RECENT BOOKS A L a s o ~ a r o wMANUALoa GENERALCHEMISTRY.William Foster, Russell Wellman Moore Professor of Chemistry in Princeton University, and Hubert Alyea, Assistant Professor of Chemistry in Princeton University. Fourth edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N. J., 1935. xvi 177 pp. 34 6gs. 13.5 X 21.25 cm. $2.00.
the fundamentals and many of the applications of the Lewis theory of valence. He evidently has an unusually clear grasp of the subject himself and his presentation is such as t o he understandable to an interested student who has completed most or all of a good general chemistry course. There is little to criticize adversely in this hook. A few minor points may, however, be mentioned: This is another excellent laboratory manual. I t is designed A sodium atom does not "have a tendency toward losing an to accompany the senior author's "An Introduction to General electron" (p. 12) unless a baby "has a tendency toward losing" Chemistry," hut its content and general arrangement make it a piece of candy he holds because his big brother, arriving on the readily adaptable to use with any standard college text. As scene, takes it away from him. stated in the preface, "The best of the exercises of the earlier I n a crystal of NaF each ion has 6, not 8, near neighbors of the editions of the Manual have been unified into thirty assignments other kind (p. 23). and a t the same time much new material has been added." The The 0. molecule in its normal state does not contain an orthirty assignments furnish a good program far the academic y y , dinary double bond (p. 32). (Teaching a subject such as this and the additional or "Supplementary Exercises," cavermg would be much simpler if there were no exceptions t o the usual sixty-five pages, offer material for optional assignments, extra rules, but, alas, it is not so!) work for more able students, some elementary qualitative anI n the normal state of an isolated carbon atom only two of the alysis, and inorganic preparations. four valence electrons are paired (p. 37). The thirty assignments are well selected for first-year students. The sharp differentiation between ionic and atomic lattices The range of topics is broad and the treatment comprehensive. (p. 92) does not exist. [Cf. HUGOINS.Phys. Rm.,37, 286 (1926) Each assignment is divided by sub-titles and numbered para- and PAULING AND HUGGINS, 2. Krist., A87, 205 (1934).] The graphs t o assist the student in a logical organization of the sub- crystal-structure evidence favors the view that all gradations ject. Assignment XI, for example, on "Chlorine Chemistry," between ''electrovalency" and "covalency" are possible. is presented under the subtitles "Preparation of Chlorine," The statement is made (p. 130) that Sidgwick in 1923 was the "Properties of Chlorine," "Preparation of Hydrogen Chloride." first "to show how covalency can account for the co-ordination "Properties of Hydrogen Chloride and Hydrochloric Acid," complexes." Two previous articles by the reviewer [Science, 55, "Determination of Chlorides Present in Water," "Theory," 459 (1922) and 3.Phys. Chem., 26, 601 (1922)l have apparently "Procedure." "Outside Work," and "Exhibits." Quantitative escaped the author's notice. exercises are common, as in this assignment where the student is The representation (p. 134) of ZnSOg7HsO as [Zn(HgO)s]++ introduced to the use of a standard solution and the detection of [S04(H20)]-- is not in agreement with what we should expect the endpoint by the reaction of K2Cr04as indicator. Each as- from other crystal structures. I n a compound such as this the signment includes under "Outside Work" a list of problems and water molecules are probably held by both positive and negative questions for the student and under "Exhihits" a number of ions, hridging between them (c. g., the oxygen of an H 2 0 can be instructive exhibits relating t o the general subject t o be arranged held by a Zni+ ion and one or both of the hydrogens by one or in the lahoratary by the instructor. Several of the later assign- two SO4-- oxygen atoms). Also, a water molecule in a crystal ments involve studies of important periodic groups of the ele- is more likely t o bridge between oxygen,atoms of different SO4-ments. groups . - than between two oxygen atoms in the same SO4-Of the thirty-three supplementary exercises the first eighteen group. include some more advanced general exercises, same work with The explanation (p. 137) of the existence of a solid compound organic materials, photochemistry, solubility product, and some of the formula (GH&O. CCL seems very improbable. The rewell-arranged elementary exercises in the groupings and methods viewer ventures t o oredict that the chlorine atoms in this struc.of qualitative analysis. The last fifteen exercises are chemical ture will be found io be much closer to hydrogen atoms of the preparations. CIH, groups than t o oxygens. The book is well made up, the print* is good, and errors are The explanation (p. 148) of the coplamr arrangement of the While a goodly number $f excellent laborafew and insignificant. 4 covalent hands around a bivalent Ni, Pd, or Pt atom is a hit tory manuals are available, this one is sufficiently distinctive t o far-fetched and quite inferior t o Pauling's treatment of the suhiustifv.its amearance. and will doubtless find a field of usefulness iect IJ. Am. Chem. Soc., 53. 1367 (1931)l. .. . in many laboratories. W. A. H A ~ O N D . MAURICE L. HUOGINS
