in which the analyst tried to determine on a single sample all the constituents in which he was interested. Today i t is recognized that methods of separation must be varied according to the constituents present, that there is no single best method that can always be used. Therefore, this volume is valuable, less for the practical system of analysis developed with its apparent usefulness, than for the vast store of data in that part recognized by the authors themselves as being their main contribution, namely, the conh a t o r y experiments. Copious references in tbis part of the book add distinctly to its value. With a hook so very well done i t seems petty to search for minor imperfections. It may he noted incidentally, however, that of the metals listed in the table on page 503 only Terbium. Radium, and Radon are missing in the outlines. The two metals Samarium and Yttrium are still re~resented by the older symbols Sm a n d Y in the bady of the text instead of the more modern Sa and Yt. Glancing through the index, which seems very complete, the rare earth metals Dysprosium, Holmium, Lutetium, and Thulium are missing, though they appear in the tabular outline on page 210. It is not a volume for easy reading, hut with so remarkable a quantity of experimental work summarized in its pages, i t belongs . on the shelves of every chemist interested in the inorganic and analytical field, and should prove exceedingly valuable to teachers of advanced inorganic chemistry. R. K. CALPINB
welcome. This one, written in the charming style so usual with the author, concerns his recent experiments on muscular movement, especially during violent exercise. The first ten chapters deal with observations made upon athletes, the remainder with experiments upon isalated muscles, these being the necessary precursors to the human experiments. Deductions made from the human experiments were based largely upon the study of the differences existing in the oxygen consumption before, during, and after exercise. From these data the author has drawn many interesting conclusions as to the maximum speed, fatigue, and recovery. The "buffers" of the blood and tissues are treated in a most instructive manner. Practical application of the findings to athletics is made in chapter ten. The book carries with i t a plea for chemists to interest themselves in this type of chemistry, biochemistry, and thermodynamics; to interest themselves in this difficult chemical and physical problem elicited by the power which a muscle possesses of transferring chemical energy into mechanical work, while maintaining a constant temperature and a fairly high efficiency. It is an exceedingly fascinating book by an authority, and for the most part comprehensible even to mediocre chemists. H, B,
Muscular Movement in Man: The Factors Governing Speed and Recovery , from Fatigue. A. V. H ~ L Foulerton Research Professor of the Royal Society of Landon: The George Fisher Baker Non-Resident Lectureship in Chemistry a t Cornell, 1926-1927. Volume 3. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 93 pp. 15 New York, 1927. xii X 22.5 cm. 32 illustrations. $2.50.
"The aim of tbis book is to present a comprehensive, accurate, and pedagogically sound review of elementary chemistry as taught in the best American High Schools." The book is designed to meet the 1926 Syllabus of the Board of Regents for the State of New York, and the College Entrance Examination Board. It is probably true that a review of this character does not lend itself readily to original treatment. It is no fault,
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A publication by Dr. Hill is always
ELLISSTANNARD,A.B., Pd.B., Boys' High School, Brooklyn, New Y a k . Oxford Book Company, 251 pp. with New York, 1927. iv 24 figures. 13.5 X 19 cm. Paper cover, 68 cents. postage paid.
Chemistry. J.
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VOL. 5. NO. 1
RECENT BOOKS
therefore, that it follows conventional lines, nor does this in any way detract from its value. This review consists of brief statements in place of the topics of the syllabi and the pupil, therefore, finds important items readily. T h e diagrams are chiefly of laboratory apparatus. Questions of about the same type as those in most elementary texts are included in each chapter; the answers t o mast of these can be found in the body of the review itself. Answers t o the numerical problems are found in the appendix. The appendix also contains *'important definitions," chemical tests for common ions and radicals, formulas, common and chemical names for chemical compounds, etc. Among the definitions we find that a saturated solution "contains all the solute it can hold a t the given temperature and pressure" and that a suspension is a "mixture of a solid and a liquid in which the solid particles settle out on standing." We find also that an "emulsion is a 'suspension' of one liquid in another." Pupils will probably find t h a t this review will help them t o pass examinations and many teachers will like i t for this reason. BARNARDS . BRONSON Oxidation-Reduction Reactions in Inorganic Chemistry. ERIC R. JETTE, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Washington Square College, New York University. The Century Com152 pany, New York, 1927. xvi pp. I0 figures. 12.5 X 19 cm. $1.10.
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The author conceives the purpose of the hook t o he the presentation of "a comprehensive discussion of oxidationreduction readions for the student who has had enough training in chemistry to understand ordinary chemical terminology hut who has not had a course in physical chemistry." To this end the author believes two methods, the "valence change" and the "ion-electron" methods t o he necessary. The basis for each of these methods is given; and numerous
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examples, which illustrate the effect of the conditions maintained during the reactions, are discussed. The preface statement indicates that the hook is designed for students in courses more advanced than the usual first-year college course; and familiarity with the equilihtiprinciple and the theory of electrolytic dissociation is presupposed. The "valence change" method, developed in the first part of the hook, presents no new materials; but gives the author's scheme for representing the detivation of equations by this method, which he considers applicable only t o non-ionic reactions, such as those between gases and solids a t high temperatures. It may he noted that the form gihere is somewhat less simple than some of the other schemes which have appeared in t h e literature from time t o time. The major portion of the hook is devoted t o a discnssion of the "ion-electron" method. "The basis of the method is found in the fact that practically all of these reactions can be carried out so as t o secure an electric current from them." According t o this method, partial equations are written for the oxidizing agent and for the reducing agent, showing in ionic form the gain and loss of electrons for each. The final ionic equation is balanced by equalizing the numbers of electrons concerned. The balancing of a typical equation, represented on pages 38 and 39, requires six steps for securing the ionic equation (seven if a molecular equation is desired). The applicability of this method in balancing equations for reactions involving hydrogen peroxide, sodium thiosulfate, thiocyanates, and other less commonly used substances, in addition t o the common oxidizing and reducing agents, is pointed out. The discussion of atomic structure, valence, and the theoretical aspects of the subject including the effect of attendant conditions should he valuable for the students in the field for which the book is intended. The method of balancing equations,
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