JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
210 importance of choosing a machine with "complete carry-over" and with an extra digit in the products register. Principles of oompntational design are set forth, to wntrol blunders and round-off errors, to provide checks, and to minimize the recording effort. A chapter is devoted to the reduction of error accumulation in the evaluation of various statistical formulas. The notation is literally that of easy high-school algebra. In the middle af the book determinants and matrices are defined, and thereafter their mast elementary properties are used. But all the methods of elimination are given in earlier chapters in expanded notation. The hook has over 160 carefully prepared tables and numerous exercises for the readen There are extensive references for each section, strong in the English language, weaker in European material, and devoid of Russian references. The book will surely be a standard reference on elimination methods, and may be consulted profitably by computers a t all levels of mathematical education. There is nothing comparable in the literature. It is unusually free of misprints and has good indexes. Because of its emphssis on techniques as opposed to the development of mathematical tools, it is not recommended as a textbook for wllege students or others who wish to gain a deep insight into the nature of linear computations. Tbese people should begin elsewhere by acquiring a thorough knowledge of matrix theory. GEORGE E. FORSYTHE NATIONAL BOREADor STANDARDS Los ANDELBB. CILIFOB~A
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STATISTICAL METHODS FOR CHEMISTS
W. I. Youden, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C. 126 pp. 3 figs. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1951. x 6 6 tables. 15.5 X 24 om. $3.
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T m s little book is for readers experienced in chemical and physical measurements but untrained in statistical methods, and who are perhaps even unaware of the aid thst the statistical viewpoint can give in the interpretation of experimental dsta. The attentive reader should gain a good idea of what is meant by some important statistical terms, how the precision of a set of measurements is probably best rated, whether the difference between the averages of two sets of data is significant, how constant errors are detected, bow best values are found for the slope and intercept of a straight line thst represents experimental data. Beyond that, concluding chapters tell how to pool or combine data from different sources, how to improve precision and recogniee that it has been improved, how interact ing or independent factors contributing to experimental multa m v be identified. Most of the many short tables are worked numerical examples. This easy introduction to stastistical methods deserves readers in other fields than chemistry, since the ideas it presents are equally valid in other experimental sciences. On the other hand, there might well have been some mention of the ways in which statistical methods have aided chemistry, beyond the range of this book. To mention only three: there is the statistical evidence that cellobiose, rather than a triose or tetrose, is the repeated unit in the cellulose chain-molecule; the statistical treatment of the variation of viscosity with different types of scission of complex molecules; the statistical treatment of fractional distillation and precipitstion. The book is "chsracterised by the complete absence of statistioal theory and proofs." Nevertheless, only thoughtful and persistent readers will be able t o make good use of it, and these might have found a few simple proofs to be stimulating and clarifying. Nothing is said about the origins of our faith in a normal distribution of errors. It is not really based on mere experience nor demonstrable by mathematical proof. On the contrary, it is a sort of philosophy, which inoidentdly points out when a normal distribution is not to be expected. For example, are teachers justified in adjusting student grades to s probability curve?
General references are given to a few hooks covering the subject matter of the present book. More specific references to individual topics would have been helpful, and especially to applications not treated. Many of the "chemists" to which this book is addressed will be teachers of chemistry. Tbese ,will at once conclude thst the practice of obtaining s. semester grade by averaging a set of examination grades is not statistically justified. Rut wheremay one turn tolearnmore? HORACE G. DEMING
Uxrvrasmr or A ~ w m Hoaofinm. HAWAII
X-RAY ANALYSIS OF CRYSTALS
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1. M. Bijvoet, Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Utrecht, the late N. H. Kolkmeyer, and Cornline H. MocGillovry, Professor of Crystallography, University of Amsterdam. Based on a translation by H. Littmon Furfh. Butterwortha Scientific Publications, London; Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1951. xii 304 pp. 226 figs. 19 tables. 15.5 X 25.5 cm. 56.50.
