January, 1923
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BOOK REVIEWS Van Nostrand’s Chemical Annual. Fifth Issue, 1922. Edited by JOHN C. OWEN. D. Van Nostrand Co., New York. Price, $4.00.
constitute precious contributions in future editions of such books as “Van Nostrand’s Chemical Annual.” PAULNICHOLAS LEECH
One hundred years ago numerical data on chemistry were relatively unimportant. To-day tables, charts, and mathematical functions ad infinitum compose the fundamental base from which arise the vast towers of scientific structure. As the chemical era progresses in complexity, it becomes increasingly imperative to have easily available these basic data freed from the nonpabdar quicksands. Thus, “Van Nostrand’s Chemical Annual” was conceived in necessity; since 1909 chemists have not been without this needed utility in the architecture of their science. Such an instrument, now issued for the fifth time, truly must be of worth. Thc: style, general content, and inherent conciseness of the Chemical Annual have been commended repeatedly in previous reviews in THISJOURNAL. The last edition does not vary greatly from the former: physical constants, gravimetric factors, calculation aids for volumetric analysis, specific gravity and vapor tension tables, measurement equivalents, thermochemistry, and stoichiometry. Just here, however, is the difficulty. If the book were unrevised, still its value would be great. But in the processes of revisions, it has been customary to presume concomitantly progressive improvement. While the reviewer appreciates the Gargantuan attempt of the editors to digest the many rivulets of scientific information, yet he feels that too much of the epitomized content is simply predigested materialtoo much is reprinted. Few of the footnotes refer to recent literature. Compounds now made in the United States, prides of American chemistry, are not mentioned, particularly such medicinals as procaine (aminobenzoyl-diethylaminoethanol hydrochloride), barbital (diethylbarbituric acid), cinchophen, benzocaine, benzyl succinate; even arsphenamine is omitted, about which more chemistry has been written than probably any other compound. There seems to be little value in the numerous problems in stoichiometry; they are reminiscent of the classic “ponies.” Nor is there need of so much valuable space devoted to the list of new books; instead, tables on various pH values or partition coefficients would be of decided help. The equations for volumetric computations are a t times too rigid and their genesis is of the “paper chemistry” protype; it is suggested that in future editions some of the equations could be explained better from the electronic viewpoint. On? fault, the inconsistency of us scientists, is revealed by this book. Our organizations and leaders are encouraging the universal employment of the metric system. Yet, in actual practice we stand condemned. Tables used every day are printed side by side in Fahrenheit and Centigrade, while specific gravities occur at two or three “standard” temperatures. Notwithstanding the criticisms, the bo& deserves high praise: it is undoubtedly valuable; it is compact; it is reasonable in price. Tbe technologic make-up is excellent, reflecting to the credit of both the editors and the printers. Particularly pleasing is the dedicatory courtesy-an excellent photogravure reproduction of Theodore W. Richards. John Tulloch has well said: “Scientific facts, unlike facts of mere contingency or incident, are truths of nature which, once discovered, admit of repeated verification.” So to Dr. Richards, workers in scielztific realms are glad to join with the editors of scienti$c data to pay homage for the “truths of nature,” he has given us; they will
F. G. S. 2nd Liquid Fuel and Its Apparatus. By W. H. BOOTH, edition. E. P. Dutton & Co., New York. Price, $4.00. The first edition of this treatise was published in 1912 as an abridgment of the author’s larger work, “Liquid Fuel and Its Combustion” (Constable & Co., 1902). The plates of the first edition have been used, without even the correction of rather numerous typographical errors and incorrect statements. New material equal to about four pages has been added as paragraphs a t the ends of some of the chapters where blank space was available and as inserted pages (265-A and 269-A). These sections are dated 1921. Inaccuracies and careless statements are frequent, particularly in those sections dealing with chemical subjects. On page 50, Russian petroleum is stated to be composed of hydrocarbons of the olefin series, while Beaumont (Texas) petroleum is said to be characterized by the presence of members of the acetylene and benzine (sic) series. The “Bombe” calorimeter is mentioned on page 63. The surprising statement