RECENT BOOKS FRONT~ERS IN &EMISTRY. VOLUME I-THE CEEMISTRY OE LARGE M O L E ~ E S Edited . by R. E. Burk, Director of Research, Standard Oil Company of Ohio, and Oliver Grummitt. Department of Chemistry, Western Reserve University. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1943. vii 313 pp. 15 X 23 cm. 83.50. This is the first in a series of volumes t o he published under the auspices of Western Reserve University based on invited lectures by well-known scientists. The hook contains eight sections on topics relating to high polymeric compounds by six authors who have published much in this field. I n all cases the subiect matter resented is lareelv .. from wmk already avnilahle in other books or periodicals. T h n fact, however, in no way detracts from the valuc of t h ~ volume s which provides wrll-writ t m r6rumCs on several subdivisions of polymer chemistry. The book is not intended as a text but is designed particularly for the specialist and the trained research worker. I n most cases the authors have expressed their own v i e w ~ fact a which makes the volume a very readable one. Perhaps the reader should be warned that in some instances, however, opinions are expressed without indication of their controversial nature. "Mechanism of Polyreactions" and "Investigation of High Polymers by X-Rays" are Logically taken up first by H. Mark, who has published widely on these topics in other places. The first gives the reader the theoretical essentials of the kinetics of the reactions leading to the formation of high polymers. The second is a review of the x-ray work on chain polymers in which is given a discussion of possible chain structures and confignrations deduced largely from fiber periods. E. 0.Kraemer gives in Section I11 a valuable, conservative treatment of the "Colloidal Behavior of Organic Macromolecular Materials," in which are summarized the theory and results from diffusion and viscosity measurements. He reviews. Likewise, in Section IV the contributions of the "ultra centrifuge" t o our knowledge of protein and nonprotein macromolecules. "Elastic-viscous Prooerties of Matter.". hv . Toholskv.. Powell. and Eyring is an excellent summary of the theoretical work on t h ~ sgrncral suhject by Eyring and his asswiates at Princeton. The treatment is decidedly mathematical. Sevrrthelcs, the method provides a powerful means of approach t o many polymer problems and merits careful study by those interested in deformation phenomena. R. M. Fuoss presents in Section VI, under "Electrical Properties of Hieh Polvmers." an understandable treatment of oolvmers . fram the electrical point of view. The nreanings of the tenns employcd in this special field are given, as well as an intewretatmn of theexperimental results in terms of polymer structure. C. S. hlarvel ably reviews the "Organic Chemistry of Vinyl Polymrrs" in Section VII. The orgnnic cvidrnre on polymcr structure is considered in detail. ~ & t i c u l a rattention is given to the arrangement of substituents along the chain molecules and, in the case of copolymers, t o the composition of the individual macromolecules Oresent. 'l'he final section on "Cclluloseand Cellulose Derivatives." by Emil 011, compresses into a b u t GO pages the major recent findings on cellulose and its derivatives. This includcs a valuable r6sumA on the influence of suhstituents on the physical properties. Critical readers will find points of variance with the authors as is t o he expected when an attempt is made, as in this hook. to integrate information on the fringes of science. Nevertheless the volume accomplishes in a commendable manner its object of providing the specialist in polymer chemistry with ready facts in several branches of the subject and should have wide CALVINS. FULLER appeal t o workers in this field.
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SCIENCE RBMAXESOUR WORLD. James Stokley. Ives Washburn, New York. 1942. xiii 299 pp. 35 figs. 14.5 X 22 cm. 83.50.
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This book is an attractively written review of the part which science and technology have played in making the porld of today what it is. The subjects covered include explosive% fuel, plastics (including textiles and elastomers), drugs, vitamins, light metals, glass, aviation, electronics, light, photography, a r t ficial radioactivity, and power. I t is intended for the completely nontechnical reader, and introduces each subject with a survey of the historical high lights in its development. This historical part occupies almost as much space as the description of the present state of affairs. It is such a marked feature of the book that one feels that the title would he more informative if it read, "Science Remakes Our Grandfathers' World." I n reviewing such a hook as this, a chemist always finds more to criticize in the chemical sections than in those in which he himself is a lay reader. On pages 13 and 14 electrolytic hydrogen only is mentioned in the synthesis of ammonia, and the Haher process is made t o include its oxidation to nitric acid. On page 15 glycerin is stated to be used i n soapmaking. N o mention is made of its being a by-product in that industry. And nitroglycerin is said to he mixed with eelatin t o form blastine- .. eelatin. "I
