the chapter headings, which are as follows: Introduction: The Old Quantum Theory; The Principles of Classical Mechanics; The Principles of Quantum Mechanics; The Differential Equations of Quantum Mechanics; The Quantum Mechanics of Some Simple Systems; The Hydrogen Atom; Approximate Methods; Time-Dependent Perturbations: Radiation Theory; Atomic Structure; Group Theory; Electronic States of Diatomic Molecules; The Covalent Bond; Resonance and the Structure of Complex Molecules; The Principles of Molecular Spectroscopy; Quantum Statistical Mechanics; Quantum Mechanical Theory of Reaction Rates; Electric and Magnetic Phenomena; and Special Topics. Included in the chapter on electric and magnetic phenomena is a short treatment of the theory of optical rotatory power, while the last chapter contains a brief discussion of Van der Wsalr' forces and the restricted internal rotator. The book is concluded with an appendix which deals with a number of mathematical problems, and which contains a useful summary of the essential properties of the symmetry groups. It will be evident from the foregoing enumeration that a large amount of material has been covered within the less than four hundred pages of the book. Much of this material is not readily accessible elsewhere, and certainly no other textbook on quantum mechanics deals with so many topics of chemical dgnilicance. In view of the relatively small size of the book for the ground covered i t is inevitable that the discussion is often very condensed, as the authors admit. Although a certain amount of illustrative material is given, a great deal more would have been welcome, even a t the cost of a slight increase in the number of pages. An unusual and highly commendable feature is the early introduction of group theory, which has proved such a powerful tool for the solution of problems connected with molecular spectra and molecular structure. This hook should provide a useful text for a graduate course in the applications of quantum mechanics to chemistry, although it would probably prove to be somewhat too difficult for selfstudy. I t is stated in the preface that "the unavoidable formality of quantum mechanics looks much worse on first reading than i t is." The reviewer is inclined to agree with this opinion, and he feels that a little encouragement from a teacher would go a long way toward overcoming the inevitable shock experienced by most students of chemistry upon their Jkst encounter with quantum mechanics. There is no doubt, however, that the efforts made in the study of the subject will be amply repaid, and a good student who worked through this book would 6nd himself with equipment of the utmost value in his chemical career. SAMUEL GLASSTONE ~ a n m ~ s C*Luoam* u.
QUALITATI~E ANALYSIS.Hayold A. Fala,Pmfessor of Chemistry a t Columbia University, and Frcderic Kenny, Professor of Chemistry a t St. Francis College. Brooklyn. D. Appleton-Century Company, Inc., New York, 1943. ix 237 pp. 39 figs. 15 X 22 cm. $2.65. In many courses in qualitative analysis greatest emphasis is placed upon the teaching of inorganic chemistry, since this subject is being crowded more and more from the beginning and general chemistry courses. I n others, chemical principles are stressed and the experimental schemes of qualitative analysis are used to illustrate these principles. In relatively few courses the paramount objective is the development of laboratory skills on the part of the student. The following statement, taken from the Preface of "Inorganic Qualitative Analysis," is a more accurate description of the contents than the title of this book and suggests that it would be hest suited to the second type of course: "The main purpose of the authors is to present clearly some imoortant fundamental orinciules of chemistry and to use as a framework for the ~ t u d yof these principle% well-tried and welleitahli4wd qualmtive analytical prwrdures." For a n othcrw i e short and rlrnlenlary trrstment, the semeiter course outINORGANIC
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lined by these authors is coucerned to an unusual extent with the development of theoretical concepts. For example, the theories of electrolytic solutions and of oxidation-reduction potentials are discussed as completely as in most texts for introductory courses in physical chemistry. Supplementary laboratory exercises are included t o tie the procedures to the theories. These topics have been very competently handled and should be readily assimilated by the better students. The analytical part of the laboratory work follows the usual semimicro plan and presents few innovations. Use is made of anly three organic precipitants. To make it possible to cover the work in a semester, the number of anions considered has been reduced to four, CI-, SO,=, NOS-, and C O r . For a semester course with a limited number of laboratory periods, such a disproportionate emphasis on theory can be justified, hut the reviewer would prefer to use a text which includes a greater amount of descriptive inorganic chemistry. LAURENCE S. FOSTER MASSACRU~BITS INSTIIUTB
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INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY.W . T . Read, Dean of the School of Chemistry, Rntgers University. Third Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 1943. v 631 pp. 14 X 22 cm. $5.00. This well-known book was first published in 1933 and subsequently revised in 1938. For previous reviews, see J. CHEM. Eouc. 10, 515 (1933) and 16, 299 (1939). No change has been made from the original objective of preparing a book for "students . who would like to know more about the applications of chemistry to industry. . . teachers of chemistry in high school and college not sufficientlyfamiliar with chemical industries to -give accurate information about essentials . . businessmen interested irr a grnernl w r v e y . " 111order to acquaint these stw dents, tcacherr, and busitw~~rnrtl with the gcrwrhl baiis of rhemicnl industry the fin1 2 1 per ccnt of the book covers jurh subjects as the work of chemists and chemical engineers, chemical organizations (professional,not industrial, types), literature sources, analytical control, chemical economics, unit operations and equipment, materials of construction, and units and calculations. Of necessity these broad fields must be condensed and generalized, but so many broad generalizations have come into the text that the reader may wonder. "Just whet is this used for?" Thus, a chapter of generalizations on calculations mentioning weight and heat balances, film coefficients, plate efficiencies, and other complex unit operations calculations, without a single illustration, can hardly be of interest t o the group far whom the book was written. The next 35 per cent of the book covers the usual inorganic industries including electrochemical and metallurgical industries. The 6nal 45 per cent covers organic industries, as petroleum, oils and fats, carbohydrate and protein industries, rubber, coal products, drugs, dyes, plastics, explosives, and protective coatings. The chapter on drugs, dyes, and plastics consists mainly of structural formulas and uses of the compounds. The expandingsynthetic rubber industry is accorded four pages with plastics. The book is marred by an occasional use of "it is said" regarding some product discussed. No doubt the many generalizations come from the broad coverage provided by this book. This prevents i t from being of much use to the student chemical engineer, who must turn to more specialized texts for his training. This book can be highly recommended to chemistry students and teachers of chemistry in high schools and colleges. No doubt chemistry instruction in high schools and colleges can be improved, and the students stimulated by an instructor who has not anly read his text, but also increased his informational background on a book such as this. KENNETH A. KOBE
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