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NEW BOOKS
In the opinion of this reviewer Rojansky's text fills in an admirable manner a need that has existed for a long time in the literature of quantum mechanics. The whole book shows evidence of a careful selection and arrangement of material as well as choice of explanatory method. While making few demands on the previous mathematical training of the student, i t still manages to cover most of the material necessary for a good foundation in the basic principles of quantum mechanics. The numerous problems are easy but not trivial, and seem t o be well chosen for their explanatory character. In view of the absence of detailed applications the book does not furnish a basis for a comprehensive course of study in any given field of quantum mechanics, and should be used in conjunction with some book or set of lectures covering the field in which the student may be particularly interested. For one desirous of attaining a thorough grounding in quantum mechanics and its applications to physicochemical problems, the reviewer can give no better advice than t o study Rojansky for general theory and Pauling and Wilson (McGran-Hill Book Co., 1935) for applications, and especially t o work the problems i n both books. With this foundation he can forge into the broad fields of quantum mechanics on his own with a sure footing. E . L. HILL. E i n e Darslellung der negativen Katalyse i n Losungen. By K. WEBER. Die chemische Analyse, herausgegeben von W.Bottger, Band 50. 25 x 16 cm.; xii 191 pp. Stuttgart: F. Enke, 1938. 'Price: unbound, 16.60 RM.; hound, 18.20 RM. The subject of reaction inhibition has recently attracted much interest, and a book on the field by K . C. Bailey (in English) appeared a short time ago. The present volume deals with the subject largely from the physicochemical point of view and is a useful supplement t o the literature. In confining the field t o solutions the author has had t o omit much material of interest, so that the book cannot claim to cover the whole field of anticatalytic phenomena. The main sections are on the quenching of fluorescence, and on retardation in photochemical, autoxidation and thermal reactions, and general inhibition reactions. In each section the more important typical reactions are considered, and on the whole a good balance of space is maintained. In some cases more information would have been welcome, but in the limitations of the apace available to him the author has been able t o put before the reader the important lines of research in his field. His attempt t o treat the various phenomena from a general standpoint is of considerable interest, and will undoubtedly lead t o clarification of ideas in this field. The significance of the phenomena in analytical chemistry is pointed out in each case. Important technical aspects, such as the oxidation of oils, the perishing of rubber, and the combustion of hydrocarbons, are taken into consideration. The book gives a very compact and useful survey of the field and can be recommended. J. R. PARTINGTON. Inhibitorzuirkungen.
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Die Darstellung der Metalle im Laboralorium. By H. FUNK. Enke's Bibliothek fur Chemie und Technik unter Berucksichtigung der Volkswirtschaft, herausgegeben von L. Vanino, Band 25. 22 x 14 cm.; viii 183 pp. Stuttgart: F. Enke, 1938. Pricc: unbound, 8.00 RM.; bound, 9.80 Rbl. The object of the present book is to collect in a handy form the modern information on the preparation of the metals in a state of purity on the laboratory scale. I t is very practical, and the experimental details are suffiricnt t o enable a chemist familiar with ordinary laboratory operations t o carry out the processes described. In rwcarch in physics and physical chemistry i t is often necessary t o have available
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