APRIL, 1953 Anyone who attempts t o apply polarography to a. practical analytical problem without first taking the time tolearn the fundamental theory of the method is simply inviting failure. KO amount of elegant equipment can compensate for lack of fund& mental knowledge. We do not mean t o imply that routine polarographic analyses cannot be performed by technicians of limited training, hut this should he done under the supervision of a. ohemist well versed in the theoretical and practical fundamentals of polarography." The two volumes of this second edition provide a. complete and well-organized source of the theoretical and praetical fundamentals of polarography whieh the authors would have all practitioners acquire. They will do much in making experts from novices and polarographers from experts. DAYTON E. CARRLTT C m a * ~ e * a eB*r INm'ITOTR THEJ 0 m 8 HOPX-INS UNIVERBITY AYXAPOLIB,MART-LAKD
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most of the text. A number of new problems have been added and the increased size of page permits amore sttractive and more easily read edition. LUCY W. PICKETT MOCNTHOLYOXE COLLEGE SOUTA HADLET, MABBACHUBETTS
REFERENCE BOOK OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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Wendell M. Latimer, and Joel H. Hildebrand, Professors of Chemistry, University of California. Third edition. The Macmillan Co., New York, 1951. xii 625 pp. 5 0 figs. 124 tables. 14 X 21 em. 55.
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QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
William M a r s h a l l MocNevin, Professor of Analytioal Chemistry, and Thomas Richard Sweet, Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemisby, hoth at the Ohio State University, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1952. ix 247 pp. 55 figs. 13 tahles. 14.5 X 22.5 em. $3.75.
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THE is a brief, simply written text in quantitative analysis which is designed for engineers, premedical, and prepharmacy students as well as chemistry majors. I t is successful in presene ing clearly and explicitly the neoessary directions for a laboratory course in quantitative analysis together with a concise explanation of reasons far the procedures. It is expected that the instructor may wish to supplement the discussions of theory. The lxl~arntolyexperiments include, in addition t o gravimetric determinations of sulfate, chloride, iron, nickel, and silica, and usual volumetric determinations, more specialized analyses, such as carbon dioxide in carbonates, carbon in steel, photometl.ie determinrttion of iron in alloys. Of espeoial interest is the determination of sulfate by ion exchange and a versenate determination of hardness in water. The early experiments, hoth in gravimetric and in volumetric work, are written with carefully detailed directions and seem suitable for students with meager chemical or mathematical background. Certain early difficulties such as weighing by sensitivity are omitted entirely and the calibration of weights is in the last chapter. Emon and significant figures are too briefly discussed. The authors have simplified laboratory instructional problems by incl"ding sample notebook pages, suggestions for securing samples and far grading reports. The reviewer would not select the book for chemistry majors hut feels it has muoh merit for those who wish a limited acquaintance with the fidd, or who wish to use it for a special purpose. LUCY W. PICKETT MOOKT H O L ~ ~COLLEDX KE Somn H ~ o ~ s M u .~ s s ~ c a n s ~ m s
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r~visionis that entitled Quantitative Seuarations. which rives
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TEXTBOOK OF QUANTITATIVE INORGANIC ANALYSIS
I M. Kolthoff and E. B. Sandell, Professors of Analytical Chemistry, University of Minnesota. Third edition. The MacmiUanCo., New York, 1952. m 759pp. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $6.50.
