Recent Books Electrical Precipitation. SIR OLlvHR LODGE. D. Sc., F.R S. Oxford Univernty Press. London: Humphrey Milford, 1925. I1 40. 7 illustrations. IS X 24 cm. $l.OO.
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A lecture delivered before the Institute of Physin in London during October. 1924, the book constituting Volume I11 of Physics in Industry. Th. author presents io n very interestmg genera1 dlsc"s.ion the fundamental con-
Chemistry, Columhis University. Second Edition. D. Van Nostrand Company, New York. 1926. X 680 pp. 138 figurer. 13 x 21 cm. 64.50 net.
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This hook is described by the author as an abridgment of his "Manual of Industrial Chem istry," for classes lacking sufficient time t o cover the more extended treatise. One familiar with the larger work. which is a collection of descrip-
.. of electrical precipitation, the book ta of particuInr interest t o all those who are interested in the art. The author divides his subject into three parts: first, naturd precipitation, second, artificial precipitation, and t h r d , the combination of the two, with suggested mctcrologienl poroibilities. Under the firrt heading the author diseurses the foxes active in bringing about atmospheric electrical charge. and natural preripitation. He lays particular emphasis on the investigations conducted by Dr. George C. simpsoo in his study of thunder storms. After diacun3ing the varioun methods by whieh suspended water particle might be charged electrically, the author oetr forth the eooditions under whieh natural prceipitation can take place. I" the second chapter the author gives a brief review of the history of the development of the art of artificial electrical precipitation and a brief synopsis of the practical application of the process of electrical precipitation with particular reference t o the collection of acid mists and smelter fumes. The author add. a brief discussion of the carbon smoke problem existing in modem cities. I n the third chapter the author makes a foreeast a . t o the possibilities whieh may result from an extension of prcreot-day knowledge and the application thereof to the dissipation of fogs, the production of rain, nod the eonlequcnt control of climate. An Appendix of 4 pages m d 7 illvrtrationa U added. giving a brief descriptmo of the apparatus and equipmmt used in the nppiieation of the Process of E l e c t r i d precipitation in a rvlfurlc acid plant, a tin smelting plant, and an iron hi& WALTBR A. S C H ~ D T furnace plant. Elements of Industrial Chemistry. ALLBN Roozas, Supervisor of the Industrial Chemical Engineering Course and Head of the Departm m t of Industrial Chemistry. Pratt Institute. Brwklyn, New Yo& Lecturer on Industrial
reading this work. Consequently, this book represents the statements of authorities in each special 6eld rather than of one man, a manifest advantage. The discu$rion of the various topics is very elear. and includes as much detail as a student could be rearonably expected t o learn io n year's time. Few of the chapters are long enough t o tempt the student to .Em over the surface. mianng all but the high spots. The materid presented appears to be quite up-to-date. The reviewer feelo that some subjects have been overemphasized and others of equal or g r e a t s importance almost neglected. The chap. ters on perfumes and essential oils and on leather are disproportionately long, while sueh topics as organic .wlolvents, synthetic dyes and drugs, and nitrogen fixation are dealt with very briefly. The book is essentially descriptive and, as such, is suite satisfactory. I t seems that a real opportunity is being lmt in failing t o p-ent more definitely the application of chemical principles t o industrid processes. as in the Haber process, synthetic methanol, and many other examples. Students usually miss such points unless they are forcibly presented to them and, a3 a conocquence, fail t o see the rpa1 importance of much of their college work. The criticism offered must not he taken t o mean that the book is without merit. The reviewer feels that this text is one of the moat satisfactory for use in a short course in industrial chemistry, especially if thecourse is to be entirely descriptive. JOHN H. GARDNER The Carbon C o m ~ o ~ n d 8 C. . W. POIIIBR. Ginn and Co., Boston. Revised edition, 1926. ix 501 pp. 15 X 23 cm. $400.
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"This volume constitutes an outline of an e l c mentary mume in organic chemistry as presented t o sophomore students in the Univeraxty of California. The scope of the book is limited t o a presentation of fundamental principl- and gmem1 reactions. Some of the doctrines of t h t
electron themy; postulates cdncerning the origin of color; and views relating t o free radicals are included. The author realizes that the condurionr upon these recent contributions may require e d y revision, but i t is important t o stimulate interest in the researches of today even if in so doing we lnfroduce here and there a theory of no permanent value." The b w k has three main divisions. The Brst part is devoted to the aliphatic compounds; the second deals with the aromatic compounds; and the third conrt,tutes a review of the more important gener.1 organic reacttons. An appmdix discusses the defermioation of molecular waghtr. There are also over two hundred excellent questions and problems for review a t the end of the book. This division makes the book more readily applicable for ure in either a short or long course as the first two divisions "overthe occcrrary work for the former. It is unfortunate t h a t a "revised" text coming out at this date doe3 not meotion same of the recent industrial developments. such ar the synthesis of methyl alcohol, catalytic production of acid and the user of ethylene. But perhaps it ir hopeleu t o attempt t o do this in a text and such additions must be made by the instructor. The text is weak on emphasizing the distinof guishing and characteristic reaction. of cl-es compavnds such as would be of value later if it were wed as a foundation for a course in qualitative organic analysis. The chapters presented in part three nre well selected and clearly written. We believe a chapter on heterocyclic ring mmpoundo, including such rings as the pyrrol, furfuran, and thiophene, could be added to advantage. The chapter on "Valeocy." in which the eketron theory is empha4ized. is very good. The author stater, "throughout this text we will use the term onlmcc an a measure of the number of electrons an atom may yield or receive in the formation of a stable compound, or the number of pairs of electrons it may share with other atoms." Thie is illurtrated clearly in a number of places later in the b w k and is doubtless the distinguishing feature of this text.
1.W.HOWARD
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Catalog of+ Science and T c s h n o l m No. m, Part VU. Chemistry. Henry Sotheran & Co., London. 1926. 207 pp. 15.2 X 21.6 em. Prpermver. 2s. 6d. This delightful booklet will be of interest t o even the most casual student of the history of chemistry. I t is no mere catalog in the ordinary sense. Of an earlier edition the Nation has .aid,
"Those who Bod pleasure in catalogp of old books must now pay for it. The annotations alone are worth the money, for the annotator is a scholar and a hookman who seems never at a loss to add t o the interest of a volume." some of the works listed contain the book. plates, inscriptions, and annotations of the elect. Included are "most of the books of historical importance:' I n the galaxy are such names as Accum, Albertus Maguus, Basilium Valentinus, Beeher. Beneliur, Black, Boyle. Cavendinh. Dalton. Davy, Faraday. (including original manusniptr). Galvani. Geber (ineludinp Sir Isaac Newton's copy), Glauber, Hermes Trirmegistus, kvoisier, Libavius, Liebig, Paraeelsu$, Priestlcy, Scheele, and Stahl. Most of the p r i e s are within reach of the modest purse. But of another merit the Rambler in Thc Cairo Sphinx says, "It would be possible to dispute as to whether there is more enjoyment in the po.se~rion of books or in the buying of them: but certainly the next best thing t o either is thinking of the hooks you might buy, and I have been revelling in the pastime for some days."
E. A.
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TO BE REVIEWED LATER A Pirst Book in Chemistry-Bradbury. Exercises in General Chemistry and QuaIitPtive Am1yris-Deming
and Arenoon.
Physics1 Chemistry for Colleges-Millard. Qualitati~eAnalysis-Cooper. Qvalitative Chemical AnalysisSears. General Chemistrflhe Authors.
Miner Series, Joint
