RECENT BOOKS %LECTED TOPICSI N C O L L OCHEMISTRY ~ WITH ESPECIALREPERENCE TO BIOCHEMICAL PROBLEMS.ROSSAiken Gortner, Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry in the University of Minnesota. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1937. xiii 169 pp. 35 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $2.50. This stimulating book contains material presented a t Cornell University when Professor Ross Aiken Gortner held the George Fisher Baker Non-Resident Lectureship in Chemistry. He incorporated in these studies of colloidal material a discussion of the investigations conducted in his own laboratories. "Biochemists and biophysicists will find here important extensions of their subjects. Since protoplasm is a colloidal system, and the reactions of life take place in a colloidal medium, the student of living processes must familiarize himself with the basic physica-chemical principles underlying colloidal phenomena." The author's historical appreciation of the work of the great pioneer, Thomas Graham, is excellent, and his selections from Graham's writings are unusually illuminating. I n discussing the peptizatition of the protein of wheat and other grains by solutions of varioussalts, Dr. Gortner speaks with theauthority of extended experience. The section an ultrafiltration is particularly good, calling attention as i t does to the importance of electrical effects and of surface tension as modifying the influence of pore size and particle size. The hydration of starches and the viscosity effects of changes in this hydration are well brought out. As might be expected from Dr. Gortner's laboratory, a clear discussion of electrokinetics of colloidal systems is offered. One could wish that on page 76 Dr. Gortnw had the courage t o break away from the hackneyed phrase "electroendasmosis" and to use instead "electricosmose" which includes movement of a liquid through a gel or capillary in either direction. The distinction between electrokinetic or zeta potential and thermodynamic potential is well made. On page 81 there is a helpful description of a streaming potential cell t o be used in emulsion studies. Under surface tension there is much material on molecular orientation and on monomolecular films, ss well as the built-up polymolecular layers recently studied by Langmuir. Adsorption might have received a little more emphasis, considering its great importance, yet it is difficult t o find any cause for criticism of this helpful book. Occasionally the author startles the reader with such arresting facts as the following one cited on page 126. Dried seeds, which probably have a t the most an osmotic pressure of 175 atmospheres, will swell, taking up eight or nine per cent. of water when in a saturated aqueous solution of lithium chloride. Since the osmotic pressure of the lithium chloride salution is about 1000 atmospheres, obviously this is a colloidal binding of water, rather than an osmotic pressure phenomenon. The author has certainly succeeded in his plan t o stimulate teacher and pupil by opening the doors to fascinating vistas of colloidal theories and applications. H m N. HOLMES O a z a ~ mCOLLBOB OQHRL~N, oe.0
he led to develop opcn critical and cultural atritudrs of mind. that will lend him to attempt to use the scientific method in solving all the problcrns of life." At thc some rime hc is of the opinion that "in such a work i t is inevitable that the experimental basis for many of the ideas presented must be omitted." Above all he aims to present "a meaning of lasting value" which is "essentially socio-centric." The book consists of ten divisions or "units." The first unit is essentially a general discussion of science and its importance in our industrial civilization, and of the scientific attitude and method. The last unit includes a reconsideration of the social consequences of scientific progress. Although the lengthy titles (intended to express the important generalization of the unit) fail to reveal the nature of subiect matter. the followine " trans- ~ lation would be a fair indication of the content, in the sequence presented: astronomy, geology, molecular physics and heat, energy, wave motion, magnetism and electricity, atomic structure and chemical change, applied chemistry. Thus the course consists essentially of four units of physics, two of chemistry, and one each of astronomy and geology. I t is difficult to disagree with the author either on his aims or on the apportionment of subject matter. Yet, perhaps the author would object to the analysis made above, for he has sought t o teach not the various sciences, but science. Though be has been successful in integrating subject matter in some instances, on the whole he has fallen short of his own expectations. While h e pays lip service to the scientific method, his discussion in the introductory unit is devious, and his use of it in the main body of the book is scanty. I t is the firm belief of the reviewer that the scientific method can best be tauebt use. Perham .. bv. reneated . the most suc~rsrfulappro;tch would be to show logically how from the exprrirncntnl evidence great genernlirations of science have been devrlopcd, and how these lead directly to nn undwstanding of a few selected and important phenomena of every experience as well as to the significant applications that shape the course of our civilization. I t is precisely this approach that the author has avoided. I n the attempt t o make the course "socialized," the author has gathered in each section much heterogeneous material-largely factual, but also some laws and principles. On the whole, the material is undigested, and consequently unorganized, disconnected, and confusing. Nor is the information always authoritative. Not uncommon are statements of the type. "The molecules of gases are about as far apart from each other in relation t o their size as the stars are in relation t o their size." There is a lack of intellectuality, so that one finds section titles such a s "The whole electromagnetic spectrum is of extreme interest today" and study questions of the type, "What is the god of humanity?" and "Analyse your attitude toward 'cheating."' The treatment of Einstein is immature and pointless. I t is probably not unfair t o characterize the work as an overgrown ninthgrade general science text. T x s o ~ o mA. ASH~ORD
