BEYOND THE FLY LEAF Handbook of Chemistry. Norbert Adolph Lange, Editor. 3rd ed. 1827 pages. Handbook Publishers, Inc., Sandusky, Ohio, 1939. Price, $6.00. T H E third edition of Lange's Handbook of Chemistry has six entirely new sections and has had eleven tables revised and brought up to date. The changes in atomic weights since the last issue have necessitated the revision of analytical factors and molecular weights, and data from the new volumes of Beilstein have been added t o the organic section. The page size and type face, as in other printings, are large enough for comfortable reading. There are sections not found in the usual manual, such a s that on organic ring structure, which make this handbook of particular value t o the chemist. F. J. V A N A N T W E R P E N
Technical Methods of Ore Analysis for Chemists and Colleges. Arthur J. Weinig and William P. Schoder. Based on the text by Albert H. Low. 11th ed. 325 pages, 2 plates, 18 figures. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New- York, N. Y., 1939. Price, S3.75. T H I S eleventh edition of t h e late A. H . Low's well-known book, although called a revision by its authors, Weinig and Schoder, is in many respects practically a new work. It gives methods for the determination of the metals and other elements found in ores. T h e revision is said to retain with corrections all the early material that is still valid. Several changes are conspicuous. Elementary instructions for students on analytical manipulations (10th ed., 1927) have been omitted, also some special and miscellaneous determinations, such as assaying for platinum and palladium. An important change is the adoption of a uniform presentation of methods. The chapters devoted t o each element are preceded by helpful tables listing the principal minerals of that element, their composition, and other related properties. A few methods are selected for each element, and each method is treated under the three headings—application, interfering elements, a n d procedure. T h e directions are not encumbered with problematic suggestions of a research character, but are ready for even an inexperienced analyst to follow. T h e first chapter is an entirely new addition of 4 2 procedures for semimicromethods. The authors state that such tests, applicable to minute amounts of ores, through the use of reagents that are specific, are of value to t h e analytical chemist, not only as preliminary qualitative tests and tests of purity of gravimetric precipitates, but also as information on interfering elements during an analysis. Such information allows the analyst t o modify the procedures and save time. Two colored plates show the results and colors to be expected in such tests. The sensitivities are not given. Fluorescence tests are mentioned very briefly. Some of the reagents listed are not very specific and require preliminary group separations. N o reference is made
to the use of t h e microscope or optical methods, as developed, for example, by Larsen, Herman, and Short in U. S. Geological Survey Bulletins 825 and 848, or by Chamot and Mason. The following points may require further consideration or revision: page 13, no mention is made that titanium interferes in the test for columbium and tantalum; page 14, "nourspar"; page 30, silica is not considered as contaminating alumina, and the determination of the other interfering elements is called a modification rather than a correction; page 209, magnesium is said to interfere in the J. Lawrence method for the alkalies; page 211, 12 hours are allowed for the last trace of calcium oxalate to separate; page 213, five-place factors are given for K 2 G and Na^O; page 246, tartrate is oxidized with potassium permanganate before precipitating titanium (Thornton found this unnecessary when cupferron is used). In general, the methods are intended for rapid technical work. A number of recently established methods have been added, including several based on the use of organic reagents; also a select bibliography. There are numerous cross references. Directions for the preparation and standardization of solutions are given, as well as necessary chemical factors. The book will be very useful in its field, as the earlier editions have been in the past. I t is a book that no technical laboratory can afford t o be without. ROGER C. WELLS
Water Purification for the Practical Man. Charles R. Cox. 192 pages. CaseSheppard-Mann Publishing Corp., 24 West 40th St., New York, N. Y., 1938. Price, $1.00. T H I S book is a reproduction of a series of short articles originally published in Water Works Engineering. The 20 chapters cover all phases of water purification control and operation. Design and construction are not discussed. The text was prepared t o meet the needs of operators who do not have extensive chemical and bacteriological training, as these needs have come t o the attention of the author in the course of his work as chief of the Bureau of Water Supplv, Division of Sanitation, of the New York State Board of Health. The text, graphs, and line drawings are as clear as in the original, but the few photographic illustrations have lost some detail in the reproduction. M a n y of those who have this book will find in it more of the information that they need than they would be able t o get from several of the more detailed comprehensive books on special phases of the subject. W. D . COLLINS
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Charles D. Hodgman, Editor in Chief. 23rd ed. 2221 pages. Chemical Rubber Publishing Co., Cleveland, Ohio, 1939. Price, $6.00. T H E 22 editions which have preceded the 23rd edition of the. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics have earned the 642
