137
NEW BOOK8
equivalent weight; classification of the elements and constitution of matter; solutions and their properties; electrolysis and electrolytic dissociations: thcrrnochemistry; chemical equilibrium; reaction velocity; and the colloitlal state. The other twenty chapters are devoted to the chemistry of the elements and their compounds. The separate headings are: hydrogen and water; oxygen; carbon; nitrogen; the atmosphere; sulphur; the halogens; the inert gases; the alkali metals; copper, silver, and gold; the alkaline earth metals; zinc, cadmium, and mercury; the elements of Group 111; the elements of Group IV; the elements of Group V ; selenium and tellurium; chromium, masurium, and rhenium; iron, cobalt, nickel, and the platinum metals; radioactivity and the radioelements. The general plan is thus to treat the theoretical and physical-chemical material in the first part of the book and the factual inorganic material in the second part. The salts are discussed under the heading of the metal concerned, which brings the book more in line with current practice. A little more space might have been devoted t o the treatment of the modern theory of electrolytic dissociation and uses of the Bronsted theory. This revised edition is a valuable work and contains a great deal of useful material. The binding and cover are very good. The book is t o be recommended t o students and teachers both as an advanced textbook and as a reference work. ARTHUR.4.VERNON.
+
PrScis de Chimie Physique. By A. BERTHOUD.10 x 64 in.; 133 figures; vi 498 pp. Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1939. In this book Professor Berthoud has given a lucid, able, a n d h t e r e s t i n g survey of the field of physical chemistry. By omitting details of experimental arrangements arid, above all, by avoiding verbose discussions, he has contrived t o include in a volume of moderate dimensions a treatment of virtually all the topics that are the concern of physical chemists. For students who can read French easily, this book lvil! be an rxccJllent introduction to physical chemistry. Although the book throughout is characterized by clarity of etyle and attractiveness of presentation, I am of the upinion t h a t the discussions o' thermodynamics, of heterogeneous equilibria, and of the electrunic theory of valence are t o be especially commended. On the other hand, the treatment of the Debye and Hiickel theory, even in an introductory textbook, seems t o be less than adequate. A more controversial point I S the rather extensive use of results of quantum theory and of wave mechanics wit,liout laying, in my opinion, a sufficient foundation. F. H. R I A C D O ~ ~ G A L L . /
