.%fewirregularitieiof stylr are noted For instance, the followiug three methods of indicatin~trivalrnt po\itive ions are u d . Fe' -,Fel, and Mo". Some reactionjare wrtttrn in ionic farm while others of similar nature are written with all components in molecular form. There are some teachers, especially those recently imbued with madern theories of solutions, who will object t o writing a molecular equation for a reaction in which the reactants and products are known t o be ions in dilute solution. The reviewer agrees with the authors that there are arguments in favor of such practice. The authors and publishers are t o he thanked for making available a book whch will prove useful in one-semester courses in quantitative analysis. especially one which follows so closely the structure of Willard and Furman's "Elementary Quantitative Analysis" which has proved to be such a widely accepted tertbook in this field. CHESTERM ALTER
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THECHEMISTRY OF CELLULOSE. Emil Heuser. The Institute of Paper Chemistry. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1944. v 660 pp. 112 figs. 87 tables. 14 X 22 cm. $7.50.
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The American literature on high polymers, especially on cellulose, has been enriched during the last few years. The Mark series and the Ott hook on "Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives" give an excellent picture of our knowledge of one of the most important natural products--cellulose. Professor Heuser's book, "The Chemistry of Cellulose." is a mast welcome addition t o the earlier publications; i t has put the accent on the chemical part of the cellulose problem. This could only be done properly by an author who has devoted more than one and one-half score of years to investigations in the field of cellulose. Professor Heuser's book contains an authoritative review of the chemistry of cellulose since H. Bracconnot (1832), T . J. Pelouze (1838), and A. Payen (1842), although Payen's contributions are not mentioned. Those who want t o enter the interesting field of cellulose research and cellulose technology will welcome Heuser's hook; those who have contributed t o our knowledge in these fields will find in it an abundance of well-presented information. E. BERL CAUNEGIE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Pn"rseunon. PENNSYLVANIA
T R A T ADE~ Q U ~ M I C A ORG~NICA.Enrique y. Zappi, Professor of Organic Chemistry in the Universities of Buenos Aires and La Plata. First Edition. Volume I, Part I . xvii 651 pp. 58 figs. 63 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. Published by Libreria y Editorial "El Atenea," Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1944 (%0.00 argentine).
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This extensive "Treatise on Organic Chemistry" consists of two volumes issued in five parts. The scope of the work is indicated by the titles of the various parts. Volume I. "Acyclic Series." is t o have two parts: Part I (reviewed here) and Part I1 to appear in 1945. Volume 11. "Cyclic Series," consists of Part I, "Aromatic compounds" [xvi 520 pp. (1941)l; Part 11, "Aromatic derivatives with aliphatic functional groups" [xiv 532 pp. (1942)l; Part 111. "Heteracyclic compounds" [xii 522 pp. (1942)J. The three parts of Volume I1 are not sold separately ($75.00 argentine). Part I of Volume I1 was very favorably reviewed in this Journal [19, 98 (1942)l. The objectives of the work and its general characteristics were given there in considerable detail. There is no point in repeating here what has been so well said by the previous reviewer, whose opinions are shared by the
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present writer. The prospective purchaser is urged t o read this earlier commentary. Volume I, Part I, exhibits the same high order of excellence. The author is thoroughly a t home in his field, and knows how t o write clearly, forcefully, and interestingly. He has constantly kept in mind his dictum, "Organic chemistry cannot he learned by memorizing; i t must be understood." More than the usual emphasis is given t o the history of the development of the subject. Many interesting data are included in the 63 tables. The treatment of the theory har. been kept in step with the newer developments, while retaining the classical methods of approaching proofs of structure and the like. The industrial applications are discussed in adequate measure. The suhject matter has been divided into 15 chapters that have been grouped under the general headings: Historical evolution: Analysis and Synthesis; Hydrocarbons and their derivatives; Petroleum; Alcohols. The usual laboratory operations are discussed in sufficient, hut not too great, detail; likewise, the procedures used in ultimate analyses. The publisher has given the tert the execllent formnt it dcscrver. The present rcvieser reiteratec thc hope of his fcllow-rcvicwcr that the uscfulncss of the book w1I not he confined to Spaoishspeaking countries and schools. "For those interested in learning chemical Spanish, here is a first class book." RALPHE. OESPER U N l V B R S I N OF CINCINNATI
CINCIYNAT,, OHLO
SECONDYEAR COLLEGECHEMISTRY. William H. Chapin, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, and Luke C. Sleiner, Prcfessor of Chemistry, both in Oherlin College. Fifth Edition. revised by Professor Steiner. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.. New York, 1943. vii +575 pp. 60 figs. 69 tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $3.75. The fifth edition of this well-known text will he welcomed by many. If you are one who believes that second-year chemistry should be an introduction to physical chemistry and an armrate restatement of the fundamental principles of chemistry, then this book is worthy of your careful consideration. Indeed, there are few choices of texts for such a course as the authors intend. The only text coming t o mind as offering an approximately parallel treatment is that of Meldmm and Gucker. The fifth edition of Chapin and Steiner differs from earlier editions as follows: A. more complete and exact treatment of solutions is given, a chapter has been added on crystalline solids and structural relationships, and correlation of chemical behavior with physical properties is emphasized in the chapters on liquids and on solutions. Also a somewhat more mathematical treatment is given in the early chapters. In addition, a great many other parts of the book have been revised and new tables and figures included. A feature found in earlier editions, hut not in the fourth, is a large group of miscellaneous problems a t the end of the text. Answers to the problems are not given. The reviewer does not favor this method of teaching chemistry. He must, however, admit that the best students will get great satisfaction out of the introduction t o rigorous thinking which such an approach offers. On the other hand, the average student, of whom there are many, will probably decide to major in some other suhject. Furthermore, in a liberal arts college the time available for any one subject is not large, and devotion of more than about one and one-half years t o physical chemistry leads to an unbalanced curriculum. Apart from this question of educational philosophy, the book can be strongly recommended. I t is remarkably free from errors of fact, interpretation, or typography. The publishers are t o he congratulated on turning out a highly presentable product, under what must he increasingly trying publishing conditions. P. W. S e ~ w o o ~