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THE Dutch and German editions of this book have been well and favorably known, especially in Europe, for some time. It is now a pleasure to welcome an English version. The authors have had long experience in crystal structure analysis. Professor Bijvoet's standing among his fellow workers in this field is attested by his recent election to the presidency of the International Union of Crystallography. It is not surprising, therefore, to find this book exhibiting a high degree of scientific accuracy. The authors have also shown goad judgment in their choice of topics covered and the allotment of space to each. The presentation is lucid. A reader would not guess that the book was originally written ins. language other than English. All X-ray diffraction workers will surely want this excellent book, for it is full of useful reference material. I t can also be recommended for exsminstion and study by others who wish to become acquainted with themethods of X-ray crystallographyand the results obtained thereby. It would be suitable for s course for graduate students in chemistry. The chapters dealing with typical and significant crystal structures are especially commendable. Teachers. advanced students. and manv other chemists will h d them interesting,instructive and up to date. The publishers, like the authors and the translator, have done their jab well. MAURICE L. HUGGINB K o o u Resmmos L * ~ O R A T O R I'~ . Rocmema. Nan Yonx
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TREATISE ON ORES AND ASSAYING
Lozorus Ercker. Translated from the German edition of 1580 by Annelieae Grijnholdt Sisco and Cyril Stonley Smith. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1951. miii 360 pp. 59 figs. 17.5 X 27 cm. 510.
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WITHthe publication of this book, the modern reader has access to all the lesding works on metallurgy of the sixteenth century. The little "Bergwerk und Probierbiichlein" and the "De la Pirotechnis" of Biringuccio have been translated by Smith and his associates, and the Hoover translation of Agricola's "De Re Metallica" has recently been reissued. These, together with Ercker's "Treatise," were the standard textbooks of the mining engineer for several centuries. Many of the methods they describe are still in use. Thus, they me fundamental to an understanding of the development of metallurgy and metallurgical chemistry.
Ercker's hook is not inferior to any of the others. Ercker was a ~racticalmetallurgist, Superintendent of Mines to the Emperor Rudolf I1 in Bohemia. He wrote his book for the instruction of young miners and assayers, and so be gives complete details for
APRIL. 1952
211
course. Ionization and equilibrium are both discussed early enough to be completed during the first semester, thus allowing, if it desired, qualitative analysis to he studied during all of the second semester. Acids and bases are discussed rather classically. Very little use is made of the Br#nsted theory. Most equations are written molecularly or only semi-ionically. Historical chemistry is adequately covered. Descriptive chemistry is gold, I shall leave them for what they are worth. They have no meager in the first half of the book. The second half of the book includes a study of well-selected place in this discussion of cementation, since my books will contairr nothing hut rratural and tcstrd proccssea whirl, cur he elements, common compounds, and organic compounds. The relied upon and raise no false hopes." It is rq,mtedly evidcnt emphasis is on industrial processes, important type-reactions, f own ex~cricnce, and the uses of the substances. The student is not swamped that Erckrr ia indeed descnbina thc ~ s u l t s u his and remarks such as "you must l e m from experience a s I and with detaih. The format of the book is excellent. The text should be others did whether one recipe is better than another" are common easily understood by students. The nine parts of the appendix throughout the book. A personal tone of discussion between author and reader per- contain much useful information. Answers are given a t the vades the whole work and lends charm even to the most technical end of the book for all of the problems in the text. This r e descriptions. I t would be difficult to obtain a aelater picture of viewer predicts that this will be a popular text for beginning students of chemistry. the operations of the sixteenth century miners. The translation is beautifully done. The clear type, the numerJOHN B. ENTRIKIN ous reproductions of the original woodcuts, and the great number CENTENART COLLE~E of notes which make dear the relation between the methods of P a a m v ~ s o n Lornsrm* ~. Ercker and his eantemoormies and those of todav make the text itself a pleasure to read. The bibliographic det& of the vtlrious AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. VOLUME 11: editions and translations give a complete picture of the impor- 0 PLICATIONS tance of the h w k in its own day. Special attention is paid to the English translation published by Sir John Pettus in 1683. Fi- Edited by Donald E. H. Frear, Professor of Ag"cultura1 and nally, the scholarly introduction with its discussion of the place of Biological Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State College. D. van the assayer in the development of chemical science is a distinct Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, 1951. viii 588 pp. 45 figs. contribution to the history of chemistry. Too often the historians 122 tables. 