AN INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC CHEMISTRY.Roger I.Williams, Ph.D., D.Sc., Professor of Chemistry, University of Texas. Fourth Edition. D. Van Nastrand Company, Inc., New York City, 1941. xiii 628 pp. 13 figs. 13.5 X 21.5 cm. 84.00. The first edition of this text appeared in 1927. By the time a text reaches its fourth edition one is apt t o lose sight of the contemporary scene a t the time of the first edition. Briefly, i t may be stated that in 1927 the time was ripe for the refreshing and original approach which Williams used. I t is a matter of record that the first edition was eminently successful, and that succeeding editions have maintained the original high standard. This fourth edition follows the general pattern of its predecessors, hut there is a new chapter dealing with aliphatic halogen compounds. Noteworthy revisions may be found also in the sections dealing with petroleum, ketones, synthetic glycerol, synthetic rubber, Diels-Alder synthesis, allophanic acid and hydantoin, morphine, sulfa drugs, and thechapter on biochemical applications. The author continues t o give emphasis t o the centroid structure for aromatic and heterocyclic rings. Many of the chapters have had little or no alteration. Nomenclature is good generally, but one could wish for more careful treatment in the matter of spaces and hyphens. Thus terms such as phenyl hydrazine, hexaphenyl ethane, vinyl acetylene, trimethyl carbinol, 2-chloro 1,3 butadiene, etc., occur too frequently. The 9,lO-bridged formula for anthracene is retained also, in spite of the evidence against it. These are the most serious errors that came to the reviewer's notice. As in previous editions, the book sets a high standard for appearance, discriminating choice of subject matter, and clarity of presentation. CHARLES D. HURD
THESECOND YEARBOOK OP RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL METHODOLOGY. OSCQIKriSen Bums. Editor. The Gryphon Press. Highland Park, New Jersey, 1941. xx 383 pp. 19 X 27 cm. $5.00. This is the second compilation of excerpts from reviews of books whose subject matter is statistics, including its application to various fields and topics closely related. There are 1652 selections from 283 journals. The books accompanied by criticisms are 359 in number, arranged in alphabetical order of Lhe authors' names. The following indexes serve as additional aid to locate information: (a) coiiperating journals, (6) a t h o r s , (c) classified index of books, ( d ) titles, ( 8 ) periodical directory and index, (f) publisher's directory and index. The compiler states several objectives: to show inadequacy of textbook presentation of statistics; t o help the reader select textbooks; t o assist advanced students to keep abreast of modern developments; t o stimulate students to investigate books on statistical methods in a variely of fields; to note differences of opinion in evaluation; t o observe extension of statistical method; to discourage writing of books by incompetent persons; to make available provocative statements formerly hidden; t o stimulate good book reviews and to encourage selection of good reviewers by editors. All this is decidedly advantageous t o the statistician and t o those investigators who use these methods frequently. If the chemist cares to inspect a comprehensive list of this type of book in order t o ascertain its usefulness, here i t is. The wider application of statistical methods may justify more attention. However, most of the books reviewed have no direct interest t o the chemist, be he teacher or research worker. Since chemical literature is exceptionally well organized, all new books of definite interest are already conveniently listed in the very comNORTAWBSTBRN U N I V B ~ S I T Y plete abstract journals. EVANSION. ILLINOIS The yearbook seems likely to be a very satisfactory reference book for a general library but would be used by the chemist only if some special case might warrant his investigation of statisFUNDAMENTALS OR PHYSICAL SCIENCE.AN INTRODUCTION TO tical methodology to interpret his experimental results. Its THE PWSICALSCIENCES.Konrad Bates Krauskopf, Assistant Professor of Geology, Stanford University. First Edition. limited use in the chemical field is not due t o a weakness in the McGraw-Hill B w k Company. Inc., New York City and Lon- hook hut rather because few chemists use statisticalmethods. VIRGINIA BARTOW don. 1941. x 660 pp. 328 figs. 15 X 23 em. $3.50.
+
+
+
This book aims to provide material adequate for the needs of the college student who wishes to understand the fundamental facts end methods of physical science which contribute to life in our modern world. The author has organized the material under six major subdivisions: The Solar System, Matter and Energy, The Structure of Matter, Fundamental Prwesses, The Biography of the Earth, and Stars and Galaxies. I n the first we find the fundamental laws of mechanics; in the second energy, kinetic theory, and elementary chemical concepts; in the third the newer concepts of matter, including subatomic chemistry; in the fourth material found in chemical texts; in the fifth selected material from the field of geology; and in the sixth sun, stars, andnebulae, ending with brief mention of such topics as relativity, fourth dimension, and gravitation under the general heading of Frontiers of Physical Science. Each subdivision closes with a well-selectedlist of suggested readings. While the author states in his preface "the book is designed t o be adaptable to courses of different lengths," which means omission of some parts, a review of the work convinces one that the student or reader will be best served when i t is nossible to read consecutively rhc whole text. It is the opinion of the reviewer that students who spend one year in srudy wirh this text as a mide will have had a very profitable experience. The author has so courageously selected his material from such extensive fields that one hedtates to criticire minor dcfects which a specialist in a particular field might point out. The publishers have done their share in making the printed andillustrativematerialattractive to the reader. CLIPFORDD. CARPENTER ~~~
co,.u*ar* UNIV&ISITY New Yoax Clrv
UNIVBF6m
Utamn.
On ILLKNOKS
Ir~mors
OP CHEMISTRY.Compiled and edited by Norbert HANDBOOK Adolph Lange, Ph.D.. Lecturer in Organic Chemistry a t Cleveland College of Western Reserve University, assisted by Gordon M. Forker, B.S. (Chem. Eng.), Harshaw Chemical Company, Cleveland. With AN APPENDIX 08 MATHEMATICAL TABLESAnn FORMULAS by Richard Slevens Buringlon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics a t Case School of Applied Science. Fourth Edition Revised and Enlarged. Handbook Publishers, Inc.. Sandusky. Ohio. 1941. xx 1603 pp. Anoendix. 271 . DD. .. . Index. 35 DP. 13 X 19.6 cm. $6.00. The fourrh edition of chis standard reference work contains the following new cables: Synlhetic Rubbers. Correcrion of the Boiline Poinr for Pressure. Calculation of the Boiling Point of organic Compounds, ~ i a l i t a t i v e Spectrographic -Analysis, Sensitive Lines of the Elements, Hammond's Cuprous Oxide and Copper Equivalents of Sugars, Conversion of Specific Gravity to Density, Azeotropic Mixtures, Tank and Pipe Capacities, Logarithms of Factorial n. Factorials. Binomial Coefficients. The following tables have been extended or completely rewritten: Description of the Elements, Changes in Atomic Weights from 1894 t o 1941, Physical Constants of Alkaloids, Physical Constants of Glucosides, Physical and Chemical Properties of Resins. Calculations of Refractive Index, Electrometric Determination of Hydrogen Ion Concentration, Laboratory Solutions, Gravimetric Factors and Their Logarithms, Molar Elevation of the Boiling Point, Phenol Coefficients of Germicides and Antiseptics, Photographic Formulas, Probable Values of the Physical Constants, Table of Integrals, Squares, Cubes, Square Roots, and Cube Roots. The additions and extensions have increased t h e size of the volume by 85 pages.
+
