RECENT BOOKS THE PRINCIPLESOP ELEC~ROCI~EMISTRY. Duncan A . Maclnnes. Associate Member, The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. Reinhold Publishing Corporation. New York City, 1939. xiv 464 pp. 15.5 X 23 cm. $6.00. "This book has been written with the idea of furnishing an account of theoretical electrochemistry as it is today, and t o satisfy an inner urge of the author to see the subject he is interested in as B logical, connected whole." I n these words. Dr. MacInnes gives the key t o the plan of his book and the motive that guarantees g w d work. Considering that fifteen years were spent in preparation and that the author has had extensive practical experience with many of the subjects discussed, it is not surprising that the finished product is one of the most satisfying ' treatments of the field in many years. The style is vigorous, clear, and concise. The attention given to the different subjects is such as to produce an unusually well-balanced book. True to his purpose, the author has refrained from discussing most of the speculative in electrochemistry and has confined himself to real accomplishment. So well has he hacked theory with experimental data, that one has the feeling whatever is found therein is dependable and authoritative. Such strict hewing t o the line has even forbidden inclusion of the modern theory of acids and bases. The omission will be regretted by some, but twentyfour well-packed chapters covering practically the whole of the electrochemistry of solutions should offset any regrets. Some subjects not commonly discussed are "The Effects of Gravity and Centrifugal Force an the Electromotive Force of Galvanic Cells"; "The Determination of Thermodynamic Ionization Constants from the Potentials of Cells without Liquid Junctions"; "Thermodynamic Studies of Non-Aqueous Solutions"; and "Electrokinetic Phenomena: ElectroBsmosis,Electrophoresis, and Streaming Potential." To name chapters of outstanding excellence is difficult, but transference. Debye-Hiickel theory, liquid junctions, the meaning of pH, interionic attraction and conductance, and the effect of structure and substitution on ionization constants are discussed unusually well. A hit on indicators and solubility products might well have been included to make a more complete work, the former because of its bearing on pH values and the latter because of its use in determining activity coefficients and standard potentials. An unusual feature is the extensive amount of data incorparated-there are ninety-eight t a b l e s a n d especiallythe critical evaluation of much of it, e. g., activities and standard potentials. In some cases the values have even been recalculated. This same precision extends t o the text. Symbols are clearly defined and the real meaning of equations set forth. All equations are derived "from the ground up" with exception of the Poisson equation, the Gronwall-LaMer-Sandved extension and the Onsager conductance equation. Even Planck's equation for liquid junctions is derived in the appendix. The literature references are exceedingly abundant, and there are many explanatory footnotes. A list of symbols in the front of the book is very helpful. It is unfortunate that multiplicity of quantities has caused a shortage of suitable symbols. The use of small capitals and large capitals is especially bad as i t necessitates closest ohservation in reading. An obvious error in this list is the definition of 7 . This should be "Activity cwfficient on molal, m, basis" instead of "molar." Most t o be criticized, in the reviewer's opinion, is the almost complete omission of any conventions interrelating the signs of cell and half-cell potentials and the chemical reactions producing such potentials. On page 110 there is one convention governing signs, but nothing approaching in completeness such mles as are found in, say, the Getman-Daniels "Physical Chemistry" and MacDougall "Physical Chemistry." To the expert such conventions are, perhaps, unnecessary, but they are extremely valuable
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t o the novice and timesavers t o all. Remttable also is the use of plus for the base metal potentials and minus for the noble metal potentials, F for the Helmholtz free energy and Z for the Gibbs free energy. There seems to be no real advantage in departing from the conventions and symbols most widely used in this country. Fomat, typing, and indexing leave nothing to be desired. This outstanding work is rccammendcd unre,ervcdly to &ctrorhrmists, advanced students, and teachers. The lack d problems somcwhat diminishes its value as a text.
