Aplicaciones y rimilarer
BOOK
REVIEWS
Chemical Periodicity
R. T . Sanderson, Univenity of Iowa, Iowa City. Reinhold Publishing Corp., 330 pp. Figs. New York, 1960. x and tables. 21.5 X 26.5 em. $9.75.
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If there were only one word permitted this reviewer to describe the book "Chemical Periodicity," i t would have to be "useful." Professor Sanderson has incorporated a wealth of information in tables and charts in the text, much of which could otherwise he found only by consulting many different referenoe works and other sources in the chemical l i b erature. The inclusion of a table of the many periodic charts+ s t the beginning of the text is most useful. The inclusion of a table of "Tnblen" would also be helpful, and i t is hoped that such will appear in future editions. If the reviewer were allowed n, second word of description, it would he "unusud." The author's qqxoa.h is unusual, from the table of contents (a cross-sectioned Condensed Partial Index) onward, and much of this originality is pedagogically effective, e.g., the use of several periodic charts with circles of appropriate size to represent relative radii and atomic volumes of atoms. Although this reviewer disagrees with the use of. this device to represent certain physical properties, such as heats of formation and densities, because the relatively small circles representing the alkali metals in such cases
-Reviewed
can lead to confusion for some students who might infer that these atoms are relatively smaller in sise than atoms following them horiaontally, when actually the reverse is the ewe. Excellent photographs of molecular and crystal models have been included in the text, but this reviewer hopes that in future editions i t will be possible to label the different atoms in some way, because the black and white photography might sometimes make it diffioult for students to tell which atoms %rewhich. The value of the book is enhanced by the inclusion of both a. subject and author index, although these have been combined into a single index. Errors (e.g., the electronic structure of gadolinium on page 12) are hound to creep into texts where considerable detail is involved, and i t is to be hoped that these will be eliminated in future editions. This reviewer recommends this book to teachers of a junior or senior coune in inorganic chemistry, either as a text or important source reference. The originality of approach is certain to be of interest. The page sise of the book is fairly large (almost inches high) but the many tables and oharts may have something to do with this, and in the main, their value far outweighs the inconvenient page sise. STANLEY KIRSCHNER Wayne State Univmit~l Detroit, Michigan
in This Issue
R. T . Sanderson, Chemical Periodicity F~amiscoBermejo Martinez and Antonio Prieto Botua, Aplioaciones Anallticar d d AEDT y similares F. Din and A . H. Cmkett, Low-Temperature Techniques Martha E. Munaer and P ~ U Z ' Branduein, F. Teaching Science Through Consewxtion A . A . Lumsdaine and Robwt G l ~ ~ eEditors, r, Teaching Machines and Programmed Learning William Cahn, Einstein: A Pictorial Biography Alfred Burger, Editor, Medicinal Chemistry Albert SzatGyiirgyi, Introduction to a Submolecular Biology Joseph H. S i m m , A Structure of Science M. J . Buergo; Crysbl-Structure Analysis Arthur W . Adamon, Physical Chemistry of Surfaces Robert S. Harris and Hawy "on Loeseeke, Editors, Nutritional Evaluation of Food Processing Raymond E. Kirk and Donald F. Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemioal Terhnologg. Second Supplement Volume K . A. Bmwnlee, Statistical Theory and Methodology in Science and Engineering E. H . B. Pielsch, Editor, Gmelins Handhuch der Anorganischen Chemie. 8 Auflage. System Nummer 33, Cadmium, erganeungsband J . R. Partinylon, A Short History of Chemistry
274
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Journal of Chemical Education
Analiticas
del
AEDT
Francisco Bennejo M w t i w , Universidad d e Santiago de Compostels, and Antonio Prieto Bouza, Quimico de La Toja, S.A. Imprents. del Seminario Conciliar, Santiago de Compostela, 629 pp. Figa. Spain, 1960. xii and tables. 17 X 24 em. $10.
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Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and related compounds, now often termed chelons, are developing a specialized literature more rapidly and more extensively than any previous organic analytical reagent. Hence, both the specialist and the applied analyst welcome each new monograph on chelons. The work by Drs. Bermeja and Prieto carries the literature into 1959 and strikes a tine lnisnce hrtyern vons~~lrrntionuf r~Icv&ut rlwwy :~ndI,.& infornuriorn nnJ tllr pre9ent:llim f rr.ndy-lo-use fsrrs and procedures. The authors are active researchers. The work often reflects their personal studies and includes findings unpublished by them a t the time the manuscript was completed. The authors in the early chapters consider the properties of the chelons, their use in titrimetry and colorimetry, and their application, usually as masking agents, in diverse separations and determinations. The last chapter, consisting of 254 pages, presents procedures employing chelons in the determination of various anions, cations, and some organic compounds, both in simple systems and complex matrixes, especially alloys. Critical notes appended t o many procedures attest to the authors' personal experience. The bibliography cites 1278 references; the reviewers, based on their awn hiblicgraphic efforts, can state that a satisfying degree of completeness has been achieved. An adequate subject index is provided and through its use even brief statements in the text may be often located. U. S. technologists often neglect significant works in languages in which they have only limited proficiency, and thereby sidestep the opportunity to gain prcficiency! The monograph by Bermejo and Prieto is in Spanish, a. language of which the reviervers have only limited command. A microsppreciation of Spanish grammar, a semimicro vocabulary (50&600 basic words and the relevant chemical jargon, for example, ualoraci6n = titration), and occasional resort to a pocket dictionarv will suffice for the exoerienced chemist follow the directions ;resented.
to the work over a period of some weeks. This monograph is commended to researchers studying chelons and organic analytical reagents generally and to chemical analysts as a valuable point of entry into the literature of a salient area of advance in contemporary analytical chemistry.
JR. A. J. BARNARD, and W. C. BROAD J . T. Baker C h i c a l Co. Phillipsbu~g,New Jerseu
