primary objective of the COMMENTARY is to honor the memory and non-polar compounds, equilibrium, andsolutions, theauthorhas of Professor J. Willard Gibbs, himself. been consistently careful to present the experimental evidence The writing and printing were done under the auspices of Yale and to outline in simple terms the essential differences between University and were financed partly by the University and partly the new and the old theories, for which older teachers will be proby Professor Irving Fisher who has been a major force behind the foundly grateful. whole memorial project. Actual work on the COMMENTARY The author frequently intersperses paragraphs of warning began in 1929 and was brought to completion about four years against popular misconceptions and periodically pauses to consolilater. date progress on various fronts. Noteworthy are the paragraphs Volume1 deals with Gibbs's thermodynamical writings included devoted to the evolution of our interpretation of the term element, in the first volume oi each of the two editions of his papers. I t the chapters reviewing the metallic and the non-metallic elements, was edited by F. G. Donnan and Arthur Haas. The contributing and a unique compilation of principles (pp. 287-289). The several authors include Donald H. Andrews, J. A. V. Butler, E. A. chapters dedicated to plant life, plant growth, and plant products Guggenheim, H. S. Harned, F. G. Keyes, E. A. Milne. George W. should be read by every student of physics, biology, and chemistry. Morey, James Rice. F. A. H. Schreinemakers, and Edwin B. Throughout is the typical K e n d d touchcombination of Wilson. Most of the articles are discussions of certain desig- colorful expression and of subtle, whimsical humor. If, for no nated parts of Gibbs's papers, and were written to aid the readers other reason, the reader would be kept a t a high level of interest of those papers. They also include discussions of some modern by the prospect of discovering some hidden barb intended lor the developments. Professor Wilson's article is an outline of a teacher, student, investigator, or even the author. Far example, series of lectures on thermodynamics given by Gibhs in the year "If this tremendously exothermic reaction (mass-energy), once 1899-1900. started, were to get out of control and proceed explokively, all of Volume 11, edited by Arthur Haas, contains articles contrib- the hydrogen on the earth might he tramformed at once and the uted by Paul S. Epstein, Arthur Haas, Leigh Page, and Edwin B. success of the experiment signalled to the rest of the universe by Wilson. I t deals chiefly with the statistical methods of Gibbs, the appearance of a new and exceedingly bright star." "Diving hut includes also two thermodynamical articles, one on the deep down into the waves with all the latest mathematical equip"Theory of Light" and an article on "Vector Analysis and Mul- ment, Schriidinger finally emerged with some involved equations tiple Algebra." in his grasp. ." "Hypotheses are. . .scaffoldingtemporarily emThe volumes are beautifully printed and hound in a style ployed to facilitate the erection of the structure of the science." matching the binding of THE COLLECTED WORKSOP J. WELARD "The Bishop of Wiirzburg used to maintain a special gallows in GIBES. I t seems likely that every serious student of thermo- his diocese upon which to hang chemists. Many college students dynamics or of statistical mechanics will want to consult this would no doubt be glad to see this pleasant custom revived." scholarly and interesting COMMENTARY. If one were to create the term "factual vapor tension" i t could T. F. Y o m c well he applied to the exercises a t the end of each chapter. These UNWBRSITY OX C ~ C A O O searching review questions, based upon the text and refined by the CIIC*OO, ILLINOIS compiler's long and successful teschinaex~erience. constitute one of . . themost valuable features of the text. AN INTRODUCTION TO PWSICALCHEMISTRY. F. A . Philbrick, There is a satisfactory balance between descriptive chemistry M.A. (Oxon.), Late Scholar of Balliol College, Assistant Master and principles, and the two are happily interwoven. But, in a t Rugby School. J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd., Bedford St., comparison with the principles of chemistry and with the nonLondon, W. C. 2, 1937. ix 368 pp. 118 figs. $1.25. metallic elements, some of the metals suffer from textual atrophy. This hook is witten for 1:'nglirh qudents who hare had the Here, the emphask often reflects commercial uses and importance Laskpround of a School Crrrifiratr and ure working for thc er- rather than the specific properties of the elements themselves. ammalions for the Higher Certificate. The material ir largely Charts showing family relationships and variations among the descriptive, and calculus is used only in the discussion of reaction metals begin and end with the first group. rates. The subjects covered are atoms and molecules, solutions, Very few inaccuracies came to the attention of the reviewerhomogeneous equilibrium and reaction rate, ionic reactions and among them the commercial production of barium by the electrolyoronerties of electrolvtes. . . . . heteroeeneous eauilihrium.. nvstal ~~, sis of the fused chloride, the continued operathn at Notadden of stmcture, rolluids, and a short discucsion of qualitative and quan- the Birkeland-Eyde process, and the description of thermit as a titative analysis. Thts indicatci th:at rhc book should he r l a 4 . mixture of "aluminium powder and ferric oxide," rather than of fied for use in this country as a second-year college text and not granular aluminum and ferrosoferric oxide. Typographical errors for a junior or senior course in physical chemistry. To one who are almost nil. There are several minor inconsistencies. Three wishes t o obtain further information with a general chemistry successive paragraphs devoted to the preparation of hydrogen are background, but does not intend to pursue the details of physical entitled, respectively ". . .by the Action of Metals on Cold chemistry, the book can be recommended as of value. Water," ". . .from Metals and Water at aHigh Temperature," and ARTHUR A. VERNON . .by Displacement from Dilute Acids." I n writing t h e m RHDDB ISLAND STATECOLLBGB chemical equations (of which there are still too few!), the auKINOPTON.BY",,. ,sr.run thor represents endothermicchanges sometimes by a plus sign on the SMITE'S INORGANIC CHEMISTRY.James Kendall, F.R.S., Pro- left-hand side and sometimes by a minus on the right. The lucid fessor of Chemistry in the University of Edinburgh; formerly paragraphs devoted to atomic hydrogen on p a w 510 and 534 Professor of Chemistry a t Columbia University and a t New under the general subject of nitrogen could profitably have ap.York University. Second revised edition. D. Appleton-Cen- Deared in Dart under the chemical mooerties of hvdroeen on page 140. On page 725 appears this statement, "A saturated solutwy Company, Inc., New York, 1937. xxiv f 954 pp. 222 tion is a system with three phases," althoughit is obvious from the figs. f 19 full-page illustrations. 15 X 21 an. $4.00. context that the presence of undissolved solute is assumed. Although the author gracefully bows t o Alexander Smith it is The text is equipped with an excellent index which increases its obvious that, in keeping abreast of developments through several value as a reference. The type is easy, and, with the exception revisions, Professor James Kendall has produced a text which is of Figure 185, the illustrations, tables, and diagrams are clear. essentially his own. The following supplementary material is contained on the inside Those familiar with the older editions will be pleased with the covers and in the appendix: solubility of one hundred forty-three sustsined and lively interest in the history of chemistry and the bases and salts in water at 18'C.: international atomic weights, sympathy with both student and teacher which have character1936; customary metric units of length, volume, and weight; hardized every Smith text. I n developing the newer howledge of ness scale; Fahrenheit-Centigrade. conversion scale (4&100'C.); structure, valence, oxidation and reduction, transmutation, polar Vapor pressures of water (&lOO°C.); list of most common valences
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