BOOK REVIEWS Advances in Heterocyclic Chemistry. Volume 1 Edited by A . R. KalritzlnJ, University Chemical L~aboratory,Cambridge, England. Academic Press, Ine., New York, 1963. xi 476 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $15.
+
The conventional, eomprrhcnsive surveys of heterocyclic chemistry, such as the Elderfield (Wiles) and W~issbereer - .(Interscience) series, are prepared (perhaps among others) under two inherent handicaps. First, there is a considerable time lag between the publication of the first volume of a serics and that of the last. By the time the series is complete (if ever), the early volumes are sadly out of dato. Second, in order to follow the usual, desirable organization by type of heterocycle and to maintain an economical sise, the intercomparison of different heterocyclic series is rather minimal. The prese n t new series of "Advances" promises to correct, a t least in part, both of these deficiencies. The series contains both review mtieles bringing up to date the earlier Elderfield or Weissberger surveys and articles of a comparative nature cutting acrhss whole classes of heterocyclic compounds. Although this approach is not new in isolated reviews, its systematic application promises to be of considerable value in the increasingly difficult struggle of the organic chemist to keep up with the developments in t,hjs broad and complex field.
-Reviewed
In the present volume are two chapters bringing up to date earlier reviews: Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Thiophenes by S. Gmnowitz and Quinazolines by W. L. F. Armarego. Also of a gcnera review nature but encompassing 8everal heterocyclic types is the chapter, Aza Anl~logd of Pyrimidine and Purine Rases of Nucleic Acids by J. Gut. The r~maining chapters survey reactions or structural cheracteristics common to sevcral heterocyclic series and include: React i o n ~ of Acetylenecarboxylic Acids and Their Esters with Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Compounds by R. M. Ache son, Heterocyclic Pseudo Bases by D. Beke, and two chapters on Prototropic Teutomerism of Hotemaromatic Cornpounds by Editor A. R. Katritzky and J. M. Lagowski. Written by authorities in their respective subfields who have contributed heavily to recent developments in heterocyclic chemistry, these chapters constitute an admirable selection of topics of considerable current interest not only to heterocyclic chemists but also to organic chemists in general. The chapters by Gronowitz and by Katritzky and Lagowski (and to only a slightly lesser extent the other chapters) illustrate very well the application of physical organic methods to heterocyclic chemistry and should be of interest to all organic chemists. Indeed, all of the chapters are characterized by a fresh, contemporary approach not always found in heterocyclic work. The selection of topics for the volume is
in this Issue
A . R. Katritzky, editor, Advances in Herocyclic Chemistry. Volume 1 G. Brooks King and William E. Caldwell, College Chemistry Louia Meiles, Handbook of Analytical Chemistry Frank J . Welclm, editor, Standard Methods of Chemical Analysis. Volumes 2A and 2B G. Charlot, J . Badoz-Lambling, and B. Tremilla, Electrochemical Reactions Giulio Abilazzo, editor, Electrochemistry Alexander Gero, Textbook of Organic Chemistry John W. Sulmki, Seimimicro Experiments in Chemistry R . W. V . Hawes and N . H. DaviPs, Caloulations in Physical Chemistry Vmiamin G. Leuich, Phy&xhemical Hydrodynamics TheraM Moeller, The Chemistry of the Lanthanides Paul Pascal, editor, Nouveau Trait6 de Chemie Min6rale. Volume 9 Paul Pas&, editor, Nouveau traite de Chemie Minersle. Volume 8 Eric E. Conn and P . K . Slumpj, Outlines ol Biochemistry Harold Vadey, Practical Clinical Biochemistry H . H. Hausner, editor, Modern Materials: Advances in Development and Applications. Volume 3 Harry Soboth, editor, Advances in Clinical Chemistry. Volume 5 David Click, editor, Methods of Biochemical Andy8is. Volume 11
sufficiently clever as to causr onc to wonder whetlrcr or not subsequent volumes can continuo to present reviews of like interest. This question is answered in part by inclusion of a. list of the contents of Volume 2, where, on the whole, the continuation of the high levcl of T'olume 1 appears to be reasonably well assured by the stature of the contributrrs and the selection of topics. One may argue, of course, that thcre is no positive assurance that n review by an expcrt in the ficld will necessarily be better than one by an abler author of lesser technical aclricvements. Furthermore, as articles in heterocyclic chemistry become less descriptivr and mare interpretative in nnt,ure. as is t,he nresent. trcnd. there mav
