vides a senior chemistry major and his faculty advisor with some hitherto rather inaccessible and pertinent information about the doctoral programs in chemistry a t American universities. Some of the early chapters are most strongly recommended reading for juniors and even sophomores ss they plan their undergraduate programs. This hook would he a helpful addition to any chemistry library. I n view of the already high activity in graduate study of chemistrv the hook ~ r o h a b l vwill not produce a significant increase in the numbcr of graduato chemistry students. In many other fioldn this hook should prove to be a. vital "shot in the arm." EDWARD L. HAENISCH \lirn*sm COLLEOE C n * w ~ o n o a v , ~ ~Im N,D ~ A N *
A STUDENTS' HANDBOOK OF ORGANIC QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
I. B. Bowen, S. H.Graham, and A. I. S. Williams, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. University of London Press, Ltd., London, 1957. 189 pp. 14.5 X 22 cm. THE I'reface state8 "This book was written ns nn introduction to qualitative nndysip. for first- and second-year nnivot.sit,v students, but additional matter hm hren included so that the needs of the more advanred student reading for honours are also fullv met "
This book is comparable in scope to the widely used qualitative organic texts by Shriner, Fuson, and Curtin and by McElvain, but it suffers by comparison with these two excellent books in the following particulars: The discussion of the relationship af structure to solubility and to physical constants is very brief. There is no mention of the various techniques for determination of physical constants. Individual compounds listed in the tables of derivatives are not included in the index which would have made their location much more convenient. The tables of derivatives appear adequate in length. JAMES L. A. WEBB S o u ~ n w e s . r m wA T M E Y P H ~ ~ Mrmxls, T~nxrsszs
REASON AND CHANCE IN s c i m n c DISCOVERY
R. Taton. Translated by A. I. Pomemns. Philosophical Library, Inc., New York, 1957. 171 pp. Many figs. IS X 23.5 cm. $10. T o THOSE intere~tedin ease histories describing the varying paths of scientific discovery, this book will come as a welcome addition sinec it brings to the attention of the reader a number of important pieces of continental European nork not generally known in this country. With the increasing concern for the right training of scientists most eomo a. greater interest in the actual ingredients that make for greatness in science. Thcrc is an impressive and growing literature on the creative process in mathematics, and a
number of studies in the are$&of physics have been made. Chemistry has barely been touched and unfortunately this book does little to fill the gap. Of the sciences tabulated in the index (astronomy, biology, chemistry, instrumental techniques, mathematics, medicine, and physics) chemistry is the subject most sparsely treated, only the discovery of the elements through studies of radioactivity and speetrum analy~isbeing dealt uith in detail. Furthermore, apart from the classification of factors in discovery implied by the chapter headings in part 2 (Systematic Discovery, The Fruitfulness of Same Discoveries, Flashes of Thought, The Role of Chance, The Role of Error) the author, according to the preface, has intentionally desisted from theorizing about the natmr of scientific discovery. This has its merits but it leaves the reader bewildered in the face of the multitude of examples. I n part 1, tho author differentiates between three realms of discovery, those in mathematics, theoretical sciences, and observational and experimental sciences. Part 3 deals with the problem of simultaneous discovery, of missed discoveries, and with the distressing struggles man," valuahle ideas and discoveries face before they are accepted and utilized. Throughout the book the qualities of character required by innovators are well brought out. The book ends with a discussion of the
science must guard against,. The es-
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
