behind the valuable but often superficial his preface, "to leave the iolume a charobservations on the effects of changes acteristic Smith text." One familiar in hydrion concentration. with the Smith chemistries will recognize In Part 1 there are described the much of his style and method of preclassical equations for equilibria in sys- sentation in this new edition. While tems of acids, bases, arnpholytes, and their the author has injected a considerable salts with some original developments. amount of new material and has changed The second Dart deals with potential the order of presentation in a few daces, differencesllat only those a t the interface the baok in the main retains the original between solutions and electrodes (as the characteristics and method of developing t e r n electrode is usually employed) but the subject. It is replete with information also those occnrring a t the interfaces presented in an orderly manner. The between phases (which may be included theoretical subjects are treated . quite in Faraday'~ definition of electrode). fully and explanations are given with Several aspects of the latter subject are clearness that sbauld enable the studout to obtain a good understanding of, the not easily available elsewhere. The book is not a text-book. It has fundamental principles underlying the that most valuable of all f a m of scientific science of chemistry. At the beginning of the baok is given writing-the monograph form, wherein the perspective not found in original a list of the illustrations with a paragraph papers can be developed and the total in explanation of each. This addsmucb experience of the expert can be felt. Both to their value and should create a greater of these expectations are met in the interest in them. Another feature which present instance. Because they are met should he of considerable value to the well and because of the subject-matter, shldent is found in the numerous sections the book is an admirable one to place in throughout the text headed "A warning." the hands of advanced students; but I n these he is warned against common because the original text was written in but incorrect ideas concerning the subject 1922,the teacher will have to add supple- under discussion. mentary notes. A very interesting and full discussion In the main the translation is well of the atomic theory and crystal structure done. The occasional clumsy expression is given in the early part of the book. seems to be due to an effort to render a This is followed considerably later by a faithful translation. The occasional little discussion of the Lewis-Langmuir and slip occnrs and there is the occasional Bobr theories of atomic structure. The typographical error. None discovered subject of valence,: however, is taken by the reviewer is serious. up from the older standpoint in which As usual the publishers have made a the student so often gets the impression verg presentable hook but they have that valence is an abstract samething that chosen a paper of such thickness that the aiMs an element a capacity to hold other 299 pages loom larger than seems justified. elements but is a t a lose to know what that something is. It is regrettable. that W. M A N S ~ LCLARK D so simple and concrete a means, as is Smith's Inorganic Chemistry. Revised now available with our knowledge of the Pro- relation of the electron to the atom, and rewritten. J a m s KBNDALL, f w o r of Chemistry, New York Uni- should not be employedto explain this versity. The Century Co., New York, mast difficult concept,for the beginniag 1926. xxv 1030 pp.. 19 illustrations, student. 234 figs. 14 X 20.5 cm. $4.00. The author's treatment. of carbon and - "Every effort has been made in the re- its compounds differs.somewhat~frmom.tlle writing of this book," says the author in usual method in.that it is,.divided:iito:a
a
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number of chapters, each following the discussion of metals that have a commercial or scientific connection with particular classes of organic compounds, e.g., in four chapters following the alkali earths, plant and animal life and their products are discussed, likewise following a chapter on aluminum is a discussion of synthetic organic dyestuffs.
The hook is well written and the subjectmatter is dearly presented, though it is probably too advanced and too voluminous for a first year's course unless more than the usually alloted time for such a course fan be given. GBO. W. SEARS
