Introduction to Chemical Thermodynamics (Steiner, Luke E.) - Journal

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TEXTBOOK 08 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS. William Thomas Hall. Professor Emeritus of Analytical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Third Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York City, 1941. xiv 364 pp. 51 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $3.00. The first edition (1930) was largely an adaptation of the large Treadwell-Hall to the needs of students in a one-year beginning course a t M. I. T. This present edition is considerably revised in the light of ten years of use in that course. Part one contains the introductory work on volumetric analysis, acidimetry and onidimetry, including the use of ceric salts, gravimetric determinations of chlorine, iron, and sulfur, phosphoric acid, and the analysis of cement and brass. I n the second part silicates, steel and ores are the principal subjects, and there is a chapter on potentiometric titrations. There are many practical suggestions included to aid the teacher in the choice of laboratory exercises among the many methods described, as well as interesting comments on the author's own technic of grading and instruction. Numerous problems are included. The reviewer is repelled by the use of the term "polarity" instead of "polar number" or "oxidation number." "The polarity of an element is the sum of the positive and negative valence bonds which it has in a compound; i t represents the state of oxidation. Usually the polarity is the same as the valence. but sometimes there is a difference. Nitrogen in the . The polarity . . is ammonium radical has a valence of 5. -3" (page 37). I n the chapter on acidimetn and alkalimetry is a badly drawn figure of three titration curves (unnlimbered, page 49) which is repeated as Figure 49 on page 322. From this figure an observing student might conclude that 0.1 N acetic acid has a pH of 2.4 if you intend to titrate it with NaOH, but a pH of over 4 if you expect to use ammonia for the titration! The HCI curve is also badly drawn. I n the fwtnate on page 227 "mercuric" is written instead of "~otassium." On page 319 the choice of a tenth-normal calomel eiectrode for illustr&& seems odd. The quinhydrone electrode is referred to as "the hydroquinone electrode,'' and the author speaks of "the 0.1 N calomel solution." The detailed directions for the preparation of quinhydrone are not so useful as they would have been before it was commonly marketed. Of the many excellent features of the b w k the reviewer particularly liked the practical suggestions on manipulation, apparatus, and technic found throughout, the choice of methods of steel and ore analysis, and the elusive flavor of being a reference book which is being used as a tent. This tlavor is hard t o describe, hut must prove stimulating to the interested student. I t is a carry-aver from the large book by Treadwell and the author. The book shodd find many users in the more thorough college courses in quantitative analysis. NORRISF. HALL

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elements. More than 2400 references are included, and cover the literature t o July, 1940. Part I includes the following topics: Classification of Organic Analytical Reagents, Organic Solvents and Wash Liquids, Organic Acids and Bases, Oxidizing and Reducing Agents, Indicators, Primary Standards in Volumetric Analysis. Valence and Complex Com~aunds,The Salinogenic ~ e a g i n t s ,Photometric Aids, and Miscellaneous Organic Reagents. Part I1 contains a list of hundreds of organic reagents used for the detection or determination of sixty elements, in addition to the rare earth elements. I n certain cases a distinction is made in regard t o the different oxidation states of the element in question. The book is very well arranged, and information ioncerning a given reagent and element may be easily located. Structural formulas frequently are used and are represented clearly. This book will be well received by chemists interested in analytical chemistry. I t should be available in all chemical libraries as a reference text. WARRENC. JOHNSON Tas Umvsasrru op Cnrc~ao CRIC*CO. ILLlNOII ISTKODUCTION TO CHEJIIICAL 'I'HI:~\~OUYNAMICS. Luke E . S l r i n p r . Ajrmiate Professor of Clrcmiirry. Obcrlin College. First lirlition McCraw-llill Rook Cotn~anv.Inc.. S c w York City and London. 1941. xiv 516 pp.. 386gs. i 5 X 23 cm. $4.00. "The first objective of this book is . . . t o acquaint the student with . . . fundamental theory. A second objective is to prepare the student to utilize. . the data found in the current chemical literature. A third. is t o give the student a sound background for mare extended work . . ." The author has fulfilled his purpose abundantly. The book is eminently teachable and should appeal t o any student, yet there has been no sacrifice of rigor. The section on thermometry and the chapters on "Some Applications of Thermodynamics" and "General Equilibrium Conditions" are especially good. Most helpful is the inclusion of a discussion on empirical equations and limits of application of significant figures and units. Although the thermodynamic interpretation of spectroscopic data has had to be omitted, there is a good discussion of the elementary Debye-Hiickel theory. The author is t o be commended because he does not hesitate to use kinetics t o illuminate thermodynamic equations. I t is surprising that there is no mention of osmotic pressure. Also the use of an equilibrium box and ideal gases seems a clumsy mode of derivation of the reaction isotherm compared to the use of activities. I t is regrettable that the use of the fugacity concept has not been stressed in deriving the various solution equations, etc. The method is too simple and general to be disre-

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The book contains 44 tables of useful data and an appendix of 4 tables of accepted constants, etc. There is a compilation of symbols used throughout the book. I t is gratifying that the author has not found it necessary t o depart from accepted usage OROANIC ANALYTICAL REAGENTS.Johs H . YOC,University of Virginia, and Landon H . Sarver. American Viscose Corporation. in this respect. References are very numerous and plenty of John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York City, 1941. ix 339 problems terminate each chapter. Typographically, the hook meets the high standard of the International Chemical Series. pp. 2 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $4.00. This hook is recommended t o all teachers of the subject withThe use of organic reagents in analytical chemistry has increased markedly in the past few years. The authors of ORGANIC out reservation. MALCOLM M. HARINO ANALYTICAL REAGENTS have rendered a valuable service by U~weaslrvon MARYLAND compiling information available in the literature as well as from COLLBOB P m x , MAXYLAND their awn exhaustive studies in the field. Unlike most texts, this one is not merely a compilation of data, but provides an MEN AND THEIR DOGS. Ferdim1Zd C. Latrobe. Ivan R. attempt to correlate the structure of organic reagents with their IRON Drechsler, Baltimore, 1941. xiii 225 pp. 139 figs. 16.1 X reactions and uses in analytical chemistry. Without question 23.9 cm. this type of approach to the problem will serve as a stimulus to A history of the growth and development of an American infurther investigations in the field. The b w k is divided into two parts. The first part is con- dustry from Hayward and Friend. Stovemakers, to the Koppers cerned primarily with descriptive and theoretical material, while Com~anv. ..Bartlett-Havward Division.. Eneineers. Manufacturers the second part contains a very complete list of organic com- and Constructors-under the talisman of two cast-iron replicas pounds used for the detection or determination of a number of of the primogenitors of the Chesapeake Bay Dog. MADISON, WISCONSIN

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