BOOK REVIEWS chemicals. This book continues to serve as a. valuable addition to every chemical library or analytienl chemistry laboratory.
J M. PAPPEXXAGEN K m y a College Gamhzer, Ohto Standard Methods of Chemical Analysis. Volume 1, The Elements
Edited by N . Howell Furman, Wake Forest College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 6th ed. D. Van Nostrand Co., Ine., Princeton, New Jersey, 19fi'2. xix 1401 pp. Figs. and tahles. 16 X 23.5 cm. 525.
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The preface states that the charaeteristics of earlier editions have been maintained in the present sixth edition. This has required the addition of a third volume, devoted entirely to chapters on physical and instruments1 methods and their applications. I t has also newssitsted the publication of the threevalumcs separately, a t approximately annual intervals. In Volume I, the elements are taken up, in general in dphabctical order. .48 may be expected, tho quality of the chapters vmieries with the hackground and specialized experience of the contributors. Some chapters have been extensively revised and brought up-to-date and are very satisfactory. Others are not quite up to standards. The sections on Detection tend to be old-fashioned, and advantage is often not taken of selective and sensitive organic reagents, nor of microscopical crystal detectiona Sometimes dubious choices are made among methods. Thus, for colorimetric determination of nickel the dithiaoxalate method is described, with no mention of the "oxidized" dimethylglyoxime method (Ni chapter, p. 703), although the latter is recommended in other chapters treating the determination of nickel in various elements. Many omissions could be pointed out. No colorimetric or fluorimetric method is given for gallium, the platinum metals and others. Separation of germanium by carbon tetrachloride extraction is not mentioned nor is determination of germanium with phenylfluorine. Same potentiometric methods are briefly described; for example, titrstion of ferrous iron (p. 551), of chromium(V1). of cobalt(II), and of manganese, but no potentiometric titretion is mentioned in the chapters dealing with the various halides. Amperametric titration of copper, but not of other elements,ismentioned. Presumably electrochemical methods of analysis will be dealt with ,& greater detail in Volume 111. The Hurley calorimeter (p. 574) would seem to have had its day. Probably the chief value of this volume lies in the large number of detailed procedures given for analyses of commercially important materials (ferrous and nonferrous alloys, ores) in which it is superior to any of the large number of general (Continued on page A828)
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Journal of Chemical Education
BOOK REVIEWS analytical worka in Engliah. I t will therefore be of chief use to the practicing analyst who is concerned with such materials. Altogether, it is a welcome addition to the analyticd-chemica1 literature. I . M. KOLTHOFF L'ni~lemityof Minnesota Minneapoois Experimental Chemistry for Boys
.Mmris Gwan, Roosevelt University, Chicago. John F. Rider Publisher, 120 pp. Inc., New York, 1961. viii Figures. 21.5 X 28.5cm. $3.45.
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This volume is not, in the opinion of the reviewer, one of the well-mitten or one of the more scientifically accurate of the
numerous recent books of experiments for the youthful scientist. Inaccuracies are far more numerous than they should be. Figure 8-3, for example, labels a tetrahedron s. "trapezoid" (page 71). On page 80 we find that "Catalysts can speed up or start a chemical resction." A number of other examples could be cited. The author also seems to have an uncanny knack for going "off the beam" in his writing just enough to slightly muddy many of his ideas. Consider, for example, on page 39-"You can see from the behavior of the aluminum foil in the concentrated lye that you should never use an aluminum saucepan to heat alkaline foods, that is, foods having some of the chemical components of lye." And again on page 98 following the equation for the reaction of sodium bicitrhonate and acetic acid-"Since the above reaction is balanced, adding the atomic weights of
each molecnle will give the desired reight values." Figure 10-2 on page 91 purports to show an "Apparatus far the electrolysis of water." The text describes a workable cell but the figure is ludicrous. One wmders if the drawing was complete when the volume went to press. Figures 10-1 and 11-1 among others are also in need of revision. The earlier experiments are sinlple, raise some good questions and are in general more accurate than the later ones. Very early in the text the youngster is encouraged to keep a research notebook, outlining his plan on the left-hand a g e and recording his data on the right. A well-conceived set of laboratory rules is suggested. Hazardous experiments are starred and the youthful investigator informed that an adult must supervise, or in some cases do, the experiment. Even the adult supervisor may be in for some surprises if he is unfamiliar with some of the peculiarities of behavior of such substances as concentrated sulfuric acid, Ige, formic mid, bromine, etc. The materials used in the experiments might very well be kept simpler and less hazard011s. This volume needs n rather thorough going over if it is to take its place along with the fine books whieh are now available for the neophyte scientist. D ~ S A L9. D ALLEN Stale L'niversity College Albany, .Yew Fork Comparative Biochemistry: A Comprehensive Treatise. Volume 3, Constituents of Life, Port A
Edited by Mareel Florkin, Cniversity of Liege, Belgium, and Howard S . .llasm, University of Oregon Xedical School, Portland. Academic Preaa. Inr.. X e w York, 1962. xix 059 pp: ~ i & and . tables. 16 X 23.5 c n ~ %d'o.
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This, tho third of n six-volun~c canprehensive treatise, "Comparative Biochemistry," treats the principal classes of constituents of cells and organisms. their distribution, and the campsrirtive enz,ymology of their synthesis and rnctabolism. The present section of the treatise r i l l be continued with Volumes IV and V. Volumes I and I1 were devoted to the relations between energy and biological function, and Volumes V and VI will he concerned with "Cells and Organisms." If any general criticism should be leveled a t the present volume of this treatise it might he that too mnny of the chapters are not concluded with sufficient "discussion and conclusions"-gcn~ralizations and schema to summarize and complement the great amount of detail whieh has been presented. Two authors in addressing themselves to the objective of cornpsrative biochemistry, and more particulilrly to the relation of s taxonomy and physiology, are not afraid to state that "chemical substances or biological reactions that play a primary role in normal metabolism and me therefore more or less common to all organisms will be of less consequence in comparative (Catinued on page A830)
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Journal of Chemicol Education
