NEW BOOKS
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students in chemistry, provided they are given a more balanced appreciation of the virtues of the Br$nsted theory. I. M. KOLTHOFF.
N. IPATIEFF. Edited by XENIAJAUKOFF The Life of a Chemist. Memoirs of VLADIMIR ENDIN,HELENDWIGHTFISHER,and H . H . FISHER.Translated by V. HAENSELAND MRS. R . H . LUSHER. 657 pp. Stanford University, California: Stanford University Press, 1946. Price: $6.00. These biographical memoirs give a n account of the life of the author until 1930, when he left Russia. Shortly afterwards he came t o the United States, where he has since continued his distinguished scientific work. This history of Ipatieff’s eventful scientific and official career in Russia has a n interest far outside the realms of chemistry or science. I t gives a revealing insight into the changes t h a t occurred in Russia during one of the most significant periods of modern times. T h a t Ipatieff succeeded in making the transition from a n officialand General under the Czarist regime t o a highly respected and trusted scientific director and adviser under the Soviet is t o be attributed t o his singleness of interest in his first and continuing love of chemistry; hence the simple and appropriate title of this book, m i t t e n in his native Russian and translated by some of his collaborators in this country. The writer does not s t a t e whether he wrote from notes or memory. If the latter, the detailed description of events, researches, and personalities is truly remarkable. His contacts with all prominent scientists in Russia and many in England as well as Germany, where he had part of his chemical education, were extensive. His principal interests were i n the field of tosic gases for chemical warfare and in the technique of high-pressure catalysis, in which he made very early and important contributions. Iptatieff frequently deplores the loss to Russia of valuable scientific men for political causes. The loss of Ipatieff himself is such a case, but fortunately it has been America’s gain. His contributions t o our supply of high-octane gasoline during the war alone must have compensated Russia in some degree for his loss. And his great love for his native country, which is manifest throughout the book, must have afforded him much satisfaction in his indirect contributions through his adopted country t o Russia’s success in warfare, in spite of ill-concealed skepticism of her political ideologies and industrial plans. I t is quite evident t h a t although he has found a welcome home in America and assumed a n eminent position in its industrial and scientific life, yet his heart remains in his native land, the scene of his early triumphs, which he left reluctantly and would gladly have continued t o serve during her years of planning and industrial development. An extensive appendix contains brief historical notes about the principal Russian leaders and organizations iiientioned in the t e s t . S. C. LIND.
A Laboratory .lfanual o j Q u a l i l a t i a e Organic Analysis. By H. T. OPEXSHAW.87 pp. Cambridge: The University Press, 1916. S e w Pork: The Macmillan Company, 1946. Price: $1.50. This small volume presents a laboratory method for the identification of the more common types of organic compounds and includes tables of physical constants for some of these compounds and their derivatives. The procedure put forward is similar t o t h a t of other tests, in t h a t it consists of a series of tests for functional groups, which are applied in a definite order, depending upon whether the compound contains carbon, hydrogen and osygen, nitrogen, sulfur or halogen. The book will serve t o acquaint beginning students with a system of analysis; however, it does not contain the theoretical discussion which is necessary for such a comprehensive study of this field as is usual in the typical course given i n this country. !!’XLLI.4&1 E . PARHAM.
