DECEMBER, 1955
651
The text is devoted almost exclusively to an elementary discussion of gravimetrio and volumetric methods of analysis. The volumetric methods include acid-base titrations, oxidationreduction titrations, and preoipitation titrations. The authors chose to omit disoussions of instrumental methods of analysis with the exception of electrolytic and conduetometric methods. Of these two methods, only the electralytic is covered in a Iaboratory procedure, i. e., the determination of capper in brass. In general, the presentation of theory is concise and lucid. The order of arrangement of chapters may he open to question. For example, the treatment of data immediately follows the introductory chapter of the book; thus, experimental data and terms are introduced which are totally foreign to the student. The instructor mey wish to postpone this chapter until later. The reviewer found only a few inconsequential errors of type and fact. However, there are some cases in which the authors could be more complete or correct. One of these is the definition of the term solulia, on page 58. Another example is the nomenclature of compounds. Adherence to the recommendations of the Committee of the Internstiond Union of Chemistrv would eliminate such names as hioxalate and bichromate and would improve such names as suricyauide, platinicyanide, and ferrithiocyanate. At the end of each chapter of theory there are a numher of problems with answers. A considerable numher of the problems are not well chosen to illustrate the theory which has been covered. Students would profit by solutions to more problems illustrating theory. If the solutions to the problems in the text from the hody of the printed material were always set they would he more effective as teaching aids. The authors give a concise yet readable of the would find use in elements of quantitative analys&, a one-semes&r course, In the of the reviewer, the text & too limited for use in a full-year course in elementary quantitative analysis, M~~~impartant topics have heen omitted or treated in a very limited fashhn. ~~~~~l~~ are huffers, analytical separations, overvoltage, and the effect of complex ions and hydrogen ions on oxidation potentials. The text does not discuss more recent analytical techniques; it laoks the touch of modern trends in analytical chemistry. GLENN H. BROWN u ~ w ~ n s r OP r vC I N O I N N ~ I CINCINNAT~, OHIO
Both qualitative and quantitative methods are given for 23 functional groups into which organic compounds are divided. Veibel himself has been active in research on quantitative estimation of functional groups. One of his contributions is to oonvert a functions! group into a substance which can be titrated as an acid or base. For example, pcarboxyphenylhydrazine in used as areagent for ertrbonyls and the product is then titrated as a carboxylic acid. He has applied this type of reaction to a. numher of other cases. There are a few illustrations of quantitative apparatus taken from recent publications. At the end of the hook are four pages on concentration of reagent solutions, a five-page author index of referenoes cited, and an eight-page subject index. The text may not m&e inroads into the sale of American hooks on this subject, hut teachers will want to try many of Veibel's suggestions. LEALLYN R. CLAPP Baovn U N ~ V E R ~ ~ T ~ PRO~~OEN RIODL C E . I~.,*ND
A COMPANION TO PHYSICAL AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
R. W. Stott, formerly Senior Science Master, Rugby Schoal. L ~ G~~~~ and ~ Co., New ~ ~ york,~ 1955. ix Figs. and tables. 13 X 19 cm. $1.75.
+ 184~pp.
THIS book is designed to help an English secondary-school student prepare for university scholarship exams. I t may well be that each teacher of beginning chemistry in this country ~houldhave a copy at hand to aid him in setting standards for his students. This reviewer would guess, hdwever, that the teacher's sense of frustration would rise faster than the standards of his course, though it might well spur on the better students. The dozen or so enors of fact-water molecules exist in groups, hydrogen bonds are more than electrostatic, electrode potentials are due only to solution potentials, over-simplification of group vdencies, a single chloride bridge in AIL&, two valence electrons in chromium, etc.-are unfortunate but not overwhelming. American students might well read this book, hut mainly in pmpective. Their awn education is usually such. that this approach seldom fits. J. A. CAMPBELL 0 a l ; ~ ~ COLLEGE ni O s e m ~ xOnro .
THE IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Stiq Veibel, Pmfeasor of Organic Chemistry, University of Technology, Copenhagen. Fourth edition (first English edition). 346 pp. G. E. C. Gad, Publisher, Copenhagen, 1954. xv 15 X 21.5 cm.
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VEIBEL'Shook is a manual of qualitative and quantitative methods of identifying organic compounds which bas been sifted from experience in teaching such a course since 1927. As in other European texts, in general, in comparison with current American texts, less direct assistance is Riven the student. For example, no systematic solubility scheme is given in 80 many words though a student might devise one from the discussion given on solubility of organic substances. Much of the emphasis on identification of functional groups is by color reactions, many of which are new and others of which have been published in Scandin%visnjournals not always accessible here. Some of the tests are quite new since many of the dates of references are in the 1950's. American chemists will want to try these new tests for comparison with known methods. For example, Veibel suggests the use of the diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid as a color test far alcohols. This has not been published elsewhere (at least Veibel gives no reference). Veibel also inoludes some old methods which have not been popular here, for example, the Victor Meyer nitrolic acid tests for alcohols.
METALLURGY OF THE RARER METALS. NUMBER 3: MANGANESE A. H, Sully. Academic Press. Inc., New York, 1955. xiv 305 pp. 138 figs. 55 tables. 14 X 22 om. $6.50
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THIS third volume in a new series that was begun last y a r maintains the high standards of the previous two volumes (THISJ O ~ N A 31, L , 670 (1954)). Even though manganese is used in large tonnages, it is not a familiarelement tomost chemists or metallurgists, partioularly as the pure metal. This up-todate treatise reviews the occurrence and ores; the production of ferro-manganese alloys and of commercially pure manganese; methods of conserving manganese; physical properties of manganese; constitution and properties of binary and ternary alloya; and electrodepositing of manganese coatings and surface reactions a t high temperatures. The chemistry of manganese is confined mostly to reactions that are used in its reduction from the various ores, whereas, as is appropriate in a book on metallurgy, more then 100 pages are devoted to all the known alloy systems. In recognition of the growing realization that manganese is used wastefully in the iron and steel industry, considerable attention is given to the role it plays in steel making. As yet, however, no deouidation procedure has been worked out that
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