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THEJOHNS HOPR~NS UNIYBBSIN BALZIMOBB. MD.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MODERN THEORY OR VALENCY. 3. C. Speaknzan, Ph.D.s Lecturer in at the University of Sheffield. Longmans, Green & Co., New York City; Edward Arnold & Co., London. 1935. vii f 157 PP. 1 fig. 12 X 18 cm. $1.60. I n the author's opinion, and also in that of the reviewer, a large proportion of the subject matter of this little book should be included in the general chemistry course, a t least far students expecting t o study chemistry further. "Unfortunately," however, "the theory has still not properly impregnated the texthooks." Hence "the author has ventured t o write this book, which is to he regarded as a supplemat t o existing textbooks. The primary aim has been to give to students during the early part of their chemical education the background necessary for their later and mare specialized studies." The author has succeeded admirably in presenting very lucidly
T ~ P ER I N C I ~ ~OR E SEWERD6ENTAI-A~ THBoRGTIW E L ~ c m o CE~MISTRY. Malcolm Dole. Ph.D., Assistant Prof-r of chemistry, univenity, Mc~raw.Hill Bwk lnc.,New York City, 1935. xiii 549 PP. 14 X 20.5 cm. 85.00. This new book contains many topics not usually included in texts on electcochnnistry. Dielectric constants, molecular rays, electrokinetic and electrocapillary phenomena, phase boundary and semipermeable membrane potentials are same of the subjects treated. There are seven chapters dealing with conductance and its theoretical interpretation. The thermodynamics of concentration cells and potentiometric methods (especially the glass electrode) are discussed extensively. The value of the book is enhanced by chapters on the Arrhenius dissociation theory and on ionic equilibria. There is also a brief discussion of the "Fundamentals of Thermodynamics." I n this extensive list of subjects,
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the reviewer was surprised to find but very few pages devoted to electro-deposition and nu references to the passage of electricity through solid salts or gases; critical potentials and positive rays are omitted. Even more surprising is the absence of any discussion of the very important investigations of the conductance of solutions by direct-current methods. The hook is addressed especially to "graduate students who have. . . had an elementan, course in ~hvsical chemistrv." I- t will . -~~ be of value also to chemists of more maturity who are not thoroughly acquainted with recent investigations of the subjects discussed. While the book is not a laboratory guide and contains few details of instruments or laboratory technic, the experimental point of view is always dominant. The reader isconstantly aware that the material presented to him has been withdrawn directly from the literature and that much of it is from research still in progress. There are many tables of data to illustrate the results of experiment and the success or limitations of theory. Nnmerous figures illustrate the facts and experimental methods. A goad index and a table of symbols will be of value to the student who must interrupt his reading a t intervals. Excellent judgment has been exercised in the mathematical treatments. The fundamental assumptions underlying various theories are explained, the conclusions are stated and discussed. Mathematical details, of interest only to the specialist who must necessarily work with the original literature, are omitted. The points of interest to the general reader stand out, therefore, in clear relief. I t is possible for an experienced reader to profit greatly from a pleasant, rapid reading of the book. In a new hook as extensive as this some mistakes are to be expected. A few, it s&ms, should be pointed out. On page 83, the author expresses his regret that there is no method for the determination of the degree of dissociation, or, of strong electrolytes which is comparable with that of MacInnes and Shedlovsky for weak electrolytes such as acetic acid. The evaluation of the concentration term, c, occurring in the expression for the equivalent conductance of (the ions of) acetic acid depends upon or of the acetic acid. Likewise each of the equations for the equivalent conductance of the three strong electrolytes, from which the acetic acid equation was derived, involves the ion concentration of the respective strong electrolyte. If one of the strong electrolytes should prove to be incompletel~dissociated the whole method would presumably fail and the value of ar of the acetic acid would be, a t best, uncertain. The ion concentrations in acetic acid solutions have not, therefore, been determined more accurately than similar concentrations in solutions of the three (involved) strong electrolytes. Another error, probably less important, is the use of incomplete units for the equivalent (and mold) conductance. The author bas been careful toremind the reader that the words "dissociation" and "ionization" are Rot synonymous, and points out that dissociation can occur without ionization. Unfortunately he also maintains that a gaseous molecule like that of cesium fluoride is ionized but not dissociated. The reviewer feels that such an expansion of the meaning of the word ioniealion would deprive it of much of its value. The reviewer was disappointed in the chapter on the "Fundamentals of Thermodynamics," in which well-established conventions are completely disregarded. Perhapslittle harm will be done for it is likely thai themajority of readers of the book will have been trained in therdynamics and will omit this seemingly unnecessary chapter. The text, as a whole, is clearly written, thorough, and up to date. I t deserves to be widely read and will prove both profitable and pleasurable. T . F. YOUNG
