535
NEW BOORS
The book contains much useful information for analytical chemists. Unfortunately, the text is in many respects incomplete, both with regard to literature references and to the reagents and reactions described. Many misprints and misstatements occur and the reader is well advised to consult the original literature. Adsorption and oxidation-reduction indicators are not mentioned. In many instances the author has drawn freely upon Feigl’s Spot Tests without referring to it. The reader often gets the impression that the book was hastily written. For example, on page 529 the reaction for potassium with “aurantia” is described, and on page 532 that with dipicrylamine (not dipicylamine), the author apparently not being aware that the two reagents are identical. On page 541 a reaction for selenious acid is given under the heading thiocarbamide, and another one under thiourea. I t is hoped that in a next edition a more critical selection of reactions will be given and that many mistakes will be eliminated. I. M. KOLTHOFF.
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Organic Analytical Reagents. By J. H. YOE AND L. A. SARVER. 6 x 9 t in.; ix 339 pp.; 2 fig.; 13 tables. S e w York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1941. Price: $4.00. The authors have written this book with a fourfold purpose: ( 1 ) to assemble the literature on organic analytical reagents, ( 2 ) to discuss the theoretical aspects of the subject, (5) to furnish an up-to-date and reasonably complete bibliography, and (4) to suggest further research. Laboratory procedures are not included because of limitation of space. In this connection i t is strange that no reference has been made, even in the bibliography, to Prodinger’s book on the applications of organic reagents in quantitative inorganic analysis. It is also regrettable that the authors do not refer in the text to Feigl’s books and do not pay tribute to him for his pioneer xork in the systematic development of the entire field. The book is divided into two parts: Part I , which is descriptive and theoretical, contains nine chapters entitled: Introduction, Classification of Organic Analytical Reagents, Organicsolvents and Wash Liquids, Organic Acids and Bases, Oxidizing and Reducing Agents, Indicators, Primary Standards, Valence and Complex Compounds, the Salinogenic Reagents, Photometric Aids, Miscellaneous Organic Reagents. Of these chapters, VI11 and I X 3re no doubt the most important and of interest to all analytical chemists. (The information on the use of l-nitro-2-naphthol on page 129 should be omitted, since the pure compound is not a reagent for cobalt and palladium.) The reviewer does not see a great advantage in combining in one book the use of all organic substances in inorganic analysis. The information given on wash liquids, indicators, protective colloids, etc., is found in many texts. By omitting this material the authors could have saved some 100 pages which could have been used to advantage for other purposes. Part 11, entitled “Glossary and Bibliography,” contains three chapters: Introduction, Organic Reagents Employed for the Detection or Determination of Various Elements, and R glossary of organic reagents. In Chapter XI1 reference should have been made to Tables of Reagents for Inorgani~Analysis by the International Committee on New Analytical Reagents (Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, Leipzig, 1938), where a more critical list is given than in the present book. The book contains a great deal of information. For the analytical chemist it is convenient to have available all the literature on the application of organic reagents in inorganic analysis. The appearance and print of the book are excellent. I. M. KOLTHOFF.
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The Nature of Thermodynamics. By P. W. BRIDGMAN.51 x 81 in.; xii 229 pp.; 3 fig. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1941. Price: $3.50. Professor Bridgman has undertaken a careful examination of the concepts of thermodynamics, not only in themselves but also as they may bo related to microscopic concepts. The course of this examination will be interesting and stimulating to physical chemists a s well as physicists; i t is helpful to any user of thermodynamics to go over his own under-
