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The Foundations of Nutrition. M A ~ Y ican Chemical Society Monograph Swhnlz Ross, Ph.D., Professor of SeriesChemical Catalog Company, Nutrition, Teachers College, Columbia Iuc., New York. 1927: 334 pp. 15 X University. The Macmillan Company, 23 an. $7.00 net. 501 pp. New York City, 1927. xi The writer has rendered a valuable 86 figures and photographs. 12.5 X 19 service in bringing together in one place cm. $2.75. the laws and principles on which statistical "This hook is written for those who mechanics is based and in giving them a presentation. But the wish to live more intelligently," is the dear and logical succinct statement of the author in her work is far more than one of reproduction preface. She adds that "an effort has and compilation. Besides a number of been made to present within a small new contributions of importance, the space some of the fundamental principles writer's originality of viewpoint and of human nutrition in terms which call critical treatment are in evidence throughfor no highly specialized training in those out. The book is divided into the following natural sciences upon which the science of P a N b Classical Statistical Mechanics, nutrition rests." The book is excellently and interestingly Introduction of the Quantum Theory, written, well arranged, and profusely Application to Molecular Processes, Rate illustrated. Several features are worthy of Phvsical-Chemical Chance - and a Conof special mention. The free use of elusion dealing principally with the relahistorical material in the introduction and tion of Thumodmamics to Statistical Mechanics. throughout the book adds neatly .to both Perhaps of most direct interest to the its interest and its value. This is particularly true of the two splendid chapters physical chemist is the section on Rate of on "The Vitamins." The material is "Physical-Chemical" Change, consisting carefully selected and embodies the of five chapters on: Velocity of Physicalmost recent advances in this rapidly Chemical Processes-Boltzmann's H-Thechanging field. Book referencesare given orem: Rates of Some Physical Processesa t the end of each chapter and many refer- Transport Problems; Rate of Chemical ences to the literature appear as footnotes Reaction; Temperature Coefficient of throughout the book. In addition to Reaction Rate; Photochemical Reactions. Under the term "Phvsical-Chemical many photographs, the author presents a Change" are included the various physical wealth of valuable material in the form of tables, charts, and model menus, and there processes involved in the chemical change. The entire treatment of reaction velocity is an appendix of 9 tables. The book is not only excellently adapted is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and far use as a text or hook of reference for deals with questions where general agreebeginner's courses, but may be read with ment is still lackimg. The reviewer cappleasure and profit by all whose desire it not subscribe to the applicability of the is to "order their lives more successfully general equation (No. 634, p. 290) for and have a better understanding of the photochemical action, f i s t advanced by d NA part which nutrition plays in health in Tolman in 1923: = R.u.(NA)S the world a t large." at A. P. BLACK (A's)'. Mass action can have but a secondary r61e in photochemical action, if Statistical Mechanics with Applications to any; absorption does not follow such a Physics and Chemistry. R I C ~ A RC. D law and since activation is not caused by TOLWAN, Professor of Physical Chemis- collision, it is difficult to understand the try and Mathematical Physics, Cali- applicability of the mass law. fornia Institute of Technology--AmerAfter the extended application of the
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quantum principle to chemical kinetics with reference to excited states i t is surprising to find that the writer dws not recognize that gaseous ionization (the limit of excitation) also represents a state of chemical activation where the quantum laws apply with equal force and where we have dozens of examples of validity proved to a degree that would be highly acceptable in photochemistry. The book will prove of meat value for reference and for advanced instruction in the special fields of physical chemistry and physical mechanics which i t treats.
get good natural continuity of subjectmatter. Air, nitrogen, ammonia, and nitric acid give us such an order. Again chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and the halogens form an orderly arrangement. All the organic chemistry is similarly arranged in a natural sequence. The reviewer is not so much impressed with the necessity of following any particular order as he is with the tremendous virtue of having a convincing relation between what has gone before and that which is to follow. An important function of the teacher is to impress such relationships upon his class and to keep them eagerly following the sequence of events. It is notable that the first attempt t o HARRYN. teach subatomic stmcture is made in the Elements of Chemistry. HOLMES,Professor of Chemistry, Ober- last chapter, which leaves it to the appenlin College, and Lours W. MATTERN, dix to explain valence, oxidation, and reHead Teacher of Chemistry, McKinley duction from the electronic standpoint. Technical High School, Wsshingon, Perhaps the authors are wise in not being D. C. F i s t edition. The Macmillau "the first by whom the new is tried" but 519 pp. if i t is possible to teach the new chemistry Ca., New York, 1927. x t o high-school pupils there seems to have 257 figures. 13.5 X 19 cm. $1.80. been last a great opportunity to use and This new high-school chemistry comes to re-use the electronic notion. of good parentage. A highly successful Among many notably good features college teacher and the head teacher of we list a splendid chapter on colloids, chemistry in a large and well-known high a fine one on fuels, one of the simplest school have combined their efforts and explanations of the gas law corrections their wisdom in its production. we have ever seen (in the appendix), They have had the courage to leave out same good suggestions for project work many non-essentials while retaining all the (also in the appendix), and a well-selected essentials and plenty of interesting ap- list of reference hooks which we note inplications. The outstanding feature of cludes the well-known hooks published the book is its style. The authors by the Chemical Foundation. Following have deliberately set themselves the task this list we find, "Every laboratory should of interesting the pupil from the outset subscribe for the JOURNAL OP CHEDQCAT. and their product should succeed in this EDUCATION." to which we can say "Amen." respect. Of course, all forward-looking highWe do not note many radical departures school chemistry teachers will want to from the usual content of high-school examine this teat and we suspect not a texts. There are several changes in the few college teachers might catch a bit of order of development. For example, the inspiration from it. authors have tried in several places to F. B.WADE
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