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JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
i t points out the ways and means for the application of science t o the production of commodities. Finally, the scientist himself is enabled to have a perspective of those things which have interested him in part and to gain a renewed pride and enthusiasm for the day's work. H. K. BENSON
JAN~ARY.
1932
two such apparently unrelated subjects as chlorine and sodium hydroxide. The study of metallic elements begins with iron and is followed by the platinum group, a deviation from the usual topical arrangement which has our hearty approval. The relegation of the chaptets on organic chemistry to the end of the NA~ONA RBSBIRCH I. COUNC~ text is amply justified, and permits the WAS~NCTON D., C. student t o attain sufficient background to appreciate the nature of that field. Elements of General Chemistry.' JOSEPH There is a certain amount of similarity, A. BABOR, Assistant Professor of Chenistry; WILLIAML. ESTABROOKE, ASSO- as is to be expected, between Babor's ciate Professor of Chemistry; and more advanced tent and the present book, ALEXANDER LEIIRKAN, Instructor of with its more detailed discussion of theoChemistry; all of the Callege of the City retical material and the presentation of a of New York. Thomas Y. Crawell Co., greater number of illustrations for the 601 pp. benefit of the beginner. The theoretical New York City, 1931. x sections, although well done, may make 134 Figs. 21.5 X 14 cm. $3.75. This is primarily a textbook for students the text a little too heavy for use in a who have had no previous course in course of limited class time. The conchemistry. An excellent foundation in cept of pH is in our opinion of little value basic principles is offered in the first half t o beginners, as is also the detailed deof the book, and is intended t o fit the scription of methods for the d e t m i n a student either for further study in the tion of molecular weights. The subject matter of the earlier chapsubject or for intelligent and profitable ters contains nothing which we feel should pursuit of a pandemic course. The book be omitted from a course in elementary is in no way designed as a pandemic text; but the author states that the arrange- cbtmistry. I n the second half there are ment permits, a t midyear, the division certain chapters, and more or less fine of classes according t o whether or not print, which may be omitted without they intend t o go further in chemistry. handicapping the student. The mangeThe order of presentation of material ment of the text is such as to permit cerdoes not differ widely from the conven- tain omissions without detracting from tional arrangement of topics. A unique its usefulness. Although the text is the and pleasing feature is the early and ex- joint work of three, the style is very smooth. We do feel, however, that in tensive treatment of atomic structure, with thereafter frequent use of the con- places the direct influence of certain comcepts t o explain chemical behavior. The temporary texts is evident. The exercises a t the end of each chapter author employs both cubical and "ring" are well chosen and should afford a good diagrams t o represent atoms; however, the student's attention is directed t o the review of the contents of the text. The fact that neither diagram is an actual book is adequately illustrated, and expicture of the atom. The use of "plus planatory figures appear where they are of value. We feel that this text is a disand minus valence" in connection with the balancing of axidation-reduction equa- tinct contribution t o its intended field. E. B. K m s m tions is open t o question, as i t may create Y A W umveasrrv an erroneous impression regarding the NBWH ~ v e w CONN. . nature of the linkage in non-polar compounds. A novel feature, but one that Laboratory Manual in Elements of Genseems to be justified, is the grouping of eral Chemistry. JOSEPH A. BABOR,
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VOL.9, NO. 1
RECENT BOOKS
Assistant Professor of Chemistry; W. L. ESTABROOKE, Associate Professor of Chemistry; ALEXANDEL?LEHRMAN, Instructor in Chemistry; all of the College of the City of New York. Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York City, 1931. x 420 pp. 21.5 X 14 cm. $2.00.
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This manual has been prepared to accompany "Elements of General Chemistry" by the same authors (see review. directly preceding this one), and the order of presentation of the material is very similar t o that of the text. I n an effort t o maintain close correlation severa1 experiments have been introduced which we believe are of little v a l u e such as experiments an hromic and iodic acids, ventilation, the mineral and the winning of metals, As might be the greater of the experi. mental work is what may usually be found in an elementarylahoratory manual, for the field has already rather thoroughly covered. The discussion of principles, which precedes each experiment, appears t o dupfiu t e in mast cases the material of the textbook, and may have a nullifying effect upon the requirement t h a t the student frewently use his text as a reference. Ex*lent experiments of a quantitative llatwe appear early in the book. It is doubtful, however, that the ability of beginning students a t so early a stage is such as t o obtain sufficiently accurate results in a number of them t o he of value. It is unfortunate that more of this type of work is not included later. The printed page contains many blank spaces, a decidedly helpful feature t o the student in recording temporary notes, which he should be encouraged t o elaborate a t the end of the exercise. Although the experiments adequately cover the material of the textbook. the manual does not impress us as ranking with the text in excellence. E, B, Y&B
UWIVB.BITY
NBW H*VBN, CONN.
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Chemistry Workbook and Laboratory Guide. M. V. MCGILL,Lorain High School. Lorain, Ohio, and G. M. BRADBURY, Lakewood High School, L a k e wood, Ohio. Lyons and Carnahan, Chicago, Ill., 1931. 252 pp. 16 Figs. 21.5 X 28 cm. Flexible paper cover. Staple bound hut perforated for looseleaf use. The well-known Wm. Segerhlom of Phillips Exeter Academy endorses this book in the foreword, giving the reason thereto that he had long ago proved to his own satisfaction that the proper method of instruction i n chemistry was based upon and centered around the individual laboratory work of the student, for i t enables the student t o learn through his own observations and develop his OW" "asoning much better than could be done by the use of the stereotyped textbook. The reviewer heartily agrees with the above conclusion of this eminent teacher of chemistry for his experience has brought him t o the same conclusion. at the The appearance of this hand of the seasoned M ~ . ill and his associate author, Bradbury, b d warked hy4ihe opinion f,, Professor hlom, is a definite advance in the tian of the fact that all science teaching should use, exemplify, and make the pupil familiar with the scientific method of pro. cedure for it is the very cornerstone and is foundation upon which all made, Professor John Dewey has. alproblem of ready assured us that problems in our education is how to dis. cover and how to mature and make effectivethisscientifichahit." Itissimply unintelligible that any teacher should ~ubstitutethe dogmatic textbook for the exemplification of the scientific method. h hi^ workbook also furnishes the remedy for the common fault of modem teaching, the "once over." Tne growth in matter in chemistry has been notably great in the past decade, resulting in texts that are decidedly plethoric. If the pupil "covers the ground" he has time only for the "once over." Where
seger.