AT WORK. wi&m McPhcrson, William Edwards CHEMISTRY Henderson, Professors of Chemistry. Ohio State University, and George Winegar Fowler, Supervisor of Science, Syracuse City Schools, New York, and Instructor in the Methods of Teaching Science in the Schwl of Education, Syracuse University. Ginn & Company. Boston, Massachusetts, 1938. x 4-672 pp. 471 figs. 14 X 22.5 cm. $1.80. This hook is another elementary text in chemistry by the wellknown professors of The Ohio State University with Mr. George Fowler as a collaborator. The subject matter is organized into fourteen units and further subdivided into fifty-three consecutively numbered chapters. The organization is effectively conservative and free from meaningless innovations and vagaries that characterized the earlier unit treatments. Since the first unit method hook appeared in 1934 seven of the ten that have since appeared are organized on the unit plan, so it appears that a new era in the chemistry has been inaugurated. The subject matter can be presented in a real unitary plan if fifteen to twenty unit categories are made hut it has not yet been done effectively with fewer units than ten. The authors see in the unit plan "an opportunity for an occasional review of the fraction of the subject he ha+ recently studied, as well as a chance to make a fresh start on new material." Some units of plethoric texts may well be omitted also where their content has little interest t o the local field of education. Each chapter has the usual closing exercises, consisting first of a summary in question form. This is the best extant form for summaries, for the dilatory pupil cannot make a hasty and inadequate preparation by reading the summuy. A set of "thought questions" follow in which the pupil is expected to connect the chemical ideas that he has studied with various phases of daily experience. Although most texts have had some such questions in the various exercises a t the end of chapters, and some authors have tried to classify these exercises none has done so well as the authors of this book. It is possible to find a few questions of fact which should be in the summary as well as same thought questions in the summary. This set of thought questions is a most important part of the text and authors should plan more consistently to have them not only typical questions of thought, but they should be graded as t o difficulty. The more difficult can constitute an optional section for the more capable pupils. Some such elastic plan is most necessary for we find that the range of ability of the pupils in our classes is constantly growing. The units close with an adeauate list of references t o readinn books in chemistry, not text-. T w n t y ,,ages uf appendireq include useful tables. gas laws ron\wrion, the Ihpnstedl'heory of :\rid$ and Bases, and a very complete rlossnry of chemical terms. Some contradictions and inconsistencies appear in this hook
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which were not characteristic in the earlier editions. For example, it is said of mixtures, "They have no fixed composition." Then of solutions it is said, "Every drop is exactly like every other drop in composition." This puts solutions on the same basis as compounds. The kinetic theory should have been used to explain the homogeneity of any solution. Nowhere can we find any support of the idea, "To call it a substance does not say that i t is either an element, a compound, or a mixture." From this standpoint the tautological phrase, "pure substance," is less obnoxious and is cammanly used by college authors. "The atoms of metals . . . form no molecules." "The solute dissolves." I t is fortunate that pupils will little note or long remember these points but they will appreciate the unit introductory notes and other apt illustrations that are written from their standpoint. As is characteristic of the work of the publishers of this book, the mechanical details are excellent. Clear, distinct illustrations, large, very readable type, and a close binding make up a book in almost octavo size. The durable binding should more than offset the strain of greater weight. HERBERTR. SMITH 1.ran Vlsw nron Scnoo~ CHICAGO.ILL~NOIS
SURVEY OP PHYSICAL SCIENCEFOE COLLEGESTUDENTS.Paul
McCorkle, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Physical Science. State Teachers College, West Chester, Pennsylvania. P. Blakiston's Sou and Co., Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., 1938. xiii f 471 pp. 273 figs. 15 X 20 cm. $2.75.
area the cyclonic effectproduces a partial vacuum and the barometer falls. . . I t is estimated that tornadoes take the lives of about three hundred people each year. I n other parts of the world such destructive storms are called hurricanes and typhoons. . . . George Washington was born on February 11, 1731, by the Julian calendar. Airplanes are propelled by motors and are maintained aloft by the pressure of the air beneath them. . . . The kidneys, gall bladder, and heart can be studied (by X-rays) by injecting certain dyes such as methyl iodide into the blood. . Becquerel, being too busy to follow up the [discovery of radioactivity I, detailed the task to a young Polish couple, Pierre and Marie Curie. . . . Most investigators believe that light changes silver bromide (AgBr) to di-silver bromide iAe,Br)." , ". , The physical make-up of the hook is excellent, with the exception of several photographic illustrations, which are indistinct, and four star maps which are more confusing than helpful to the student searching for constellations. In the hands of a capable teacher, this hook can be the basis .of a satisfactory course in physical science. I n other hands it would become a mere compendium of the Sunday supplement science pages, some subjects treated too fully and others much too sketchily. At its author's institution it is evidently used to insure that prospective teachers of secondary-school general science are given a course in that subject. Although by implication it may be made to do more than this, unfortunately it does little more within its own pages. I t can be recommended as an earnest attempt a t a still unscaled h e i g h t a n adequate text coverina Dhvsical science a t the colleee level.
