NEW BOOKS Chemische Gasreaktion. B y H. J. SCHUNACHER. 23 x 15 cm.; 487 pp. Dresden and Leipzig: Theodor Steinkopff, 1938. Price: unbound, 33.75 Rhf; bound, 35.25 RM. This book is Volume I11 of the series Dae Chemische Reaktion and deals with t h e kinetics and mechanism of homogeneous thermal reaction in gases. During the last few years there have been many major developments in the theory of chemical change and a t the same time a n increased output of experimental material. Progress has been rapid, and there is no doubt t h a t many of the fundamental principles governing the mechanism of simple chemical reaction are fairly soundly established. Although we must expect some modification and extension of t h e theory in the near future, the present is a very opportune time in which t o review t h e position, and Professor Schumacher’s book, in which he gives a thorough and completely modern account of these developments, is therefore very welcome. The subject matter is excellently arranged, the book being divided into two sections,-theoretical and experimental,-the latter occupying about three quarters of the book. T h e theoretical treatment is based on the methods of statistical mechanics, and a detailed account of the use of quantum-mechanical methods for calculating activation energies and the absolute rates of simple chemical reactions is given. The experimental results are treated under two general headings; the first covers simple reactions, the sections being subdivided into the general type of reaction involved (unimolecular, etc.), and the second covers chain reactions. I t appears t o the reviewer t h a t all the experimental data of any importance on simple reactions, available up t o the beginning of 1938, have been included: t h e sections on chain reactions are not so complete, since with the exception of the hydrogen-oxygen reaction little mention is made of t h e numerous oxidation reactions characterized by explosion limits. These omissions, however, are not important, since this type of reaction has been adequately dealt with recently in other volumes. As a whole, the second part of the book is complete in itself, and is suitable for those more interested in the experimental aspects than in the theory. Excellent tables of useful data, such as physical constants, atomic and molecular diameters, and bond energies, are included. The book can be recommended t o all interested in the mechanism of chemical reactions. C. E. H . BAWN. Kurzes Lehrbuch der physakalischen Chemie. Heft I. By KARLJELLINEK.25 x 16 cm.; xi 314 pp. Deventer: K . V. Uitgevers-Maatschappij A. E. Kluwer, 1938. Price: F1. 8.50. This is P a r t I of a one-volume textbook of physical chemistry, which is t o be published in four parts. When completed the volume will be a shorter but still comprehensive account of the subject on t h e basis of the author’s well-known five-volume textbook. This part deals mainly with the elements of thermodynamics (very carefully developed), the elements of the kinetic theory of gases, andthelaws of puresubstances, of dilute gas mixtures, of dilute solutions of non-electrolytes, and of concentrated mixtures of non-electrolytes.
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