M m ' s PHYSICALUNIVERSE. A. T . Bawden, College of the Pacific, The Stockton Junior College. The Macmillan Ca., New York City, 1937. xvii 812 pp. 368 figs. 14 X 21 cm. $3.50. The author has made his position clear in the preface. I n his own words the hook "is intended to he used as a text for survey courses in physical science." I t is to be used in connection with a course "designed to bring from the archives of physical sicence the most important facts and generalizations which have any bearing on these aspects ['problems of life today'] of man's experience." The author is greatly concerned "that the student
LABORATORY ~ m WORKBOOK , UNITS IN CHEMISTRY.Maurice U. Ames, George Washington High School, New York City, and Bernard Joffe, Bushwick High School, New York City. Nonconsumable Edition. Silver, Burdett Company, New York City, 1937. xiv 255 pp. 13.5 X 19.7 cm. $1.12. of late years it has seemed the proper thing for an author of a chemistry text t o bring out a "workbook" instead of a "laboratory manual." While this book comes under the first classification, it stresses the directions for the experiments and reduces to a workable minimum the teaching devices and other educational
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mechanics which have been so overdone in some recent "workbooks." The experiments covered are those usually found in similar laboratory manuals. The text is divided into forty-six experimental units, followed by five units on Review of Equations, Chemical Arithmetic, Biography, Table of Common Substances and Alloys, and Review of Important Terms and Laws. The appendix contains seven items of the usual referential nature. "demonstrations witnessed This b w k tries to "integrate" by the student, individual laboratory work, classroom work with the textbook, and reference work in the library." The preface says, "Each unit begins with experiments," and is followed by "Observations and Questions on the qxperiments" and "Conclusions," but this order is not carried out consistently in all units. Some units include also "Supplementary Exercises" and "Optional Questions" far the more gifted students. The preface also says, "The lists of apparatus and materials. customarily placed a t the head of each experiment, are placed instead a t the back of the book far convenient reference by the teacher, the laboratory assistant, or the student. The experiments have been so planned that they may be performed with simple apparatus and inexpensive materials in small amounts." Certain experiments are indicated as best suited for teacher demonstration. Illustrations of set-ups of apparatus are all diagrams and not half-tones. are clear. show essential oarts.omit ~.~ uon-essential Darts.. a n d are easily rrproduccd by the student. All glass tuber and thistle tubes are carrccrly shown with open ends, indicating cooperation between authors and draftsman. Inconsistency in the use of units of measurement m a n the scientific consistency of the text. These terms appear: inches, cubic centimeters, teaspoonsful, meters, and grams. This will doubtless be changed in the next edition. There is a marked ~ ~ c ~the most elarinz one is freedom from ~ v D o E ~ Derrors: "Flourinc" for "l:luorineU in the 'l'ahle of Contents. Thcrc arc apparently only lour quantitative erperimeuts: per rent. of water of crystnllirntion, wight of 22.4 liters of oxygen. equivalent weight of magnesium, and per cent. of oxygen in air. The tables for data and calculations are gwd. The directions themselves might have been more explicit, t o the advantage of teachers who do not like to amplify the tests orally. If the beam balance shown underUnits3andSisto be used,oue might question the value of the k s t three of these experiments. As the magnesium ribbon used in the equivalent weight experiment must be weighed t o the third decimal place, probably a case balance is t o be used, but it is not mentioned, nor is its use described. The unit on Chemical Arithmetic is unusually well done. There are a few minor criticisms. The last line on page 201 might be improved if it read "one gram molecular weight" instead of "one molecular weight"; the per cent. sign a t the end of Example A on page 216 is plainly a typographical error. I s it mathematically and chemically correct t o say that "17 grams = 22.4 liters" (see page 210) when one wishes t o say that 17 grams of ammonia occupy 22.4 liters a t S. T. P.? I t is unfortunate that the authors did not adopt the improved instead style of formula for hydrated salts, e. g., CUSOI.(HSO)~ of the older CuSOv5Hz0, a s recommended by the Committee on Labels of the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. I n general, the text is well written, attractively set up, and should be a pleasure to use. WILHELMSEGBRBLOM
I n the Consumable Edition each leaf is punched and perf* rated so that records of the experiments can be removed to a loose-leaf cover, if it is desirable. Diagrams of all of the thirtyone apparatus set-ups needed for the course are included in pages xi to xvii inclusive, whereas in the Nonconsumable Edition each set-up diagram is included under the heading of the exueriment in which i t is t o be used.
