BOOK REVIEWS of organic spot test anaIy8is, and by reference to the more recent findings indicates the guiding principles which have proved useful in the search for new tests. There has been no significant change in Chapter 2 on Spot Test Techniques. Chapter 3 on Preliminary (Exploratory) Tests has been expanded considerably, and the number of sections increased from 25 ta 32. The number of tests for functional groups (Chapter 4) has been increased from 49 to 70, and the number of tests for individual compounds (Chapter 5) has been increased from 78 t o 133. The applications of these methods to the testing of
materials (Chapter 6) ha8 been approximately doubled with 111 sections, instead of 62. Altogether, this new edition describes and discusses nearly 600 tests in contrast t o 386 in the 1956 edition. In order ta prevent the new edition from becoming too large the author has resorted to rather extensive deletions, abridgements, and typographical simplifications. I n spite of this the size of the book has increased from 616 ta 675 pages. Perhaps no chemist has a greater knowledge of chemical reaotions than Professor Feigl, and this knowledge is clearly reflected in the material presented in this book. I t should be emphasized that it is more than a manual for the practical identification of organic compounds, ill-
though it brilliantly fulfills this function. The reactions, and the principles upon which these reactions are based in applying them as spot tests, are fully presented with great clarity. Accordingly, this book should be of wide interest because it frequently provides valuable suggestions for non-analytical studies. It is designed not only far professional analysts, organic chemists, biologists, and forensic chemists who are concerned with solving analytical problems on a. micro-scale. but also for teachers of ehemistry. Organic chemistry lsboratary courses have e~periallybeen considered,
FRANKJ. WELCHER Indiana Uniwmity Indianapolis
Qualitative Analysis and Analytical Chemical Separations Philip W. West and Maurice M. Vick, both of Louisiana. State University. 2nd ed. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1959. xv 302 pp. 22 figs. 14.5 X21.5 cm. $4.50.
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The second edition of this text is aimed a t both the sophomore course in qualitative analysis and the second semester studies of the same subject incorpor&xl i n s general chemistry course for freshmen. For greater usefulness a t the freshman level, some subiects were treated in more detail than in the first edition: Part I on experimental procedures was revised to take into account several years' practical experience with the new separation scheme and enriched with a new section on spot tests. Part I1 on fundamental theory is essentially unchanged. A whole 60-page section was added and forms the new part 111 of the book on metals, yetallurgy, and reactions of the metal mnn. Also added were sections on mathematical operations. The outatanding merit of this text is unquestionably the detailed presentation of a. new and workable cation separat,ion scheme which is rxdieally different from the traditional 110-year old Runsen-Fresenius method of sulfide separation. After a. chloride precipitation of two cations follows a "basic hensoate group" i.e. a controlled-pH precipitation of six cations with oxidation state 3 or 4, which is a much improved version of the timehonored basic aoetate separation. Then, with the p H still on the acid side, a "fluoride group" of five cations is separated followed by an alkaline precipitation of seven cations a6 a ""on-amphoteric group," leaving in a find solution three amphoteric ions. A most valuable addition t o the systematic separation scheme are the sections on reactions of individual cations which one finds throughout part I of the book, one for each cation. They are written in form of experiments t o be made with knowns, interspersed with some exquisite little spotlights on inorganic chemistry and on special methods of analytical chemistry, which testify to the authors' rich experience in this field. (Continued a page A644)
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B O O K REVIEWS The newly added part 111 treats on 60 pages the general chemistry and metallurgy of the metals covered in the m a lytical part. Naturally, it has to be very brief and condensed and wodd seem quite valuable for reviewing purposes. The authors state (on page 81) that "normally, the chief purpose of an annlysis is to determine the cxtion content of an unknown." In keeping with this unusual viewpoint,, they devote barely 8 pages of a 30U-page book to the analysis far anions. Much can be mid in f2~vorof a more balanced treatment: Not only is it potentially valuable to know how to tell gypsum trom limestone, hut the less systematic work of anion detection de-
mands careful ohscrvatition and logical interpretation and cannot degenerate as easily into caokhooker,v as the systematic work with any kind of cxtion separation scheme. The 120-page treatment of fundamental theory is essentidly sound. The discussion of the stability of complex ions is excellent and the questions and problems on coordination compounds are thoughtprovoking and well explained. Since more and more general chemistry courses and probably all organic chemistry courses, nowadays, treat acid-base reactions as proton exchanges, it seems advisable that analytical chemists do likewise. The list of solutions in t,he appendix would gain in usefulness if gram solute per liter solution were given besides molnrity. The format of the book is very handy,
print is clear and easy to read, and illustrations are well done. R r c e m o E. FRANK Uniuersity of Nmlh Dakota Grand Fmks
Specfrorhemieal Analysis
L. H . Ahrens and S. R. Taylor, both of the University of Cape Town, South Africa. 2nd ed. Addison-Wee ley Publishing Company, Inc., Reading, Massachusetts, 1961. xxiii 452 pp. 16 X 23.5 cm. $15.
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In this new edition the authors have expanded znd modernized the material of the edition of 1950. As indicated in the subtitle, the book is a guide for the d.c. arc analysis of geological and related materials, including rocks, ores, minerals, meteorites, and soils. Part 1 (176 pp.), General Principles, covers simple theory, d.r. arc characteristics, sampling problems, qualitative analysis, and quantitative analysis. Part 2, The Elements, considers msnipdative details for the determination of 49 elements in addition to the rare earth metals. Then follows a chapter on the determination of some elements present as major constituents in ~uhstancessuch as silicates and feldspars. References to an extensive bibliography (45 pp.) are cited throughout the book. This compilation rovers the literature to December, 1959. The wavelength tables (70 pp.) include the most sensitive lines in the arc. They were prepared perticulsrly far the an;& ysis cf minerals, rocks, soils, meteorites, and reletcd materials. This hook reflert,~ thc extensive experience of the authors, and should he very valuable to those working with the kinds of substances covered.
M . G . MELLON Purdue University Lafqjelte, Indiana
The Phyrlco-Chemical Constants of Binary Systems in Conrenfrakd Solulions. Volume 4: Systems with Inorganic plus Organic or Inorganic Compounds (Excepting Metallic Derivalives) J p a n Timmermens, Universite Lihre,
Brussels, Belgium. Interscience Publishers Inn., New Bork, 1961. 1332 pp. Tables. 19 X 24.5 cm. $39. This is the final volume of the series. In addition to "Systems with Inorganic plus Organic or Inorganic Compounds," (6211 paws on water solutions), there are formula indexes, hoth organic and inorganic, and the bibliography. These latter rover the entries for all four volumes. A brief list of errata is included in the bound text. S?e THE JOTRNAL, 37, A16, A384 ( 1960).
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