JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION of chemistry to the student in the terms of everyday language which permits immediate understanding without the necessity of introducing scientific terms. The use of the word substance and Edited by Robert M. Fink, Professor of PhysioIogical Chemistry, the careful dehition of it in the beginning is a good example of University of California, Los Angeles, California. National Nu- this technique. clear Energy Series. VI-3. McGmw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New The general use of tables, listing tosether compounds similar 411 pp. 96 figs. 129 tables. 16 X 24 cm. in properties and giving their corresponding formulas, makes the York, 1950. xvi $3.75. book useful as a reference book at a technicians level. If these THE data collected by members of the Biological Chemistry tables had been numbered and listed in the index under a table Section of the Division of Radioactivity in the Manhattan De- heading, its usefulness as a reference book would have been iupartment of the University of Rochester are presented, discussed, creased. The inorganic section contains s, limited discussion of atomic and summarized in this volume of the National Nuclear Energy Series. The problem under investigation was the comparison of structures with some emphasis on the relationship of mol&ular the biological effects of three alpha-emitting radioactive elements structure to properties. Thc use of the Periodic Table has been eliminated. The larger portion of this section is devoted to water, -polonium, plutonium, and radium. The plan and conduct of the directed research under the Man- colloidal and true solutions, ionization, and a romplete discussion hattan District were often determined by the availability of of acids, bases, and salts. The organic portion is very complete and begins in the conventechnical assistance, materials, and animals, but more frequently by the pressure of time. A relatively small number of animals of tional manner with a discussion of the aliphatic hydrocarbons and one species studied at a few dose levels and for a short internal of their derivatives. This study led naturally into the discussion of time had to su5ce for the initial pilot experiments. Although the carbohydrates and fats. A very short discussion of cyclic compounds, both carhocyclic major portion of the work was done an rats, a few mice, onc raband heterocyclic, consists mainly of introducing basic ring strucbit, and several tracer studies in humans were included. The careful outlining of procedures and methods is preceded by tures which are used in building up the more complex protein and a valuable review of the literature dealing with polonium and rsr alkaloid structures that amear later in the book. The remainine dium toxicity. The excretion, retention, and tissue distribution t h n r chapter*, appruximtcly 100 psgr.s, nlu devoted to C~tcrnisof these two elements were studied following intravenous and oral try of dipstion; Fuuetiou a d fate of glurose, fsts, and proadministration. The subcutaneous administration, inhalation, t e i n ~in the body; and Imponam physiologiml funrrionings uf and skin absorption of polonium were also investigated. The ex- electrolytes, all very thorough for a begininning text. Teachers of introductory courses for students interested in beperimental work designed to determine the intravenous lethal doses and relative toxicities of the three elements is clearly de- coming technical aids will 6nd this volume sttrmtive from both scribed and presented in detail. The mortality studies are com- a teacher's and student's view~oint. The introduction of bined with hematolazied as well as eross and mioro~atholonical enough organic chemistry along w&h the excellent presentation of the physiological applications make it a very good background book for nurses, nutritionists, and teachers of general science. BIOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH POLONIUM, RADIUM,AND PLUTONIUM
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J l M E S F. CORWIN
topay. This pioneering work is unusual in several respects, not the least of which is the vast amount of material collected by the combiied efforts of many investigators over a relatively short period of time. One is immediately impressed with the great care the authors have taken to present their problems and sources of error and with the voluminous data that are included. MIRIAM P. FINKEL A n e o a r ~Narlo~al.Laaoaa~om carcmo,1r.unors
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INTRODUCTION TO THERMODYNAMICS
CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
1. M. Smith, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1949. x 386 pp. 64 figs. 25 tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $4.
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TKIS book is a new addition to the MoGraw-Hill Chemical Engineering Series. k4 a text it is designed for the third or fourth year of undergraduate work and for use in a twoemester Chcrrloffe A. Francis, formerly Instructor of Chemistry, and course of average intensity. The author states that the hook is to present, froma chemical Edna C. Morse, Assistant Professor of Home Economics (Chemidry), Teachers College, Columbia University. The Macmillan engineering viewpoint, an introductory treatment of thermody54s pp. 99 figs. 15 X 22 namics which is sufficiently simple and free from complicated Company, New York. 1950. n mathematical treatment that it may be understood by the average m. $4.50. undergraduate student, yet rigorous and sound enough to proTms book is designed for students interested in an introductory vide a 6rm foundation for more advanced work. The subject is course in chemistry leading to more specialized courses in nursing covered under the fallowing twelve chapter headings: (1) Intropmtice, nutrition and home economics, medical technology, and duction to chemical engineering thermodynamics, (2) The firat teaching of general science. In carrying out this design, nineteen Isw of thermodynamics (3) Preseure-volume-temperature chapters, 264 pages, are devoted to general principles and in- relations of fluids, (4) Heat effects, (5) The second law of orgsnic chemistry at au elementary level. The remamder of the thermodynamics, (6) Thermodynamic properties of fluids, book, twelve chapters, 261 pages, contains a much more extensive (7) Flow of fluids, (8) Production of work from heat, (9) treatment of organic chemistry than is found in the usual intro- Compression and expansion process, (10) Refrigeration, (11) Phase equilibria, and (12) Chemical-reaction equilibria. In ductory college chemistry textbook. The arrangement of the subject matter and general plan fal- each chapter numerical examples are solved that illustrate very lows that of the first two editions hut all chapters have been re well the various topics under discussion, and a t the end of each vised by the addition of new material and elimination of some of chapter there are lists of unsolved problems which are aimed the older concepts. Some chapters dealing with radioactivity principally at obemicrtl engineering applications. The material covered in the twelve chapters generally follows and the structure of matter have been rewritten in the light of the usual appmmh. However, the author introduced two work recent changes and additions to knowledge in these fields. The authors are especially adept at introducing the subj~ct terms, one to represent work done by the system, and the other 0
FLTNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY AND APPLICATIONS
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