How to determine omitted units in a publication












9












$begingroup$


I have found a 1954 paper in J. Am. Chem. Soc. which gives various temperatures in degrees but does not specify units.



A snippet of the introduction is:
Snippet of article introduction




Titanium reacts appreciably with fluorine above 150°…




If I were feeling charitable, I might excuse the "units are for wimps" attitude as reflecting a commonly understood standard for that publication at that time. Perhaps my searching was poor, but I couldn't find an ACS standard or style guide for the 1950s era.



Given the location and time, I would guess that the temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit, but I can't be sure they're not Celsius. Is there any reasonable way to determine which units the authors were actually using?



I don't have access to the full paper, just the first page at the link below.



Haendler et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc.1954, 76 (8), pp 2177–2178
DOI 10.1021/ja01637a038










share|improve this question











$endgroup$

















    9












    $begingroup$


    I have found a 1954 paper in J. Am. Chem. Soc. which gives various temperatures in degrees but does not specify units.



    A snippet of the introduction is:
    Snippet of article introduction




    Titanium reacts appreciably with fluorine above 150°…




    If I were feeling charitable, I might excuse the "units are for wimps" attitude as reflecting a commonly understood standard for that publication at that time. Perhaps my searching was poor, but I couldn't find an ACS standard or style guide for the 1950s era.



    Given the location and time, I would guess that the temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit, but I can't be sure they're not Celsius. Is there any reasonable way to determine which units the authors were actually using?



    I don't have access to the full paper, just the first page at the link below.



    Haendler et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc.1954, 76 (8), pp 2177–2178
    DOI 10.1021/ja01637a038










    share|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      9












      9








      9


      2



      $begingroup$


      I have found a 1954 paper in J. Am. Chem. Soc. which gives various temperatures in degrees but does not specify units.



      A snippet of the introduction is:
      Snippet of article introduction




      Titanium reacts appreciably with fluorine above 150°…




      If I were feeling charitable, I might excuse the "units are for wimps" attitude as reflecting a commonly understood standard for that publication at that time. Perhaps my searching was poor, but I couldn't find an ACS standard or style guide for the 1950s era.



      Given the location and time, I would guess that the temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit, but I can't be sure they're not Celsius. Is there any reasonable way to determine which units the authors were actually using?



      I don't have access to the full paper, just the first page at the link below.



      Haendler et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc.1954, 76 (8), pp 2177–2178
      DOI 10.1021/ja01637a038










      share|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      I have found a 1954 paper in J. Am. Chem. Soc. which gives various temperatures in degrees but does not specify units.



      A snippet of the introduction is:
      Snippet of article introduction




      Titanium reacts appreciably with fluorine above 150°…




      If I were feeling charitable, I might excuse the "units are for wimps" attitude as reflecting a commonly understood standard for that publication at that time. Perhaps my searching was poor, but I couldn't find an ACS standard or style guide for the 1950s era.



      Given the location and time, I would guess that the temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit, but I can't be sure they're not Celsius. Is there any reasonable way to determine which units the authors were actually using?



      I don't have access to the full paper, just the first page at the link below.



      Haendler et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc.1954, 76 (8), pp 2177–2178
      DOI 10.1021/ja01637a038







      temperature reference-request units






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Apr 12 at 10:44









      andselisk

      19.7k665128




      19.7k665128










      asked Apr 12 at 9:18









      AndyWAndyW

      238110




      238110






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          9












          $begingroup$

          These are degrees Celsius.



          To prove that, you could search JACS for the publications of the same year/issue for the temperature-related physical constants such as melting point:




          • Douglas et al. [1] lists m.p. of $ce{LiF}$ as $pu{848 ± 1 ^circ}$, whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{845 °C}$.

          • Yankwich et al. [2] lists m.p. of malonic acid as $pu{140 ^circ}$ whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{135 to 137 °C}$.


          You may find further examples, but even at this point it's fairly obvious what those temperature units are.



          References




          1. Douglas, T. B.; Dever, J. L. Lithium Fluoride: Heat Content from 0 to 900°, the Melting Point and Heat of Fusion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (19), 4826–4829. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01648a016.

          2. Yankwich, P. E.; Promislow, A. L. Intramolecular Carbon Isotope Effect in the Decarboxylation of Liquid Malonic Acid Near the Melting Point. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (18), 4648–4651. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01647a050.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            6












            $begingroup$

            I don't see an easy way to determine this, without e.g. cross-referencing the data to some other source. However, maybe noteworthy is the fact that the next article in the journal (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (8), 2178–2179) is written by the same first author, H. M. Haendler. In that article, there is a table giving temperatures in degrees Celsius. It stands to reason that the author would have consistently used the same units in consecutive publications.



            As a side note, a tip to access old ACS papers which are two pages long: You can get the first page free from the link you have, and the second page free from the link to the article immediately after it. (The first page of the next article being, of course, the second page of the previous article.)






