RECENT BOOKS A LABORATORY BOOKOP ELEMENTARY ORGANICCHEMISTRY. lar the applications of the notion of induced polarities in atomic Alexendcr Lmy, Ph.D., Professor of Organic Chemistry. Uni- chains, would be desirable. The book is sound in theory, and remains, on the whole, an versity of Pittsburgh, and Wilmer E. Baldwin, Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh. excellent text far the beginner. The author makes liberal use Second edition. John Wiley & Sans, Inc., New York City, of graphical formulas and tables, and has taken considerable 1934. 44 Expts., ix 182 pp.. 74 Figs. 22 X 28.5 cm. pains to explain the subject clearly. The study questions are $2.50. well chosen, and should serve the student admirably as a means The present edition follows the first edition [J. CHEM.EDUC., of testing his awn knowledge and correlating the various func4, 1448 (Nov., 1927)l in close detail. Unusual features of the tional groups. I n spite of his criticisms the reviewer has no b w k apparently have appealed t o its users. For examnle. the hesitation in recommending this text to students and teachers W. C. MACTAVISH practice of gaining coiiperation of industrial firms who have sup- of organic chemistry. WASHINOTON SQUARB COI.LBCB.New YO= UNIYB~SITY plied cuts of apparatus and machinery is continued. Students NsW Yonr CITY are introduced to the manufacturing phase while they are learnMANUALo~ INORGANIC CAEMISTRYto BCing the essential facts of theoretical chemistry and laboratory A LABORATORY company Hollcmnn's T a x r BOOK08 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY. practice. This unique plan is commended. John B. Ekeley, Ph.D., Sc.D., Professor of Chemistry, UniDrawings of suggested set-ups for laboratory practice are good versity of Colorado. Fourth edition. John Wiley & Sons, and in several instances enough different from other manual deInc., New York City, 1934. x 293 pp. 47 Figs. 15.6 scriptions to warrant attention and use. X 23.6 cm. $2.00. The authors have arranged perforated sheets, affording an easy The author's justification for this edition of the hook is that method of submitting reports. FRIENDE. CLARK it contains 34 pages (including 18 blank pages for notes) devoted WBSTVrmmril UNIYBRSITY MORCANTOWN. W. VA. to an "Introduction to Qualitative Analysis." With the exception of the addition of 7 electrochemical problems and the A TEXTBOOK OR ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. Joseph Scudder Chamber- omission of one experiment involving chlaraplatinic acid and lein, Ph.D., Professor of Organic Chemistry, Massachusetts another concerned with the effect of silicon and ferrasilicon on State College. Third edition revised. P. Blakiston's Son & platinum, the first 259 pages are identical with the third edition, Co., Inc., Philadelphia, 1934. xxv 873 pp. 14 X 21 cm. including two typographical errors in the contents. $4.00. The analytical section is qnite condensed but perhaps is snf6The main objects of the revision of this text are, according t o ciently complete when the laboratory work is performed under the author, to effect condensation of the more important aspects the direction of an able instructor. The instructions for a few of the subject, and to incorporate recent developments in certain of the usual preliminary cationic experiments are given; these fields. The original plan and scope of the work have not, how- are t o the point and will not cause the first-year student t o beever, been materially changed. The subject matter has been come "sunk without a trace" as is often the case when the iurearranged t o isolate in a separate section the discussion of spe- structions are too detailed. Barring the confirmatory tests for cial groups, as Dyes, Alkaloids, etc., which though desirable are Zn++ and Mgc+, the block outlines for group cationic analysis not essential t o the presentation of the fundamentals of the sub- are of the standard type. Approximately 2 pages are given aver t o 15 of the common a n i o n s f o u r of these being organic. ject. The author speaks of "twenty-four common metals" (p. 263) The author has made a step in the right direction in his effort to reduce the main body of the text more nearly to the essentials. and then tabulates them as cations. On p. 265 the implication In the reviewer's opinion further shrinkage might he effected by is that the hydroxides of iron and manganese are soluble in amthe omission of more of the comparatively irrelevant portions monia; also, on p. 267, that HgNHICl is black. Perhaps the dealing with special compounds and technical processes. The least important of the basic salts-that of bismuth-is the only latter territory is particularly dangerous for the academician, as one to which attention is directed. The statement (p. 267) that industrial processes, like fashions and morals, depend much upon in an ammonia solution, "mast of the ammonia is in the form of environment and local economic conditions. Of limited value hydrated NHI molecules" is not home out by the more recent in any case from the pedagogic point of view, their value be- conductivity studies of aqua ammonia. The phosphate ion is comes even doubtful when (as given on p. 751) the process for covered in anion analysis (p. 291), hut no provision is made for the production of a substance as important as synthetic camphor its interference in the cation section. With the exception of a is misrepresented with obsolete procedures and incorrect struc- few manipulations, technics and also theory of analysis are wanttural formulas. A similar criticism might be directed a t the ing in the analytical section. Ionization and solubility product futility of treating rubber in a special section in which the Har- are amply presented in the inorganic part of the book. A casual search of the literature does not reveal a review of ries structure is discussed, hut the commonly accepted linear polymer structure completely ignored. One is tempted to ques- the third edition of the book, hence a review of the inorganic tion the precise function of a textbook which is possibly too part of the present edition may be desirable. The format is excellent; the content is very accessible; and voluminous for introductory courses, and inadequate in content the hook is unusually devoid of typographical errors. More and treatment for the advanced student. Many of the errors of fact which appeared in the earlier edition extensive legends on the diagrams would be helpful t o the stuhave been eliminated. While there is among teachers much dent. It contains 168 exercises, a few of which are for the more difference of opinion as to the order of presentation of the vari- ambitious students, and 166 problems. It belongs in the recogous topics, the reviewer still feels that the order of the introdnc- nized first-year chemistry books. Unfortunately, the author was obliged t o correlate the volume tory chapters (paraffins, halogen compounds, amines, phosphorus and arsenic compounds, nitriles, iso-nitriles, organo-metallic with the text which it is designed to accompany. The pr& compounds, alcohols) has more t o condemn than recommend it. bi for C& and &CrrOi is not commonly accepted in the United States. The study of atomic weights and of salt solutions occurs The advantage of furnishing the student with a background of structures and reactions for the study of the oxygen functions is qnite late. The laboratory study of mineral specimens of the dubious in view of the fact that the latter are in most cases the heavier metals is undoubtedly quite welcome in the noted mineral-producing states. The reviewer cannot subscribe t o the materials from which the same background is constructed. The introduction of the simpler adaptations of the electronic study, in an elementary course, of chlorine dioxide, oxygen comconcepts of Lapworth and Robinson is a welcome addition. pounds of iodine, persulfuric acid, hydroxylamine, silanes, and sodium nitropmsside. The calculation of the weight of a liter Further discussion from this valuable viewpoint, and in particu-
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