ately dilute nitric acid." "Same" and "some moderately dilute" are too indefinite. I n another experiment one reads, "Distill a mixture of sulphuric acid and sodium nitrate in a glass retort." Some experiments tell the student to use teaspoons of material. Would it not be better t o give the amounts in the more scientific terms of cubic centimeters? The experiment on proximate analysis of coal starts out to get the per cent. of ash but gives no directions for so doing. As given the coke and ash are considered all coke. Sometimes the statement of the problem is too verbose as, "What are the products of heating mercuric oxide in a hard glass t e s t - t u h e ? T o u l d there he different products of decomposition if different apparatus is used? Poor phrasing is sometimes encountered as, "Make the experiment-," "Make the electrolysis of water." Almost every experiment is followed by questions or incomplete sentences. These often defeat the learning of a scientific method as they cannot he answered from the data obtained from the experiment. Instead of making accurate conclusions from his own observations the beginning student would have to copy his information from some text. Perhaps the author intends this as he often gives definite references to his own book, MODERN EVERYDAY CBEMISTRY. Laboratory work should teach a student to observe, and then he should learn the difference between what he sees (data obtained) and what he thinks about it (conclusion) and be able t o write i t without suggestive questions. Class discussion should tie up the laboratory work with the reading. The experiments are short enough-most of them-to he completed in the hour period now given to science in many high schools. Teachers will find in them much sueeestive material -that can he used with any text. HA= D. F. HAWB
future dietitian. The author considers that in addition it sffords a good account of chemistry for the general student who may find it of value in home making. The implication in the suhtitle is that the emphasis is on practical applications of chemistry. To these ends the author does not neglect to cite many applications of each of the topics that he teaches. The hook is full of useful information about thines " chemical. The medical slant frequently appears, as, for example, when acids and bases are taught, the subject of acid and basic "hums," and their treatment follows. The bare fundamentals of general chemistry are covered in the first fourpartsot the text (one hundredsixty pages) and then comes a somewhat extended treatment of carbon compounds, a section on "Foods and Digestion" with units on fats, carbohydrates. proteins, vitamins and minerals, and enzymes. A part on "Body Fluids" treats especially of "Blood" and "Urine." The final part deals with "Textiles" and "Cleaning of Materials." A brief study of some parts of the teaching of fundamentals shows that much "telling" is necessary t o cover the necessary ground in such small compass. The tale is well told, as a rule; for example, the exposition of the subject of p H is excellent, and many a "chemist" who makes his living by making pH determinations might study it to advantage to clarify his thinking about what he is up to. To an educator who has the time to develop the laws and theories of chemistry, with their biographical and historical background, and with suitable use of original sources, the rapid fire treatment, with its very sketchy outlines, is almost painful. Necessity, however, rather than inclination, doubtless forces this method of teaching on those who must speedily prepare special students. FRANKB. WADE
LABORATORY P u c n c e o s EIRST YEAR COLLEGECHEMISTRY. G. N . Qunm, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Long Island EXPERIMENT BOOK. Harold M. Porter and Jermain University. Edwards Brothers, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, CHEMCRAPT D. Porter. The Porter Chemical Co.,Hagerstown, Maryland. 1937. v +94pp. 38figs. 21.5 X 27.5cm. $1.75. 1937. 237 pp. Numerous illustrations. 12.5 X 20.5 cm. Throughout the fortysight exercises contained in this manual, $1.50. the author has made significance the first consideration. SevenThis manual is an instruction hook intended to accompany teen involve quantitative determinations and seven may opthe "Chemcraft" outfits, of which so many thousands have been tionally he given by lecture demonstration, the calculation of sold to "Young America." I t cannot he denied that much results being assigned to each student. interest in chemistry has heen aroused through the efforts of the A number of unusual experiments involving catalysis, reaction velocity, colorimetry, molecular weight determination, the law Porter Chemical Company to enlist the youth of this country of multiple proportions, the colloidal state, and other topics, in a great army of chemical experimenters. While much of this offer opportunity t o impress fundamental chemical phenomena activity has been play, numerous youngsters have told the restrongly upon competent students. Practical exercises involving viewer that their subsequent election of chemistry as a serious purification of materials, volumetric determinations, and water study resulted from the interest aroused through the possession softening are offered. Qualitative analysis is introduced in con- of a "Chemcraft" set. The EXPERIMENT BOOKgives, in a well-organized manner, a nection with observations of important properties of chosen elements. Microchemical tests hv droo reactions are used in very extensive course in laboratory chemistry, but one calling sevenl exercisrs io inorganic pwparatmnr The itudcnt's grasv for a minimum of equipment. The units remind one of an up-todate textbook in their content and order: Elements; Acidsof cxperirncnts is frequrntly checked by rnenni of unknowns Thr use of a number of good reirrcnre.;, rather xhan one t t r t is Bases; Indicators; Physical Forms of Water; Nitrogen; Hydrogen; Water; Surface Tension; Solutions, etc.; in the earlier encouraged. The material offered is sufficient and important, and should he part of the book and then much descriptive chemistry, followed distinctly of aid to the conscientious teacher in giving his students by such units as Fuels; Metallurgy; Glass; Paints; Lacquers and Varnishes; The Dyeing Industry; Perfumes; Adhesives; a firm foundation of chemical fundamentals. Photography; Leather; Paper; Foods; Agricultural ChemLOTFIROPS m r n istry, and finally, in Part 11. Chemical Magic. Eight hundred fourteen experiments are provided. The directions are clear and concise and care is taken to avoid Much ELEMENTARY CHEMISTRY, with Practical Applications. Imo P . dangerous situations and to caution against accidents. interesting information, most of it correct, is provided in the Baughmn, Ph.D., Instructor in Chemistry in the Los Angeles Junior College, Los Angeles, California. Second edition. introductions to the several units. Educators may well take serious notice of the method and revised. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1937. 296 pp. 19 results of this really successful EXPERIMENT BOOK. figs. 13 X 20 cm. 52.75net. This text is de5igned to bc tspecially useful to the sludenr who is preparing to hecornc a trained nurse. It would also a r r r the
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