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LABORATORY AND WORKBOOK UNITS IN CHEMISTRY. Maurice U.Ames, George Washington High School, New York City, and Bernard Jaffe. - . Bushwick Hieh School. New York Citv. Consumable Edition. Silver, Burdett Company, New York 237 pp. 20.3 X 26 cm. $0.84. City, 1937. xvii The text material is practically the same in both the Consumable Edition and the Nonconsumable Edition, so the first review applies to this edition of the book.
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I N GENERALCAEMISTRY. TYPICALQUESTIONSAND PROBLEMS G. N. Quam, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Long Island University. Fifth edition. Edwards Brothers, Inc., Ann Ar105 pp. 21.5 X 29 cm. $1.75. bor, Michigan, 1937. v This book is a loose-leaf compilation, in a sturdy binder, of over eight hundred questions, problems, and exercises, many of which contain several parts. They are arranged in thirty-one groups, corresponding to chapter divisions almost universally used in general chemistry textbooks. The appendix contains useful data, and also a table of logarithms. Periodical references suitable for elementary students are frequently given, supplementing a comprehensive list of general references. This book should be of material assistance in obtaininga high level of effort and understanding from students. LOTHROP SMrm TBB STATEU N W B ~ S ~on TY IOWA row* CITY,IOWA
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NEWWORLDOz CHEMISTRY.Bernard Jaffs, Chairman, Department of Phvsical Sciences. Bushwick Hirh School. New York City. silver, Ilurdett and Co., New ~ o r k city, 1937. xii T 566 PP. Appendix and indcx, xrx pp. 339 figs. 14 X 20 cm. $1.80. An excellent review of the 6rst edition of this high-schwl chemistry text was written by Herbert R. Smith and appeared I n the preface t o in the August. 1935, issue of T m s JOWAL. the 1937 edition, the author states. "The isolation of pure vitamin E, the discovery of artificial radioactivity, the wider use of glass for building and insulating purposes, the production of a new are some of the new developments now type of safety glass. treated in this text. "As the result of the rapid pace of chemical research, some of the fundamental theories of chemistry are still undergoing modification. The discussion of atomic structure in Chapter 11 and all the electronic diagrams throughout the book have, therefore. been modified in accordance with the latest accepted findings." These changes in text involve only a restatement of a sentence or a uaramaoh . - . a t most. The definitions of neutralization and hydrolysis h a w been rcstarcd. Ionic equations throughout the hook have bccn changed from
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Na+ClHOH ClNaf Cl-
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Although the latter equation is in correct usage, the writer has found that it is much mare confusing t o the average high-schaol pupil because of the additional plus signs. I n the first edition several references are madetocurrentarticles OF C HEMCA .I EDUCATION and other periodicals. in the JOURNAL No additional references have been made to articles appearing in issues of the past two years. The writer wishes that the author might make the chapters on organic chemistry a more vital part of the book by placing them earlier in the text. Many teachers follow the text in chapter order, and many times the last chapters are only skimmed over or omitted entirely. If organic chemistry is not made too technical, its lessons and applications can be thoroughly discussed with the pupils and become a usable part of their chemical education. The writer understands from one teacher who is using this