that there are thirty different hydrocarbons in crude petroleum appears on page 64. The distillation of petroleum with steam is described as a solution of the petroleum by the steam, an effect peculiar to steam (page 64). In attempting to cover such subjects as materials of construction (steel, refractories, flue gas analysis, etc.), it has been necessary to limit the space assigned to more important topics. The description of the various types of liquid fuels available is inadequate. The common misstatement that Texas and California petroleums are used principally in the crude form, is repeated (page 45). The second section of the book, “Practice,” is perhaps more satisfactory. However, a thoroughgoing revision would undoubtedly have effected many changes here also. An adequate critical discussion of the various types of burners and furnaces is lacking. W. F. FARAGERR
A. S. T. M. Tentative Standards, 1922. 774 pp. Illustrated. American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia, 1922. Paper, $7.00; cloth, $8.00. The method adopted by the A. S. T. M. for arriving a t its standards by inviting criticisms of tentative standards is too well known to require comment here. The present volume presents 163 tentative standards chosen by the various committees of the society as best in each case treated, to which the attention of workers in the several fields is directed. The classifications covered by these tentative standards are: Ferrous Metals, Nonferrous Metals, Cement, Lime, Gypsum and Plaster, Preservative Coatings, Petroleum Products and Lubricants, Road Materials, Coal and Coke, Waterproofing, Insulating Materials, Shipping Containers, Rubber Products, Textile Materials, and Miscellaneous. Under these headings are given methods of analysis and tentative specifications for these materials. In this connection it might be noted that approximately half of the tentative standards here published are either new or have been revised for this volume. Suggested revisions and criticisms occupy a small section of the book. Certainly this publication represents the latest and best compilation of matter of the kind a t present available.
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The Properties of Electrically Conducting Systems. Monograph No. 7. By CHARLES A. KRAUS.415 pp. The Chemical Catalog Co., Inc., New York. Price, $4.50. Another valuable contribution has been made to the Monograph Series. As the author indicates in his preface, the importance of “our conceptions of matter in the ionic condition” may readily be shown to account for the rapid strides made in the last few decades in the development of chemistry and molecular physics. The author has collected and correlated a vast amount of literature, together with the result of much work that he personally has done or been in direct contact with. Owing to the meager data available on this subject, much of the matter presented is purely empiric, but careful consideration and analysis are given to the various theories advanced in recent years, so that a clearer understanding may be had of the various conclusions reached by many investigators in their attempts to establish laws relating to ionization. Obviously, the greater part of the book is devoted to the properties of electrolytic solutions. The conductance of gaseous systems is not discussed, since “they have been treated extensively in treatises” dealing exclusively with gaseous conducting systems. Metallic conductors are discussed in the closing chapter of the book. The properties of metallic systems are less widely known than electrolytic solutions, but the author carefully outlines the relations between conductance temperature, composition, and pressure of metals, both solid and liquid. The author closes his text with scant reference to theories of metallic conductance, reEerring the reader to the references given by Koenigsberger. The various theories relating to electrolytic solutions are clearly explained in the text and their limitations pointed out. It is made plain that no one theory is adequate to explain the multiplicity of phenomena occurring in electrolytic solutions. References to original work are given fully and frequently throughout the text. Mathematical derivations are given with the usual familiar symbols, and the equations are clearly set forth and can be readily referred to. More care could have been used in the preparation of graphs. The value of those as given would be mainly for illustration of the various phenomena described, and not for detailed use. As a textbook, this volume should be of great value for instruction in the theory of ionization as a part of the student’s training in physical chemistry, as well as a reference for all those interested in ionization phenomena.
