304
JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION MASS TRANSFER OPERATIONS
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Robert & Tmybal, Professor of Chemical Engineering, New York University. McGraw-Hill Bmk Co., Inc.. New York 1955. ix 666 pp. 347 figs. 16 X 24 cm. $9.50.
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uNTIL the publication f,, t t ~~~~f~~ ~ operatiOns,r, ~ ~ texts were in the field of the unit of either general texts which covered the entire field of the unit o p erations at the elementary level (as Badger and Banohero) or at an advanced level ( ~and nichardson), ~ ~ or the book l was~ a unit operation (as graduatelevel text devoted to one ~ ~ ~ c"iquid ~ b ~ ~ ~ l ~, ~ N~~~ we~ find ~ a i ~ ~of unit operations grouped together on the common basis of being mass transfer operations. he result is aneveellentintermediatelevel text. In a brief introductory chapter the eomhinations by pairs from gas, liquid, and solid phases are shown to participate in diffusional operations when in direct ?ontact, or when separated by a membrane, or even in miscible phases. ~h~ book is es;. sentially divided into four parts, part I (93 pages) being on dif. fusion and mass transfer. Here is discussed the theory basic to all the operations like molecular diffusion in fluids, dieusion in turbulent flow, diffusion in d i d s , and interphase mass transfer. part 11 (252 pees) discusses the gas-liquid operations: firat, then humidification operrttions, equipment for and distillation, part 111 (86 pages) an liquidgas with liquid extraction. part IV liquid operations deals (188 pages) an solid-fluid operations covers and ion leaching. part v (16 pages) on the less exohawe, drying, conventional operations gives brief disrussions of dialysis, gaseous diffusion separations, and thermal diffusion. In Part 11, despite their common basis of gas-liquid operations, considerable differences exist among humidification, gas ahsorptian, and distillation. Theory particular to the single operation for distillation, vepor-liqui,j equilibria is given in each are discussed before calculation methoda far tray and columns are given. Only the McCabe-Thiele method is given, the Ponchon method and enthalpy-concentration oharts are not mentioned. Many favorable comments can be made on this bwk: the adequate discussion of underlying theory in Part I of the book and a t the beginning of each chapter dealing with a. separate operation; the many and excellent diagrams illustrating theory, calculation methods, and equipment; the numerous (99) illustrated problems showing the applications of the methods given; and the adequate number of student problems at the end of each chapter. Because of these excellent features this book mill be used widely a8 a senior and graduate text for these particular unit operations. Because of its clarity, basic theory, and illustrated problems it will be used by the chemical engineer in industry to review and modernize his background in these industrially important unit operations. KENNETII A. KOBE
UNIV~RBITP. OF T E X A ~ AOBTIN.T E X A ~
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FUNDAMENTALS OF GENERAL CHEMISTRY
C. H. Sorum, Professor of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin 588 pp. Figs. and Prentice-Hall, Inc., New York, 1955. ix tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $6.50.
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THIS freshman text is, in the reviewer's opinion, a very good book and one which reflects the mature judgment of an experienced and excellent teacher. Traditional in its subject matter and approaoh, the book impresses one primarily by the quality of the writing. The subjert matter is developed logically, concisely, and-olearlv. Ideas and relationshins once described are thereafter enlarged and brought home f o k f u l l y by use in new situations. The questions and problems at the ends of the chapters are excellent and supplement well the subject matter. In con-
tmst to many of the general ohemistry texts on the market, the material in this book can be covered adequately in one academic year, Although it is a relatively minor matter, the use of the Stock svstem in nzuning containing elements canable of ex-camnounds . cibiting s. number of oxidation states is& be commended. I t is high time that this practice became general, even in texts on a freshman level. There are, The reviewer found few t.YPOgra~hical however, a number of statements with which he must take issue. ~ ~ On page 133 it is said, "Inertness of s n element is interpreted to umean ) that , its outer shell contains as many electrons as it can possibly hold; it is filled to its maximum onpacity." Certainly the author would not say that outer shells of any of the inert gases but helium and neon have attained their maximum capacities. 0" P e e 151 the author states in speaking of covalence (in general), "As a result of this mutual sharing of pairs of electrons, the atoms of both elements attain an inert gas structure." There are many exceptions to this, e. g., in PF8, SF6, etc., and it would be app'opriate to go into the matter in more detail. On page 158, '
