Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis. W. W. SCOTT, Sc.D., Professor of Chemistry, University of Southern California. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York City, 1928. 164 pp. 10 figures. 10 X 14.5 viii cm. $1.60.
+
Until recently there have been two general types of textbooks on qualitative analysis. One type makes the matters of tests and separations the sole end of the course, and completely ignores the great underlying principles. The other type goes to the opposite extreme, and makes the subject simply a series of applications of "mass action" and other physicochemical laws. Scott, in his manual, takes a middle ground. The analytical procedures are well developed, yet simple and direct; on the other hand, the theoretical explanations are by no means neglected. The groupings and separations are, in general, the customary ones. For example, Group I11 includes both the amphoteric hydroxides and the sulfides, and the two subgroups of Group 11 are separated by ammonium polysulfide. Each group is treated under three heads: preliminary tests, separetions, and chemical principles. Under preliminary tests are given the comparative reactions of the elements, with particular reference t o separations and tests. These are all laboratory experiments, which the student himself performs. The separations are given in tabular farm, and are w r y complete. Following these tables in each rase is a chart, summing up in diagrammatic form the steps of the analytical processes, also giving the formulas, colors, and solubilities of the precipitates formed. Under chemical p i n d p l e s is given a thorough study of the changes involved in the separations and testgood theoretical discussion, but not tw hard for a first-year college student. At the end of each group is a "classrmm reviewuset of questions and problems intended t o clinch the students' knowledge of the subject matter. This
list of questions is followed by a list of equations covering all the chemical changes involved in the group. I n Part I1 the a d d ions are treated in the usual way, and in Part 111 is given systematic analysis, with complete directions for preparing the solution, dealing with refractory substances, etc. Part IV gives very complete information about preparing reagents and test solutions. At the end is an appendix containing tables of hlow-pipe tests, and flame tests, also "Identification of Substances by Their Crystal Form." The introduction o v e r s manipulative details, some of which are new and interesting. W. H. CHAPIN OBBRLINCOLLEGE Analytical Chemisby. Vol. 2. Quantitative Analysis. F. P. WADWELL, late Professor of Analytical Chemistry a t the Polytechnic Institute of Ziirich, and WILLIAM T. HALL,Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Mass. Inst. of Technology. Seventh edition. Wiley & Sons, Inc.. New York City, 1928. xiii 848 pp. 152 figures. 15 X 23.5 cm. $5.00.
+
The seventh edition of this weU-known and valuable hook, while retaining almost the same page numbers, contains a number of important changes and additions based upon recent work. Among these may be mentioned improved procedures for the separation and determination of magnesium, phosphate, calcium, titanium in steel, beryllium, bismuth, lead in brass, manganese, chromium and vanadium in steel, and the use of potassium acid phthalate as a standard for alkali. F'iftyfour pages are devoted t o general operations. 386 t o gravimetric analysis, 186 t o volumetric analysis, and 82 t o gas analysis. There are a number of important tables useful t o chemists, including density and chemical factors. A f a ture of the new edition is a syllabus of a course in quantitative analysis as given t o chemical engineering students at the Masachusetts Institute of Technology.
180
JOURNAL oa CHEW
There are a number of methods of recognized merit not mentioned, which might well be included, such as Fales' method for precipitating zinc sulfide, the phen~lhydrazine method for separatinn . .~ aluminum from iron and other metals, the precipitation of palladium by dimethylglyoxime, Starck's method of determining fluorine, titration of vanadic acid with ferrous sulfate, and the use of constant boiling hydrochloric acid as a primary standard in acidimetry. The excellent work of Smith on the perchlorate method for potassium is not even mentioned, d though it represents a great improvement in the accuracy of this popular process. Because this book is not only a text but a reference book, it is desirable that it should include as many such recognized methods as possible. The preparation of cupferron on page 160 might well be omitted because this reagent has been on the market far some time. Few errors appear; a rather obvious one occurs on line 6 from the bottom of page 86, where "calcium oxdate" should be "ammonium oxdate." It is obviously incorrect, on page 594, t o assume that iron wire has a purity of 99.7%. This book includes very little theory and is primarily one of methods and procedures. It should be in the library of every analytical chemist, and available t o every student of quantitative analysis. H. H. W ~ L A R D U ~ ~ v s n s I orwv MICHIGAN
or, in exceptional cases, for those of the second year. The book presents in a clear manner the necessary details for the laboratory work in a course of elementary physical chemistry; the directions call far very simple apparatus, most of which may be found in the ordinary small college labaratory or which may be constructed by one of ordinary ability. The topics are, in general, well selected to impress the student with the viewpoint that physical chemistry "is not a special kind of chemistry," but rather a summarizing recognition of the general laws underlying all chemical phenomena. For this reason i t is urged that the study of physical chemistry be begun a t the beginning of the college =ourspoint of view adopted in part, a t least, by an increasing number of teachers of freshman chemistry in American colleges. The topics for laboratory determination indude molecular weights; the ionic hypothesis in relation to color, heat of neutralization, common ion effect, indicators, electromotive force, etc.; reaction rates; distribution; heterogeneous equilibria; and some behaviors of colloids. Some valuable numerical tables and suggested experimental problems are found a t the end of the book. The author has succeeded in presenting his material in a clear-cut manner. No difficulty should be experienced by the average student in following directions. Sixty-three exercises are presented; none are long. Elementary Plactical Physical Chemistry. The book appears to be teachable. It FRANK SHERWOOD TAYLOR, M.A., B.Sc., offers an opportunity t o small colleges Chemistry Master a t Gresham's School, to carry out some practical physical Holt, England. Oxford University chemistry hitherto not attempted, perPress, American Branch, New York haps, on account of lack of funds. For 128 pp. 51 figures. those colleges and universities more fortuCity, 1928. xi 12.5 X 18.75 cm. $1.25. nately situated financially, the rather The book "has been written for the pertinent suggestion is made not t o wait use of the advanced classes of schools until the third or fourth year t o present and the first-year classes of the universi- the quantitative side of some of the simtiesV(Englishschools are meant). For the ple physico-chemical problems of this average American college i t would serve book. Though it is not expected that the regular laboratory course in physical suite well for students in the third year
~
~
+
~
~
