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GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Linus Pauling, Professor of Chemishy in the California Institute of Technology. W. H.Freeman and 'Company, San Francisco, 595 pp. 120 figs. 21 tables. 15.5 X California, 1947. vii 23.5 om. $4.25. Trade Edition $5.00.
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One might wonder what sort of book would result if the author were born full-fledged in the knowledge of modern chemistry, without having had ta learn it in the accepted and conventional manner. This could very well be it. There is no concern here with the "historical approach." I n fact, those who cling t o the thought habits of thcir own undergraduate days will be surprised, and perhaps irked, to discover the laws of constant and multiple proportions relegated t o a short, smd-type section entitled "Hist,orical Remarks." There is no repeated belaboring of the- "scientific method,'' beyond one small-type section of tu-o pages in length. Neither in this connection nor in ot,hers is the student "t,alked down to." T t s e e m t o he assumed that he eit,hcr is already aware of the principles of rigorous thinking or that he will discover them by example as he proceeds. The stickler for techniealit,ies will even discover here and there a looseness in the use of the terms law and theory-a habitinto which scientistssometimosslip when they fed they are among friends. No one of the stature of the author is likely to bo ttccused of not knowing what he is talking about, hawevor. With so many now in the field, a textbook of general chemistry, to be outstanding, must be more than comprehensive, interesting, well written, and merely up to date. The outst,anding feature of this book is the way in which i t follows the principal interest of its author, who is known as a foremost authority on molecular structure. One of the best approaches to an understanding of general chemist,ry is certainly through this field. To learn ahout a subst,ance most easily and completely i t is first necessary to know how it i.? pul together. I t would be hard to find anywhere a clearer and more adequate treatment of the subject of valence than in the two chapters, "Ions, Valence, and Electrolysis," and "Covalence and Eleot,ronic Structure." The development of the subject is soundly based upon the principle that valence relations wit,hin agiven compound having meaning and significance only after one knows its actual internal structure. To this end the author draws from techniques and results in the fields of X-ray and electroh diffract,ion with no apology, but a firm belief that the principles of the methods involved are understandable t o the general student. I t is not surprising, therefore, that its illustrations-particulady those showing molecular and crystal structun-are among the book's strongest points. Every student of elementav chemistry might well be required to study Figures 10-1 and 11-1, for example, showing, respectively, the reaction between elementary sodium and chlorine and the combination of two cbropate ions to form a dichromate. For the organic chemist, Figure 19-2 shows similarly what happens when azomethane decomposes unimolecularly into nitrogen and ethane. Some textbooks have been "brought up t o date" by inserting sections on atomic structure, X-ray crystal analysis, the ma88 spectrograph, nuclear chemistry, and other developments of the last few decades. Here, such features as thefie have been so eompletely incorporated into the train of thought that they virtudly lose their separate identity. One is left wandering bow an adequate knowledge of chemistry could be had wit~houtthem. Our pedagogical structure is too oft,en, unfortunately, a patchwork. What we need to do is to unravel i t and weave the warp and woof of i t over completely. Pauling has been more venturesome than most authors of
general textbooks; in fact, some may feel that he has ventured so fax as t o lose communication with his students. This obviously depends upon the staying powers of the latter. I t will not be easy far students to follow through this book but perhaps we underestimate the abilities of modern youtb-we have done i t before. Any who can "make the grade," however (and there must be many, for the baok represents the author's own teaching experience), will be well repaid and will see the field of chemistry in an entirely modern light. One almost wonders what will yet remain for them to learn about fundsmcntd and theoretical chemistry. While i t may fairly be said that this is no hook in which to "dabble," still its interest is not necessarily.restrieted t o the prospective chemist. I t treats its field comprehensively, not merely as a preparation for something t o come. Although its unique features are in its development of fundamental and theoretical topics the descriptive side of chemistry has not been neglected. I t contains many "facts," as well as excellent deseiiptions of a number of well chosen industrial processes. In fact, one is amazed that so much could have been packpd into less than 600 pages. Some of the exercises a t the ends of the chapters will he found beyond the eapaeity of the average student; but this will probably be no drawback to those who, for other reasons, adopt. this nnusual baok for their classes. Whether or not it well adapted to sorve, on a large scale, the needs of elementary students, there is, nevertheless, one large class for whom it seems t o be made t o order. This is the large group of pract,icing chemists, and others, whose training dates back to the practices of many years ago, and who want t o brush up on modern chemistry. This is a perfect "refresher course." NORRIS W. RAKESTRAW
VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS.
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VOLUME 11.
I. M. Kolthoff, Professor and Head, Dirision of Analytical Chemistry, University of Minnesda, and V. A. Stenger, Analytical Research Chemist, The Dow Chemical Company. Second Revised Edition. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1947. 374 pp. 14 figs. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. 56. xiii
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THE extensive revision involved in the new edition of this standard work is indicated by t,he fact that the authors have found it necessary t o expand the practical part t o two separate volumes. Oxidation-reduction methods will be treated in Volume 111; all the other material of Volume I1 of the old edition is included in t,he present volume, hut with very considerable revision and with a number of additions. The general arrangement remains the same but two chapters are now devoted t o precipitation reactions. The first of these deals with srgentometrie methods and the second with other precipitation methods, including such topics as titrations with ferrocyanide solut.ion, direct and reverse titration of sulfate with barium salt solutions, titrations with lead salutiom, and determination of fluoride with thorium or sirconium solutions. Additions to other chapters include the determination of sulfate after precipitation m benaidi.nc neulfate and the titration of sulfides and polysulfides in the chapter on displseemeht titrations, and a consideration of sodium carbonate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, alu~niuurnrhloriclc, and cerous nitraw as n&nts in tllc ihkpwr