prescnt volume seems to be essentially free of biased interpretations, and only rarely does the choice of examples or data and the evaluation of the results of other workers appear to be somewhat more subjective than objective. Furthermore, the reviews are well written, apparently aimed a t a.level intermediate between that of the rank novice and tho expert in the field. The text is well organized for the reading of an entire chaptcr or the selectivo sampling for information on specific topics. This reviewer found no significant errors (except for a few of the inevitable t y p e graphical sort). The coverage of the various topics is extensive but not exhaustive. Thus, the reviews will serve as excellent introductions to or points of departure for the intensive study of a given area but not as substitutes for the reading of the original literature. For many libraries (as well as individuals) t,he decision as to which, if any, books in a specialized field should be purchased with limited funds is difficult one. To this reviewer it appears that no organic chemistry library of any but the most fragmentary sort can be assembled without s t least one of the basic heterocyrlic series (most of the experts in the field prefer the generally excellent and authoritative Weissberger series) and this new series of Advances. Certainly all chemists working in the heterocyclic field will require access to this series and organic chemists in other specialt,ies will find much of general inberest here. HENRYE. BAUMGARTEN Uniuersity of Nebraska Lincoln, Sebraska
College Chemistry
G. Rrooks King, Washington State University, Pullman, and William E. Caldwell, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 4th ed. American Book Co., New York, 1963. viii 637 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 em. $7.25.
+
Those who liked the third edition of this well-known tnxt will also like the fourth edition. There sre no radical changes, but some improvements and additions. Atomic weights are now basod on Cerbon12, a change-as the authors note ( p 25)"not particularly sigmificant for boginning
Volume 40, Number 10, October 1963
/ 559
chemistry students." Some of the chapters have been rearranged and new matei d is presented on chemical bonding, complex ion formation, coordination compounds, bond orientation and bond types. There is no reference to thermodynamic t e r n such as entropy, enthalpy or free energy. A chapter on transition elements has been addcd. The type has been reset, and some of the figures redrawn with some improvement in the appearance of the book. Perhaps a third of the exercises in the third edition have been replaced with new ones. A Bibliography replaces the Refennees of the former edition. WALTERB. KEIGHTON Szua~thmoreCollege Swarthmore, Pa.
Handbook of Analytical Chemistry
Louis Meites, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, New York. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New Yark, 1963. xv 1806 pp. Tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $47.50.
+
It is not often that a new book repregents a substantial achievement in the field of chemistry. The compilation of the "Handbwd of Analytical Chemistry" by Louis Meites, however, is truly one of outstmding efforts in the recent years. This new work has some features in common with the handbooks of chemistry and physics that have been published for some time. However, this, new analvtical handbook has the unique advantage of containing short discussions of the material in each table of data. Inclusion of references and features such as the precision of difierent analytical deterrninations makes this book extremely valuable 10 I l l ? ))rh~ti~ir>g!tn:alyal. One is lurd y r e s d t o lind a n y topic of :~unlvtirnl imnortancr omitted. Illustrntion'of the scope of the reference may be seen in the treatment of topics such as the analyses of elastomers, pesticides, fertiliaers, psjnts, pharmaceuticals, plastic and resin soaps, water and sewage. This section designated "applied" analysis also has a thorough referencing of the conventionally treated subjects such as coals, mineral petroleum products and alloys. The extent of coverage, however, varies greatly from one topic to another. This is illustrated by the fact that the portion dealing with fundamental analysis has extremely large and complete sections on functional group analysis, chelometric titrations amd poltlrography. Topics such as conductometrio titrations and chronopotentiometry constitute a minor but adequate portion. This reviewer feels that Professor Meites has consolidated a library-full of references to analytical and physical data into a wellindexed and referenced volume. The one-hundred and thirty authors, including Professor Meites, who himself wrote a substantial portion of the book, deserve special recognition for s. difficult job well done. The price, $47.50, may muse many to pause before deciding whether or not to buy this book. (And unfortunately the binding is not of a quality commen-
560
/
Journal of Chemical Education
.
snrate with the mice.). I feel. however. that no chemistry library or laboratory can afford to be without this outstanding handbook. THEODDRE R. WILLIAMS College of Wwsler Wooster, Ohio
ElectrochemicalReactions: The Elertrochemical Methods of Analysis
G . Cha~lot,Facult6 des Sciences, Paris, J . Badoz-Lambling, Centre National de la Recherche Seientifique, Paris, and B. Trdmilla, &ole de Physique e t de Chimie Industrielles, Paris. American Elsevier Publishing Co., New York, 1963. ix 376 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 24 cm. $15.
