LABORATORY W A L OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
A. W. Davison, Consultant OwensCorning Fiberglass Corp., H. S. vanKlooster, Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry. W. H. Bauer, Professor of Physical Chemistry, and G. I. lanz, Professor of Physical Chemistry, all of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Fourth edition. John Wiley & Sans, Inc., New York, 1956. viii 260 pp. 55 figs. 2 3 tables. 19.5 X 27 cm. Paper hound. $4.75.
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THIS m m u d , now in its fourth edition, continues in the same form as the third edition featuring a spiral hinder, graph paper after the experiments requiring it, and an appendix where all information required for the experiments is tabulated. The manual consists of 51 experiments covering about 25 topics. Some topics such as colligative properties, kinetics, thermoehemistry and electro-motive force have four or five experiments each. Four expcrimcnts have been added since the last edition. These are: (1) dimerim tion of acetic acid; (2) Ramsey-Young method applied to solid and liquid salicylic acid; (3) the thaw-melt method applied to organic compounds; and (4) low temperature gas adsorption. The first and last of thcse involve high vacuum techniques. Thc coverage is fairly complete, with the exception of experiments involving the ~~ectrophotometer, chemical equilibrium in the liquid phase, fractional distillation, radiochemistry and photochemistry. In the introduction, the authors say, while referring to the purpose of the physicel chemistry laboratory; "[the studcnt] . . i s k i n g gradually led away from the 'accept it because it is so written' attitude of tho clnssrodm to the pioneering attitude of thc investigator." This indeed should he the goal of the physical chemis-
VOLUME 34, NO. 6, JUNE, 1951
try laboratory, but the reviewer doubts whether this manual does much to encourage the pioneering attitude. The written procedures arc frequently so explicit, for example: "Turn off both gas and nater before leaving the lahoratory," and "Regulate the flow of tap water through the condenser" that they may insult the intelligence of a promising chemistry major. References and suggestions for additional work for the curious student are for tho most part lacking. Outside of calculating results and plotting graphs, no evaluation of results or consideration of possible errors is suggested. The detailed instructions and excellent drawings make this manual most uscful for large classes of non-chemistry majors who have to be given a lahoratory with the minimum of instruction. E. E U G E N E WEAVER Wln~8n COLLEOE CRAWTORDBVLLL~, INDIAN.%
LABORATORY MANUAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
H. D. Crackford, Professor of Chemistry. University of North Carolina, and I. W. Nowell, Professor of Chemistry, Wake Forest College. John Wiley h Sons, Inc., New York, 1956. xi 184 pp. Many figs. and tables. 21 X 27 cm. Paper bound. $3.75.
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T ~ r iss a worthy addition to an exiguous field. Therc wcre only four other physical chemistry manuals listed in the last Chemical Education Book Exhibit in contrast with 45 for general chemistry. I t is a hrief manual for s. semester or a year course. There are 33 experiments needing one or more laboratory periods depending on how much of the equipment
and reagents the student must prepaFe for himself. The outstanding features of this book are an initial section on calculations and instrumentation and an appendix of teaching aids. The first 38 pages are devoted to discussions and helpful eramples on dimensional analysis and treatment of data followed hy descriptions of the most used instruments with pictures and large, lucid diagrams. In diecussing the Fortin harameter, only the temperature rorrections (to 0.01 mm.) are given. Since, under some conditions, latitude, capillarity, and perhaps altitude call for corrections of tenths of a millimeter, a false impression of accuracy may he obtained. Indeed, coming a t the start of the physical chemistry course, the derivation qf the "true" atmospheric pressure from the raw barometer reading by correcting for all theae determinate errors makes a salutary exercise for the student who helicves that precise instruments must yield accurate readings. The appendix lists equipment, ehemicnls, and dircct,ions for making solutions for each csperimmt. This should prove valuahle to those actting up s new laharatory or for instructing t,he helpera in large courses. Most of the standard experiments arc hcre. Less common ones are those on: azeotropie mixtures; the nitrogen dioxide-tetrosidc equilibrium; the kinetics of the reaction between 2,bdinitrarhlorohenoene and piperidine as it recently appeared in THIS SOURNIL; huffcrs and pH; colloids, including determination of the gold number. This hook should he usahle in most heginning physicalehemistry courses. The student is expect,ed to write a report as directed by his particulsr teacher. There are no specific instructions ar report sheets for this so that the instructor is free to follow his preferences. However, firm remarks are given on the basic require-
men& for a scientific notebook. This is a11 to the good, for this course is not primarily for new laboratory techniques but for use of measurements and estimation of error. The authors encourage this attitude. They do give a bit more advice than some may think beneficial on methods of calculation and the errors involved in each experiment. This is not, however, so extended that the student escapes the need for careful thought on hi8 report. Each experiment begins with references t o several texts. There are brief discussions of theory, and aome of the experiments end with suggested modifications, notes of special difficnlties or ideas for additional experiment. The hook is clearly written and attractively printed.
