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XEW BOOKS .lhridqerl S c i e n t i j c I’itbiications ,froin the Kodak Keseurcli Labornlories. Volume S X I V . 391 pp . and additional author anti subject inde\es Rochester, S e w York: Eastnian Kotlak (’ompany 1042. (‘ondcnsed accounts of silty scientific publications ( S o b 783H to 852, not continuous) are included in the preient voluiiie. 8.C. LIND. Chevriccil Engineering. 13y (‘HARLES ELI REED. 20 pp. Boston, Massachusetts: Bellnian Publishing Conipany. I n c . Price: 75 cents. This booklet is S o . -IS of the series entitled “Vocational and Professional Monographs”. Of the several publications on vocational guidance in chemical engineering, this is the niost roniprehensivc and instructive. The subject matter is well arranged and lucidly written. ?’he hooklet should l)c in the hands of all vocational counselers in high schools and colleges. T h e prospective student of cheiiiical engineering can benefit greatly by its continued perusal during his sojourn a t college. So much inforniation and advice is included in this monograph t h a t it can be absorbcd only by periodic reading. CHARLES
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T HARSEDA S D I k v r o N B. The Physical ChC771&?’!/ o,f Electrolytic Solutions. By H E R B E RS. OWES. .Inierican Cheniical Society Monograph Series. -vi 611 pp. S e w York: lieinhold Publishiiig(’orporatioii, 1913. Price: $10.00. Physical chemists \vlio are interested in the properties of solutions of electrolytes will \\-elcome this masterly monograph (or rather, series of monographs) by Harned and Owen. T h e reviewer is of t h e opinion t h a t his chief function in thc present instance is t o give possible readers some adequnte idea of the topics discussed and of the coniprehensiveness of the treatnient. T h e first five chapters (pp. 1-134) niay bc called theoretical. They include a brief but. satisfactory thermodynamic introduction, followed by a discussion of the interionic attraction theory in which the authors deal with distribution functions and their change with time, with equations of motion of the ions, with potentials of ions in the absence and also in the presence of external fields of force. Fundamental equations are thus derived to b e used in computing activity and osmotic coefficients and in dealing with the theory of viscosity, conductance, and diffusion of electrolytes. I n chapter 3 , the Debye liniiting law is derived a s well as the form i t assumes when ions are no longer considered t o be point charges. T h e treatment of Gronwall, Lahler, and Sandvcd is also given in outline. This chapter includes a discussion of Bjerruni’s theory of ionic association and of Fuoss and Kraus’s theory of the formation of triple ions and of clusters. There is also a derivation of the equation of Debye and 1IcAulay which gives the effect of clectrolytes on the activity of a non-elec t roly te. Chapter 4 deals with such irreversible processes as viscous flow, electrical conductance, and diffusion. Here the time of relaxation of the ionic atmosphere (Debye and Huckel), Falkenhagen’s theory of viscosity, and Susager’s theory of conductance and related topics are adequately treated. Chapter 5 contains nunierical conipilntions of physical constants arid of inathematical functions t h a t are frequently used. I t should be noted t h a t the authors adhere to t h e values of physical constants given in the International Critical Tnhles, Volunie I (1930). (‘h:ipters 6 t o 10 cont:iin a discussion of esperinieiital methods b u t no detailed description of apparatus or technique. Included in these chapters is a study of electrical conductance methods, of the effects of high frequencies and high fields, of viscosity and diffusion of rlectrolytic solutions :inti of freezing-point, boiling-point, ant1 vapor-pressure nieasure-
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‘I‘hc rcniaining portion of the book (chapters 11 to 15) is artually a series of monographs
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on the properties of solutions of selected suhstances or groups of substances. (‘hnptcr 11 is devoted to solutions of hydrochloric acid in water and in dioxane-water mistures; chspt e r 12 is given over t o strong 1-1 electrolytes (chiefly halides of the alkali metals); chapters 13, 14, and 1.5 deal with clectrolytes of highcr valence type, with mistures of strong electi,olytes, and with the ionization and thermodynamic properties of weak electrolytes. T h e wealth of material, both theoretical arid experimental, contained in this volume will make i t invaluable to the physical chemist and the graduate student in chemistry whenever adequate information about electrolytic solutions is desired. Author and subject indexes are satisfactory and! in addition, a detailed table of contents adds greatly t o the usefulness of the book.
F. H. MACDOUCAI.L. Chemical Process Principles. I’arl One: Jfafeiial and E n e r g y Balnnces. By OLAF’4.I I o c G E N ASD KEXNETH M . WATSOS. vi 452 p p , Kew T o r k : John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1943. Price: $4.50. This excellent, t e s t has developed from Industrial Chemical Calculations by the same authors. Chapter I t o 1’ and chapters V I 1 and VI11 cover material given in any good elementary course in physical chemistry, with the addition of many problems (some worked o u t in detail, others left as esercises t o the reader) pertaining directly t o the study of chemical engineering. Chapter V I on “Material Balances” is well designed t o assist the student in studying operations on a large scale, whether these are merely chemical reactions, counter-current processes, continuous processes, or recycling operations. Chapter I X is an extensive discussion of “Fuels and Combustion.” I n Chapter X the general methods of calculating material and energy balances are applied to three typical processes in the chemical, metallurgical, and petroleum industries. These are the chamber sulfuric acid plant, t h e blast furnace, and the petroleum-cracking process. T h e reviewer found only two minor errors. On page 57, i t is stated t h a t “if n saturated vapor is cooled or compressed, condensation will result and what is termed a wet vapor is formed.” -4s a matter of fact, adiabatic compression of saturated water vapor renders i t unsaturated. On page 227 the statement is made t h a t “water has a higher specific heat than any other substance with t h e exception of liquid ammonia and a few organic compounds.” T h e reviewer could add gaseous hydrogen and gaseous helium ( a t constant pressure) t o the list of exceptions. F. H. MACDOGCALL.
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Sunthetic Resins and Rubbers. By P.4rr2 0. POWERS. 296 pp. S e w York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1943. Price: $3.00. Synthetic Resins und Rubbers is addressed t o young chemists and to students who intend t o enter industry. I t s purpose, “ t o describe briefly the chemistry of polymers, particularly those of commercial importance”, has been competently achieved. A foundation of knowledge is provided for much of the glue, paint, and rubber chemistry which is so important in practical work. T h e author, in his capacity a s chief of organic research of the Armstrong Cork Company, has had intimate contact with the development and application of t h e materials whereof he writes. Short chapters on the economics of the plastics industry and on the principles of resin formation are followed by more detailed considerations of condensation polymers. These include resins prepared from phenol and formaldehyde (Bakelite) ; urea formaldehyde, best, linown in pastel-tinted bathroom tuinblcrs, nntl its improved successor, melamine formaldehyde; the polyester resins used in modern paints and varnishes; and the polyamides, which, a s S y l o n stockings, conferred glamour on the rlmerican girl. T h e vinyl polymer*, including polyvinyl chloride (Koroscal), lustrous polymethyl methacrylate, now used for bomber windows, and polystyrene, are effectively described. T h e chapter on synthetic rubbers was written by K. 1-1. Weber, a researcli associate of Powers. It is the best general exposition of this subject t h a t has coni? to the reviewer’s nttcntion. I-nder “Resins fmni
