VOL.7, NO. 12
RECEN'i r BOOKS
feel it can he improved in the next edition. W. T. READ RUTOBPS UNIYE~SLTY New B n u ~ s w ~ cN. s , 1.
A Textbook of Organic Chemistry. A. F. HOLLEMAN, Ph.D., LL.D., DSc., F.R. S.E. Seventh English edition, John Wiley and Sow, Inc.. New York City. 594 pp. 80 figs. 15 X 23 1930. xx cm. $3.50.
+
If popularity with students and teachers is t o be accepted as a criterion of excellence in a textbook, Professor Holleman's treatise must he given a very high place indeed. For nearly thirty years i t has been a favorite with classes in elementary organic chemistry throughout the world. During this time the book has appeared in nine different languages and the number of separate editions has mounted to the impressive total of fiftytwo. Such wide and sustained popularity has rarely been enjoyed by any textbook. The book was originally designed for use in the first course in organic chemistry. All important types of compounds were discussed though necessarily in a very brief way. Emphasis was laid on the theory underlying the subject and the number of facts given was kept dawn t o a minimum. These features, now so amply justified by the success which the hook has attained, have been retained in the present edition. Many alterations are t o be found in the text of this edition. The application in organic chemistry of certain physiochemical methods has been given a fuller treatment. Important changes are t o he found in the discussion of such subjects as disaccharides, enzymes, and the relationship between color and constitution. Minor changes throughout the book serve to bring it up t o date on many points of theory and practice which have undergone change during the last few years. Excellent as the book is, the reviewer feels that in certain respects it fails t o reflect fully the spirit of present-day organic chemistry. For example, emphasis is everywhere placed on those reactions
3023
which are supposed to indicate structure rather than those which are useful in synthetic work. Thus the Wurtz-Fittig method is cited as frequently as the Grignard reaction, the Friedel-Crafts method, or the use of malonic ester, despite the fact that the first-mentioned type of reaction is comparatively of little use in synthetic work and of doubtful value in structural studies. Thiele's theory of partial valencies (page 367) has not proved of sufficiently general use t o warrant its inclusion here except possibly as a historical note. It would seem advisable rather t o include some mention of the newer developments in valence theory a t least t o the extent of showing that all valencies are not alike in character. The modem tendency t o regard aromatic chemistry as a special case of ethylenic chemistry is not found in the hwk. For example, on page 357 aromatic compounds are contrasted with saturated aliphatic compounds, whereas one would expect them t o he compared with ethylenic compounds. The chemistry of phenols is compared with that of alcohols, hut ends are not mentioned in this connection. Again, the treatment of cyclohexane derivatives as hydroaromatic compounds relates them t o benzene. Would it not he better t o compare them with the paraffins? Similarly, would i t not be more helpful to compare the terpenes with the pentenes with which they are so closely allied? Apart from such considerations as these, this new edition of the book fully merits a continuation of the wide papularity enjoyed by the preceding issues. C. FUSON REYNOLD UNIYERSmY OF I L . I K 0 1 5
Uaarlin. ILL.
An Introdnction to Organic Chemistry. E R ~ CJOHN HOLMYARD, M.A.. M.Sc., D.Litt., F.I.C., Head of the Science Department, Clifton College. Edward Arnold & Co., London; Longmans, Green and Co., New York City, 1930. 282 pp. 31 figs., 9 plates. $1.75. xi
+
