Recent Books A Handbook of Elementary Chemistry for Students of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. J.C.Arrrx,M.S.,D.D.S.,M.D.,Pharm.D., Professor of Chemistry and Toricolo~yin the Medical and Pharmaceutical Departments of Temple University. Second edition, thoroughly revised. One volume. Illurtrated. Lea & Febiger. Philadelphia and New York, 1926. aiv 247 PP. 23 figures. I0 tables. 13 X 20 cm. $3.00.
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As stated in the preface, this book "is not intended in any way t o displace the larger or more complete works on chemistry. It is planned for the pvpil and those studenh who wish t o complement or supplement other works and t o be, ar the title implies, a handy little reference book to be used in grasping or aequiriog a foundation and working knowledge of the science. Too much is oft- expected of the beginner. If the average graduate is well grounded in chemistry and a t the end of his college course has mastered the alphabet of the science or has a goad working basis of i t he i n then in a position t o apply thir knowledge in his particular or chosen field." Unlike many of the text-books in this field no attempt is made to include in this volume any 0,panic ehemirtry-but some brief space is devoted t o physics andsome t o qualitative analysis. This is characteristic of oharmaceutical-medieal chemistry Lcrfr. The mmterial in the book is divided under three main heads, as follows: Part I. P h y l i ~ s ,Chcmical Philosophy. Laborn1ory M"1h"di. Here are presented the fundsmental theories and laws in chemistry andphysies, the writing of formulas and equations, together with what material students for whom i t is intended would find useful in the fields of heat, sound, light, ~ n electricity. d Part 11. T i " Chcmislrr of lhc ElcmanIs. This consists of a brief description or themore common elements and their compounds. The foricology ia piven where it seems important. Throughout this part there are interspersed numerous short experiments intended t o illustrate properties mentioned. The experiments are numbered and there are over 240 in this part-10 others are ioeluded in Part I. Part 111. Quolilalivc Analysis. The u a m i nation of a n unknown substance is discussed and the rystematic basic anulyri~is given along with tables for the reparation of the metals in the various groups. Special tests are given for a number of acids. On the whole thir Little volume fulfils its purpme admirably. In a hook intended for stu-
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dents of pharmacy and medicine, i t is t o be regretted that there is so little reference to the United States Pharmacopoeia. Such commonly used terms as deliquescence and emorcscence are not t o be found in the index. A normal solution ir defined as "one which contains the hydrogen equivalent wdght in grams of the active substance dissolved in a lifer of water." Carbon is introduced an "a ubiquitous, protean, tetrad, infusible, insoluble, solid, non-metallic element" (certainly a rather formidable way of introducing an old friend t o the beginner). Except for slight and ocearional faulh such an those mentioned above. this volume should he a valuable addition t o the texts now existent for teaching elementary chemistry to beginners and superior to the maj >rity. T h r .uIhrr% ~ o n t e n t l u nthat the function uf r h r rrhoal .hoald be Lo hui1.l n Grm foundltl.3" rn ch:mlllrv rrfhcr than t o r r 7 t # >turn o\,t
A Systematic Qualitative Chemical Analysis. OEoncB W. SEARS,Ph.D.. Professor of Chcmistry, University of Nevada. John Wiley and Sone. Inc., New York. Second edition, 1926. xi 165 pp. 14.5 X 23 cm. $2.00.
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In this book, the attempt has been made t o "present the theoretical and practiealpartsin such a way that the student will understandthe significance and see the practlerl applieationo of the theoretical part." And i t seems t o the reviewer t h a t the author has been suite sueeesrful in thir. Part I devotes abbut 18 pager t o a review and presentation of the theory snd ptinciple~in. volved in qualitative analysis, and frequent refermees are made to it in the discusrion of the methods employed in analysis. I n Part I1 a systematic analysis of the metal ions is t a k m up. The preliminary cxpetimcnto on each group are followed by lirtr of questions with which the student should befamilibl-beforeproceedingwith the analysis of the unknown. The directions are clear and explicit, and the analysis of each group or suhwoup i followed by a "diruurion" which brings out the reason3 for the procedure and takes up the theoretical considerations in can. nection with it. Conditional procedures for special canes which the student ir likely t o meet are also ruggertcd. The tests which serve to identify the metals are such as czn be applied quite r e ~ d i l yand are known t o give good results in the hands of student.. Part 111 contains a systematic procedvre for theacidradicals. "Anelamcthodof anion analysis is given which follows in general the method