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Probahly all teachers of analytical chemistry are familiar with the earlier editions of this comprehensive and authoritative text of quantitative ansly8is. Designed for use both in a beginning s n d advanced course by the serious student of chemistry, i t is one of the most importsnt books in the field. The present edition varies from the second chiefly in an enlargement and reorganization of the chapter on physical methods of analysis giving more attention to such subjects as fluorescence and flnmr photometry. Another chapter involving extensive
T H E is the third edition of an excellent and very well-known reference book, which, although not a text in the ordinary sense, should find widespread use in supplementing most general and inorganic chemistry courses, partirularly those of s. more rigorous nature. The present edition has the same farm and, to a. large extent, the same material as the previous editions. Altogether about 50 pages of new material have been added. At first glance most of the pages appear to be identical with those of the second edition but close examination reveals that many pages have been revised and brought up to date by the change of a word or number, revision of a sentence, or deletion of sentence~and substitution of others for them. In some cases whole pages or sections have been rewritten and exvanded. Chapter XXII, The Radioactive Elements, of the seeand edition has been rewritten and expanded into Chapter XXII, The Actinide Elements, and Chapter XXIII, Nnrlear Resetions. of this edition. Manv oxidatian-reduction potential diagram have been added. Tables have been revised and brought up to date. In the appendixes a new tahle of the ahundanees of the elements has k e n added. ~
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FRED C. F R E Y T I O Uwrv~nsmrOF W~DMINU L*n*xw. W r o ~ m a
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POLARIZED LIGHT IN METALLOGRAPHY
Edited by G.K. T. Conn and F. J. Brodshow. Academic Press, 130 pp. 31' figs. 22 plates. 4 Inc., New York, 1952. xi tables. 14.5 X 22.5 em. $3.80.
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THIS short text, whieh surveys the applications of polarized light in the exsminstian of metals, alloys, and ores, is sponsored by the Optical Methods Sub-committee of the British Iron and Steel Research Assaciiltion. The book comprises seven chapters written by eight experts but does not suffer from lack of continuity, although the various authors do not always agree in their points of view. The first two chapters, written by Conn and Naish, deal briefly with the pertinent optical principles involved in the production of polarized light and with its reflection and absorption by isotropic and anisotropic materials. The third chapter by Hallimond and Taylor considers critically microscopes and auxiliary equipment and also procedures for work with reflected polarized light. In chapter four b y Perryman, which deals with the examination of metal surfaces for grain structure and identification of phases, numerous plates strikingly illustrate the possibilities of the polarized light method. Chapter five by Marroeh. ~~ , whieh noints out the ~ossibilitiesof identification of inclusions in metals and alloys, also contains several highly informative plates. In the sixth chapter the use of reflected polarized light in the study of ores is considered by Cohen, and includes a number of interesting specific examples. The book concludes with a short summarizing chapter by Molt upon tho significance oi polarized light in the study of metals and ores.
JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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The book is well documented and contains a elossarv " of ooticel terms. This s m l l book oresents s, critical survev of the menent A
pitfalls and limitations of the method. It is felt that the authors have performed a valuable service in carefully evaluating what should become an increasingly important branch of metallography. The book is recommended to all those interested in the mioroscopical examination of metals, alloys, and ores. W. WALKER RUSSELL
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SEMMICRO QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
Paul Arthur, professor of Chemistry, and Otto M. Smith, Prafessor Emeritus of Chemistry and Director of Research Foundation, both of Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. Third edition. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1952. xi 285 pp. 27 figs. 8 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $4.
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SINCE semimior0 qualitative analysis is the subject of almost as many texts as is general chemistry, i t is difficult for a teacher to appreciate a new text unless it. shows marked advantages over its fellows. Changing texts in qualitative analysis is a major operation inevitably involving some retooling of laboratory locker equipment and extensive change of reagent solutions. Hence, the teacher of analytical chemistry is inclined to look with something less than enthusiasm a t "another qual. text." In this reviewer's opinion this text offers no particular advantage over many others in the field. The theoretical portion of the text, comprising the first ten chapters, introduces the reader to physical-chemical principles of ionic equilibria. The theoretical material is developed more in accord with the needs of a physical chemistry course than with those of a qualitative analysis course. For example, the principle solubility