BOOK REVIEWS
Science for the Non-Scientist
Interesting facts and hits of information, such as origin of names, are woven into the descriptive matter. Most people in vereity, Fort Collins. Burgess Puhscientificareas would find it good reading. lishing Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota, Needless to say, one large volume could 125 pp. Figs. and tables. 1962. v not adequately cover the topics discussed, 14 X 21.5 cm. Paperbound. $2.50. even with mathematics. Were one to This is a short 1115 ~ a e e s ~) a ~ e r b o u n d use this text, he would need supplemental material (even for tho 50 study periods). The selection of topics, the general approach and the atmosphere of the entists, technologists, or engineers, hut volume merit the investigation of those need to know something of what science who would attempt to give an underis about in order to become intelligent standing of science to otherwise educated citizensin anage of science." The author attempts to define ~cience people. GARTHL. LEE and to describe the scientist in practical Utah State Universilb terms. He then discusses the following Logan, Utah topice: space, time, atomic structure, bonding, equilibrium, colloids, and the Editor's Note: The following comment first and second law of thermodynamiosis taken from the report of a student who all without the aid of mathematics. The used this hook as supplementary r e d impossibility of such a task in the time ing in a science course for humanities alloted is overshadowed only by the need. majors. ". . The very size of the book A novel and interesting approach is defies the pretentious title. A student used. Principles are illustrated with majoringin the humanities will not became examples from the area of hioehemistry. automatically "two-cultured" by reading it. However, Patton'e discussion of scientific attitudek is so direct and well documented by clear examples that no person previously mystified or overawed by science can miss the point."
A. R. P a t h , Colorado State Uni-
Transfer and Coding, A. Tsugita and H. Fraenkel-Conrat. Naturally there is some variation from chapter to chapter in the treatment of the material, hut in general each author haa adhered remilrkablv well to the stated aim of providing a. readable, very current account of the major streams of research in his own area of specialie&m. The various chapters are not neceeaarily comprehensive reviews of the literature; rather they include that material most well known to the author and deemed by him to be most significant with respect to future progress. This does lead to some duplication on one hand and to the omission of s. number of important aspects on the other. Presumably the major omissions at least will be rectified by discussions in Part 2 of the series. I am lookingfoward toits appearance. JAMES L. FAIRLEY Michigan State Univwsily East Lansing
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Inorganic Syntheses.
Volume 7
Jacob Kleinberg, editor-in-chief, University of Kansas, Lawrence. MeGritw-Hill Book Ca., h e . , New York, 335 pp. Figs. and tables. 1963. xi 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $8.95.
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In its latest volume, this series continues to present "tested methods for the preparation in high purity of inorganic compounds of potential value to the research chemist." For the first time, in addition to its function in research, the work is acknowledged to provide "a source of compounds and techniques for senior or graduate courses." Among the numerous techniques and reactions ayhich will constitute a challenge to students are inert or anhydrous atmospheres, high temperature and sealed tube reactions, electrolytic and vapor phase reductions, nonaqueous solvents, isotopic syntheses, and high vacuum methods. The types of preparations include bath simple, complex, and polymeric compounds of a. wide variety of elements, with emphasis on periodic groups VA and VIII. Extensive articles are devoted to volatile hydrides of groups IVA and VA, eyelopentadienyl metal carhonyls and derivatives, anhydrous metal chlorides, unipositive halogen complexes, and inner complexes of cohalt(II1) with diethylenetriamine. Coordination compounds, especially isomers of the platinum metals, are heavily represented. The general organination of Inorganic Synlheses has been described in a review of 38, the previous volume (J. CHEM.EDOC., A552 I19611). In Volume 7, 65 entries, 14 by foreign contributors, give detailed procedures for the preparation of more than 110 compounds. The index of contributors has, for the first time, been (Continued on page A532)
A530
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Journal of Chemical Edumfion
Taw are of general interest t o chemical engineers: membrane permeation and alsthration; and a chapter on centrifugal compressors should be of general interest made cumulative for all the volumes. t o mechanical engineers. A ehapter on Since any compound consists of two or carbon-silicon compounds should appeal t o more elements, the cross-references which chemists, and four others-an netane now appear at the beginning of each ratings, pyrolysis operations, grease teehehapter are another new and helpful nology, and suliur production from natural feature. Systematic nomenclature is gases-huuld be of interest t o petroleum strictly adhered to, and largely because technologists. of the influence and mthority of this The chapters an membrane permeation series, namcri such as sodium hydrogen and clathration are general discussions of carbonate (NaHCOa) and lithium tetrathese two new separation processes. They hydroaluminate (LiAIH,) m;ly in time should be useful references for new workers lose mueh of t,heir strangeness. in these fields, and they may also be of I n view oi the accelerated pace of interest to established workers, who will inorganic research in recent years, i t is find a compilation of references in emh hoped that this excellent series will appear field. st more frequent intervals. l h . IileinThe chapter on oentrifugal rompressors berg and his editorial board are to he appears to be a thorough discussion of the congratulated for producing a scholarly, subject, and should he helpful t o any accurate, and extremely valuable volume interested engineer who is not. welli. t,hat maintains the high standards set by acquainted with the principles involved its predecessors. in t,heir design and operation. SurGEORGEB. KAUFFMAN prisingly, no references me cited; consequently, this chapter will probably not F m n o Stale College he of mueh use t o those who are active in Fresno, (hlifornza the field. The ehapter on carhon-silicon eompounds is a survey of methods for manuAdvancer in Petroleum Chemistry and facturing these interesting chemicals, Refining. Volume6 whose use has grown rapidly. Forty-nine references are cited. Edited by John J . MeKella, Jr., UniverThe chapter on octane ratings describes sit,y of Texas, Austin. rvi 550 pp. research, motet., and road ratings and Figs. and tnbles. 16 X 23.5 em. $21. their interrelat,ionships, discusses t,heir Like other volumes of this series this accuracy, and considers the problems of nnc. is n potpourri of terhn~ralsubjects. calculating the ratings of blends. It,
BOOK REVIEWS
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A532
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lourrml of Chemical Education
should he of us? t o those who use octane ratings but who have not had much experience in developing basic octane data. The ehapter on pyrolysis appears t o fill a void in petroleum technology; as the authors indicate, heretofore there have been few quantitative pyrolysis data (or correlations) in the literature. To fill this void, the authors present correlations for thermal cracking, for visbreaking, and for thermal reforming of various feed stocks, together with samples of how t o use them. The oorrelatians, whir,h are based on "published and unpublished data," inrlude no data points, presumably because the data had to he adjusted t o common r:onditians before they oruld be correlated. The chapter on greases sunrmariaes grease dcvrlopments in the last two decades, during which the technology has changed greatly. The various greases developed in this period are desrrihed, methods of manufacture are disrurised briefly, and testing procedures are outlined. The chapter an sulfur recovery ft.om natural gases surveys the extensive literature on the subject (632 references a r t cited) and discusses the operations of two commercial plants, one "old" and one modern. This chapter should he of interest to anyone who is concernrd with the design or operation of sulfur rerovery plants. As ~ i t hmost hooks of this type, no. general recommendation can he made
(Conlintced on page $53.7)
