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NEW BOOKS
subsections): general physics (Brownian movement, surfare tension, viscosity), quantum theory (including theory of valency), atomic physics, geophysical prospecting, radio-exploration of upper atmospheric ionization, sound, heat, electrical’ and magnetic measur,ements, the charge on the electron, electron tubes, x-rays (including structures of substances), spectroscopy, and optics. It will be seen that the volume resolutely avoids a narrow view of the subject and overemphasis of certain very new fields. The latter receive proper attention and their due space, but it is rather necessary t o emphasize that this report does represent progress in physics rather than in a mere branch of physics, and its value to physical chemists is correspondingly enhanced. The volume is one which every physical chemist should read. J. R. PARTINGTON.
Gmelins Handbuch der anorganischen Chemie. 8 Auflage. Herausgegeben von der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. System-Nummer 35: Aluminium, Teil A, Lieferung4. 26 x 17 cm.; pp. x 535482. Berlin: Verlag Chemie, 1936. Price: 18 RM. This part of the volume on aluminum deals with the alloys of aluminum with S, Se, Te, Po, B, C, Si (pp. 536-627), P, As, Sb, Bi, Li, Na, K , Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra. The physical properties are given, with tables and curves, and the chemical properties discussed include corrosion. Literature references come to January, 1936. The volume is of particular interest from the chemical engineering point of view and the treatment is thoroughly sound. J. R. PARTINGTON.
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Gmelins Handbuch der anorganischen Chemie. 8 Auflage. Herausgegeben van der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. System-Nummer 55: Uran und Isotope mit einem Anhang uber Transurane. 26 x 17 em.; pp. xviii 279. Berlin: Verlag Chemie, 1936. Price: 34.50 RM. The volume on uranium is complete in itself and includes the chemistry of uranium and its isotopes, with a brief account of very recent experiments on the artificial production of elements of atomic number greater than 92 (“Transurane”). There is also a rather brief account of the radioactivity of uranium in which only elements in the series of atomic number 92 are considered, the relation to the actinium series being left rather vague. There is a section on salts of uranium with organic acids. The highly systematized arrangement necessary in a work of this kind has its disadvantages, since there is, for example, no account of uranium X, and uranic acid and uranates are separated, the latter (with other compounds) being included under the various metals. The volume maintains the high standard of the series. J. R. PARTINGTON.
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Stereoscopic Drawings of Crystal Structures. Edited by M. VON LAUEand R. VON M ~ s n s ;drawing# by E. REHBOCK-VERSTANDIG; text by G. MENZER. Part 2. 18 x 17 em.; 56 pp. Berlin: Julius Springer, 1936. Price: in portfolio, 18 RM. This collection of twenty-four stereoscopic drawings of crystal structures forms a continuation of the series published some years ago by the same authors. I n the first volume the structures chosen were those of very simple types; here rather more complicated ones are depicted, although they are still comparatively simple, consisting of those of some of the elements which crystallize in a less regular way than most, and of compounds of two or three elements. Even for these relatively simple structures the advantages of the stereoscopic method of representation is very considerable. One has only to t r y first to make out the details of a structure from the drawing Rithout the use of the stereoscope, and