product which is encountered very early in the labacttory is discussed in the text after the material on ionization of acids and base8 and buffer calculstion. I n view of the physical chemical approach, it was surprising to fmd the mention of activity and activity coeffioient limited to afootnote. Oxidationreduction reactions are not considered until the tenth chapter where the ion-electron method for balancing is used hut not explained. The chapter on complex ions is inadequate. The idea of mawimum coordination is not developed and the chapter is without one mention of ehelrttes although liberal use is made of organic reagents in the laboratory portion of the text. Illustrstive of the lack of coordination of lecture and laboratory material we find the complex HgL-mentioned in the chapter on complex ions, hut HgCL in the laboratory portion. The text also suffers from a lack of chemical equations, especially those of the metals with the many organic reagents used and those of anion reactions generally. The mistakes found include: Cuaa+should be Cut (p. 132) Co(OH)* NHs yields Co(NH&" not Co(NH8).'-'- (p. 225) Formula Ni dimethylglyoxime should indicate 4 Ni-N bonds rather than 2Ni-N and 2Ni-0 honds (p. 233)
1950. As in the earlier volumes the information is presented in the fonn of short abstracts of experimental procedures. The reactions are arranged according to the elements whieh are to he bonded and according t o the type of reaction (i. e., addition, rearrangement, exchange, and elimination). A apecial symholism is used for the reaction types; readers who master the simple rules for assigning a "reaction symbol" are able t o locate reactions in the book without reierence to terms auch as the Beekmen rearrangement, aldol condensation, or Malaprade reagent. However, a conventional index, listing "name" reaetions, functional groups, general classes of compounds, resgents, etc., is provided for those who prefer not to make use of the "reactions symbols." A specific illustration-for example, fmding information on the conversion of the carbonyl group to methylene--will serve to describe the use of the cataloguing scheme, as well as the kind I 0, of information presented. First the reaction symbol, HC T referring to the formation of the carbon-hydrogen bond (HC) by exchange (JT) with oxygen (O), is constructed. Then the page on which such processes are treated is located. This may be done directly or with the help of the table of symbols st the back of the baak. At the proper place in the baak we find abstracts of pertinent work on the Clemmensen reduction published in 1949 and 1950 by Leonard and by Clemo. Also wo note references to the Wolff-Kishner method, and are reminded by a reference to Plattner (1949) and to others that the keto group attached t o an aromatic system may be converted to methylene by catalytic hydrogenation. In this particular section, it would have been helpful to the searcher if a cross reference were provided to the twadtage process of transforming carbonyl to methylene, involving thioketsl formation followed by Raney nickel desulfuriza1 S. tion. This last method is found under HC T The reader would be led to the same abstracts by looking in the conventional index for such entries as Clemmensen, Kishner, Walff-Kishner, (Raney) nickel, zinr, etc. Theilheimer's occasional failure to include Kekul6 double bonds in the structural designation of aromatic systems is not the best practice and can lead to unnecessary ambiguity. Thus we find a structural formula on page 23, written a-ithout double bonds, which does not distinguish between a furan and a tetrahydrafuran derivative. Only after reading the abstract does it become clear that a furan compound is intended. However, this and other minor criticisms do not detract significantly from the value of the book. I t may he predicted that this volume of synthetic methods will find its place with its earlier counterparts as s standard secondary source. Parenthetically, it is interesting and gratifying to realise that a group of chemical industries is sponsoring the Theilheimer series. I t hits been pointed out before that substantial support by industry for other worthy publications, such as Chemtcal Abstmcts, would be highly desimble. WALTER J. GENSLER Bosroa U N ~ V E R ~ ~ T Y Bosrow. M A s a A o ~ a s m T s 3
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SEAWEEDS AND THEIR USES
V. I. Chapman, Professor of Botany, Auckland University College. Pitman Publishing Corp., New York, 1952. xiv 52 figs. 20 plates. 14.5 X 22 om. $6.
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SYNTHETIC METHODS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. VOLUME 6
W . Theilheimer. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 387 pp. 16.5 X 23.5 em. $12.90. 1952. xi
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T H Esixth volunw of this now familiar anrrual a w w y of orgarric reavrlorc incluclrt mntrrinl taken from the litwaturr of 1949 will
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THE fist of the nine chapters cover the occurrence and distribution of seaweeds. This is well covered in an interesting manner for the various sections of the globe with emphasis on the more important seaweeds and the zonation in the various regions. Sketches of s number of seaweeds are included. Unfortunately, previous publications of which the author depended for information on the distribution of Afacrocystis pyrifera along the Pacific Coast are mistaken s s to the distribution of the species. The commercial stands of Macrocy8tis pyifera are found in s. limited r~gionalong the California. and