well-deserved prefix "ubiquitous", as they are known, used, and relied upon in every phase of scientific work. T h e present issue is a continuation of the former good work. The book has a larger page and the table of physical constants and metal-organic compounds has been revised and reset, Miss Janet D . Scott, associate editor of Chemical Abstracts, having revised the names and formulas used in this section. New tables of interest to the chemist are: melting- and boiling-point indexes, in which organic compounds are listed in ascending- order of temperature and are identified with numbers allotted them in the table of physical constants; potentials of electrochemical reactions; and ionization potentials. Five other sections have been revised and brought up to date. F. J. V A N A N T W E R P E N
De la carbonisation aux carburants deviation. Tome I. Le Petrole e t ses Succedanes. Ch. Berthelot. Preface by Georges Claude. 334 pages, 73 illustrations, and numerous tables. Dunod, 92 Rue Bonaparte (VI), Paris, 1939. Price, paper, 90 francs. BOOR II, La cokerie et l'usine a gaz modern, and Book III, La carbonisation, centre d e production de gaz, d'energie thermique et de produits de synthese, by the same author are in the course of preparation. Book I is a critical survey of the economics and technique of methods in production and proposed for manufacture of motor fuel and fuel oils from raw materials other than petroleum. The work applies particularly t o resources of France ana her colonies. The importance of internal sources of motor fuel of aviation quality is stressed. Book I is well written and should commend itself as a useful compilation t o anyone interested in the field. The amount of motor fuel consumed in France in 1936 was about 2,550,000 tons: in addition, 380,000 tons of gas oil of petroleum origin were required as ships' fuel. I n 1037 the requirements for oils other than motor fuels were: ships' fuel. 1,120,000 tons; interior consumption of fuel oil, 1.230,000; greases, 280,000; asphalts and road oils, 300,000 tons. I t is estimated that in time of war these requirements would be tripled. A further consideration is that benzene and alcohol which might otherwise be used as motor spirit would be required in the manufacture of explosives. Importations of crude petroleum into France amounted t o 6,150,000 tons for the French refineries i n 1937. The refining industry is favorable to the French balance of trade, i t s subsidy should be continued, and supplies of petroleum products, particularly motor fuels, should be stocked. However, France must resort t o preparation of t h e needed oils from her own natural resources in order to b e assured of adequate supplies in case of war. Development of carbonization (both high- and low- temperature) in connection with hydrogenation i s recommended, using coals and other raw materials possessed by France. The technologic part of the book i s
O C T O B E R 10, 1939
NEWS EDITION
divided into sections 2 to 6 9 inclusive, devoted t o treatment, mostly by carbonisation, o f French raw materials and to special methods, notably low-temperature carbonisation. Each section is closed by a convenient summary on the importance of the r a w material or method in relation t o the general problem. J. D . D A V I S
M i n e r a l s Y e a r b o o k , 1939, Published
M
INERALS Yearbook, 1939, an economic review and statistical summary of the mineral industry of the United States in 1938 published b y t h e U. S. Bureau of Mines, reviews current trends in production, consumption, prices, stocks, technologic progress, world conditions, and international trade for almost a hundred metal and mineral commodities. The domestic situation i n respect to the more important strategic minerals obtained in whole or in a large part from foreign sources is summarized. T h e volume contains 1447 pages w i t h numerous diagrams, and m a y be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D . C , for $2.00 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; $2.50 in other countries.
643
CAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY under the chair-
manship of G. W. Jones and A. H. Nuckolls, has just been issued a s a 2 4 page booklet. The table presents in each case the name of the compound, usual shipping container, fire hazard, life hazard, storage, fire-fighting phases, and remarks, and should be very useful t o all those who have occasion t o deal with these chemicals. Copies may be obtained at 20 cents each from the National Fire Protection Association, 6 0 Batterymarch St., Boston, Mass.
AL West Washington St., Chicago, 111., has issued the second edition of its Standard LUMINUM
RESEARCH
INSTITUTE,
308
Methods for t h e Sampling and Analyzing of Aluminum and Certain Aluminum Alloys. T h i s book of 3 0 pages i s available on request t o domestic consumers of aluminum alloys who maintain their own laboratories, t o commercial laboratories, to technical schools and colleges. If a consumer d o e s n o t operate his own laboratory, t h e institute will send a complimentary copy t o the commercial chemist w h o does such consumer laboratory work. T o others the cost is $1.00. Since 1932 t h e institute's chemists' committee h a s prepared with exacting care some 4 0 standard samples of alloys of various types. These have been issued to members, analyzed, and the results compared. From time to time the committee has met t o discuss the methods and every effort has been made to perfect them. Computation of Mathematical Tables
HE Journal of Physical Chemistry for T October will contain t h e following articles, as well a s reviews of new books: D. v. KLOBUSITZKT.
Industrial Use.
Electrouitrafilter for
CHARLES D. CORYELL, LINUS PAUXINQ. AND RICHARD W. DODSON. The Magnetic
Properties of Intermediates in the Reactions of Hemoglobin. CHARLES D. CORYELL.
The Existence of
Chemical Iaterreactiona between the Hemes in Ferrihemoglobin (Methemoglobin) and the Role of Interreactions in the Interpretation of Ferro-Ferrihemoglobin Electrode Potential Measurements. WAGSTAFF. The Flow of Cream through Narrow Glass Tubes. JOHN SPENCE. Optical Anisotropy and the Structure of Celluloaic Sheet Materials. B. J. LUYET. The Devitrification Temperatures of Solutions of a Carbohydrate Series. LTMAN FOURT. Lateral Cohesion in Protein Monolayers. J. H. SIMONS AND A. S. RUSSELL.