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              I like your trick! I mean tip.
              $endgroup$
              – James Gaidis
              Apr 12 at 13:02










            • $begingroup$
              @orthocresol: Good point. Yet, I'd say those 2-page papers are either notes or communications, to make it technically correct. :-)
              $endgroup$
              – Mathew Mahindaratne
              Apr 12 at 19:19












            Your Answer








            StackExchange.ready(function() {
            var channelOptions = {
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "431"
            };
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
            createEditor();
            });
            }
            else {
            createEditor();
            }
            });

            function createEditor() {
            StackExchange.prepareEditor({
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
            convertImagesToLinks: false,
            noModals: true,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: null,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            imageUploader: {
            brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
            contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
            allowUrls: true
            },
            onDemand: true,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            });


            }
            });














            draft saved

            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchemistry.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f112594%2fhow-to-determine-omitted-units-in-a-publication%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown

























            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            9












            $begingroup$

            These are degrees Celsius.



            To prove that, you could search JACS for the publications of the same year/issue for the temperature-related physical constants such as melting point:




            • Douglas et al. [1] lists m.p. of $ce{LiF}$ as $pu{848 ± 1 ^circ}$, whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{845 °C}$.

            • Yankwich et al. [2] lists m.p. of malonic acid as $pu{140 ^circ}$ whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{135 to 137 °C}$.


            You may find further examples, but even at this point it's fairly obvious what those temperature units are.



            References




            1. Douglas, T. B.; Dever, J. L. Lithium Fluoride: Heat Content from 0 to 900°, the Melting Point and Heat of Fusion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (19), 4826–4829. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01648a016.

            2. Yankwich, P. E.; Promislow, A. L. Intramolecular Carbon Isotope Effect in the Decarboxylation of Liquid Malonic Acid Near the Melting Point. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (18), 4648–4651. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01647a050.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$


















              9












              $begingroup$

              These are degrees Celsius.



              To prove that, you could search JACS for the publications of the same year/issue for the temperature-related physical constants such as melting point:




              • Douglas et al. [1] lists m.p. of $ce{LiF}$ as $pu{848 ± 1 ^circ}$, whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{845 °C}$.

              • Yankwich et al. [2] lists m.p. of malonic acid as $pu{140 ^circ}$ whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{135 to 137 °C}$.


              You may find further examples, but even at this point it's fairly obvious what those temperature units are.



              References




              1. Douglas, T. B.; Dever, J. L. Lithium Fluoride: Heat Content from 0 to 900°, the Melting Point and Heat of Fusion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (19), 4826–4829. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01648a016.

              2. Yankwich, P. E.; Promislow, A. L. Intramolecular Carbon Isotope Effect in the Decarboxylation of Liquid Malonic Acid Near the Melting Point. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (18), 4648–4651. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01647a050.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$
















                9












                9








                9





                $begingroup$

                These are degrees Celsius.



                To prove that, you could search JACS for the publications of the same year/issue for the temperature-related physical constants such as melting point:




                • Douglas et al. [1] lists m.p. of $ce{LiF}$ as $pu{848 ± 1 ^circ}$, whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{845 °C}$.

                • Yankwich et al. [2] lists m.p. of malonic acid as $pu{140 ^circ}$ whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{135 to 137 °C}$.


                You may find further examples, but even at this point it's fairly obvious what those temperature units are.



                References




                1. Douglas, T. B.; Dever, J. L. Lithium Fluoride: Heat Content from 0 to 900°, the Melting Point and Heat of Fusion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (19), 4826–4829. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01648a016.

                2. Yankwich, P. E.; Promislow, A. L. Intramolecular Carbon Isotope Effect in the Decarboxylation of Liquid Malonic Acid Near the Melting Point. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (18), 4648–4651. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01647a050.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                These are degrees Celsius.



                To prove that, you could search JACS for the publications of the same year/issue for the temperature-related physical constants such as melting point:




                • Douglas et al. [1] lists m.p. of $ce{LiF}$ as $pu{848 ± 1 ^circ}$, whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{845 °C}$.

                • Yankwich et al. [2] lists m.p. of malonic acid as $pu{140 ^circ}$ whereas currently Wikipedia lists $pu{135 to 137 °C}$.


                You may find further examples, but even at this point it's fairly obvious what those temperature units are.



                References




                1. Douglas, T. B.; Dever, J. L. Lithium Fluoride: Heat Content from 0 to 900°, the Melting Point and Heat of Fusion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (19), 4826–4829. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01648a016.

                2. Yankwich, P. E.; Promislow, A. L. Intramolecular Carbon Isotope Effect in the Decarboxylation of Liquid Malonic Acid Near the Melting Point. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (18), 4648–4651. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01647a050.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Apr 12 at 10:40









                andseliskandselisk

                19.7k665128




                19.7k665128























                    6












                    $begingroup$

                    I don't see an easy way to determine this, without e.g. cross-referencing the data to some other source. However, maybe noteworthy is the fact that the next article in the journal (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (8), 2178–2179) is written by the same first author, H. M. Haendler. In that article, there is a table giving temperatures in degrees Celsius. It stands to reason that the author would have consistently used the same units in consecutive publications.