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Professor McCorkle, ca-author of COLLEGE PHYSICAL SCIENCE, has attempted in this new book to achieve two objectives. He aims to provide an orientation course for all students, with "material so chosen that there will be little duplication for stu- THE S~LUTIONS OP PROBLEMS IN QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS dents who supplement the course with the traditional courses Saul B. Arenson, University of Cincinnati. Edwards Brothers, in chemistry, physics, geology, and astronomy." Enough maInc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1938. 41 pp. 21.5 X 28 cm. terial is purportedly chosen from each of these fields "to enable $0.35. students who will go no further in science to have e better appreciation of their scientific environment." I n addition to this This small, lithoprinted book contains three hundred seventylaudable ambition, the book "has been so built that i t provides a five numerical problems of the type conventionally used in physical science background for the potential teacher of general courses in elementary quantitative chemical analysis. science." This aim is more nearly met. Chapter I is a brief statement covering computations, including The common criticism of superficiality is faced by the author logarithms (no logarithm table is included, however), significant in the preface. "The treatment is, of necessity, rather elemen- figures, and the plan of giving all answers in three figures without tary, and in some cases there is a lack of exactness in definitions. a decimal point so that the student must decide where to place it. This is intentional, inasmuch as we believe that the exact state- In Chapter 11, entitled "Gravimetric Analysis," the problems ment of laws and principles belongs to the standardized courses are confined to cases illustrating determinations in which the in the various related fields." gravimetric measurement is made upon a product separated by I n twenty-seven chapters of approximately equal length, the precipitation. Chapters 111, IV, and V include problems dealing author introduces the sun, mwn, stars, planets, and the earth; with titrimetric measurements (by volume only) involving rocks and minerals, the atmosphere, winds, and weather; the neutralization, oxidation-reduction, and precipitation reactions, atom and its radiation, and rsdioactivity; energy as related to res~ectivelv. Each t w e of Drohlem is introduced bv exam~les machines, heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism, and chemis- with suggested method; of soiutian. I n these explanations most try; biochemistry; cleansing; solutions and colloids; water; editors would frown upon the almost ultra-personal style used. and textiles, cellulose, and plastics. "In choosing the topics for Also some instructon would prefer omitting any suggestion of the inclusion in the text, the test in each case has been whether the ine5cient method of solving problems stepwise by proportion. topic is frequently discussed in popular scientific articles in newsI n the interest of clearness and accuracy, the reviewer believes papers and magazines." Integration of this mass of material that items such as the following examples should be changed in is moderately successful a t the start, hut there is a distressing subsequent editions. Specific gravity and density should be lack of continuity before the end is reached. differentiated (problems 12, 105). The discussion of gram Superficial as the text itself is, room is left within the frame- equivalent seems to assume there is only one kind of hydrogen work for thorough and rigorous treatment of any subject if the and oxygen (page 11). Modem work seems to justify the teacher so desires. The problems and study questions at the formula (NH~)8[P(MorOlo)~] for the heteropoly complex, amend of each chapter, and the review questions in the appendix, monium molyhdiphosphate (problem 47). Zinc ammonium require an extensive knowledge of the subject matter. It seems phosphate is not hydrated (problem 69). The equivalent weight evident that much collateral reading and study is to he required of of phosphoric acid is not one-third of the molecular weight unless the student. I t is therefore very unfortunate that the bibliag- all three hydrogens react: practically, one reacts using methyl raphy ending each chapter refers to books by title only rather orange as the indicator, and two react using phenolphthalein than to page or chapter. (problems 89, 177). Therefore, one milliliter of any normal acid The style is stilted, and much of the phraseology clumsy. will not necessarily be equivalent to one milliliter of any normal There are few actual errors, hut some debatable topics have base (problems 112, 129, 130). Since one milliliter of standard been treated too dogmatically. Examples are "Today, argon is reactant is always equivalent to a definite amount of the desired used in the manufacture of all electric light bulbs.. . . In astorm constituent for a given reaction, the reviewer is convinced that
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