Recent Books . -
Gas Analysis. L. M. DENNISAND M. L. NICHOLS, Cornell University. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1929. 499 pages. Revised edition. xix 110 figures. 19.5 X 13 cm. $4.00.
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The earlier edition of Dennis and Nichols' well-known book appeared in 1913. Since that time gas analysis has been developed considerably, and many new methods have appeared, and several old ones given way to more satisfactory procedures. Consequently, the appearance of this new edition should be welcomed, as this book is practically the sole representative of the field. Beginning with a chapter on the collection and storage of gases, the development of the subject fallows a logical order, and we find in turn considerations of measurement of gas volumes, reduction of volumes to standard conditions, determination of density, gas analysis aver water, factors affecting the accuracy of analysis, the Hempel apparatus for analysis over mercury, combustion methods, properties of various gases, flue gas analysis, illuminating and fuel gas, the heating value of gas, atmospheric air, gas volumetric analyses, physical methods of gas analysis, and micro gas analysis. The appendix contains several tables of value to the analyst. The chapter on physical methods of gas analysis is new, and deals with important methods based on interferometry, thermal conductivity of gases, and fractional distillation a t low temperatures. Some of these subjects were mentioned in the older edition, but all are of such importance that they merit separate consideration. Flue gas analysis and its significance are taken up far more in detail than in the earlier edition. The discussion of the practical use to which a flue gas analysis may be put is very good, and even more space might have been devoted t o it.
The chapter on heating value of gas is excellent, and the one dealing with cornhustion of gases is very well developed. The reviewer notes with satisfaction that a discussion of "factors affecting the accuracy of analyses of gases" has been deemed a subject of sufficient importance for one chapter of the book. Certainly there is no field of chemical macro-analysis where the final results are any more dependent on the skill of the operator and his appreciation of the* various "factors" than in gas analysis. Printing, paper, and bindina are of - excellent quality, and this hook should be well received a t a time when manipulation and examination of gases is becoming more and more important. NATHAN L. DRAKE UN~YHPSITY OP MARYLAND COLLBOB PARK.MD.
The Making of Chemistry. JOHN HARnow. The John Day Co., New York. 215 pp. 19.5 X 13 cm. 1930. viii $2.00. ,m This short account of the history and development of chemistry and chemical industry was written for the layman. The author has centered his recital around leading personalities and has emphasized important principles, discoveries, and achievements. The exposition and explanation of the significance of the hypotheses and their practical applications is necessarily non-technical. The author attempts to demonstrate "that 'abstract' research is the mother of every scientific advance, pure or applied, in the labaratory or in industry." The reviewer used the experimental method and asked his wife, who qualifies as possessing no professional knowledge of chemistry, to read the hook. Our impressions were quite similar. A surprisingly large number of persons are mentioned and many f a d s are set down, and yet the book is not an informing one.
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JOURNAL OF CHEIMICSL EDUCATION
952
APRIL,1930
I t will not only be read with pleasure but used with profit by the constantly growing number of chemists who realize the economy of time and material brouxht about by the use of chemical methods on a microsco~icalscale,augmented by optical measurements on small amounts of material which indicate chemical methods to be used in mass analysis or which corroborate data already obtained by sucb means. Volume I as stated in the preface, has been confined t o a discussion of optical principles, manipulative methods of general application, and the observation of physical and physico-chemicalphenomena. Volume 11, which is in course of preparation, will include chemical reactions as studied under the microscope, with particular reference to inorganic qualitative analyses, and with emphasis upon the time- and labar-saving features of the methods, rather than upon the sensitivity of th2 selected tests. The text is based upon cowses, both elementary and advanced, that have been U K l V B R E l T V OF C l N C r N N I T l given far a number of years, and that CINCINNATI, OHro have been a mecca not only for research s t u k n t s but for practical workers in inHandbook of Chemical Microscopy. Vol- dustrial laboratories. The first two chapume I. Principles and Use of Micro- ters include a thorough discussion of the scopes and Accessories. Physical optical system of the microscope, and deMethods for the Study of Chemical scriptions of special microscopes for differProblems. EMIW MONNIN CHAMOT, ent types of work. Chapters 111 t o VI B.S., Ph.D., Professor of Chemical deal with light sources, the illumination Microscopy and Sanitary Chemistry, of transparent and opaque objects, equipand CLYDE WALTER MASON, A.B., ment and methods for the preparation of Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemical materials for microscopic study, observaMicroscopy, both of Cornell University. tion of physical properties, and interpreJohn Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, tation of appearances. Of especial in1930. xiii 470 pp. 162 figures. terest are Chapters VII t o X, on ultra14.8 X 22.7 an. $4.50. microscopy, photomicrography and microThis is the first volume of a two-volume projection, the study of doubly refracting publication, based on and intended t o materials by means of the polarizing supersede the senior author's "Elementary microscope, and chemical crystallography. Chemical Microscopy," which has been, Chapters X I to XI11 take up microscopic since its publication in 1921, the main measurements, including refractive indeterminations, and dependence of student, teacher, and dices,. particle-size . practical worker in its field. The present the quantitative analysis of heterogeneous includes a list work has been entirely rewritten, greatly mixtures. The appendix ~. of reference books and journals on apexpanded, and brought down t o date.
The material is treated too superficially and it is spread so thin that there is hardly enough substance provided for the layman. The professional chemist, of course, reads much into the limes, but that isn't playing quite fair. The book opens with the Stone Age and really closes with the latest applications of catalysis. The last chapter deals with ~ h ~ m i s tin r yAmerica. Almost everybody of note and a large proportion, of the things of importance are given a t least a line. The author has wisely appended a list of references for those whose appetites have been whetted. The reviewer frankly wonders how the lay mind reacts to such brief treatment of many of the topics. The terse delineations of the political, economic, and literary conditions prevailing a t some of the great milestones in chemical history are well done. Mr. Harrow is capable of better things. He knows his chemical history and he has a facile pen. May his next furrow be deeper and not quite so wide. RALPHE. OESPER
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