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Vol. 15, No. 1
presented from time to time through bulletins by the author as director of the Scientific Section. The methods and apparatus described are those in use in the author’s laboratory and, while not all of them have been accepted by the trade in general, their presentation in this form has served a useful purpose if the book proves to be instrumental in bringing more closely together the producer and consumer of paint and varnish products. E. E. WARE The Chemical Engineering Library. don, 1922. Price, 3s. net, each.
Benn Brothers, Ltd., Lon-
Every chemist entering a plant and every man already in a plant feels a t one time or another the need of some knowledge of the wide field of plant equipment in fields other than the narrow one in which he works. Frequently, plant men of various classes are well informed on the actual operation of the machines under their immediate charge, but are completely ignorant of the fundamental principles involved and their application to other machines. This applies as well to the laboratory worker, who is accustomed to carry out extensive researches in glass with little or no thought of later plant equipment, as to the plant worker, whose attention is devoted solely to the operation of a single tool carrying out a single reaction. It is to fill the need of these men that the Chemical Engineering Library is being compiled. The individual units of the series, of which five have been published, are compact in make-up both as to thought and binding. Possibly they lack something in durability, being bound rather for the library or desk than for withstanding the wear and tear of the reader’s pocket. The titles so far published include: “The General Principles of Chemical Engineering Design.” by Hugh Griffiths; “Materials of Construction: Nonmetals,” by Hugh Griffiths; “Weighing and Measuring of Chemical Substances,” by H. I,. Malan and A. I. Robinson; “The Flow of Liquids in Pipes,” by Norman Swindin, and “Chemical Works Pumping,” by Norman Swindin. The Chemical Engineering Catalog. 7th Annual Edition. 3 187 pp. quarto. The Chemical Catalog Co., New York, 1922. Price, $10.00. Leasing fee, $2.00.
The place of the Chemical Engineering Catalog in the working libraries of chemical men has been too well established by the first six annual editions to call for comment here. The compilation of engineering data on chemical plant equipment is the only one of its kind in the world, and serves admirably to give the prospective purchaser of such materials a proper perP. E. LANDOLT spective of his sources of supply. Second in importance to this feature is the catalog of chemical products and raw materials, Physical and Chemical Examination of Paints, Varnishes, and together with their sources of supply. These two sections of Colors. By H. A. GARDNEP.215 pp. and appendix. Pub- the book are well indexed in a preceding section oE about 220 lished by Scientific Section, Paint Manufacturers’ Association pages. I n this index is to be found the real improvenient of this of the United States, Washington, D. C. Price, $9.00. edition over those previously offered. References and cross There is a need in the paint and varnish industry for a more references both to equipment and materials have been greatly thorough standardization of specifications for both raw materials amplified and the list of sources expanded. A change in the and finished products. Such standardization naturally involves system of indexing to a more logical arrangement of the names of the development of methods of physical and chemical examina- chemical compounds has made the finding of any item sought tion which will be accurate in the hands of the average analyst. much easier. The Scientific Section, Educational Bureau, Paint ManufacThe book section of the catalog has shown a gradual growth, turers’ Association of the United States, under H. A. Gardner as and offers a list of most recent books of interest to the chemical profession, together with short summaries of each. The serdirector, has been active in advocating such standardization, and through its extensive cooperative work has been a n im- vice offered by the publishers of the catalog in supplyhg books portant factor in the success of the efforts of the American So- of any publishers a t publishers’ prices is gaining in popularity. ciety for Testing Materials, the Federal Specifications Board, The effect of the unfortunate financial condition of the inState Regulatory Laboratories, and other agencies interested in dustry is noted in the slight reduction in the number of pages in this edition. However, the growing popularity of the catathe standardization of methods for evaluating paints and painting materials. The copies of the 18 U. S. Interdepartmental log as a reference work and the continued use to which it is put Specifications appearing as an appendix to the book furnish are well illustrated by the fact that the reduction in this instance is considerably less than the proportionate reduction in space evidence of the success of this cooperative work. The volume is practically a compilation of methods and data taken in other advertising mediums.
