JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
502 tions, both homogeneous and heterogeneous, complex inorganic and organic reactions, catalysis, oxidation, and polymerization. A great deal of descriptive material is included, but the bank approach is theoretical; the author demonstrates very well the use of experimental kinetic and thermodynamic data in evalusting proposed mechsnisms for these reactions. Recent work in several specific fields such as photochemistry, radiochemistry, biological kinetics, and catalysis is included. Chapter 13 is a very useful discussion of potential energy surfaces for reactions, the nature of activated complexes, and detailed mechanism of certain processes. The usefulness of the book is greatly enhanced hy problems a t the ends of chapters, exceedingly complete specific references and a general bihliogrsphy as well, and indexes both by subject and by author. The style is simple and clear, and errors are very few. The book has already been widely adopted as a text and without doubt its use will become even more widespread. I t is to he highly recommended to all teachen of chemical kinetics. W. d. ARGERSINGER. JR.
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ESSENTIALS OF NUTRITION
0
H e n r y C. Sherman and Caroline Sherman Lonford, Columbia University. Third edition. The Macmillan Co., New York, 1951. ix 454 pp. 3 6 figs. 4 2 tables. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. $4.25.
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ALTHOUGU obviou~lydesigned as a text for use by classes, this hook is useful as generd literature and makes entertaining reading for anyone interested in health promotion by good nutrition. I t includes the latest information on human nutritive requirements: calories, the more important inorganic elements, the better known vitamins, and the protein requirement. The authors frankly state that the book is not concerned with technical information on the chemistry of food and nutrition. It does supply, however, the informtion required for intelligent selection of a gwd diet. The exercises a t the ends of the chapters, together with wisely ~eleetedreadinglists, makeit possible for s. student t o have a good course in practical nutrition through the use of this book. It also gives an sdequate treatment of food economics which should be of mnuine aid to those who must be closely budgeted in food uurihases. Extensive tables in the appendix give the composftion and nutritive values of foods and recommended daily allowances. Professor Sherman's long experience and ripened knoudedge in the fields of food chemistry and of nutrition make especially valuable the first chapter, which assrtys the general significance of nutritional science in human welfare, and also the last chapter entitled Howto Make Nutritional Knowledge More Effective,with subtitle, Nutrition Policy-Public and Personal. If nutritional education as here advocated could be promoted and given practical application. real benefit of nation-wide scope would result. PHILIP H. MITCBELI
STRUCTURAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
0
F. Wells. Second edition. Odord University Press, New York, 1950. d x 727 pp. 237 figs. 6 2 tables. 16 X 2 s cm. $7. A.
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S ~ N C Ethe introduction of cryetnl ~ t n m u r edctrmina~ioniby tht. R m g in ~ 1913, the pursuit of the titmcturul 3spcctr of chcmical compounds has became an integral part of the chemical appwneh t~ any pmblcm. Hrnre it is irnporrvnt to have nvailxblc u twok n.hid> inrorporatm sfructurul krmwledge into the tofd fa1,ric of r l r r n ~ i ~ t r s Oi . t l t r vurio~lruttwrlm to acwrnnliiih this obieetive. the one under consideration has been the mosi success-
iui.
The first edition of this book was received very enthusiastically.
Teachers of inorganic chemistry adapted it ss a textbook. Reviewers commented favorably on the clear exposition of general topics without the use of advanced msthematics or thermodynsmics, on the many excellent figures designed to aid threedimensional visualization, on the excellent indexes and on the portrayal of unsolved problems. The second edition retains all of the excellent feat,ures of the first and embodies a number of distinct improvements. The extent of the revision is evident by the fact that the first edition had 590 pages, 175 figures, and 31 tables. The first part of the book deals with general principles and techniques. There are chapters a n the covalent bond, interbond angles and band lengths, ionic crystals, states of aggregation, the crystalline state, and experimental methods. Half of these have been completely rewritten and all bave been amplified. The second part presents a wealth of structural data which is organized under the following headings: hydrogen compounds, the halogens and simple halides; complex, oxy-, and hydroxyhalides; oxygen and sulfur; oxides; oxysulfides and sulfides; hydroxides; water and hydrates; nitrogen; phosphorus and Group V elements; carbon; cyanides, cerbonyls, and carbides; ailicon; boron; B subgroup metals; Group VII metals; 4f and 6j elements; and metals and alloys. Here again the material has been reorganized and considerably amplified. References in the second edition are five times as numerous and mow convenientlv located than oreviouslv. Manv of them bear rlut+soi IqlR .ln
