Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis. W. W. SCOTT, Sc.D., Professor of Chemistry, University of Southern California. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York City, 1928. 164 pp. 10 figures. 10 X 14.5 viii cm. $1.60.
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Until recently there have been two general types of textbooks on qualitative analysis. One type makes the matters of tests and separations the sole end of the course, and completely ignores the great underlying principles. The other type goes to the opposite extreme, and makes the subject simply a series of applications of "mass action" and other physicochemical laws. Scott, in his manual, takes a middle ground. The analytical procedures are well developed, yet simple and direct; on the other hand, the theoretical explanations are by no means neglected. The groupings and separations are, in general, the customary ones. For example, Group I11 includes both the amphoteric hydroxides and the sulfides, and the two subgroups of Group 11 are separated by ammonium polysulfide. Each group is treated under three heads: preliminary tests, separetions, and chemical principles. Under preliminary tests are given the comparative reactions of the elements, with particular reference t o separations and tests. These are all laboratory experiments, which the student himself performs. The separations are given in tabular farm, and are w r y complete. Following these tables in each rase is a chart, summing up in diagrammatic form the steps of the analytical processes, also giving the formulas, colors, and solubilities of the precipitates formed. Under chemical p i n d p l e s is given a thorough study of the changes involved in the separations and testgood theoretical discussion, but not tw hard for a first-year college student. At the end of each group is a "classrmm reviewuset of questions and problems intended t o clinch the students' knowledge of the subject matter. This
list of questions is followed by a list of equations covering all the chemical changes involved in the group. I n Part I1 the a d d ions are treated in the usual way, and in Part 111 is given systematic analysis, with complete directions for preparing the solution, dealing with refractory substances, etc. Part IV gives very complete information about preparing reagents and test solutions. At the end is an appendix containing tables of hlow-pipe tests, and flame tests, also "Identification of Substances by Their Crystal Form." The introduction o v e r s manipulative details, some of which are new and interesting. W. H. CHAPIN OBBRLINCOLLEGE Analytical Chemisby. Vol. 2. Quantitative Analysis. F. P. WADWELL, late Professor of Analytical Chemistry a t the Polytechnic Institute of Ziirich, and WILLIAM T. HALL,Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Mass. Inst. of Technology. Seventh edition. Wiley & Sons, Inc.. New York City, 1928. xiii 848 pp. 152 figures. 15 X 23.5 cm. $5.00.
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The seventh edition of this weU-known and valuable hook, while retaining almost the same page numbers, contains a number of important changes and additions based upon recent work. Among these may be mentioned improved procedures for the separation and determination of magnesium, phosphate, calcium, titanium in steel, beryllium, bismuth, lead in brass, manganese, chromium and vanadium in steel, and the use of potassium acid phthalate as a standard for alkali. F'iftyfour pages are devoted t o general operations. 386 t o gravimetric analysis, 186 t o volumetric analysis, and 82 t o gas analysis. There are a number of important tables useful t o chemists, including density and chemical factors. A f a ture of the new edition is a syllabus of a course in quantitative analysis as given t o chemical engineering students at the Masachusetts Institute of Technology.
