RECENT BOOKS PRINCIPLESOn GENERALCHEMISTRY. Stuart R. Bril~kley.ASsociate Professor of Chemistry, Yale University. Revised edi585 tion. The Macmillan Co., New York City, 1933. x pp. 160 Figs. 14 Illustrated biographicd sketches. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. $3 50.
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In reviewing the new edition of this unusual text one is constantly faced with the question presented by the original edition of what is the best arrangement of the subject matter of general chemistry for students who have had a previous elementary course. What material shall be included, what omitted; and what relationships shall be emphasized? With the wealth of material a t hand teachers will differ in their selections and arrangements and texts will continue to offer features which may he pronounced excellent and features which appear illogical. This text is no exception. The new edition continues and extends the plan of organhation used in the earlier bwk-that of presentation by classes of compounds and types of reactions. The enlargement from twenty-nine to thirty-four chapters, an innease of 108 pages, allows a more adequate presentation of the subjects of atomic structure and the periodic system and approximately twice the space formerly given to the metals. These and the minor additions represent a distinct improvement. Chapter I of the first edition contained, following six pages of introductory material, brief discussions of the laws of chemical combination, equivalent, atomic, and molecular weights, the atomic theory, valence, atomic structure, and the periodic system all in the space of 13 pages. This was obviously too brief a treatment for these important topics. The new hook extends these topics through three chapters, a total of 51 pages, and thus establishes a sufficient basis for the continued use throughout the book of the electronic concept of valence and of reactions. This clear presentation of fundamentals in the opening chapters gives an improved character t o the whole hook. A single chapter on "Oxygen and Oxides" replaces two on "Oxygen and Basic Oxides" and "Acidic Oxides," respectively. and better correlation is thus obtained. The two earlier chapters on "Bases" and "Amphoteric Hydroxides" are replaced by one on "The Oxides and Hydroxides of the Metals." This change effects an improvement in organization with a permissible reduction of the material on amphoterism. I n the four chapten on "Salts." replacing three in the former edition, the salts are happily reclassified as: I. Nitrates, 11. Halides and Sulfides, 111. Sulfates and Phosphates, and IV. Carbonates, Silicates, and Borates. The space devoted to the salts is increased by 8 pages and the presentation in general improved. Oxidation and reduction are not treated a t length as before in a chapter with chromium and manganese, but these metals now enjoy the dignity of a separate chapter for the treatment of their compounds and oxidation and reduction are well illustrated in this treatment. The other metals are discussed in three chapters under the titles: "The Active Metals," "Metals Obtained from Oxide Ores," and "Metals Obtained from Sulfide Ores." The concluding four chapters on "Eledromothie Chemistry," "The Fuel Gases," "Saturated Hydrocarbons and Same of Their Derivatives," and "Unsaturated Hydrocarbons and Derivatives" are, with minor alterations, the same as in the earlier edition. The story of the b w k begins with the present; no historical background is presented, and historial material throughout is confined t o the necessary minimum. The phlogiston theory is mentioned in a paragraph an the history of oxygen but not in connection with the explanation of combustion. Hvdroeen continues t o be taken rather for granted, and Cavendish is mentioned only in connection with the rare gases. The gas laws are presented in the chapter on "States of Matter." It may be questioned if theselaws shouldnot he given separate treatment, if for no other reason than to allow greater empha>
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sis on the energy changes involved in the changes of state. Heat of fusion, heat of vaporization, etc., would seem to merit greater elaboration and illustration by numerical problems involving not only water but various other substances. Equilibrium is first presented in Chapter VI,illustrated exclnsively by reactions in the gaseous phase. Reversible reactions are shown in Chapter IV, in Chapter VIII in the study of "ionization," and as required thereafter; yet the formal presentation of "Equilibrium in Solution" is reserved for Chapter XX,for no easily apparent reason. Well-chosen questions for study exercise and references for supplementary reading are included with each chapter, but nnmerical problems are deplorably lacking. An obvious error is noted on page 94, first line, where reference is made to the "potential" energy of moving liquid particles. The bwk is notably free from such errors. The book presents an excellent body of material from a point of view rather different from that usually given to beginning college students; it should prove stimulating t o both teachers and students who may use i t either as a regular or as a reference text. Wm. A. HAXMOND SECONDYEAR COLLEGECBYISTRY. William H. Chapin, Professor of Chemistrv in Oberlin Colleee. Third edition. 374 I&., ~ e ~wo r city, k 1933. aiii John Wiley pp. 40 Figs. 15 X 23 cm. $3.00 net.
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The author assumes that students in first-year chemistry gain a fair knowledge of facts, but very little knowledge about general orincioles. This well-known text is therefore intended to serve as a guide for a review of, an expansion of, and a drill upon, general principles, in order that students may have these as working tools for their advanced work in chemistry. In the twenty chapters of the third edition generalizations concerning the following topics are discussed: kinetic theory, gases, change of state, laws of weight relationships, molecular and atomic weights, atomic theory, chemical ealeulations, valence and valence changes, periodic system, radiations, atomic structure, solubility, colligative properties, ionization, homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria, indicators, colloids, electrachemistry. In this edition indicators are discussed from the viewpoint of homogeneous equilibrium. The subjects of colloids and pH are introduced earlier in the book than in former editions. The treatment of solubility product has been modernized somewhat. The author covers the work in two periods a w,eek7during two semesters. All subjects are treated in the classroom before they are treated in the laboratory. The non-mathematical treatment of these topics is little mare rigorous than one will find in some of the more comprehensive textbwks of general chemistry. Very Little descriptive inorganic is induded and no organic or analytical chemistry is presented. The book is very well written and the feiK-errors are of minor importance. There can be no doubt hut that t h e book fulfils the putpose of the author and that i t is an ideal book for students who have devoted their first year to a study of purely descriptive chemistry. There is a question in the mind of the reviewer, however, as to whether the first-year course in college chemistry needs to, or should, emphasize f a d s rather than principles. The reviewer believes that students who have had afirst-year course in which general principles were emphasized, followed by a semester of qualitative analysis and one of organic chemistry, in which courses facts are related t o the general orincioles, are very well prep:ired for advanced work in chemistry. 18erhal,r thcy have a broader foundntion than thosc studcnts who had a11 d ~ s n i p t i r e chemistry the lirit p a r and all theory the second scar
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