JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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A LABORATORY MANUAL OF QUALITATIVE ORGANIC ANALYSIS
H. T. Openshow, Purdie Lechuer in Chemistry in the United College, University of St. Andrews. Second edition. Cambridge University Press. Carnbrldge and New York, 1951. viii T 9 5 pp. 32 tables. 14.5 X 22.5 cm. $1.75.
ON FIRST glance the second edition of this little book appears to be identical with the first one published.in 1946. For the new edition has the same format. osainz. and charts of its oredeceasor.
two improved procedures are given on page 13; one hydrocarbon is added t o the table on page 29; a completely revised table is given on page 50; preparation of methods for tertiary amines has been changed on page 73; and finally anew procedure for hydrolysis of anilides appears on page 74. A better quality of paper
and finer binding are noted in this edition. Although not many changes have been made, it is the opinion of this reviewer that not many were needed. All theoretical and class reactions are omitted in this brief book, as the author concentrates solely on analysis. The procedure suggestedconsistsof four parts: (a) investigation of physical properties and physical separation of mixtures, ( 6 ) deteetion of constituent elements, ( e ) detection of functional groups and chemical separation of mixtures where applicable, and finally (d) preparation of derivatives. I n each case the material presented is surprisingly complete, and part (c) is excellent; actually a scheme of analysis is presented based upon what elements were found present in part (b). When the unknown has been identified the student is instructed t o confirm his findings by means of a mixed melting point with the known. This suggestion has merit, though not all instmctora may agree. The major part of this book is devoted to methods of preparing
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MAY, 1952 derivatives. Same of the general methods for nitration, bromination. and sulfonatian. etc.. are eiven: these are followed bv naee
point of at least three derivatives. Original references are given in most cases where specific derivatives are mentioned. The general referenees on page 20 will not prove to be too helpful in Some cases. This laboratory manual in itself may not be sufficientfor a full semester or quarter course in qualitative organic analysis. HowPVPP. in,coniunct,ion with one of the standard texts in the field - ~ -~o~~ it can be considered an excellent supplement. The information given is clear, precise, and can easily be followed by all students. ~~
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INORGANIC SEMIMICRO QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
Carroll Wardlaw Griffin, Pmfessor of Chemistry, Vassar College, and Mary A l y s Plunkett, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, 299 Vassar College. The Blakiston Co., New Yark, 1951. x pp. 14figs. 31 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 om. $4.75.
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THEauthors' aim, as stated in the preface, is twofold: "to teach the underlying principles of analysis" and "to develop in the student a method of execution . . . .based upon precepts which are clearly undentood and techniques which are cleanly performed." To further these aims, the book is divided into two parts. Part I consisting of eight chapters (170 pages), includes atomic and molecular structure, chemical equilibrium, and axidatian-reduction theory. At the end of each chapter is an excellent set of problems (and answers) which will help the student to understand and use the material in the text. Part I1 (82 pages), containing the laboratory instructions, introduces the student to the techniques of semimicro methods. The procedure is to study a, few characteristic properties of some 25 cations and 19 anions followed by carrying out reactions used in analysis and 6ually in doing the group analysis. Diagrams and a discussion of laboratory techniques including methods of dissolving an unknown solid are given. The various concepts introduced review Bohr's ellipitcal atom, elementary Werner theory, the Dehye-Hiickel theory of eleotrolytes and the Brprnsted theory of acids and bases. Equilibrium is derived from kinetic considerations and includes problems related to the formation of precipitates, weak acids and bases, buffers, indicators, hydrolysis, complex formetian, and oxidationreduction reactions. Particularly important are sections dealing with problems of analysis; po~~ppreeipitatian, occlusion,, partial and selective preoipitation, and colloid formation. Ox~dationreduction reactions are balanced by the useful ion-electron method. It is unfortunate that the authors chose to relate electrode potentials to