                    As a side note, a tip to access old ACS papers which are two pages long: You can get the first page free from the link you have, and the second page free from the link to the article immediately after it. (The first page of the next article being, of course, the second page of the previous article.)






                    share|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      I like your trick! I mean tip.
                      $endgroup$
                      – James Gaidis
                      Apr 12 at 13:02










                    • $begingroup$
                      @orthocresol: Good point. Yet, I'd say those 2-page papers are either notes or communications, to make it technically correct. :-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mathew Mahindaratne
                      Apr 12 at 19:19
















                    6












                    $begingroup$

                    I don't see an easy way to determine this, without e.g. cross-referencing the data to some other source. However, maybe noteworthy is the fact that the next article in the journal (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (8), 2178–2179) is written by the same first author, H. M. Haendler. In that article, there is a table giving temperatures in degrees Celsius. It stands to reason that the author would have consistently used the same units in consecutive publications.



                    As a side note, a tip to access old ACS papers which are two pages long: You can get the first page free from the link you have, and the second page free from the link to the article immediately after it. (The first page of the next article being, of course, the second page of the previous article.)






                    share|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      I like your trick! I mean tip.
                      $endgroup$
                      – James Gaidis
                      Apr 12 at 13:02










                    • $begingroup$
                      @orthocresol: Good point. Yet, I'd say those 2-page papers are either notes or communications, to make it technically correct. :-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mathew Mahindaratne
                      Apr 12 at 19:19














                    6












                    6








                    6





                    $begingroup$

                    I don't see an easy way to determine this, without e.g. cross-referencing the data to some other source. However, maybe noteworthy is the fact that the next article in the journal (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (8), 2178–2179) is written by the same first author, H. M. Haendler. In that article, there is a table giving temperatures in degrees Celsius. It stands to reason that the author would have consistently used the same units in consecutive publications.



                    As a side note, a tip to access old ACS papers which are two pages long: You can get the first page free from the link you have, and the second page free from the link to the article immediately after it. (The first page of the next article being, of course, the second page of the previous article.)






                    share|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$



                    I don't see an easy way to determine this, without e.g. cross-referencing the data to some other source. However, maybe noteworthy is the fact that the next article in the journal (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76 (8), 2178–2179) is written by the same first author, H. M. Haendler. In that article, there is a table giving temperatures in degrees Celsius. It stands to reason that the author would have consistently used the same units in consecutive publications.



                    As a side note, a tip to access old ACS papers which are two pages long: You can get the first page free from the link you have, and the second page free from the link to the article immediately after it. (The first page of the next article being, of course, the second page of the previous article.)







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Apr 12 at 10:47

























                    answered Apr 12 at 10:42









                    orthocresolorthocresol

                    40.4k7117247




                    40.4k7117247












                    • $begingroup$
                      I like your trick! I mean tip.
                      $endgroup$
                      – James Gaidis
                      Apr 12 at 13:02










                    • $begingroup$
                      @orthocresol: Good point. Yet, I'd say those 2-page papers are either notes or communications, to make it technically correct. :-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mathew Mahindaratne
                      Apr 12 at 19:19


















                    • $begingroup$
                      I like your trick! I mean tip.
                      $endgroup$
                      – James Gaidis
                      Apr 12 at 13:02










                    • $begingroup$
                      @orthocresol: Good point. Yet, I'd say those 2-page papers are either notes or communications, to make it technically correct. :-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mathew Mahindaratne
                      Apr 12 at 19:19
















                    $begingroup$
                    I like your trick! I mean tip.
                    $endgroup$
                    – James Gaidis
                    Apr 12 at 13:02




                    $begingroup$
                    I like your trick! I mean tip.
                    $endgroup$
                    – James Gaidis
                    Apr 12 at 13:02












                    $begingroup$
                    @orthocresol: Good point. Yet, I'd say those 2-page papers are either notes or communications, to make it technically correct. :-)
                    $endgroup$
                    – Mathew Mahindaratne
                    Apr 12 at 19:19




                    $begingroup$
                    @orthocresol: Good point. Yet, I'd say those 2-page papers are either notes or communications, to make it technically correct. :-)
                    $endgroup$
                    – Mathew Mahindaratne
                    Apr 12 at 19:19


















                    draft saved

                    draft discarded




















































                    Thanks for contributing an answer to Chemistry Stack Exchange!


                    • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                    But avoid



                    • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                    • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                    Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                    To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function () {
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchemistry.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f112594%2fhow-to-determine-omitted-units-in-a-publication%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                    }
                    );

                    Post as a guest















                    Required, but never shown





















































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown

































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown







                    Popular posts from this blog

                    Plaza Victoria

                    Puebla de Zaragoza

                    Musa