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Gaonos Hsneear
JONES
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TR& UNIYBRSITY OF CBICACD
GENERALCHEMISTRY POR COLLEGES.Herman T. Briscoe, Indiana University. Honghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1935. viii f872 pp. 261 figs. 15.5 X 23.5 an. $3.75. This book is designed for students who are starting to study chemistry, but the reviewer agrees with the author's statement that i t contains enough material so that it may he used by stu-
dents who have had one year of chemistry in high school. The material is divided into 39 chapters which in turn may be grouped as follows in order to give an idea as to where emphasis is placed: theory, 12 chapters; non-metals, 11chapters; metals, 8 chapters; organic chemistry, 3 chapters; colloids, solutions, radioactivity, 1chapter for each. Although oxygen and hydrogen are introduced early in the book the major part of the first half of the book is devoted to a development of the atomic and molecular theories and applications. The historical method is used for the developments. Modern beliefs are contrasted with the older views. Atomic structure (Bohr theory) is presented early and used throughout the book. Compounds are classified as "electrovalent" or "covalent" and these types are carefully explained. Many of the more difficult concepts of chemistry are mentioned early in the book and then repeated and expanded in later pages. The arrangement of the chapters on descriptive chemistry is somewhat unusual in that the treatment of the non-metals is interrupted by the introduction of a chapter dealing with the alkali metals. The physical make-up of the hook is attractive. The illustrations are clear and interesting. I t is printed with good type on thin but opaque paper so that the volume is not unduly large even though it contains almost 900 pages. Some of the material which some teachers will wish to omit is minted in small tvoe. , M a n y of thr cltscriptive chapters contain summaries. 1\11or t h e chapleri contain tbnupht-prowking questions, and reading rcferenccs including many references to rhe JUL'RNAL OF CHFMICAL EDUCATION. One may wonder, when reading page 446 about the electrolysis of fused sodium hydroxide, why the OH- ions are discharged a t the anode only t o react a t once to form oxygen and water. This well written, interesting, and comprehensive text is an addition to our list of excellent texts on general chemistry for colleges. E. ROGERWASHBURN
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UNIVB~SITY OF NBBEASU LINCOLN,NBBRASY*
INORGANIC COLLOID CHEMISTRY,VOL. 11. THE HYDROUS OXIDES AND HYDROXIDES.Harry Boyer Weiser. Professor of Chemistry a t The Rice Institute. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. New York City, 1935.., vii'+429 pp. 701 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $4.75. The aim of this haok is t o discuss the methods of preparation, properties, and uses of oxides in the colloidal state. I t is not merely a revision of an earlier haok by the same author but has been largely rewritten and changed t o conform with the latest developments. The first chapter is devoted to a general consideration of the preparation and properties of hydrous oxides and gels, and the subject matter of the second chapter is the hydrous oxides of iron. The third chapter deals with the hydrous oxides of the aluminum family while the fourth chapter has for its subject matter hydrous chromic oxide. I n the neat ten chapters the oxides are taken up as stated in the preface "in so far as practicable, in the order in which they appear in the periodic table." The last four chapters discuss the technical applications of the hydrous oxides in mordant dyeing, mineral tanning. and water purification. The aims of the book have been very well accomplished and a wealth of information is presented in a clear manner. The amonnt of material included in the book should make it a valuable reference work, while the literature citations are complete, so that one has a t hand the starting point for the investigation of hvther details. The chapters devoted t o the technical applications furnish much material for the teacher who wishes to point out the practical applications of colloid chemistry. Far these reasons the hook should be a valuable reference work for those interested in teaching the science of chemistry. For the student of chemistry it furnishes a very readable and interesting study of an important field of colloid chemistry. AnA. VERNON R ~ D ISLAND B STATBCOLLBOB KINGSION, R a m = ISI.AND
