metals and alloys. I t should be considered as an essential addition t o any serious library on the subject. Modem and up-todate in material, it is cognizant of all the important work and theories of foreign and English investigations in this direction. The fact that there are so many references t o articles published this year is proof of its thoroughness. The book is beautifully bound and printed. The figures and illustrations are goad and carefully chosen t o assist the mathematical and theoretical derivations and explanations. A number of tables give valuable information. FREDERICK A. ROHRMAN MICR~GAN COLLBQB OP MININO AND TBEHNOLO-Y Houoamrr. Mrcmro*~
A LABORATORY MANUAL OR GENERAL CHEMISTRY.Herman T . Briscoc, Professor of Chemistry, Indiana University; Herschel Hunt, Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Purdue University; and Francis M. Whitacrc, Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Case School of Applied Science. Houghton MiMin and Co.. Boston, 1936. 274 pp. 23 figs. 6 tables. 22 X 28 cm. $1.75. Three covers of water-resistant cardboard, a study guide, and s notebwk are all made into a single book by an ingenious application of spiral binding. When Laid flat three pages may be seen a t one time.. sa that the student mav read directions for exoerirnents, questions and the like, and at thc same time rrc the forms provided fur the cntry of rciulr,. l ' h r manual i* intcnded for u3c in classes where the rtudenti hnvc had or have not had high. school chemistry. Optional experiments are provided for the abler students. The book provides work for one full year of at least four laboratory periods a week. The first half of the book is made up of a study guide of directions for fifty-three units of experimental work and an appendix of eleven pages. The units are alike in their general makeup. Each consists of an introductory explanation, directions for the conduct of experimental work and review questions intended to direct the students' attention to important facts or to introduce new problems, the solution of which will lead to a better understanding of the priliciples involved. Most of the experimental work is quantitative in nature, and the questions tend to emphasize the quantitative aspects of chemistry. The appendix of eleven parts designated by letters is intended t o aid the student in the solution of mathematical problems and to supply data which he could not be expected to know. Appendix A consists of explanations of sixteen types of problems, with the solution of one example of each. Appendixes B, C, D, E. F, and G are useful tables. Appendix H is an apparatus list representing a larger kit of apparatus than is usually supplied to the college freshman. Appendix I is a list of all chemicals needed for each experiment (something very helpful to the laboratory instructor). Appendix J is a table of references to twelve of the more recent college textbooks in general chemistry, and Appendix K describes laboratory precautions in detail and gives directions for first aid in case of accident. The second half of the manual is in reality a notebook with removable pages and definite places for the entry of all data, calculations, and experimental work. Each page is marked and numbered to indicate the experiment t o which it relates. This arrangement is a valuable sid to the instructor when he grades or corrects the notebooks. Carefully worded questions are intended t o lead the student t o reflect on the mesning of phenomena o b s w e d and t o connect these with the principles and laws t o which they are related. This work has been well done indeed. I n general, i t can be truthfully said that this hook represents an advance over most manuals now available for use in first-year classes. Special thought has been given to the teaching of those items which are most frequently poorly taught, and less attention is given t o materials usually well presented by demonstration in the class room. Yet there is no serious reduction in " k s t hand contacts" with the actual materials, apparatus, and processes of general chemistry which are essential to intelligent textbook study. ~~~
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The amancement and oresentation of each unit is such as t o justify the a&od cont&ion that it provides more time for observation, reflection, and interpretation of results, makes the recording of data more uniform and easily read, and saves the instructor time and labor in grading. This manual should he given careful consideration by all college teachers of general chemistry. J. 0. FRANK Sr~rsTsrcnassco~~~om Osarosa. Wrscelism
A COMBINEDLABORATORY MANUAL AND WORKBOOK IN CHEMISTRY. .Kenneth E. Conn, Head of Chemistry Department, High School, Bloomington, Indiana, and Hemtan T. Briscoe, Professor of Chemistry, Indiana University. Mentzer. Bush and 429 pp., including Company, New York City, 1935. xvi numerous blanks, detachable, punched. 53 figs. 18.5 X 25.5 cm. $0.80, less discount.
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The combined laboratory manual and workbook is written on a basis of twenty-five subject-matter units. Each unit contains: (1) preliminary questions, (2) preview, (3) experiment(s), (4) self-administering tests, (5) study outline, (6) bibliography. The pupil who studies a unit from these five different approaches should become thoroughly conversant with the contents. The preliminary questions are t o be used both before and after the study of the unit and are in general designed to be thoughtstimulating. The preview contains a relevant quotation and a brief, interesting introduction t o the unit. The experiments are simple, require simple apparatus, and are t o be recorded by answering direct questions in short sentences. The self-administering tests and study outlines are frequently of the new type, although this is not always the case. Multiple choice tests are employed most often. The bibliography is limited to a relatively small number of reliable sources. References t o fourteen widely used textbooks are included. so the combined workbook and manual can fit practically any teaching situation. The strongest appeal of this book is in the carefully worked out questions based on test-tube experiments chiefly. The student is not led t o assume more than the evidence warrants, showing an excellent example of an application of one phase of the scientific method of thinking. Especially good are the experiments of a practical sort, those dealing with paints, electroplating, nitrocellulose, digestion, and dyeing. Each experiment is printed in such a way that it may he removed from the book without destroying a portion of another exercise. Additional exercises and experiments are provided for the benefit of ambitious pupils, and a brief course in the qualitative analysis of the cations is included near the end of the book. The book is quite free from serious errors and is good mechanically. One wishes, however, that the subscript numbers in formulas were in much larger type. The range of phenomena studied under a given unit is not as extensive as that in several workbooks now available. Therefore, the chance of a pupil's finding the workbook questions answered in a given textbook is good.
CHEMISTRY TESTS,FORMA. Kenneth E. Conn, Head of Chemistry Department, High School, Bloomington, Indiana, and Herman T. Briscoe, Professor of Chemistry, Indiana University. Mentzer, Bush and Company, New York City, 1933. 59 pp. 18.5 X 25.5 cm. $0.20, less discount. This pamphlet is a set of tests, c h i d y new-type, including midvear and final examinations. t o accomnanv the "Combined . Lnborolory Manual owd li'orkbook" by the same authors. S o information ir furniahcd as to the smndardnation or rrliability of these tests. ELBERT C. WEAVER
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