survey for finding a satisfactory solution for a. given analytical task; (2) search for an official method for a given task; and 13) bhoroueh studv of the literature in
concerning quite a large number of items (elements, compounds, maberiala, objects, methods, fields, etc.) The areas of pharmaceutical and biological snslysis are especially well covered, and the author is also aware that vsluable infarmstion may he found in journals dedioated to education (p. 154, line 15 from top). The difficulty with documentation in analytical chemistry is greatly due to the fact that. analytical informrttion may be found in any one of the journals dealing with chemistry or any endeavor making use of chemistry. -4 cursory examination of those parts of the bibliographieal summary on whieh the reviewers fed competent to express opinions (Identification of Organic Compounds and Microchemioal Investigations) discloses a noticeable national bias in the aubhor's choice of information. This, of course, is natural particularly in tho anelytical area in which the workers usnally turn to those sources with vhich they are familiar. The book is paper-hound with the pages left t,o the reader to cut, as is custommy with European paper-bound hooks. The price (ahout $5.50 for 200 pages) compares favorably with the American cloth-bound "Progress" serials ($8-$10 for 300 pages). The volume should be of primary interest to research workers. NICHOLAS D. CHERONIS BROOKLYN CO~LEUE BROOKLTN, NEWYOR. A. A. BENEDETTI-PICHLER
ENGINEERING KINETICS I. M. Smith, Professor of Chemical EngiCHEMICAL
neering, Purdue University. McGrawHill Bwk Co., Ino., New Yolk, 1956. ix 402 pp. 59 figs. 16 X 23.5 cm. $8.
+
THE growth of chemical engineering education has been from industrial chemistry to unit operations to fundamental branche~xs thermodynamics and kinetics. Comprehensive problems include the spplicntion of all divisions to the solution of an industrial problem. The last field to be treated adequately is that of kinetics, or Drocess rates. Professor Smith has helped fill a void in the chemical engineering literature. Whereas chemical kinetics is concerned with bhe mechanism of a reacbion, ehemice1 enginewing kinetics is concerned with the ovor-all rate s t which the process goes, so that equipment can be designed which
(Continued on Page 558) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, DECEMBER, 1956
will turn out a required amount of pmduct per hour. This means that the emphasis is not on the chemical reaction, but on the over-all rate determining step, he i t a chemical reaction or a diffusion process to a catalyst surface. The text is divided into 11 chapters: introduction (7 pages), thermodynamic review (33 pp.), kinetics (48 pp.), intradnction to reactor design (24 pp.), homogeneous batch reactors (17 pp.), hamogeneous f l o a reactors (56 pp.), semihatch reactors (16 pp.), catalysis (28 pp.), kinetics of solid catalytic reactions (49 pp.), heat and mass transfer in reactors (38 pp.), and design of gassalid catalytic reactors (55 pp.). Appendixes A and B give some theoretical derivations t o sugment the more practical matetial in Chapt,er 3 and Chapter 10. i n the introduction a comparison is made which is continued effectively throughout the book. Because this is a senior level text the students have had heat transfer, so the designing of a heat exchanger is compared to the designing of a chemical reactor. The process for evaluating coefficients, effect of films and other comparisons relate these two pieces of equipment. The review of thermodynamics is essential so the equilibrium conversion can be csleulated to show t,he "ceiling" t h a t thermodynamics has put on the process. Elsewhere in the hook the data and references are quite up-todate, but here the 18°C. reference temperature and data. from Bichowsky and Rossini are used. The review of kinetics describes ways of measuring reaction rates and goes into theoretical methods of calculating a rate (with more theoretical material in Appendix A). The problems of reactor design are pointed out for various classes of reactors and t,hefundamental differential equations are set up. These me then applied to homogeneous batch reactors, homogeneous flow reactors and semibatch reactors. A general discussion of catalysis is followed by the kinetics of gas reactions on solid catalysts. Accompanying the reaction must be the transfer of heat and mass, processes which may he rate controlling. Finally, all previous material culminates in the design of g a ~ s o l i d catalytic reactors, either fixed or fluidized bed. Most chapters have a number of illustrated examples to show the application of the principles being discussed. Each chapter ends with a number of problems for student solution. References are given for much of the source material; many are t o the papers of the author and his students. This hook will be widely used, not only as a student text but by practicing chemical engineers for self-study and reference. Physical chemists interested in kinetics should have the book so t h a t they can see the vierpoint and needs of the chemical engineer. KENNETH A. KOBE U m v z n e i ~ or r TEXM Ausl'ir. T e x ~ a
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, DECEMBER, 1956