17.5 X 25 cm. 39.50. of this science neglect the practical chemical knowledge of the THE editor and 22 contributors have ~rodueeda book 4 e d v metallureists in their concern with the theories of the alchkmists an'the phlagistonists. In a book such aa this the chapters covering very broadly t h e ap~lieationsof chemistry true extent of chemical knowledge before any modern theories to agriculture. Since many diverse topics are included the editor has wisely grouped together, in sections, related phases had emerged can be seen. of agriculture1 chemi~try. HENRY M. LEICEWER The first section, P a t I, covers the chemistry of major agriculCommas or Pnrsrcrms *N. BDBGEONS turd products and includes chapters on seed and cereal crops FRANCIBOO. CALIPORNI* (V. H. Morris), fruit and vegetable crops (H. W. Van Loesecke and Z. I. Kertesr), forage crops (J. T. Sullivan), meat and meat products (R. C. Miller), milk and dairy products (A. H. Johnson), 0 GENERAL CHEMISTRY and egg8 and poultry products (R. M. Conrad). In general, William A. Felsing and George W. Watt, Professors of Chemis methods of processing and preservation, factors affecting nutritry, University of Texas. Third edition. McGraw-Hill Book Ca., tive value, general composition, and the manufacture of byha, New York, 1951. x 558 pp. 142 figs. 44 tables. products are discussed. Fertilizers and soil amendments are the mhject of Part 11. 16 X 23.5 cm. $5. The three major fertilizing elements-nitrogen (S. F. Thorntan), T m s text is truly a book of general chemistry rather than potassium (J. D. Romaine), and phosphorus (C. A. Black and an introductory course in physical chemistry, as so many of the W. H. Pierre)-are covered in cdnsiderable detail, including recent first-year texts have proved to be. However, it definitely production, effect on growth and development of plants, losses presents a course "in chemistry" and not just a course "about from the soil, efficiency of various types of fertilizers and their chemistry." Previous work in high-school chemistry is not characteristics. The chapter an mixed ferti;izers (5. F. Thornpresumed. The book lays adequate foundations for a full-year ton). nresents information on orooerties. reactions. and nutrients ~eourse and yet is short enough so that it may be covered com- of E U P ~rnbterinls. Thr pun uf this ..rerim i l r v ~ r ~rod liming pletely and still d a w the individual teacher to exnand those nnr~tia's(.t. C. I ~ i ~ l wrevirws r) sbil rwetim, linw rquiwment, topics that he feels are particularly pertinent to his situation. ural l i ~ i n gmnrm?ls. Alinor rlerncnts (I.:. R. I'urvi:) dircussed The exercise at the ends of the chapters are thought-provoking include boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. and are within the capabilities of the students. Nearly 300 The third section of the book, Part 111, includes a discussion of problems are integrated into the whole course. They should nutrition of farm animals. These are dairy cattle (5. E. Smith), serve to teach the students the quantitative foundations beef cattle (H. R. Guilbert), horses and mules (P. B. Pearson and of chemistry as they me emphasized in this text. The reading C. F. Winchester), sheep and goruts (P. R. Pearson), poultry lists that follow most of the chapters are outstanding in their (H. W. Titus), swine (R. C. Miller), and domestic and furpertinency and the availability of the journals cited. bearing animals (A. E. Schaeffer). Basic discussions of the The arrangement of topics is rether unconventional. The mechanisms of feed digestion and utilization, specific nutritional sequence used should make it easy to correlate purposeful lab- requirements, nutritional insufficiencies, and toxic conditions oratory work with the lectures. The first half of the book is given and their causes are given. over entirely to a study of the concepts and principles on which Three chapters on pesticides are contained in Part IV and are chemistry is based. Oxygen is the only element considered in written by the editor. Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides any detail in this part of the book. Solutions are discussed quite are discussed, mainly with regard to their chemical composition. early. While atomic structure is discussed early in the text, The last and smallest section, Part V, contains two chapters on the subject of the classification of the elements comes much later. unrelated subject matter. One of these, on inventions and patThus, valence and the probability of reactions between elements ents relating to agricultural chemistry (C. W. Rivsie and A. D. are not integrated with periodic charts in the first half of the Caesar), presents a &urn6 of requirements of patentability. all phases of the assayer's art. These include not only the technical phases of assaying, hut the building of all types of furnaces, the construction of balances, and the manufacture and calibration of weiehts. The book is severelv nractical. The closest annraach toVt,heorvoomes when it states "as far as those cements
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