JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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A CHEMISTRY OF PLASTICS AND HIGH POLYMERS
Patrick D. Ritchie, Head of the Department of Chemisky, Central Technical College, Birmingham, England. CleaverHume Press Ltd., London (Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York); 1949. viii 288 pp. 34 Figs. 14 X 21 om. $4.50.
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Tars is an excellent, well-written hook for the organic chemist or graduate student who desires to acquire a broad knowledge of the subject of high polymers from a hook of moderate size and price. Organic synthesis and structure are kept to the fore with physicochemioal aspects touched only lightly. Assuming the reader to he of graduate level the author steps directly into his subject with little space wasted on introductions. His practice of reducing literature references to a surname and date ((e. g., Jones, 1945) is unsatisfactory hut the generous use of 365 dirtgram and structural formulas is good. I t is not a reference hook, for the author h s rigorously selected his material to illustrate the general principles of high-polymer chemistry. The 61st three chapters (42 pages) contain definitions, functionality theory, and the mechanism and kinetics of polymerization. The next four chapters (87 pages) cover the synthetic polymers with most attention being paid to the structures of the phenolic and the amino resins. Most of the remainder of the book (81 pages) is devoted to natural polymers and their derivatives. These products include proteins, cellulose, lignin, rubber, drying oils, and the plastics made from them. An unexpected chapter on mineral and inorganic high polymers reviews the structure of various forms of carbon and of the silicone resins. This hook fulfills its purpose well. R. W. PLANCK 21W ROBERT E . LEEBLVD. NBW O S ~ A N SL. O ~ B I A N A
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EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICAL CKEMISTRY
Farrington Daniels, Joseph Howard Mathews, John Warren Williams, Professors of Chemistry, Paul Bender, Asmiate Professor of Chemistry, George W. Murphy, and Robert A. Alberty, Assistant Professors of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1949. Fourth edition. xiii 568 pp. 165 figs. 31 tables. 16 X 24 cm. $4.50.
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As those acquainted with the earlier editions know, this is not merely a collection of laboratory directions even though its main purpose is to serve a 3 a laboratory guide. It is divided into two pal&. In Part I are brought together sixty-four experiments of the types most generally selected for the first course in physical chemistry. Preceding the directions for each experiment is a brief hut quite comprehensive discussion of the theory pertinent to it. Since it often happens that insufficient sets of apparatus available to permit all the class to work on the same experiment at one t i e , and that, in consequence, close coordination of laboratory work with class work is impossible, this clarifies the subject for the student and makes the experiment more meaningful to him. Appended to each experiment are suggestions concerning the applicability of the method and also a list of references to both books and original papers. The sixty-four experiments are grouped, according to their main themes, in 6iteen chapters with the following headings: Gases; Opticochemied methods; Thermochemistry; Liquids; Solutions; Homogeneous equilibria; Heterogeneous equilibria; Chemical kinetics; Electric conductance; Electrode phenomena; Electromotive force; Dielectric constant; Colloids; Photochemistry; and Radioactive isotopes and tracers. Part I1 consists of eleven chpters. The first discusses the treatment of experimental data, with reference to units and dimensions, errors of measurement, and the representation of data by graph, tables, and equations. The following eight chapters, discussing physiooehemieal measurements and apparatus in a more general way than in Part I, have the topical headings: Physical properties of gases; Opticochemical measurements; Thermal measurements; Physical properties of liquids and solutions; Electrical measurements; Electronics; Photochemistry; and Isotopes and radioactivity. Chapter 25 deals with the construction of laboratory apparatus, with some information on glass blowing, and Chapter 26, the last, with the purification of water, mercury, and a few other much-used materials; this could he profitably expanded. Physical constants are listed in an appendix. I t is noted that the value of the factday, F,as given hy Dumond and Cohen, has been included; it is the reviewer's impression that the postponement of the acceptance of this value pending results of further investigations now under way was advised by those authors. It is also noted, regretfully, that the authors adhere to the we of H+ as the formula of the hvdroeen ion. The aeceotrtnce of HzO', the proluhly vornvt fmnula, is Ireroming more general in the lrss advanrrd cuur~rsand might given rrriow consirleration by the authors of more advanced texts. The book is an excellent one and a must for all chemistry libraries. It is replete with suggestions valuable t~ workers in many fields of chemistry. Although larger than most laboratory manuals it is the eort of boak the students should he encouraeed to keep for later reference. ~~
FEWhmka on our rhernlitry shelf come so richly endowed iu authwAip, iwth quarrtit;~tivelyand qualitatively, ar thL%popular and et~ndxrdl;,l,oralorv trxt. To the original thrce authors who produced the first editibn twenty-one years ago three more have been added. All are on the staff of the University of Wisconsin. The stated purposes of the book are "to illustrate the principles of physical chemistry, to train in careful experimentation, to develop familiarity with apparatus, and to encourage ability in research!' These aims should he amply attained by the serious users of thia clearly written, well-arranged, and comprehensive presentation of c&fully selected exper&ts.
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WILLIAM B. MELDRUM
E ~ ~ r ; s ~Cobmas oao HAVERPORD, P~N.~LVANIA
