p r e s e n t s a n d usesmathematics unashamedly and without a "by your leave" apology to the student. Many excellent line drawings enliven the text and simplify the explanations. Study exercises are taken rather seriously and can actually he used as a part of the course. Very few typographical mistakes were noted and there were of minor nature. I n Figure 234, page 367, 0°F. shown on the Kelvin scale should he O'K.: on oaee . - 448 the electronic fromula for nitrogen is mcorrcct One might be inrhned to regard certain rapla~ntionras somewhat inconsistent. I'ur example, on page 422 the equation Mg T U-NgO is Riven irnmnliately following the statement that "elements such as oxygen . . have two atoms in each molecule and therefore their molecular symbols are writCO*. One ten 01, . . " Then fallows the equation C +OS might also be inclined t o criticize the literal interpretation of the ionization of HCl shown in Figure 305. Having thus done one's duty by finding a few unimportant mistakes and by disagreeing with one or mare statements, one can return to the major thesis that this is an excellent hwk, a book which deserves a far better fate than most survey books are likely t o suffer during these war years of intensive, concentrated training in a very few things. SIDNEY1. FRENCH ~
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ELEMENTARY PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY.Hugh S. Taylor, David B . Jones Professor of Physical Chemistry. Princeton Universitv. *. and H. Austin Tavlor.. Professor of Phvsical Chemistrv. -. New York University. Third Edition. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc.. New York, 1942. xi 551 pp. 127 figs. and 111 tables. 14 X 22 cm. $3.75. The third edition of this well-known text has an arrangement of subjects very similar t o the second edition, save that the discussion of kinetics has been moved t o the latter part of the book. The content has heen changed markedly. Although there are fewer pages, there is much more material due to the use of smaller type, spacings, and margins. The authors have endeavored to incorporate as much as possible of the modern methods of approach to chemical problems. This has necessitated abbreviating or even omitting some important matters. Thus the discussion of nuclear chemistry has been considerably expanded, and a lengthy discussion of the statistical basis of the second law. including partition functions, has been added. T o offset this, the discussion of ionic equilibria had to be markedly abbreviated, especially as relating t o indicators and hydrolysis. The discussion of phase equilibria has likewise been shortened. but it still is excellent. Other sections worthy of especial commendation are the atomic concept of matter and energy, the heat capacity of gases, films and monolayers, liquids, and the very fine discussion of kinetics. The authors have also included a brief discussion of the structure of fibers. However the followine tooics have been ienared: refractivitv. - imoartant . ,. optical activity, and aharlnion spectra as dues to molecular structure, and thc usc of various electrodes to measure hgdrion activity. Indexing and subdivision of topics are very gwd. There are sufficient literature references and a selection of problems a t the end of each chapter. However, no answers are furnished. Three appendices-derivations of Maxwell's distribution equation, of Planck's equation for the energy of a linear vibrator, and the Debye-Hkkel limiting law-nhance the value of this hwk. The use of the term "Elementary" in the title is debatable. The h w k is entirely suitable for senior or first-year graduate courses. To use i t the student should have not only the usual background in chemistry hut also a reasonable preparation in physics and mathematics. With the advisability of such prerequisites for physical chemistry the reviewer is in complete agreement. Whether the treatment approximates the ideal course in physical chemistry is a matter of individual opinion. The reviewer himself feels that certain advanced subjects have
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been overemphasized a t the expense of some equally important and possibly more fundamental subjects. However this unbalance, if it really exists, is far Less thanin earlier editions. In conclusion, this b w k merits the careful scrutiny of every teacher of the subject. I t is well written, stimulating, packed full of g w d things, and quite suited to practically any thoroughgoing course in physical chemistry. MALCOLM M. HmrNG UN1"~ltSrTY OR MARYLAND
COLLBGB PARK.M*BYLIND
ORGANICCm+arsm, AN ADVANCED TBEATISE. Editorial Board, Henry Gilman, Editor-in-Chief, Roger Adams, Homer Adkins, Hans T . Clarke, Carl S. Maruel, and Frank C. Whitmore; and 25 Contributors other than the Members of the Board. Volumes I and 11. Second Edition. John Wiley & Sans, Inc., New York, 1943. ix 1077 lxvii pp. in Vol. I. and ix 1079 to 1983 lxvii pp. in Vol. 11. 15 X 23 em. $7.50 per vol. "This second edition, which represents a significant expansion of the first, contains twenty-six chapters, of which the following eight are new: thereactions of aliphatic hydrocarbons; synthetic polymers; catalytic hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis; organic sulfur compounds; aliphatic fluorides; the chemistry of the porphyrins; chlorophyll; and the redistribution reaction. All the chanters carried over from the first edition have heen revised. I n some chapters the literature has been reviewed up to September, 1942." The new chapters, like the earlier ones, are well written by experienced authors, and they add much to the value of this important treatise. Thenew chapterscousist of ahout4W pages, and this number adds about ane-fourth t o the farmer size. The subjects are carefully chosen, the material is well presented. and altoeether the work is modern and authoritative. With a background of elementary organic chemistry, a student of these volumes can gain an excellent knowledge of modern organic chemistry. As in the first edition, the work is very well indexed, and the complete index is handily printed in each volume. References to the literature are abundant and are found on practically every page. Also, helpful cross references are numerous throughout the text. I n addition, a section of "General References," which is given a t the end of each chapter, includes mention of same of the more important review articles and bwks a s a guide to collateral reading. The chapters contain a great many structural formulas which help so much to give a full and proper understanding of organic cheinistry. The typography and binding are excellent. The reviewer in his reading found not a single typographical error.
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INTRODUCTION TO ELECTROCHEMISTRY. Samuel Glasslone, Professor of Chemistry, University of Oklahoma. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1942. vii 557 pp. 135 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $5.00. This book presents the fundamentals of electrochemistry from the standpoint of modern concepts of activity, interionic attraction, proton transfer of acids and bases, and the reaction rate nature of electrode phenomena. Unlike the author's earlier and more comprehensive treatise, "The Electrochemistry of Solutions," the present hook should serve a s a relatively elementary text rather than as a reference work. The book includes an elementary presentation of electrolytic conductance, transference, electrochemical thermodynamics. electrode processes, and electrokinetic phenomena. At the end of each chapter problems are included which illustrate the material discussed. These are frequently based on data from the recent scientific literature. Although the author avoids any historic approach to the subject and includes no detailed references to the scientific literature, a sufficient number of references
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