+
Standard Methods of Chemical Analysir. Volumes 2 A and 28, Industrial and Natural Products and Noninslrumental Methods
Edited by Frank J. Welcher, Indiana University, Bloomington. 6th ed. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, 1963. 2613 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $25 each (not sold separately). Volume 2 is divided into Parts A and B, bound separately. Part I of Part A comprises a new section of some 500 pages on apparatus, general operations, and reagents. Among chapters not included in the previous edition are qualitative analysis, separations (precipitation, extraction, chromatography, ion exchange, etc.), use of the microscope, quantitative microchemical analysis, and quantitative organic analysis. With the exception of the chapters on detection of cations and anions and on precipitation by change of hydrogen ion eoneentrrttion, which are quite out of date, tho new chapters are much more extensive and up to date than the older chapters. Altogether, the treatment of general topics in Part I of Part A is useful, but analytical chemists in general will prefer to consult more comprehensive accounts, such as monographs, that they already are likely to have a t hand. Part I1 deals with the analysis of industrial products and special mmples, including, among others, air pollutants, alloys, bituminous materials, cement and coal. There is a section on chemical analysis in clinical medicine. Methods of analysis of industrial materials are continued in Part B, with chapters on explosives, fats, fertilizers, paint, paper, pesticides, petroleum, plastics, rubber, silicates, soap, soils, vitamins, water, and other materials. Some of these chapters are new and others have been enlarged to include analytical advances in the quarter century which hsa elapsed since the 5th edition was published. A number of chapters do not offer adequate literature references, several of the new chapters are much more satisfactory in this respect and dso, in general, am more up to date than the older ones. Few modern phyaicochemical methods of analysis me described. I n spite of these limitations, anyone confronted with analysis of commercial materials will wish to consult this work and, more likely than not, follow its procedures. The strong feature of "Stdndard Methods" has been, and is, its explicit and detailed presentation of information for the analyst. The whole work is directed to the practical, technical analyst.
This text is a translation of a section of the French text "Lea MBthodes de la Chimie Analytique." Charlot has written several books on specialized subjects and then combined them into a larger work. I n 1959 he published his text "Les Electrochimiques," which was well documented to include references up to 1958. This work was combined with references on spectra. and the analysis of dements to yield a large work, "Les Methodes de la Chimie Analytique," which was published in 1961. The translation was made without any updating of the 1959 text. The approach used is to introduce general concepts of electrochemistry, making great use of eurrent-voltage diagrams and then attempting to show the relationship of this materid to the various specialized areas of electrochemistry. The material is treated in a classical, much less rigorous manner than Delahay's "Modern Methods of Electrochemistry." There are sections dealing with topics such as non-aqueous solvents, chronopotentiometry, the relationship between amperametry and potentiometry. The sections are very well referenced. Applications of electrochemistry are not treated in great detail. This should be quite useful to teachers and may be suitable far use a t the first vear maduate school level. This text merit: the attention of those persons interested in electrochemistry.
R.EWILLIAMS THE~D~H College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio Electrochemistry: Theoretical Principles and Practical Applications
Edit,ad hv Milarto. ~" fhlio ~,Instituto Superiore di Smith, Rome. Translated by P. J. Mill. American Elsevier Publishing Ca., Inc., New York, 1963. xv 708 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23cm. 520. p
~
~
~
~
~
~
-
~~
+
Despite the substantial increase in interest in electrochemistry as a whole throughout the United States, very few textbooks on electrochemistry have appeared in English during the psst 10 years. The English revised edition of Professor Giulio Milazzo's textbook which appeared earlier in Italian and German editions is particularly welcome a t this time. The first six chapters of the book are concerned with the mare fundamental aspects of electrochemistry. The first chapter presents a, conoise summary of thermodynamics with emphasis on those I. M. KOLTHOFP aspects which are important to the subseE. B. SANDELL quent applications of thermodynamics to electrochemistry. Electrolytes and elecUniversit?~qf Minnesota (Continued on page A821) Minneepola