Raoult's
Law and the Clapeyron Equation for Substances Whose Vapors Are Polymerised. I.
M . KOLTHOFF AND L . G . OVERHOLSER.
Studies on Aging and Coprecipitation. XXIX. The Aging of Ortho Ferric Hydroxide in the Absence and Presence of Divalent Ions in Ammoniacal Medium. A. R. KEMP AND H. PETERS.
Sol and Gel in
Hevea Latex and Crude Rubber.
Influ-
T
Special Subscription Rates t o Publications o f the Chemical Society ( L o n d o n ) Y special agreement for reciprocal discounts, members of the AMERICAN
B
lications of The Chemical Society (London) for 1940 a t the following rates, including postage: Journal of The Chemical Society British Chemical and Physiological Abstracts A (Pure Chemistry) Sections AI, A l l , and AIII, complete Section AI (General Physical and Inorganic) or A l l (Organic), each Section AIII (Physiology and Biochemistry) Sections AI and A l l , together Section AI or A l l with Section AIII
2.10.0
6.0.0 2.5.0 3.5.0 4.0.0 5.0.0
Foregoing rates are for abstracts printed on both sides of page, with one copy of the General Index A, or printed o n one side of page only and without Index. General Index to A (Pure Chemistry) and B (Applied Chemistry) 15s.0d Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry for 1939, Volume 36 lOs.Od Subscriptions should be sent t o S. £ . Carr, The Chemical Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W . 1, England. Paul W . Soderberg, formerly with Procter & Gamble, and lately in charge of the chemical activities of the J. B . Ford Co., Wyandotte, Mich., has been made manager of technical sales service.
the WALL STREET of CHEMISTRY
On September 19, 1939, the directors of the Dow Chemical Co. declared dividends of 1.25 per cent on preferred and 75 cents PROJECT for t h e computation of per share on common, payable November mathematical tables sponsored by Lyman J. Briggs, director o f the National 15 to stockholders of record November 1. Bureau o f Standards, is being conducted The Glidden Co. has negotiated unseby the Works Progress Administration for cured bank loans totaling $2,000,000 the City o f New York. The project has from three New York banks, for the purbeen in operation since January 1, 1938, pose of redeeming $1,750,000 of its series under t h e technical supervision of Arnold A, B, C, and D notes and prepaying bank N. Lowan. An announcement concerning loans of $250,000 due January 1, 1941. the present status of the undertaking has been issued and those interested are in- The loans bear interest of 2.25 per cent and mature serially on July 1 of each vited t o correspond with Dr. Lowan, 475 year from 1940 t o 1944, inclusive. On Tenth A v e . , N e w York, N. Y., and if posJuly 1 the company concluded a n agreesible visit the project at that address. ment with the New York Trust Co. and Suggestions will b e welcomed. the Mutual Life Insurance Co. whereby the interest on its $2,000,000 series £ notes, maturing July 1, 1945, was reduced C o m m o n Hazardous from 3.75 to 3 per cent. Chemicals The directors of the Hercules Powder Co. have declared the regular quarterly HE fourth edition of a Table of Comdividend of 1.5 per cent on preferred, paymon Hazardous Chemicals, prepared able November 15 t o stockholders of by the Committee on Hazardous Chemirecord November 3. cals and Explosives of the National Fire Protection Association and t h e AMEBIIn view of war conditions, the Monsanto
A
A
New Dilatometer for Determining Bound Water in Soils and Other Colloidally Dispersed Materials.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY may subscribe to pub-
Journal of Physical Chemistry for O c t o b e r
G. W. SCOTT BLAIR, J. C. HEKING, AND A.
M e t h o d s o f Analysis
ence of Oxidation on Gel-Sol Transformation. T . F. BUBHBBR AND M. S. ROSBNBLUM.
Chemical Co. has issued t o shareholders information regarding the balance sheet of its British subsidiary, Monsanto Chemicals, Limited. N e t worth after allowance for preference shares is equivalent t o approximately $2.00 per share of Monsanto Chemical Co. common stock. After deduction of dividends on preference shares, earnings were the equivalent for Monsanto Chemical Co. common stock of 46 cents a share for 1937, 29 cents a share for 1938, and 15 cents a share for the first half of 1939. Although sales continue well above the levels of 1938, no unusual demands have been felt so far. The company does not manufacture munitions, and none of the articles whose export is prohibited under the Neutrality Act are current Monsanto products. Vanadium-Alloy Steel Co. and subsidiary for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1939, show net profit of $90,889 after depreciation, interest, federal and Pennsylvania income taxes, etc., equal t o 45 cents a share o n no-par common. This compares with net profit of $213,128 or $1.06 a share in the preceding year.
