BOOK REVIEWS Fvndamental~of Chemistry. By C. W. Gnau, C. W. S ~ ~ o l a vAnN,D H. 1.Hmwan, L o n Angdes High Schools, California. Houghton MiRin Company, Boston. New York, Chicago, San Francisco. The Riverside Preen, Cambridge. Mas~achusetts.1924. 445 pp. 12.5 X 18.5 cm. 197 illustrations. 8 portraits. Thie unique book breaks away from some a1 the traditional subject matter of high school ehemistry and especially from the order of it3 presentation. Ie doins so, there couraseaus authors move in the direction of the signs of the times. 'To ihorr a h " lnik tupm h ~ , hr e h ~ chemwry ~l nr u "collree i , r , . w r a t ~ r y i l b p t the%lbooh xllldht \.rm to driatcllcctu~.l#~~. rl#rcli=ti).I ) onilling nletho,Ir lor ,he. c ~ c dctrrminnliou r oi thv n m r ~ ! t u en,. ui our.. u a t r r thr i x u . % \ # r edl *.. mll.trv v.hool ~11%d~.nlr tc, mcrc mathcmalxrl hrndl#nv " uf l a . laws. the deuelo~mentof the atomic and molecular theories, and the methods for the determination of and molecular weights. such are wire of the high student to them takes little abiding erect, and that little becomes extinct by the time i t is applied by those who go t o college in the study of college chemistry, or is rememebered aninstruments of torture by the laree . maioritri . . who do not go to callem Instead of sivins- those tonics the formalitv of chaoterr this book usel subject matter which converts chemistry into coin for the currency of human needs. Enough of t h e umal theory and essential principles is introduced in a clear pedagogical manner, where there are fine practical contacts, fo make this book, so rich in practicalities, rent on a firm chemical basis. Oxveen comer next. at the conclusion of which there is . eiven . iust enouzh of the Law of Definite Com~osition.molecular and atomic structure of matter, valency and formula writina of oxides t o he well understood. Then follow water, hydrogen, bares from metallic oxides and water, and commercial m, tllodr m d urriul ~pl,ltmtions01 h a w Fquation writing and radlrrl. prwcdr the well cditcd chap. Thi, i. fc~llcwull y a r h l p t w nn rhc t t r o n .t+hmnwrry l.m, whxh ikrnlrodurrd hy rxlAnrior.. and adv..~..mof, 1oncafud:n~l,rctiunulao rulumubrle. Fromfhciccornrets nmvricrl t . m b l r ~ n ~ . ~ ~ ~ l v the gas laws with abosrbing interest and profit. Three chapters treat of the non-metals, non-metallic oxides, ionization and the theory of electrons. The shifting of eketrans is cited ar accounting for the charges on the ions. Since radio and radio tubes are universally zerviceable they form a fine contact of interest and serve t o illuminate the ionic conceptions. Twenty-four chapters of timely topics having a commercial significance indespenrible to daily life are presented with a fine balance between the practical and the theoretical. This book shovld he on the desk of every high school teacher of chemirtry, for, if i t is not de3ired for adoption as a text-book. i t will give many valuable paints and method. a3 a companion to the chemical text-book in use. Technical High School LOTJISW. MATTBRN w e ~ h i n g t o n D. , C. ~
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Charts of the Chemical Reactions of the Conimon Elements. Chemistry, Yale University. Em.
By JOHN A. TIPM, Ph.D. Inntrnctor iu Joho Wiley and Sonn, New York, 1924. i r 81 pp. 24.5 X 18
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This book will be heartily welcomed by those who teach elementaryinorganic chemistry. 'Chirlyone common elements are treated fully firrt by a c h a r t which covers either one or two pages according to the number of compounds and processes involved, and second by a page of eompicte equations covering all reactions indicated in the chart. T o give an idea of the book let me follow through the first chart, that of aluminium. The firrt line gives the name, the symbol, its group in the periodic dsrrification and its valences. Occurrence oo the next line includes only the more important naturally occurring compounds with mineral names often given. The more important compound. of each element are then arranged from left to risht in the order of increasing valence of the dement; t h a t is, the hydride, if i t exists, a t the extreme left with its negative valenee, then the free element with zero valence and then the oxides with the positive valence. Vertical liner drawn downward from there formulas give starting points for horizontal lines leading t o the formulas of important salts. Arrow points on the horizontal lines indicate in which direction re. actions run. A word or two of explanation is aeeasionally inserted on these lines. On each arrow is found a small number referring t o the proper equation in the list of equations. The charts are arranged in alphabetical order. Considering the vast amount of information indicated, the charts are remarkably clear. Directions for use are briel and little difficulty should b e e r ~wrirswrdom thr w r r of other reacher or pupd in learning t o urc thr chart,. To thv r t w w t r ' . mind th,..? chart\ r . . v ~ ~~ItacIy l ..!id at a gl..nrr 1 1 1 fleeirrntial dcsrriptivedrra that a fir?, yczr student need k n w sdtuoo;raohxr~l crrvra r ~ u r h rrhc rr>rcwcr'i rvr L u r ihr 1nrmuli.r nml euunriorn r c r c not .. . verified with a view to catching such errors. The teaching profension will be especially indebted to Prof. Timm. and those of us who enjay charts will thumb the book a good deal. W I I . H ~ ~ Ssosaero~r .M Thc Phillips Ereter Academy Eaeter. N. H.
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