reduction rather oxidation reactions. A more serious criticism is the apparent lack in understanding of the nature of metallic coordination entities in particular snd of inorganic chemistry in general. This is important as the majority of materials encountered in analytical chemistry fall into this category. On page 125, for example, the authors say that the coordination number "usually is twice the primary valenoe of the simple ion." On the preceding page, however, a copper oomplex haying the formula C U ( C N ) is~ mentioned. Not only is the discrepancy not discussed, but the ion does not exist. In applying the rule to hydrated aluminum the formula AI(HaO)a+++ is obtained (page 136). Here the authors ignore the fact that it is not possible to pack six water molecules around the aluminum inn
which lead to inconsistencies, it should be discountined. Thus, for example, on pages 134 and 203, arsenite is written as AsOl-, while on pages 211 and 212, As08--- is used. Again, whereas hydration and amphoterism appear to be somewhat related to complex formation (pages 134-8), the identical problem of the hydrolysis of metallio ions (pages 95-6) appears to he completely unrelated to either complex formation or hydration. Another inconsistency involving hydration is the proper use of NH3, hut the improper use of H2COx. More familiarity with the reactions themselves is shown in the experimental part of the book. Particularly good is the simplification in the handling of the second group by the oxidation of stannous ion by hydrogen peroxide and the reduction of pentavalent mtrsenic by iodide ion. Other salient features include the use of zirconium for removing phosphate ion, the use of the thiacyanate test for cobalt as an alternate to the awkward and not very good cobdti-nitrite test, the formation of a lake with p-nitrobenzene aaoresorcinol in the confirmatory test for magnesium, and the formation of antimony oxysulfide in the confirmatory test for antimony. Ten tables are placed in the appendix. These include reagents needed, properties of compounds, and various equilibrium ronnt,nnt,R. The book will meet the requirements of most courses designed to teach the student the principles of qualitative analysis and the techniques and chemistry most often employed in problems involving inorganic chemistry, RICHARD G. YALMAN A ~ ~ r o oCOL'ECIE n Y E ~ O BPRINYB. W O A ~
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BRITISH SCIENTISTS
E. I. Holmyard. The Philosophical Library, Inc., New Yak, 88 pp. Illustrated. 12.5 X 19 cm. $2.75. 1951. viii
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" T m fame of British seamen, British colonizers, British inventors, and British sportsmen has long been worldwide. The same is true of British commmercial enterprise, British phlegm, and of the British genius for constitutiond government. I t is therefore a little surprising to observe the comparative lack of recognition accorded to the achievements of British scientists." With these sentiments as the introductory remarks to the first chapter of this little book one would expect to find mention of credit and praise that should be accorded to certain great British scientists who have been passed over almost in silence by continental writers. But the reader with such expectations will be disappointed, for with very few exceptions the 25 chapters give short accounts of the men generally recognized throughout the world as great ccantrihutors to the development of science. I t seems to this reviewer that the book is organized to show the partrsjtrr of 23 great men. Most of the portraits are those with which we are fmdias-opies of portraits in possession of the Royal Society or the British Museum. The exceptions are those of Priestley and Faraday. Priestley must have been rather nice looking in the period of his work on electricity when he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. One wishes that instead of the pictures of Darwin, Lord Kelvin, Sir William Perkin, Sir J. J. Thomson, and Lord Rutherford which show them as they looked in their later years, there had been substituted pietures of them as they appeared in the period of their greatest intellectual activity. The first chapters indicate Dr. Holmyard's knowledge and appreciation of early science in Britain, and the transitions from chapter to chapter are excellent. There are some serious amissians among the later figures, among them Robert Hooke and Thomas Graham. Graham's fundamental work, it is true, baa received due recognition outside of Britain, but the same cannot be said for the contributions of Rohert Hooke, certainly one of the most ingenious and prolific inventors Britain ha8 ever produced and certainly also one of the greatest geniuses of that century of geniuses, the seventeenth century. There is no por-
