out by Professor
Anderson , one of my former coworkers in this field , and this method has been
applied , with unusual skill , by Dr. Guy , to the effect of dilution on absorp
tion spectra . The results that he has obtained are also recorded in this
monograph .
The grating spectrograph as a means of studying absorption spectra
has now supplanted the prism spectroscope. The grating spectrograph ,
however , has its limitations . The results are photographed . This means
that the method is limited to the range of the photographic plate . This is ,
for the best plates, from about 0 . 2u to 0 .84 . It is , however , very desirable
to study absorption spectra in the region of wave -lengths which are much
greater than 0.84 . For this purpose , some method had to be devised which
did not make use of the photographic plate . The radiomicrometer was the
obvious instrument to use , if it could be built sufficiently sensitive and at
the same time with sufficiently short period . This has been accomplished
by Dr. Guy .
With this instrument the absorption
spectra of a number of salts have
already been mapped ,
and some surprising results have been obtained in
reference to the relative absorption of free water as compared with water
of hydration .
me pleasure to express our thanks to Dr. E . J. Shaeffer , who has
It gives
assisted in making the radiomicrometer readings during the second half
of the past year , and who has also aided in the chemical work . Dr. Shaeffer
will continue the work on the absorption spectra of solutions , using the
are

. We
for

radiomicrometer indebted especially

Professor Pfund
to

H
A
.
.

valuable suggestions and for frequent advice during the

of

large number
,
a

this week Ames has kindly placed ample space

of

progress Professor
S
.

J.
.
for

our disposal carrying out this investigation

at

.
am

deeply grateful the Carnegie Institution Washington for

to

of
I

aid

financial carrying out this entire work and publishing the results
in

in
,

monographs Nos
60

obtained Without this aid the work recorded

in
,

,
, .

.
110

130

and herein could not have been done

,

160
.

HARRY JONES
C
.

257926