Jerome Alexander

      Colloid Chemistry deals with the properties and behavior of matter in a certain very fine state of subdivision or dispersion, known as the colloidal condition. There are no sharp limitations to the size of colloidal particles ; they cover a zone which begins with dimensions somewhat smaller than a wave length of light, and extends downward into the dimensions commonly ascribed to molecules.

      The laws of � universal gravitation � do not hold for particles of matter in extremely close proximity. We have but to mention cohesion, adhesion, capillarity, adsorption, and chemical attraction, to call to mind the wide range of practical variations from Newton�s law.  Molecular attraction necessitated the introduction by van der Waals of the variable a in his well-known gas equation²

[not reproduced here — (WPT)]

With the increasing subdivision of matter into smaller and still smaller particles we begin to enter the zone wherein �molecular� or �physical� forces begin to play an increasingly important part, until they finally become dominant. If the subdivision is profound enough, chemical combination may result.   In fact before substances can react chemically, their particles must first be brought into close proximity by solution, fusion, ionization, or even pressure, as was shows by W. Spring, who caused dry powders to unite chemically by extremely high pressures.

No sharp line can, therefore, be drawn between physical and chemical forces ^[*] ; for they seem to blend into each other over the colloidal zone, and to exhibit differences in degree and modification, rather than in lack of common origin. In fact it is readily conceivable that such forces may result from the same ultimate cause as gravitation itself, modified when the structure and motion of the particles cease to be negligible infinitesimals with reference to the distance between the particles. Sir William Thompson has indeed expressed the opinion³ that it is possible that the phenomena of cohesion and others which are ordinarily ascribed to a departure, at small distances, from the law of gravitation, may not be inconsistent with it.

      ^* The distinction is merely verbal. — (WPT 13 Jan 05).

Coarse powders or suspensions, on the other hand, upon increasing subdivision, pass by insensible gradations into the colloidal zone. About 1827, the English biologist Robert Brown observed that particles approaching in size the limit of microscopic resolvability . . . exhibit an oscillatory movement about a mean position, known as the Brownian motion. With the aid of the ultramiscroscope . . . it can be seen that as the particles become  . . . smaller . . . their motion increases enormously in both speed and amplitude, until they exhibit a rapid free-path motion     (etc).

From what has just been said, it is obvious that no substance is a colloid, per se, but that any substance may be reduced to the colloidal state or condition, providing it is sufficiently subdivided or dispersed.   (Etc.)

Although modern investigation has modified some of the notions originally entertained it is interesting to give a few extracts from the work of Thomas Graham, F. R. S., Master of the Mint. In two basic papers, the first entitled �liquid diffusion Applied to Analysis� read before the Royal Society of London, June 13, 1861, the second entitled �on the Properties of Colloidal Silicic Acid and other Analogous Colloidal Substances,� published in the Proceeding of the Royal Society, June 16, 1864. Graham pointed out the essential facts regarding colloids and the colloidal condition, and established much of the nomenclature now in use. It is remarkable how recent research has confirmed the correctness of most of Graham�s views.

(Etc.)

      ¹ Pres., Uniform Adhesive Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.
      ² This equation is intended to care for the departures from Boyle's law for gas.   (Etc.)
      ³ Proc. Roy. Inst., Vol. 11, part III, p. 483. Liddell pp 765ff.

 

 

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Jerome Alexander correspondence, 1908-1953. Descript .4 linear foot (1 box) Restricted Apply in Special Collections Office. [NYPL] Summary Collection consists of correspondence, 1880-1953, primarily letters exchanged with chemists and physicists, including many Nobel Prize winners, concerning their contributions to Colloid Chemistry: Theoretical and Practical. Correspondents include Mario Ascoli, W. Bancroft, W.M. Bayless, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir William Henry Bragg, Sir William Lawrence Bragg, C. Bridges, A.H. Compton, P. Debye, Albert Einstein, H. Eyring, W.B. Harvey, H.B. Jennings, Alfred Korzybski, E.O. Lawrence, W.J. Mayo, R.A. Millikan, G.B. Pegram, W. Ramsey, A.B. Searle, T. Svedberg, E.C. Urey, E.B. Wilson, and Richard Zsigmondy. Bio/hist. Jerome Alexander (1876-1959) was the pre-eminent American scientist in the field of colloidal chemistry, the study of substances neither in suspension nor solution, which was pertinent to many other areas of chemistry. In addition to translating a seminal work in the field, Richard Zsigmondy's Colloids and the Ultra-Microscope, he wrote Colloid Chemistry (1919), and edited and contributed to Colloid Chemistry: Theoretical and Practical, the seven-volume standard work in the field. He also published poetry and essays. Subject Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Colloids. Chemistry, Physical and theoretical. OCCUPATION Chemists. Add'l name Ascoli, Mario. Bancroft, Wilder D. (Wilder Dwight), 1867-1953. Bayless, W. M. Beaverbrook, Max Aitken, Baron, 1879-1964. Bragg, William Henry, Sir, 1862-1942. Bragg, William Lawrence, Sir, 1890-1971. Bridges, C. Compton, Arthur Holly, 1892-1962. Debye, Peter J. W. (Peter Josef William), 1884- Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955. Eyring, Harden Romney. Jennings, H. B. Korzybski, Alfred, 1879-1950. Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958. Mayo, William James, 1861-1939. Millikan, Robert Andrews, 1868-1953. Pegram, George Braxton, 1876-1958. Ramsey, William, Sir, 1852-1916. Searle, Alfred B. (Alfred Broadhead), 1877-1967. Svedberg, Theodor, b. 1884. Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893- Wilson, E. Bright (Edgar Bright), 1908- Zsigmondy, Richard.
{New York Public Library]

