1496
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
AUGIJ~T,1932
Reactions (seven assignments); Section II-Ionic Theory; Rapid Reversible Reactions and Equilibrium (six assignments); Section III-Introduction to the Systematic Study of Ionic Reactions (eight assignments); Section IV-Selected Problems in the Chemistry of Aqueous Solutions (nine assignments); Section VQualitative Analysis (three assignments). I n the appendix directions for the preparation of necessary reagents are given. Most of the assignments are quantitative in nature. The directions for carryMICHIDAN STATBCOLLBOB EASTLANSING. Mmm0.w ing out the experiments are given very carefullv in detail. Questions are interA Course in General Chemistry Including spersed with the directions wherever pertian Introduction to Qualitative Analysis. nent and a aoodly number of calnJations WILLIAMC. BRAY,Professo~of Chem- and problems are included. References istry, and WENDELL M. LATIMER. are made throughout to "Principles of Professor of Chemistry, both in the Chemistry" by Hildehrand (for review. University of California. Revised edi- see p. 1495) and "Reference Book of Intion. The Macmillan Ca., New York organic Chemistry" by Lntimer and HildeCity, 1932. a l59pp. 1 Fig. 14 X brand [far review, see J. CHEM.E ~ u c . , 21.5 cm. $1.60. 6, 1004 (May, 1929)l. The reviewer is of the opinion that this laboratory manual The first edition of this laboratory text was published in 1923 and represented the will be admirably suited t o the student work given a t the University of California who is using Hildehrand's "Principles of Chemistry" a s a text. The only possible in general chemistry. In the introductory outline of the course danger from the educational standpoint the authors state their conviction that it is m$ht he that the student's attention is the duty of the university t o train its stu- called t o so many different items in each dents to meet any problems, and that their assignment that the major principle being aim in giving the course is not simply t o illustrated may be partially lost sight of. teach chemistry, but through it to teach A great deal must of course depend upon the instructor handling the work, who will science. he able to emphasize the more important In the present revised edition the aupoints through quiz and discussion periods. thors have sought to attain more nearly ARTHUR1. CLARK their ideals of a course in general chemistry. Quite a number of extensive revisions have been made, such as the inclusion of work with the Clark and Luhs How to Understand Chemistry. A. FREDindicators: measurement of electromotive ERICK COLLINS,F.R.A.S. D. Appleton force of simple cells in the study of oxidaand Co., New York and London, 1932. tion and reduction, etc. Certain assign322 pp. 31 Figs., 17 Tables. xii ments have heen added, such as A Quanti12.5 X 18.5 cm. 8 . 0 0 . tative Study of the Solubility Product; The title of the book is somewhat misThe Preparation and Properties of Colleading or else the author intended that loids, etc. The assignment953 in numher-are the emphasis be placed on Understand and divided into five sections a s follows: S&- not on How. Apparently the volqme is tion I-Weight Relations in Chemical for the use of the layman a s the content is
introduced a t the ends of the chapters, along with review questions that are very helpful. He is under the impression, however, that for students who have had no previous chemistry, this work would be too heavy an assignment. He is also of the opinion that where students are planning for just one year of college chemistry, a more general course covering both the inorganic and organic fields would be more desirable. ' ARTHUR J. CLARK
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VOL. 9. NO. 8
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a m s between that of a high-school simple method of weighing them." Mr. ~ o kconcept ' of thc d h n a n d the elhpric chemistry text and a college text. Some of the topics included are: (a) the stole of matter ir quite intrrening, but is of doubtful value. - I n taking issue with elementary laws, principles and theories of (6) chemical reaction and the author on these and other statements, chemistry; equation writing; (c) the periodic dassifi- the reviewer has been cognizant of the cation; (d) numerous important common need for broad statements in a book of this type. inorganic and organic compounds; (e) When the non-debatable mars in the thermo-, electro-, and photochemistry; (f) organic chemistry; (g) chemical analysis book are m e c t e d it can be recomand synthesis; and (h) the atomic theory mended for popular consumption, (including the S c h r 6 d i i atom). he JESSEE. DAY author believes that the book "is really TH&Om0 ST~TB UNIYBRSITY C O L ~ ~ ~ Bom0 US, . . theory of divided into two parts chemical reactions . and methods of The S t o q of Common Things. Lours applied chemistry." EARENPELD.Minton, Balch & Co., The purpose of the book is a worthy one, 203 pp. New York City, 1932. v that is, providing the book is for those who I8 Illustrations. 12.5 X 19 cm. $2.50. have not had a course in the subject. The etymology of a number of chemical This book treats the science of chemistry terms adds to the interest of the subject as revealed in simple everyday things of matter. In this connection it is interest- life. The author a s Curator of Chemistry ing to note that the prefix them0 in in the Museum of Science and Industry. thmmochcmblry is "from the Greek Chicago, is experiencedin ways of catching thsrme" and that thermmetcr is "fram the the layman's attention. I n the introducThe personal at- tion be throws out this challenge t o arouse Latin thcrta." . mosphere of the entire volume is quite interest in the substance sulfuric acid: friendly-this being a feature which "Sippose you think back over everything should be more often employed in the you know about what the chemist calls presentation of fields of learning to those sulphuric acid (though you might recoguninitiated in that field. nize i t better a s 'oil of vitriol'). You The value of the hook would be greatly don't know anything, you say, and if enhanced if it were more accurate. Re- this is going t o be a book as dry as that gardless of what may have been re- you are not going to be interested in it. sponsible for these inaccuracies, i t is more But just a minute! You do know somethan unfortunate to find, for example, ten thing about sulphuric acid." I n soliciting errors in the sixteen structural formulas interest in sugar chemistry the author in the sections dealing with organic chem- feigns this argumentative mood: "You istrysituation which does not lend doubt whether there is such a thing as a strength to a portion of the author's state- sugar that is not sweet. AU right! Corn gluco-is not sweet. And ment that "The chapter on Organic sugar-lled C h i s t r y is, to my mind, wonderfully t o prove it, go lick a postage stamp. Gluinteresting and instructive." Volatiliee- cose is the stuff put on the back of postage lion and burning are badly confused on stamps t o make them stick. If glucose p. 264. What are commonly considered were sweet, licking stamps would be more as the major points of Dalton's atomic of a pleasure than it is now." And finally, theorv are woken of as laws (P. 116). in introducina.the rare earth metals reThe following statement might be de- course is had to a favorite trick of the late bated-"a means was found by which an Dr. Edwin E. Slosson: "What are some of element could be differentiated fram a the other uses for this common cerium compound and this was done by the and its near neighbors? Before we in-
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