NEW BOOKS The Next Hundred Years: the Unjinished Business of Science. By C. C. FURNAS. 434 pp. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co., 1936. Price: $3.00. Since the death of Slosson how often have we heard the lament that no one has risen to take his place in the popularizing of chemistry. In reading the present book the reviewer became convinced that this complaint need no longer be considered valid, although chemistry constitutes only a small part of the work. A freshness of viewpoint, an originality of treatment, a'readiness of wit challenging our most cherished beliefs,--scientific and otherwise,-breadth of outlook and wide scope of subjects, all controlled by sound common sense, have been united with masterly genius. Although the work makes no claim of especially drawing upon or contributing to the field of physical chemistry, yet frequent use is made of its methods in dealing with the subjects treated, and any physical chemist will profit from and be entertained by this keen analysis of the present status and future problems of science. The topics are divided between the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and sociology. One cannot fail to be impressed by the wide range of knowledge displayed and the variety of problems discussed. The specialist will probably be most interested by the Subjects remote from his own field with which he does not so often have contact. The usefulness and instructive features might have been enhanced by the introduction of some tables, for example, of the vitamins and hormones and their functions. In spite of the caution and prevailing skepticism of the author, he occasionally displays a surprising degree of confidence in his predictions. Probably few, if any, biologists will show his optimism as to the possibility of unlimited extension of the span of human life, nor many engineers or scientists follow him in believing that the utilization of sunlight as a power source is imminent. The book is not only thoughtfully written and instructive but is pervaded by an atmosphere of conviction and a sprightliness of presentation that make it a most readable work which can be recommended to any reader who looks to the future with an open mind. S. C. LIND. Electrolytic Oxidation and Reduction: Inorganic and Organic. By S. GLASSTONE and A. HICKLINQ. Vol. IX of a Series of Monographs on Applied Chemistry 420 pp. New York: D. Van edited by E. Howard Tripp. 22 x 14 om.; x Nostrand Company, Inc., 1936. Price: $9.00. London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1935. Price: 25s. This is a well-balanced monograph on the preparation of inorganic and organic compounds by electrolytic oxidation and reduction, in which the basic theory is presented adequately and a wealth of practical information is to be found. Experimental methods are not discussed in detail, although the various factors affecting yields are treated systematically. Wherever possible the huthors try to give an unbiased interpretation of the reaction mechanisms involved. They fully realize the limitations of our present knowledge of the subject. Although many problems 697
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are left unsolved, the discussions given should stimulate further research in this intriguing field. The first three chapters (ninety-five pages) deal with “Reversible Electrode Potentials,” “Polarization and Overvoltage,” and “Diffusion Phenomena in Electrolysis.” The theory underlying polarization is treated more extensively than in other texts, and is up-to-date. It is not quite clear why the saturated calomel electrode is less advantageous than the 0.1 N or 1 N calomel electrodes on account of a high temperature coefficient (p. 13). The oxidation potentials of o-phenanthroline ferrous iron, and diphenylamine are not known at pH = 7; the data tabulated on p. 31 should refer t o acid medium. In the calculation of electrode potentials during electrolysis (p. 72) the migration of ions should have been considered, This is mentioned later, but it would have been more logical to mention this on p. 72. The following chapters deal with reversible inorganic oxidation and reduction processes, irreversible organic and inorganic reduction processes, “polymerization of anions,” oxidation of fatty acids and their salts, irreversible inorganic and organic oxidation processes, and “anodic substitution.” An extensive list of literature references is given a t the end of each chapter; the patent literature is considered throughout the text. I t is regrettable that no attention is paid to the important investigations of Conant and coworkers on the “apparent oxidation potential” of various organic compounds. The above remarks do not detract from the value of this timely monograph, which is recommended to all those who for theoretical or practical reasons are interested in electrolytic preparations, and in electrode reactions in general. I. M. KOLTHOFF. Inorganic Colloid Chemistry. IT. The Hydrous Oxides and Hydroxides. By H. B. WEISER. 15.5 x 23.5 om.; vii 429 pp. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1935. Price: $4.75. The second volume in this series by Professor Weiser maintains the same high standard as Volume I. As the subtitle indicates, this work covers about the same field as was covered by the author in his book, The Hydrous Oxides, which he published about ten years ago. However the present work is in no sense a revision of the previous one. So much has been accomplished in this field in the ten year period that the work has been almost completely rewritten. X-ray analysis has proved that many of the substances considered to be hydrous oxides a t that time are in reality hydrous hydroxides or hydrous oxide hydrates. These results have made extensive changes in the subject matter necessary. After a general introductory chapter which considers the preparation, properties, and nature of hydrous oxide sols and gels, the author in the next three chapters deals with the hydrous oxides of iron, the aluminum family, and chromium. The hydrous oxides of the other elements are taken up, where practicable, in the order in which they come in the periodic table. The last four chapters deal with technical applications of these important types of substances and are titled “Mordants”; ‘Color Lakes of the Hydrous Oxides”; (‘Mineral Tanning”; and “Coagulants in Water Purification.” These last chapters add considerably to the value of the book from the technical point of view. Like the first volume of the series, this one is well illustrated and a complete list of references to original work is given. Those who have used Professor Weiser’s previous work on this subject will welcome this new book. It is very complete and up-to-date. Colloid chemists will welcome this second member of the series on Inorganic Colloid Chemistry and will await the appearance of the third volume with interest. L. H. REYERSON.
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