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pounds, was published under the direction of a joint committee of the .4merican Chemical Society and the Xational Research Council with the coijperation of the International Union of Chemistry. The editors and their coijperating committees, together with the puhlishcrs, have performed a difficult task with commendable results. This compilation includes approximately four thousand ring systems, arranged in thc manner used in the subject indexes to Chemical Abstracts, and each entry is given a serial number. The numbering and the generally accepted names of each parent systcm are given, together with a t least one reference t o the original literature and usually a referencc t o the fourth edition of Beilstein. An alphabetical index of about five thousand names is included. The reviewer was impressed by the statement (page 14) t h a t “the number of known ring systems has increased from a n estimated 800 (or a t most 1ooO) in 1922 to over .Hx)o a t the present time.” The present volume will be of great value in promoting the systematic nomenclature of ring systems.
WALTERM. LAUER. The Spectrochemical Analysis o j Metals and Alloys. By F.TWYMAN. 54 x S t in.; ix + 355 pp.; 61 figures; 22 tables. Brooklyn, New York: The Chemical Publishing Company, Inc., 1941. Price: $8.50. This book will be welcomed by all workers in the field of spectrochemical analysis, As the title indicates, i t is written primarily with a:view to the metallurgical applications. I n the preface the author states t h a t the bookis designed for three classes of readers: teachers and students of metallurgy, industrial metallurgists who may wish to use Spectrochemical analysis, and those already engaged in it. Still the book will prove to be of considerable interest also t o non-metallurgical analysts. The first eight chapters, constituting about two-thirds of the book, are devoted to an interesting history of spectroscopy and spectrochemical analysis, the necessary elements of atomic spectrum theory, and the apparatus and methods for the production, observation, and interpretation of emission spectra. The author is the managing director of Adam Hilger, Ltd., and probably has had as much experience i n the design and use of spectroscopic equipment as any man. For this reason his opinions with regard to choice of apparatus and methods of procedure are of great interest and importance. Because of the rapid rate of development of spectrochemical analysis in the last decade, the recent literature on the subject contains some inaccuracies. A good deal of attention has been paid by some workers t o the possible gain in precision by the use of quite complex electrical excitation circuits and methods of procedure. Especially i n these cases the sound and well-established recommendations of the author will be appreciated. The purely metallurgical applications are considered in Chapter I X , comprising almost one-third of the book. This contains numerous practical considerations drawn from the experience of the author as well as from the work of other investigators, which is well surveyed and evaluated. Specific attention is paid t o analysis for the following metals: aluminum, cadmium, copper, gold, iron, steel and ferrous alloys, lead, magnesium, nickel, platinum metals, radium, silver, tin, and zinc. I n practically all cases a statement of the precision attainable, as well as the accuracy when this is known, is given. The relation between ordinary chemical and spectrographic methods is discussed. A short chapter on the analysis of non-metallic samples, including gases, is included. The book is well written and remarkably free from errors. Only a few misprints, none of which should cause confusion, were noted. E . J. MEEHAN. AND Laboratory Manual of Physical Chemistry. By A. W.DAVISON,H. S.VAX I~LOOSTER, W. H. BAUER. Third edition. viii + 229 pp. S e w York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1941. Price: $2.50.
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have attempted to present The purpose of this manual is stated by the authors, who ‘ y field of modern physical a comprehensive set of exercises which will cover the eleme a quantitative manner.” The authors further state that there have been new experiments involving modern techniques and the more recently developed apparatus and equipment .” The authors appear to have accomplished their purpose satisfactorily. Forty-seven experiments are described; of these, three are new to the reviewer: namely, one on the dropping-mercury electrode, one on the film-pressure balance, and one on dipole moments. The remaining forty-four experiments are standard ones which have been in use in most courses in physical chemistry for several years. Tlie typography is excellent. The binding is of the “spiral” type, \vith paper covers. The experiments are described clearly and concisely, the same general outline being used for all experiments: Object, Discuesion, Apparatus and Chemicals Required, hlethod of Procedure, and Calculations. Most of the descriptions are good. Readers may be a little surprised to find an experiment on solubility product which contains only a passing reference to the activity product. Thcrc are only two general criticisms that seem important: First, the directions are in too much detail; they appear to be directions for the manipulation of apparatus not set up by the student. Second, the directions for calculations in no case ask for any sort of estimate of the errors involved. Although the authors state in the introduction that they do not feel that a laboratory manual is the appropriate place for a discussion of the theory of errors, an estimate of errors should neverfheless be a part of the report of any experiment. This manual provides a set of clearly written instructions for sufficient experiments for a year’s course in elementary physical chemistry. Those who are seeking such a compilation should investigate this book. U‘.D. LARSOS.
Polarography (Polarographic Analysis and Voltammetry, Amperomelric Titrations). By I. 12. KOLTHOFF A N D J. J. LISGAKE.6 x 9 in.; xvi 510 pp.; 141 figures; 52 tables. Kew York: Interscience Publishers, Inc., 1941. Price: $6.00. This is the first book in English on polarography and it deserves a warm welcome from all who work or intend to work with the polarographic method. -4fter the publication of about seven hundred polarographic papers, mostly in foreign-language periodicals, this book fills R very real need. The reviewer is convinced that it will serve as the standard and reference work for further technical and scientific reskarch in the field. The book is divided into eight parts. The subdivision into chapters and subchapters with separate headings and the complete author and subject index make the material readily accessible. The book is a veritable bibliography of all previous publications. I t is valuable because of the clear presentation of the essentials of these publications, thus eliminating reference to the early literature. The style is concise, lucid, and to the point. The book is dedicated to J . Heyrovsky, the originator of the method and a friend of the authors. P a r t I is a general introduction. Part 11, a comprehensive treatment of the physical chemistry of the dropping-mercury electrode, comprises about two fifths of the book. The theoretical principles are fully treated. A highly interesting chapter on the electrocapillary curve of mercury is included. The controversial subject of the interpretation of maxima is well presented in a separate chapter. Part I11 describes general technique and apparatus and will enable every chemist to use the polarograph efficiently. Part IV, “Inorganic Analysis,” is of great practical importance. Cations and anions are grouped in nine chapters, each ion being treated in a subchapter. Frequent detailed abstracts of original analytical procedures will allow their application without reference to the literature. There is a separate chapter on the analysis of technical materials. It was not within the scope of this book to make this chapter complete. Only those procedures are included which the authors have critically evaluated and unified. The analysis of organic compounds (Part V) is treated admirably in sixty pages in spite of the diversity
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