of the normal ranges of values for each determination is given a t the end of Part I, and the normal values are repeated in the discussion of each determination. Several pertinent references are given a t the end of each chapter, and many helpful and encornaging suggestions and comments are included. The index appears to be adequate. Although the determinations described are those which are most often needed, in the opinion of this reviewer the essential procedures for gastric analysis and possibly for basal metabolic rate should have been included. The book seems to be remarkably free from ambiguities and errors. Although the error may not he large for dilute
cammerciall;a~aiiable azeotropic solution of ethyl alcohol contains 95.5% alcohol by weight, dilutions made by considering this as a volume percentage are significantly in error. In the opinion of this reviewer the CLINICAL CHEMISTRY:~PRINCIPLE~ term "milligrams per cent" should not be AND PROCEDURES perpetuated as m acceptable unit. I t is obviously incorrect and is only slightly Joseph S. Annino, Clinical Chemist, easier t o use than the correct term, Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals, Boston. "milligrams per 100 ml." The statement Massachusetts. Little, Brown and Comthat a protein-free blood filtrate will keep pany. Boston, 1956. ui 280 pages. indefinitely seems questionable, as the ex1 5 figs. 11 tables. 16 X 25.5 cm. perience of this reviewer has been tbat the $7.50. solution will support the growth of microorganisms even in a refrigerator. THISbook is designed to meet the need Finally, the policy of recommending a for adequately trained technicians in method which requires the use of a clinical laboratories by providing not only particular make of instrument lessens the the essential techniques for the mmt usefulness of the hook. The Baird flame important clinical determination8 hut a180 photometer may be superior to other the essence of the principles necessary to a n instruments, as the author states, but understanding of the methods and objecmany laboratories have flame photome tives of quantitative analysis. I n the ters of other manufacture which funcwords of the author, "the hook is intion quite well. Similarly, the digitonin tended to fill the gap between the 'cookmethod for cholesterol, although admitbooks,' which present only the mechanics tedly mare precise and significant in of the methods, and the theoretical texb certain instances. is so lcnethv and labohooks, which do not include many practical rious tbat a aim& meth&, such as the explanations of mechanical details.'' FeCIa-Ha01procedure of Zlatkis, Zak, and Part I, approximately 25% of the text, Boyle, might well have been included. consists of a brief discussion of the principles, apparatus, and general techGORDON H. PRITHAM niques of aquantitative analysis; Part 11 TEE PENNSYLVANIA ST&T. UNIYEBBTTY describes in detail the procedures for U ~ ~ v n a s rPARE, m PENIBYLVANIA determining the concentrations of a p proximately 30 ions or compounds in ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL blood, wine, or cerebrospinal fluid and for TECHNOLOGY. VOLUME 15. WAXES performing eight tests of the functioning TO ZYMOSTEROL, INDEX of certain organs such as the liver and kidneys. Edited by R. E. Kirk end D. F. Othmer, In general, the organization and content respectively Professors of Chemistry and of this book are well suited t o the stated Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic objectives. The presentations of the Institute of Brooklyn. Assistant Editors: principles of photometry (colorimetry) in Janet D. Scott and Anthony Standen. Chapter I1 and of flame photometry in Interscience Encyclopedia, Inc., New Chapter VII are especially thorough and York, 1956. xiv 936 pp. 19 X 27 cm. clear, and the many detailed examples of Subscription price $25 per volume; single volumetric procedures and calculations in volumes, $30 each. Chapter I I I should be helpful to the person with little or no training in this E. C. T. is now complete from Absca iield. Fiber to Zymosterol. Not only is the k t Each of the chaptersin Part 11,Methods, complete, but Volume 15 also gives a comconsists of an introductory summary of the plete subject index in which the first analytical and biological principles and/or entry is not abaca, hut A acid, to which two precautions involved in the determinareferences are given. Of the 936 pages in tion, the stepby-step preaeritation of the this volume, 313 are devoted to text method or methods recommended by the material and 620 t o a comprehensive author (including detailed instructions for index containing approximately 50,000 the preparation of reagents), and a d i e eutriea. cussion of the physiological and pathologiThe inorganic chemist will be interested cal significance of the results. A tahle in zinc and zirconium, their alloys and WILLIAM 5. OUENTHER
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compounds. The analytical and physical chemists have a comprehensive section on X-ray analysis. The biochemist will seek out the sections on yeasts and zein. The chemical engineer will he interested in weighing and proportioning, and in welding. The volume scores heavily in technology: waxes, weed killers, whitening agents, wire, wood, wool, wool grease, xanthene dyes, xanthic acid, and xanthates. What of the future of E. C. T.? Is i t to grow old on the shelf? Not a t all! Even now the editors are a t work on a supplement volume which will deal with subjects in which there have been important developments since the original articles appeared. Some entries are: computers in ohemieal technology, and steroids with cortical hormone activity. The editors promise this volume by late 1957.
Interscience Publishers, as well as Editors Kirk and Othmer, and Assistant Editors Scott and Standen, deserve the thanks of the chemical industry, chemists, and chemical engineers everywhere for making available to them this wealth of information on chemical technology. KENNETH A. KOBE
UN~VER 0. ~T I E~ X ~*~ .~D.TIN, T E X * ~
ELECTROCHEMICAL AFFINITY: SrUDlES IN ELECTROCHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS AND KINETICS Pierre Von Rysselberghe, Professor of Chemistry, University of Oregon. Actualitbs Sdentifique et Industrielles 1237. Hermann et Cie.. Paris, 1955. 109 pp., 10 figs. 16.5 x 25 om. 1250 Francs.
THIS monograph, witten by a member of the International Committee on Electrochemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics, consists of an introduction and five parts: I. Theory of Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells. Reversibility. Irreversibility due to the Joule Effect; 11. Theory of Electrodes. Reversible and Irreversible Electrodes. Pola~iaation. Over potentials; 111. Simultaneous Half-reactions a t the Same Electrode; IV. Some Aspects of Electrochemical Kinetics; and V. Thrrmo~I~
