RECENT BOOKS A TEXTBOOK oa Pnysrcnr. CRBMISTRY. VOL. I. GENERAL PROPERTIES oa ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS. J. Nmlon Friend, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.I.C., Head of the Chemistry Department, The Technical College, Birmingham, G. B. J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia. Pa., 1933. xii 501 pp. Frontispiece, 3 plates and 198 illustrations. 22 X 15.5 cm. $7.50.
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in character and not intended to equip the student for advanced work without further study of the subject. I n this connec tion, the author has succeeded in presenting the subject in such a way that the student proceeding t o further study will not have t o unlearn what he finds in this text. The author is careful t o point out, for example, that many of the laws stated are approximations and that more exact considerations lead t o more complicated equations. The reviewer feels that if in Chapter 4 (Solutions of Electrolytes) the author had gone one step farther in discussing the quantity a,calculated from the conductivity ratio of Arrhenius, and had pointed out that the ionic mobilities are dependent on the ion concentration, his treatment of strong and weak electrolytes would have been improved. An objection might be taken t o the statement on page 69 that "A concentrated solution of a strong acid or hase is a good buffer. ." On the whole, the author's treatment is very successful and should undoubtedly appeal t o the teachers of premedical and biological students. MARTINKILPATRICK, JR. THEUNIVBESITY OP PENNSYLVANIA PH~ADBLPAIA. PA.
As the title implies, this work is intended to be a textbook for senior and graduate students in physical chemistry. Since the material covered is approximately the first half of the content of the average textbook, it is probable that the author has planned for two volumes. The advisability of a two-volume textbook, especially when not intended t o be comprehensive, is doubtful. This first volume covers fundamentals, gases, liquids, solids, molecular structure and physical properties, solutions, and colloids. One thing that will impress the reader is the easy and a t t r a c tive style of Dr. Friend. It is a story that he writes for us and writes so invitingly that we are compelled to read on. But one must not be deceived into thinkimg that quantitative treatment is lacking. Mathematics aplenty is incorporated, but not in the bare form that discourages the non-mathematically minded. The author adheres to the correct principle that, once concepts and ideas are grasped, the development in mathematical form is comparatively easy. THE TERPENES. VOLUME 11. TEE DICYCLIC TERPENES, The arrangement of material will be found quite unusual. SESQUITERPENES, AND THEIR DERIVATIVES.1. L. Sirnomew, However, there is no consensus of opinion an this point, so critiD.Sc. (Manc.), F.I.C., F.R.S., Professor of Chemistry, Uuicism is scarcely justified. The reviewer would commend parversity College of North Wales, Bangor; formerly Professor ticularly the inclusion of two chapters on the fundamental laws of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. and theories of chemistry. Many recent texts neglect this, Cambridge, a t the University Press; New York, The Machut his experience is that, with many students, such a review 627 pp. 14 X 21.5 em. $7.00. millan Co., 1932. xi of more or less familiar subjects in the light of a better backThe second volume of this important work will be most welground is quite valuable. Dr. Friend's hook is filled, to a very unusual extent, with descriptions of the experimental methods come t o all interested in this difficult but fascinating field. used to investigate the phenomena under discussion. It is Part I is devoted t o "The Dicvclic Temenes and Their Derivaabundantly and well illustrated and the three spectrum plates tives," and comprises the following chapters: I . Thujane and are excellent. There is no lack of tables. The index is quite Its Derivatives; 11. Carane and Its Derivatives; 111. Pinane detailed and cross-referenced, Especially noteworthy are the and Its Derivatives; IV. Sauteue and Its Derivatives; V. extensive discussions of the crystalline state, specific heat, stu; Campbane, {so-Camphane, and Their Derivatives; VI. Fenface tension, the parachor, and spectroscopy. The type is large chane, iso-Bornylane, and Their Derivatives. Part 11, on "The and easy to read. Sesquiterpenes and Their Derivatives," is divided into these There is a complete absence of problems and literature refer- chapters: I. Hydracarbons (monocyclic, dicydic, and tricyclic); ences. It seems to the reviewer that omission of the first is 11. Alcohols (acylic, cadinol, derivatives of eudalene, and alcoserious in any work on a quantitative subject intended for use hols of unknown constitution); 111. Aldehydes; and IV. Keas a text. As t o the second, students may, as suggested by the tones. Both author and subject indexes are provided. author, dig them out for themselves, but usually they will not. The author has classified and handled an enormous mass of The work could be further improved by including a discussion information in masterlv fashion. and his discussions of the manv of methods for determining atomic weights and especially of intricate reactions and structural rrlatwnships involved are lucid the application of X-rays to the investigation of crystal struc- m d rasily fulluacd, thank%to the c u t m ~ i r em e of constitutional ture formulas. In condusion, however, it should be emphasized that this is I n few branches of organic chemistry has there been such a an excellent book and one that any teacher or student will do crying need for a modem up-to-date handbook as in that covered well t o have in his library. by the work under review, not 0 4 because of the great interest and importance, both scientifically and commercially, of such MALCOLM M. HAXINO natural products as piuene, camphor, borueol, and the like, hut also because the large number of investigations published within the last few years. notably bv Ruzicka and his co-workers. have made the older hooks ho&e&ly out of date. PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY FOR STUDENTS O F BIOLOGY AND MEDIIt would have been difficult to have found an expert better CINE. D a d I. Hitchcock, Ph.D.. Associate Professor in qualified than Professor Simansen t o carry through this task, the Yale Uuiversitl School of Medicine. Charles C. Thomas, for he is himself a distinguished investigator in the field, whose Springheld, Ill., and Baltimore, Md., 1932. xi 182 pp. experience covers Asia as well as Europe. 26 Figs. 14.25 X 23 cm. $2.75, postpaid. The work is absolutely indispensable t o all who wish up-toThe purpose of the hook is t o bring to the student an uuder- date information on the chemistry of the terpeues. standing of the language of physical chemistry and a knowledge MARSTON T . Bocenr of that part of physical chemistry involved in the appreciation corursr* UNlvanslrv of modern biological research. The treatment is elementary NEW Yoex CITY
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