VOL.9, NO. 4
RECENT BOOKS
Inorganic; Volume 2. Organic. Fifth edition. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York City, 1931. riv 641 xiv; xii 1517-641 pp. 441 Figs. 23 X 15 cm. $13.00 for hoth volumes.
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The purpose of this treatise on industrial chemistry is to present the fundamental principles involved in modern American methods and processes. The first volume deals with the processq used in the essential inorganic industries, and the second volume with the fundamentals underlying the organic chemical industry and discusses some of the most important processes utilizing these principles. The material is presented in a= authoritative manner by a group ol experts. The authors appear to liavc accomplished their purpose in an ad^ mirahle manner. The chapter on general processes should he of particular value to those who wish to get a general picture of the equipment essential in industrial chemistry. Each chapter is written in an authoritative manner and presents the subject matter in clear and concise language. In addition to the information given in each chapter, a bibliography is supplied, in most eases, which would enable the student to secure any additional information needed to complete the details of the chemistry and engineering involved in the process. The iUustrations are very good and enhance the text from an educational standpoint. I n the chapter on industrial organic chemicals and dye intermediates there are several charts which should he of great aid to the student of organic chemistry, in enabling him to correlate the facts of organic chemistry and apply them to the solution of industrialprohlems. On the whole this manual brings the essential facts of industrial organic chemistry to the student in as close a technical setting as it is possible t o get outside of the industries using the processes de: scribed. I t should he of value to hoth the student of industrial chemistry and to the technical man of limited experience
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who wishes to broaden his knowledge of industrial chemistry. M. L. CROSSLEI CALM C H R M I CCO.. ~ L INC. B O U N D B R O O K . N P W JP..SPY
A History of the British Chemical Industry. STEPHENMIALL. Written for The Society of Chemical Industry on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of I t s Foundation. Ernest Benn, Limited, London, 1931. xvi 273 pp. 33 Portraits. ti Figs. 14 X 21.5 cm. 10s. 6d.
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The Society of Chemical Industry is celebrating the fiftiefi anniversary of its foundation. One of the features of its jubilee is this volume on British Chemical Industry by Mr. Miall. Mr. Miall s t a t e his difficulty in the introduction hy saying that prior t o 1882 there was no journal devoted t o chemical industry in Great Britain, and that few books existed that attempted to describe this problem. Furthermore, the founders of chemical manufacture had all died several years ago. and the biographies of only a few existed. Comequently, the working up of this magnificent report necessitated corresponJ d a c e with practically every chemical manufacturer of consequence, together with visits to many of the plants. The author has in mind not only the Society of Chemical Industry, but also other readers who are interested in learning something of the history of the larger industries. He succeeds admirably in portraying his story in a non-technical style. The author gratefully acknowledges his debt to the many collaborators who made the volume possible. The eleven chapters are devoted to heavychemicals; dyestuffs; fermentation industries; drugs and fine chemicals; cellulose; metallurgy; gar, coke, and tar; the paint and varnish industry; the soap industry: miscellaneous manufactures; chemists and chemical organizations. These industries involve a capital investment of over $1,500,000,000 in Great Britain alone, and give employment to
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JOURNAL OF CHEM:ICAL EDUCATION
APRIL.1932
over 1G5,000workers. Not only are the biographical sketches of eminent men. I t industries described and discussed in con- contains some useful outlines and charts. siderable detail, but there are fascinating and while, as stated, it is couched in language which the Layman can understand. references to such pioneers as Faraday, Davy, Pasteur, and others, and their pro- it is rich in references valuable t o the techfound inhence on associates who became nologist, and has many interesting chronothe very founders of many of these indus- logical tables on the development of the tries. Due credit is given to the scientists various industries. Every teacher of chemistry should read of central and western European nations. without whose discoveries and develop- this volume in which he will find, in addiments British industry could not have tion t o those already mentioned, such progressed t o the high state of perfection familiar individuals as the inventor of which has been attained. We read of the Daniel1 Cell, the founder of the Nobel Haber. Hofmann, von Wellsbach, and Prize, Messrs. Pattinson and Parkes, whose processes for silver recovery all of others too numerous to mention. The b w k is generomdy illustrated with us have taught, etc., etc. Mr. Miall is to portraits including James Muspratt, whose be congratulated and thanked for a presons were among the founders of the Soci- cious contribution. SILVERMAN ALEXANDER ety of Chemical Industry, and whose deUNIVBRSITY OF PIrrSSUROH scendants have been ever active in chemiPITTSBUPOR. PHNNA. cal manufacture and in the activities of the Society; Walter Weldon, whose first patent covered the Weldon Process, fa- .Introduction to Agricultural Biochemistry. R. ADAMSDu~cnEn,Professor of Agrimiliar to every student of chemistry, which cultural and Biological Chemistry, and not only added to British national wealth. DENNISE. HALEY,Professor of Soil and but resulted in the lowering of the cost of Phytochemistry. The Pennsylvania paper and cotton goods; Dr. Ludwig John Mond, who, with Sir John Bnmner, devel- ' State College. First edition. York City, Wiley and Sons, Inc., New oped the Solvay Process in England, and 484 pp. 98 Figs. 15 X 1932. x whose gas reactions applied to metallurgy 23 cm. $4.50. founded the Mond Nickel Company; Sir William H. Perkin, father of synthetic dye This book is intended for students of manufacture; Dr. Henry S. Wellcome (an agricultural biochemistry who have had American) associated with the well-known training in both inorganic and organic firm of pharmaceutical manufacturers chemistry and as a reference book. which has done so much to encouragephar- It is divided into three parts: I. General maceutical research; Count Hilaire de and Introductory; 11. The Plant; and Chardonnet who gave the world its first 111. The Animal. The first part, which new textile fiber in over a thousand years is introduced by a chapter on the history and who is one of the western Europeans of agricultural chemistry and one conincluded in this treatise on British indus- taining some general statements on the try; Sir Robert Hadfield, discoverer of chemistry of living matter, reviews the manganese steel, silicon steel, and other chemistry of the carbohydrates, the fats alloys; John B. Orr, discoverer of the im- and related compounds, the proteins, and the enzymes. A chapter is devoted to a portant pigment, lithapone; Michel Eugene Chemul, the first properly t o explain review of physical chemical principles soap formation, and to study the side which apply especially t o biological and products. These are only a few of the agricultural chemistry. A considerable portraits of eminent men whose precious number of rather elementary facts are given briefly t o establish a connecting contributions are discussed. The volume is generous in its content of link between previous work and the more
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