nonionic substances sueh zs glycerine and sugar, the isolation of various ionic substances sueh as uranium, and the engineering aspects of the use of ion exchange resins. The analytical and biochemical applications are treated briefly. Astonishingly, there are no references to the isolation of the synthetic tl.ansuranium elements by ion exchange chromatography, a series of separations that haye not been achieved in m y othcr way. This second edition illustrates again the great contribution of the ion rrchange manufacturers to remarch and progress in basic science through the production of standardized, stable resins. Even the preparation of this book has had the support of a leading producer of ion exohange resins. All students, teachers, engineers, and pract,ical workers who are interested in the phenomenon and application of ion exchange will find this second edition an invalushle introduction and guide to the subject. HAROLD T i . 8 T R l I N
ARGDWNENATIONAL LABORATORY
LLYONT,1 r m h . o ~
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. VOLUME 8: COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF NONMETALS Edited by David F. Boltz, Wayne State University, Detroit. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New Y a k , 1958. xii 372 pp. 16 X 23.5 cm. $8.50.
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THIS i~ definitely a long awaited and welcome edition in the "Chemical Analysis Series." Although it haa been ment,ioned by the editor in the preface that it is a mpplementnl volume of Professor Sandell's "Colorimetric Detcrmination of Traren of Metals," the present volume in complete in it,self. I n Chapter I t,he theory of measurement of radiant energy has been described after's. short introduction t o the basic concepts of radiant energy. Passihly i t would have been bet,ter to show tho usefulness of the Ringbom plot instead of just mentioning it. The short, d i m m i o n on instrumentation gives a geneval idea. The broad principles of methodology have also heen diseussrd hem. The elements dealt with in this hook are phosplio~~ous,dieon, nitrog~n, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, sulfur, t ~ l l m h m ,selenium, and boron. The chapter on phosphorus is excellent. The chapter on nitrogen in accordance with its importance ocrupics almost onefourth of the entire hook. The various modifications of Kjeldahl methods have bccn discussed elaborately. The descriptions of actual procedures are sometime too short. Otherwise, this chapter rovers a wide range of materials and the analyst hill find it very handy. T h r reviewer does not know when the manuscript was completed. Tho chapter on chloride does not include the excellent method for chloride developed by West
(Continued on page 11414) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
;Pecent % : ' and Call (Anal. Chem., 27, 1221 (1956)). Among the methods for the isolation and stabilization of sulfur dioxide that, based on the formation of disulfitemercurate (Anal. Chem., 28, 1816, (1956)), should have been included. The reviewer feels that although cyanide and thiocyanete are not nonmetals, they could have been included in this hook as special eases along with the halogens. The analyst will find vzried and extensive use far the book. All through the hook is easyreading. The traditional high standard of the publisher has been maintained in the g&up of the hook. BUDDHADEV REN
Lo"rsr*~* STATEU ~ r v ~ n s m r B*TONR000.. LOUI.I*N*
CHEMISTRY OF THE STEROIDS
W. Kline, Reader in Biochemistry, University of London. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Yak, 1957. 216 pp. 13 x 19cm. $3.50 T m s hook is intended to serve as a companion to J . K. Grant's vohme on the "Biochemistry of the Steroids" whioh is now in preparation. The hook is written in such a style that a. non-specialist (with one year of organic chemistry) can read and obtain a knowledge whioh will better enable him to discuss his poblems with chemists; it also oilers a good review for organic and biological chemipts. An interesting historical outline is included in the introduction. Steriochemistry is well covered and emphasized throughout the book; configurations are depioted in a clear and simple manner.
Nomenclature is hrieHy discussed and references are made to older and simitrivial systems of nomenclature. Important physical and chemical properties are presented in same detail. Seventyeight pages are devoted to the naturally occurring steroids. The last chapter describes methods used in the sepsration of steroids. Several tables are given rhich contain valuable information on symbols, physical and chemical properties, and some of the natural sources. The eight pages of references given a t the end of the book are chiefly to some of the important reviews. Standard references are included in the preface. ARTHUR W. DEYOR
OHIORT*TE UNIY.RB,TY COLUMBDB, OXTO
LIBELLUS DE ALCHIMIA: ASCRIBED TO ALBERTUS MAGNUS Translated by Sister Virginicl Heines, Professor of Chemistry. Nazareth College, Louisville, Kentucky. University of California Press. xiii 79 pp. 14.5 X 22.5 Em. $3.50.
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CHEMISTSand students of chemistry are usually handicapped in making even s cursory examination of chemistry's past hecause of their inability to read medieval Latin. Most of the important chemical and alchemical tracts of medieval and renaissance times were mitten in Latin. While same of the early Latin texts have heen translated, many of the most important havo not. Sister Heines has done a gmatservicc to the history of chemistry and alchemy by presenting an excellent translation into English of the "Libellus de Alehimia." Alherbus Magmm, r h o lived from 1193 to 1280, was perhaps the outstanding scholar of the thirteenth century in the field of natural sciences. His interest coverrd astronomy, mineralogy, botany, and the transmutation of metals-alchemy. Alhertus' little hook on alchemy may actually he considered to be a pocket handbook of mast of thechemical reactions knox-n s t the time. While ~uruortedlv devoted to dchemv. the bilk- of the writing has to do &h straight chemical technology. This work, nhich has been ascribed to Albertus Magnus and which was probably modified by other writers has appeared in many &nuscripts and in t a o Latin editions of Alhertus' works. Sister Heines' tmndnt,ion is from the well-known Borgnet edition. Sister Heines has taken pains in translating the xork into English to transmit t,o t,he reader the Havor of Albertus' Latin writing. The copious notes that the author has added makes the little book understandable even to one who is not a specialist in alchemical literature. This volume should make a welcome supplement to the histories of chemistry normally studied by students. The wealth of technical information concerning chemical processes apparently known to the adepts of the middle ages is amaeing. It is short enough not to bore and yet is complete and detailed enough to (Conlintad on page A4161
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
