NEW BOOKS
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EEectroZyles. By HANSFALKENHAGEN. Translated by R. P. Bell. xvi 348 pp. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1934. Price: $9.50. This book can be cordially recommended to the attention of physical chemists. After a short discussion of ideal dilute solutions, the author gives a sketch of the “classical” theory of electrolytes as developed by Arrhenius. The anomalies in the thermodynamic properties and in the electrical conductance of strong electrolytes are pointed out. This is followed by a section devoted t o the early theories proposed to account for the observed anomalies, The theory of Debye is then given in considerable detail in its application both to the thermodynamic properties of solutions and t o their electrical conductance. The last three chapters are devoted to the modern theory of the viscosity of strong electrolytes, more concentrated solutions, and the statistical foundations of Debye’s theory. The appendix contains a short paper, by R. H. Fowler, on recent applications of quantum mechanics to the theory of electrolytes. The book contains numerous references to original sources. The index is entirely inadequate, but this defect is partly counterbalanced by an unusually detailed table of contents. Students who desire to become acquainted with recent developments in the theory of electrolytes will find this book of great value. F. H. MACDOUGALL.
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389 pp. H. B. WEISER. 15.5 x 23.5 cm.; xi New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1933. Price: $4.50. Professor Weiser has done chemistry a great service by bringing together, for the first time in a critical survey, the colloidal behavior of the elements. Up to the present time many sources had to be consulted in order t o assemble thematerial presented in this single volume. Not only does the author give the latest accepted methods for preparing the elements in the colloidal form, but he thoroughly discusses their properties as well as theories concerning their behavior in this state. General principles of colIoid theory are sufficiently treated, together with biological and industrial applications, so that the book is useful both as a text and as a source book of information. Following a chapter on the formation of the colloidal elements, the book is naturally divided into a section on the metallic elements and one on the non-metallic elements. As far as possible the elements are taken up in the order in which they appear in the periodic table. The section devoted to the metallic elements is completed by chapters on the adsorption of gases by metals and colloidal metals as contact catalysts. Covering about sixty pages these two chapters give the reader a remarkably complete picture of the present status of these important and expanding fields of investigation. I n the section devoted t o the non-metals the chapter on colloidal carbon appeared to the reviewer to be especially complete and well written. The book is well illustrated and a very complete list of references t o original work is given. An author a8 well as a subject index appears at the end of the book. Workers in the field will welcome this important addition t o the growing list of publica305
Inorganic Colloid Chemistry. By