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Glue and gelatin / by Jerome Alexander. Publisher Ann Arbor, Mich. : University Microfilms, 1977. Description 236 p. : 2 ill. ; 23 cm. Language English Note Reprint of the 1923 ed. published by the Chemical Catalog Company, New York, which was issued in the Monograph series of the American Chemical Society. Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Life, its nature and origin. Publisher New York : Reinhold Pub. Corp., 1948. Description vii, 291 p. illus. 24 cm. Language English Note Includes "References."

Author Alexander, Jerome, 1876- Title Colloid chemistry; principles and applications. Publisher New York, D. Van Nostrand company, inc., 1937. Description xviii, 505 p. illus., fold. tab., diagrs. 24 cm. Language English Note Bibliography: p. 455-460.

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Mathematical imagery and physical phenomena, by Jerome Alexander. Publisher [New York, N.Y. : Yeshiva College, 1936] Description 139-145 p. plate. 25 cm. Language English Note Detached copy from Scripta mathematica, v. 4, no. 2. April, 1936.

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Colloid chemistry; principles and applications, by Jerome Alexander. Publisher New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc. [c1929] Description x, 270 p. illus., diagrs. 23 cm. Series Industrial chemical monographs Language English Note Bibliography: p. 251-252.

Author Alexander, Jerome, 1876- Title Colloid chemistry, theoretical and applied. Publisher New York, Chemical Catalog Co., 1926-51. Description 7 v. illus. 24 cm. Language English Note Vols. 5-7 have imprint: New York, Reinhold publishing corporation. Contents v. 1. Theory and methods.

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Colloid chemistry, theoretical and applied. [Papers] by selected international contributors Publisher New York, Chemical Catalog Co., 1926- Description v. illus. 24 cm Language English Note Vols. 5-6 published by Reinhold Note Includes bibliographies Contents v. 1. Theory and methods.--v. 2. Biology and medicine.--v. 3-4. Technical applications.--v. 5. Theory and methods. Biology and medicine [new materials].--v. 6. General principles and specific industries. Synthetic polymers and plastics.--v. 7. Theory and methods. Biology and medicine. Technological applications

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Colloid chemistry, an introduction, with some practical applications, by Jerome Alexander... Publisher London, Chapman & Hall, 1925. Description viii, 208 p. illus. 21 cm. Language English Note Bibliography: p. 195-196.

Title Industrial chemistry : a manual for the student and manufacturer / edited by Allen Rogers ... in collaboration with Jerome Alexander, [et alia]. Publisher New York : D. Van Nostrand company, 1925. Description 2 v. [xx, 1287 p.] : ill., diagrs. (part fold.) ; 25 cm. Language English Note Paged continuously. Note Bibliography at end of some of the chapters. Contents Vol. 1. Inorganic. -- Vol. 2. Organic.

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Colloid chemistry, an introduction, with some practical applications, by Jerome Alexander... Publisher New York, D.Van Nostrand company, 1924. Description viii, 208 p. illus., pl.,diagrs. 21 cm. Language English Note Bibliography: p. 195-196.

Author Alexander, Jerome, b. 1876. Title Glue and gelatin, by Jerome Alexander ... Publisher New York, The Chemical Catalog Company, Inc., 1923. Description 236 p. front., 1 illus. 24 cm. Series American Chemical Society. Monograph series. Language English Note Bibliographical foot-notes.

Author Alexander, Jerome, 1876- Title Colloid chemistry, an introduction, with some practical applications. Publisher New York, D. Van Nostrand company, 1919. Description v, 90 p. illus., diagrs. 18 cm. Language English Note Bibliography: p. 85-86.

Author Zsigmondy, Richard. Title Colloids and the ultramicroscope; a manual of colloid chemistry and ultramicroscopy, by Dr. Richard Zsigmondy ... authorized translation by Jerome Alexander. Publisher New York, J. Wiley 1914. Description xiii, 245 p. illus., plates (2 fold.) tables (l fold.) 21 cm.

Author Zsigmondy, Richard Adolf, 1865-1929. Title Colloids and the ultramicroscope; a manual of colloid chemistry and ultramicroscopy, by Dr. Richard Zsigmondy ... authorized translation by Jerome Alexander, M.SC. Publisher New York, J. Wiley & Sons; [etc., etc.] 1909. Description xiii, 245 p. illus., plates (2 fold.) tables (1 fold.) 21 cm. Language English