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classical one. Some of these definitions are either fantastic or altogether incorrect. In the United States, the surface tension is often expressed as a force per unit length at right angle to the surface. It is thus confused xith the inward or molecular pressure, but even then, it is not correct because this pressure is defined as a force per unit area, Le., per centimeter squared, and as such it is of quite a different order of magnitude from surface tension. This has been made clear by the author in a number of papers (J. Phys. Chem. 36, 2406-36 (1932)). If one assumes that the field of force is uniform, the relation between the surface tension, y,and the inward pressure, P , can be expressed as
p = y7p3 where n is the number of molecules per unit volume. Thus, under no circumstances can the surface tension be defined a3 a force per unit length a t right angle to the surface. The considerations stated in this paper apply equally to the interfacial tension. G. ANTONOFF, Department of Chemistry Fordham University Xew York, ?Jew York
NEW BOOKS The ,Methodology of Pierre Duhem. By ARXANDLOWIKGER.56 x 52 in.; 154 pp. Xew York: Columbia Universit:. Press, 1941. Price: $2.25. In this small book, Dr. Lowinger gives a detailed exposition of Duhem’s views on physical experiments, the significance of physical laws, and the nature of physical hypotheses and theories. Although the views of a distinguished physicist should receive respectful consideration, the reviewer is convinced that Duhem’s philosophy of science is quite inadequate; it assuredly is not in harmony n i t h the prevailing views of twentieth-century scientists. Duhem claimed that he was a physicist, not a philosopher, but his methodology shows that he is a mctaphysician malgrl: Zui. Even D r . Lowinger, who interprets Duhern’s views so sympathetically in the present book, admits in the final chapter that these views are far from satisfactory. Students who are concerned a t all with the philosophical basis of physical science will find i n this book much that will be of interest. F. H. MACDOUGALL.
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Cellulose Chemistry. By MARKI’LUNGUIAN. 6 x 9 in.; vii 97 pp.; 13 figures. Brooklyn, Ken7 York: The Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943. Price: $2.25. This little book “designed primarily as a brief and up-to-date introduction t o the chemistry of cellulose for non-cellulose chemists,” as stated in the author’s preface, fulfills its aim admirably. I t will also be of value to highly specialized workers who wish brief reviews of the recent developments in other parts of the cellulose field. The chapter on derivatives of cellulose is not very modern, and contains a number of errors. The method described for making guncotton is antiquated, and this substance is not a !‘high explosive.” Moisture-proof cellophane is made from cellulose acetate rather than the nitrate, and flax is “hackled.” There are a few grammatical errors, and one
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hydrogen atom is omitted from the structural formula for pentose on page 65. The printing and make-up of the book are excellent. The author is to be commended for the clarity and conciseness of his final chapter on the micellar structure of cellulose. This difficult subject is excellently presented in the light of modern colloidal theory. Here is a book which should be in the library of all those interested in this important industrial raw material. RALPHE. MOKTONNA.
Abridged Scientzfic Publications from the Kodak Research Laboratories, Volume XXIII. 64 x 9! in.; 290 pp. Rochester, Yew York: Eastman Kodak Company, 1942. Abridged accounts of thirty-five publications (Nos. 754 to 820 not continuous) are presented in this volume, which includes many papers of unusual scientific interest. S. C. LIND.
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276 pp.; Mass-Spectra and Isotopes. By F. W. ASTON. Second edition. 54 x 9 in.; xii 12 plates; 20 tables; 48 figures. London: Longmans, Green and Company, 1942. Price: $7.00. The first edition under this title appeared in 1933, replacing the two earlier editions of Isotopes. The present is not greatly changed from the first edition. A few sections have been added, three in the chapter on “Measurements of Abundance,” including descriptions of the Smythe and Mattauch and of the Nier mass spectrometers and a section on chemical analysis by the mass spectrometer. Part 111, on “The Elements and their Isotopes,” has been extended to embrace all the elements in their natural order. It presents the whole of the evidence on which the first International Table of Stable Isotopes was drawn up in 1936 and the later work. Rarely does one have the opportunity of having a complete survey of a field so fundamental to both chemistry and physics by the investigator most responsible for its initiation and completion. The work remains classic and indispensable. Unfortunately, the influence of the War is reflected in the quality of paper and the price of the present edition. S. C. LIND.
Elementary Physical Chemistry. BYMERLE RANDALL AND LEONA ESTHERYOUNG. 6 x 9 in.; 455 pp,; 279 illustrations. Berkeley, California: Randall and Sons, 1942. Price xiv $4.50. This survey of classical physical chemistry is intended primarily as a text for secondor third-year college students, especially in preparation for the study of thermodynamics. It is also recommended to graduate students who wish to review the field of physical chemist r y and a8 a reference text. The book is a photolithic reproduction from the Stanford University Press. It is replete with tables and figures well reproduced. It treats the usual topics covered in elementary texts in a very refreshing and vivid manner, and with the inclusion of an unusually large amount of thermodynamics. S. C. LIND.
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Manual of Explosives, Milztary Pyrotechnics and Chemical Warfare Agents. By JULES BEBIE. 6 x 9 in.; xiii 171 pp. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1943. Price $2.50. This handy little volume will fill a long-felt need for all those people who deal with explosives or with the literature of explosives. The use of trade names and unscientific nomenclature in explosives literature and advertising, and the fact that most commercial and military explosives as used are mixtures of several different chemical species have resulted in a good deal of confusion which this book will do much to clarify. It will also serve as a handy manual for quickly finding the principal properties of given explosives. The work is fairly complete and up-to-date with the exception of a very few of the newer explosive mixtures used in World War I1 which have not yet appeared in the literature. It
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