pages. One or two hits of elementary calculus appear. Except in the treatment of the atomic and molecular theories, the historical approach has been completely abandoned-a development which greatly simplifies the teaching of such topics as valence and ionization. The modem theory of atomic structure is described, hut no experimental evidence is presented for it. The descriptive portion of the book is equally interesting. Many of the topics usually stressed in American books are given scant mention, or none a t all. Iron is given seven pages, manganese, two, and chromium, three and one-half. Cobalt, nickel, strontium, and cadmium are not discussed. There is very little on hardness in water and nothing on photography. On the other hand, many topics are given more emphasis than is usual in American hooks. Structural formnlas and electronic formnlas are used freely, and coikdination compounds are discussed with surprising frequency. Many compounds with which even advanced American students may not he familiar are described, as is illustrated by the following compounds of calcium: Ca(NH& CaH,, Ca(NH&, [Ca(NHd81CI~, ICa(GH60H),ICIs, CaOd3H10. The hook naturally retains an English fiavor. Emphasis is put on industrial processes used in England, and occurrences of minerals of interest t o the English. Intensive drying is mentioned in several places. Solid carbon dioxide is referred to as "drikdd." It is a pleasure to recommend this hook by Dr. Durrant. The freshness of his point of view and the excellence of his literary style make i t worthy of wide acceptance. J o m C. BAILAR, JR.
S~com YEARCOLLEGE CEEMISTRY. William H. Chapin, Oberlin College. Fourth Edition, revised by William H. Chapht and Luke E. Steiner. John Wiley and Sons. Inc., New York City, 1938. xv 407 pp. 42 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $3.00. Thir hook is the fourth revision of the original which appeared in 1922. Accordii to the preface the author's purpose in writing the h w k was t o provide a course t o bridge the gap between the general chemistry of the freshman year and the physical and inorganic chemistry of the junior and senior years. I n this aim the authors of the present edition have succeeded t o an unusual de-
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previous editions, both in the choice of subject matter and in the method of presentation. The chapters dealing with solutions of electrolytes, X-rays and radioactivity, valence and electrachemistry have been largely re-written and a new chapter on atomic transmutations introduced. The generalized concept of acids and bases is introduced, together with the practical application of the concepts of activity, activity-coefficient, and ionic strength as applied t o strong electrolytes. The reviewer is inclined to question the value of introducing Into the usual equilibrium equations for neutralization and hydrolysis, the hydronium ion H80C in place of H f . Other than t o emphasize the fact that hydrogen ion is hydrated, i t would seem t o complicate rather than clarify the presentation for the beginning student. The chapters on "Atomic Structure and Valence" and "Atomic Transmutations" are certainly masterpieces of exposition and may he read with considerable profit, especially if such.reading is accompanied by the solution of the fascinating exercises a t the end of these chapters, by the student who has had a course in physical chemistry and theoretical physics. The reviewer is led t o wonder whether a second-year student who has had only the beginning course in general chemistry and may or may not have had college physics, could gain much of a working knowledge of isotopes, nuclear structure, electron distribution, and the products of nuclear bombardment by means of different projectiles. Nevertheless, the material is excellent and the extent t o which i t "gets across" will depend largely upon the individual Lecturer. The authors' emphasis upon problems ii a feature which commends itself. That well-known dictum of Le Chancourtois: "Les propri6t6s des matiPres sont les proprietes des nomhres" emphasizes the fact that unless our reasonings can he reduced to a quantitative basis, the precision of methods tested, and unknown quantities calculated, our science is, indeed, inadequate. Many new and valuable problems have been added, and others, involving calculations which are not exact enough t o be useful or which the student will not find applicable to his later work, have been eliminated. The book is strikingly free from typographical errors. I t is deserving of commendation for its precise presentation of the fundamental concepts, and will therefore he valuable, not only as a textbook for class use hut also forreading by those who may desire to bring their knowledge of'general chemistry up-to-date. UNrveasm 0s A a n o n ~
The importonre o l a knowledge of physico-chemical principle TUCSON. AEIZONA as a basis for the inrclligent undcrstandin~of organic, inorganic, analyriral, and colloid chemihtry, both from the standpoint of methodology and in the interpretation of experimental observations, is generally recognized. Thus the title of the book might INDUSTRIES.Edited by D. M. Neuitt. Chemical 'equally well have been ELEMENTARY PAYSICALC A ~ ~ S T R YCHEMICAL . Publishing Company of New York. New York City, 1939. With much of the mare elementary material in the conventional luix 379 pp. 20.5 X 27.5 cm. $4.00. course in physical chemistry relegated to such a "second-year "This book is designed t o serve two purposes, firstly t o provide chemistry" course, an opportunity is afforded t o intensify the work of the course in physical chemistry proper, which would actual facts, and secondly to give outlines for ideas from which follow in the junior or senior year. Incidentally, i t becomes an practical plans can he formed. "The present volume is the thirteenth edition of a publication excellent companion course to any course in analytical chemistry, qualitative or quantitative, which may be prescribed for the which for nine years was known as the Chemical Engineering sophomore year. I n the reviewer's opinion, therefore, the book and Chemical Catalogue. There was no issue dated 1934 fills a definite need in the conventional sequence of the chemistry owing t o the complete replanning of the whole work, and in 1935 the new CHEMICALINDUSTRIES appeared. The sectianalized course. planning was apparently much liked, as the whole printing was The place of such a murse in the chemistry curriculum is justified and made necessary by the very fact that the principles un- exhausted in September of the same year. "In earlier years we have introduced a few random tables and derlying both qualitative and quantitative analysis are inherently physico-chemical. We have been putting the cart before some data, peculiarly suitable for chemical engineers, of a nature the horse. What teacher of analytical chemistry has not found not easily available elsewhere; some, in fact, were specially comi t necessary t o devote a considerable amount of time t o a discus- piled for the book. The fact that this was necessary seemed t o sion of the principles of equilibrium, solubility-product, complex- indicate that a reference book of information for those employed ion formation, phase mle, and colloid chemistry? And would the in the chemical-using industries was really needed. The managstudent not he in a better position t o carry out intelligently the ing editor was advised and the sections formed and m e d up. typical quantitative procedures if he had previously mastered At this time, also, we had ready the first section of matter on the principles underlying the use of indicators, hydrolysis, pH Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals. which i t had been intended changes in neutralization reactions, coprecipitation, thermal de- to publish nr n sevarate book. This was, however, inmrporated in the revis:d CIIRMICAL INDUSTRICS, nnd very considerably en. composition, and electrode potentials? The present revision involves rather extensive changes over riched its value..
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