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photographs, photomicrographs, and diagrams, and much of the research cited is supported with reproduced tables and graphs. The hboratory manual consists of 68 experiments divided into the 12 chapter headings, with each group following its appropriate chapter. A sufficient amount of laboratory work is given to provide a year's course in experimental cookery. Beginning studentsmavfind thelahoratorvdireetions too brief. conseouentlv
measurements and in metric weights. Questions also may arise in the few instances where the author has seemingly been incousistent in her lahoratory directions, giving changes to he made in the basic formula in household measures rather than the usual gram weight. Bothatudentsandtearhersshould find the thoughtprovoking questions whioh are interspersed in the laboratory experiments helpful in explaining results of the experiments. Acompilation of such amultitude of literature from such awide field into as complete and useful a work a3 is presented here is a Herculean task. Its usefulness, therefore, not only to colleges and universities hut also to other areas of food technology, is extensive. CORA MILLER
chemistry. I t might better be descrihed as a hook for a course in seeand-year college chemistry which uses as a laboratory assignment the conventional qualitative analysis scheme. The theoretr ical section is very well written with an adequate number of illustrative problems in each chapter along with sample calculations for each type of problem. The student is introduced to modern theories of honding involving explanation8 based on atomic orbitals and bond energies, and the Briinsted-Lowry notation is used throughout. Oxidrttion-reduction theory is approached through a discussion of half-cells, and the Nernst equation is introduced. The term "molarity" which is usually used in discussing concentration has been discarded and replaced by "formality" and the symbol Fused as an abbreviation. This new notation does not lead to confusion except in the application of the Nernst equation where F is also used to indicate a Faraday. The laboratory section of the hook contains prepared flow sheets bssod on the Fresenius gystem for each group of ions, and descriptive material containing equations for important reaetions. The practice procedures consist of making a known solution for each group and carrying it through the scheme. The appendix contains tables of information needed for the theoretical section plus an assignment schedule and a system for record keeping. In schools where qualitative analysis is taught a8 a separate course in the second year and not combined with general chemistry, this book fulfills the purpose more than adequately. JAMES F. CORWIN
ADVANCES IN VIRUS RESEARCH. VOLUME I1 Edited by K. M. Smith, Virus Research Unit, Moltena Institute, and Max A. Lauffer. Denartment of Bioohvsics. Universitv d Pittsburgh. ~ c a d e m i c ' ~ r e sInc., i , New YO&, i 9 5 4 3iippT Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $7,
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As INDICATED in the Preface to Volume I, the articles which appear in this book are designed to bring together in one place the widely scattered and rapidly expanding literature on animal, plant, bacterial, and insect viruses, and to permit investigators of different training and interests to interpret and integrate the results of virus research. In keeping with this plan, the editors have selected physicists, physical chemists, chemists, and biologists to prepare articles for this volume. The following is a list of titles and contributors: F. 0.Holmes, "Inheritance of resistance to viral diseases in plants"; F. C. Bawden, "Inhibitors and plant viruses"; P. van Magnus, "Incomplete forms of influenza virus"; W. W. Ackcrmann and T. Francis, Jr., "Characteristics of viral development in isolated tissues"; E. Pollard, "The action of ionizing radiation on viruses"; C. Knight, "The chemical constitution of viruses"; R. William, "Electron microscopy of viruses"; M. Lauffer and I. Bendet. "The hvdri~tionof viruses." The hi& standards established in the first volume am aha to he found m the second volume, with the result that this series serves as a valuable adjunct to the science of virology. S. G. WILDMAN
U~wl;nsrrror C ~ ~ m o n n r * Los ANOELBB.C A L ~ O R ~ A
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QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS USING SEMIMICRO METHODS
Esmarch S. Gilreath, Assmiate Professor of Chemistry, Washington and Lee University. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1954. viii 287 pp. 25 figs. 16 X 23.5 cm. $4.25.
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T m title, "Qualitative Analysis" does not indicate the true nature of the book except for the laboratory section which is a. minor portion of it. The firat-175 pages are devoted to a rather rigorous treatment of molecular-structure equilibrium theory andoxidation and reduction, and was written to "bridge the gap" between a course in general chemistry and elementary physical
ACETnENE COMPOUNDS IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS
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R. A. Raphael, Professor of Organic Chemisby, The Queen's University of Belfast. Academic Press, Inc., New Yak, 1955. di 219 pp. 14.5 X 22.5 cm. $6.20.
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THIS is a timely book on a subject which is of interest to all organic chemists. Acetylene and its compounds comprise a very useful tool in organic synthesis. With a, high order of reactivity, remarkeble stability, and wide variety of reactions, they provide the synthetic organic chemist with a powerful tool in his work, whether it be the synthesis of a particular geometrical isomer or of a. oomplex natural product. Since an increasing numher of acetylenic compounds have become commercially available, there has been an expanding search for new applications. This has led to new reactions, new products, and revised techniques. In turn, this has added greatly to the literature as well as to the confusion confronting the researcher who is ine~~erienoed in acetylene chemistry. The author has used his wide practical knowledge in this field as a guide in the preparation of a much needed review. His objective has been to span, in one volume, the broad literature of acetylene chemistry, and to offer practical advice on the choice of available techniques. In this goal he has succeeded very well. The text has been divided into six sections covering the whole field of acetylene chemistry, with the exception of technology. The basic reactions of acetylene chemistry are described in general in the first section and applied to specific ~ynthescs in the body of the text. For convenience they have been divided into aliphatic compounds, conjugated systems, carhocyelio compounds, and heterocyclic compounds. A final chapter illustrates a numher of the more general reactions by detailed directions. As is necessary in the review of such a broad field, there is not the wealth of fine detail found in more specialized texts. Each section, however, is concluded by a list of selected references which lead the researcher at once to the most relevant literature. Throughout the book the author has pointed out areas which have been little explored and offers them as fruitful fields for research. EUGENE G. T E I C H
U. S. DEPARTWENT OF AORICULTURE
ALBANP,CALTFORIM
