on: the chemistry and theory related t o sulfuric acid manufacture; construction materials; production materials; the burners, roasters, and furnaces used t o produce sulfur dioxide from brimstone, pyrites, zinc ore, copper ores, and copper matte; burner or furnace gas, its composition and a general discussion of its purification. The erposition of the nitration procesres rcquirrs ahout onethird of the book. The ammonia uxidnnun method of nitration ir dcscrlbcd in detail and lnrtle spacr is Xwrn to the older sodium nitrate method which, the author states, "may be considered obsolete." Separate chapters are given to: the Glover tower, lead chambers, Gay-Lussac tower, and auxiliary equipment. Such details a s design, size, temperature control, and operation are discussed. I n the chapter on lead chambers considerable space is given to special types of lead chambers and the tower systems which have been designed to supplement or replace lead chambers. A chapter is devoted to a discussion of a complete plant, its layout, starting into operation, operation, control. shutting down, maintenance, and yields. Under purification. the author deals with: effects of the various impurities upon plant equipment and operation, and upon the uses of the product; the avoidance or the elimination of these imnwities: and the recovery of sludge and wnstc acid in various industrirs. A discussion is given of the theory and the various rmdern equipment nsed to concentrate dilute acid. Slightly more space is given to the contact or catalytic processes than t o the nitration processes, even though about 60 per cent. of all sulfuric acid is made by the Latter processes. The author gives statistics t o show that the amount of sulfuric acid made by the 'contact processes is increasing. The topics treated are: a general discussion of the steps involved; detailed discussion of the principles involved in each step and the types of apparatus nsed; the catalysts used; the layout of a complete contact plant, its operation and control; and thespecial types or adaptations of contact plants. Considerable attention is paid t o the methods of purification and the control of the temperature of the hurner gas. A general description is furnished of the preparation of the various catalyst masses, the amounts needed, the method of determining the activity, and the regeneration of platinum masses. There is a short account of the l e d controversies regarding thc vanadium oxide catnlyrti. A detadrd comparison of the various platmum and vanadium catalyits gives the merits and disadvantages of each. The last chapter contains miscellaneous information on: mixing and shipping of sulfuric acid; hazards and safety measures; costs and cost accounting; factors t o be considered when a user of sulfuric acid is faced with the problem of buying acid or building a sulfuric acid plant; and trends in the industry. The 15 appendices contain tabulated information of practical value t o the chemical engineer and acid manufacturer such as hydrometers, sulfuric acid tables, sulfuric acid temperature conversion tables, brick shapes, nomographs for finding specific volumes of sulfuric solution, etc. The book is an indispensable reference for those who are making a study of any phase of American sulfuric acid manufacture. The author has used his wealth of plant and consulting experience to present a clearly written practical treatise with a minimum of technicalities. The numerous references to the literature are a valuable aid to those who need to study in detail some phase of sulfuric acid manufacture. R m u s D. REED NBW JBIISGY STAT% .TBICBBBS COLLBOB
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UPFBRMONTCLAIR, NBWJBXSEY
CHEMISTRY WORKBOOK AND LABORATORY MANUAL Russell S. Howard, L y a s Township High School and Junior College. La Grange, Illinois. Henry Holt and Company, New York 306 pp. 65 figs. 19.7 X 28cm.. detachable, City, 1936. xi punched. $0.96.
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This b w k is nrimarilv a laboratom manual desimed - t o accompany the author's "Units in Chemistry." The workbook, viewed as a set of drill exercises, is not included. Theexperiments
are grouped about eight major units, each unit being illustrated by from four to twelve experiments. Each numbered experiment is in turn divided into several independent experiments, each followed by related questions. The instructor is thus furnished with a wide choice of material. The form of pupil reporting of the experiments is unique. The significant observations are brought forth by questions which require brief answers. Deductions from these observations are followed immediately by other questions, which are likewise to be answered briefly. Opportunity for originality in observations is limited, the irrelevant avoided, and opportunity for inductive thought is increased by the sharp focus. Many experiments not ordinarily performed in the introductory chemistry canne are included. The use of common substancesbutter, putty, clay, coal, iodized s a l t a d d s interest. The phenomena of rain and of swelling due t o insect bites are reproduced in a test-tube. The experiments on colloids are well chosen. Many satisfactory quantitative experiments are included. Helpful information an solution concentration is given handily. The book is well done, quite free from errors (although one wonden why a hydrogen generator should be heated, Fig. 21). and is recommended where a strong laboratory course is desired. The author has exemplified his philosophy of the "LABOKatury. not InbORXl'OKY." set forth in unr of the prelirninnry discussions, "The laboratory is not an appendage hung an th; chemistry recitation room." ELBERTC. WEAVER PRACTICALPHYSICALCHEMISTRY.Alexander Findlay, Professor of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen. Sixth edition. Longmans, Green and Co., New York City, 1935. xii 318 PP. 117figs. 13.8 X 21.5cm. $2.50.
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Thc I s l v < t edition of this book i.; the recult of a general revision and the introdwtion of rewral new suhjrcts. The added items include the use of vacuum tubes in the regulation of thermostats: the specific gravity balance; the torsion balance for surface tension measurement; use of oscillators and other alternating current sources in conductivity determinations; use of the carborndum detector in analysis by conductance; the glass electrode; determination of transport numbers from electromotive force measurements; adsorption and catalysis. As in the previous editions, the first two chapters are devoted t o a discussion of errors and chemical technic, while the third chapter gives a review of thermostats and regulating devices for thermostats. The other chapters give short discussions of the theory and descriptions of experiments on density of gases and liquids, viscosity, surface tension, optical measurements, osmotic properties of solutions, distribution between two non-miscible solvents, conductivity of electrolytes, transport numbers, electromotive force measurements, velocity of chemical reactions, thermochemistry, heterogeneous equilibrium, and colloids. I n order t o keep abreast of the developments in science, this book, one of the standard laboratory manuals in physical chemistry, has gone through frequent revisions. The reviewer's experience has proved that the experiments are workable and the directions clearly given. The descriptive material forms a good supplement to classwork and gives the student an insight into laboratory technic. Some minor additions to what is a very good hook on experimental physical chemistry might be made by expanding the sections on homogeneous equilibria, colloids, and sources of alternating current, and adding experiments an boiling point-vapor composition curves and modern theories of acids. The teacher can certainh iind sufficient ex~erimentsfor the laboratory work of a one-year course in physical chemisrry and the
