p r e s e n t s a n d usesmathematics unashamedly and without a "by your leave" apology to the student. Many excellent line drawings enliven the text and simplify the explanations. Study exercises are taken rather seriously and can actually he used as a part of the course. Very few typographical mistakes were noted and there were of minor nature. I n Figure 234, page 367, 0°F. shown on the Kelvin scale should he O'K.: on oaee . - 448 the electronic fromula for nitrogen is mcorrcct One might be inrhned to regard certain rapla~ntionras somewhat inconsistent. I'ur example, on page 422 the equation Mg T U-NgO is Riven irnmnliately following the statement that "elements such as oxygen . . have two atoms in each molecule and therefore their molecular symbols are writCO*. One ten 01, . . " Then fallows the equation C +OS might also be inclined t o criticize the literal interpretation of the ionization of HCl shown in Figure 305. Having thus done one's duty by finding a few unimportant mistakes and by disagreeing with one or mare statements, one can return to the major thesis that this is an excellent hwk, a book which deserves a far better fate than most survey books are likely t o suffer during these war years of intensive, concentrated training in a very few things. SIDNEY1. FRENCH ~
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ELEMENTARY P W S I C ~CHEMISTRY.Hugh S. Taylor, David B . Jones Professor of Physical Chemistry. Princeton Universitv. *. and H. Austin Tavlor.. Professor of Phvsical Chemistrv. -. New York University. Third Edition. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc.. New York, 1942. xi 551 pp. 127 figs. and 111 tables. 14 X 22 cm. $3.75. The third edition of this well-known text has an arrangement of subjects very similar t o the second edition, save that the discussion of kinetics has been moved t o the latter part of the book. The content has heen changed markedly. Although there are fewer pages, there is much more material due to the use of smaller type, spacings, and margins. The authors have endeavored to incorporate as much as possible of the modern methods of approach to chemical problems. This has necessitated abbreviating or even omitting some important matters. Thus the discussion of nuclear chemistry has been considerably expanded, and a lengthy discussion of the statistical basis of the second law. including partition functions, has been added. T o offset this, the discussion of ionic equilibria had to be markedly abbreviated, especially as relating t o indicators and hydrolysis. The discussion of phase equilibria has likewise been shortened. but it still is excellent. Other sections worthy of especial commendation are the atomic concept of matter and energy, the heat capacity of gases, films and monolayers, liquids, and the very fine discussion of kinetics. The authors have also included a brief discussion of the structure of fibers. However the followine tooics have been ienared: refractivitv. - imoartant . ,. optical activity, and aharlnion spectra as dues to molecular structure, and thc usc of various electrodes to measure hgdrion activity. Indexing and subdivision of topics are very gwd. There are sufficient literature references and a selection of problems a t the end of each chapter. However, no answers are furnished. Three appendices-derivations of Maxwell's distribution equation, of Planck's equation for the energy of a linear vibrator, and the Debye-Hkkel limiting law-nhance the value of this hwk. The use of the term "Elementary" in the title is debatable. The h w k is entirely suitable for senior or first-year graduate courses. To use i t the student should have not only the usual background in chemistry hut also a reasonable preparation in physics and mathematics. With the advisability of such prerequisites for physical chemistry the reviewer is in complete agreement. Whether the treatment approximates the ideal course in physical chemistry is a matter of individual opinion. The reviewer himself feels that certain advanced subjects have
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been overemphasized a t the expense of some equally important and possibly more fundamental subjects. However this unbalance, if it really exists, is far Less thanin earlier editions. In conclusion, this b w k merits the careful scrutiny of every teacher of the subject. I t is well written, stimulating, packed full of g w d things, and quite suited to practically any thoroughgoing course in physical chemistry. MALCOLM M. HmrNG UN1"~ltSrTY OR MARYLAND
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ORGANICCm+arsm, AN ADVANCED TBEATISE. Editorial Board, Henry Gilman, Editor-in-Chief, Roger Adams, Homer Adkins, Hans T . Clarke, Carl S. Maruel, and Frank C. Whitmore; and 25 Contributors other than the Members of the Board. Volumes I and 11. Second Edition. John Wiley & Sans, Inc., New York, 1943. ix 1077 lxvii pp. in Vol. I. and ix 1079 to 1983 lxvii pp. in Vol. 11. 15 X 23 em. $7.50 per vol. "This second edition, which represents a significant expansion of the first, contains twenty-six chapters, of which the following eight are new: thereactions of aliphatic hydrocarbons; synthetic polymers; catalytic hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis; organic sulfur compounds; aliphatic fluorides; the chemistry of the porphyrins; chlorophyll; and the redistribution reaction. All the chanters carried over from the first edition have heen revised. I n some chapters the literature has been reviewed up to September, 1942." The new chapters, like the earlier ones, are well written by experienced authors, and they add much to the value of this important treatise. Thenew chapterscousist of ahout4W pages, and this number adds about ane-fourth t o the farmer size. The subjects are carefully chosen, the material is well presented. and altoeether the work is modern and authoritative. With a background of elementary organic chemistry, a student of these volumes can gain an excellent knowledge of modern organic chemistry. As in the first edition, the work is very well indexed, and the complete index is handily printed in each volume. References to the literature are abundant and are found on practically every page. Also, helpful cross references are numerous throughout the text. I n addition, a section of "General References," which is given a t the end of each chapter, includes mention of same of the more important review articles and bwks a s a guide to collateral reading. The chapters contain a great many structural formulas which help so much to give a full and proper understanding of organic cheinistry. The typography and binding are excellent. The reviewer in his reading found not a single typographical error.
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INTRODUCTION TO ELECTROCHEMISTRY. Samuel Glasslone, Professor of Chemistry, University of Oklahoma. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1942. vii 557 pp. 135 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $5.00. This book presents the fundamentals of electrochemistry from the standpoint of modern concepts of activity, interionic attraction, proton transfer of acids and bases, and the reaction rate nature of electrode phenomena. Unlike the author's earlier and more comprehensive treatise, "The Electrochemistry of Solutions," the present hook should serve a s a relatively elementary text rather than as a reference work. The book includes an elementary presentation of electrolytic conductance, transference, electrochemical thermodynamics. electrode processes, and electrokinetic phenomena. At the end of each chapter problems are included which illustrate the material discussed. These are frequently based on data from the recent scientific literature. Although the author avoids any historic approach to the subject and includes no detailed references to the scientific literature, a sufficient number of references
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to original papers and review articles are given to acquaint the curious student with contemporary electrochemical researches. Dr. Glasstone has succeeded in preparing a dearly written book which will he welcomed by those desiring a simple intraduction to electrochemistry based largely on the results of recent research in the field. The hook contains a good suhject index and is well illustrated with figures. THEODORE SHBDLOYSKY
CELLULOSE CHEMISTRY.Mark Plunguian, Chemist. Homasote Company, Trenton, New Jersey. Chemical Publishing Company, Brooklyn, NewYork, 1943. vii 97pp. 13 figs. $2.25. A small hook of about a hundred pages, designed to serve as an introduction to the chemistry of cellulose. I t is a concentrated outline, including subjects such as occurrences of cellulose in nature, its principal properties, reactions, and applications. The book gives one a comprehensive view of cellulose in chemistry and the industries in a brief, readable, well-chosen selection of the more important phases of the subject. It consists of nine chapters, one of which deals with the ocnvrence of cellulose and associated substances in plant cell walls; another with the microscopic structure of the walls; and the remaining chapters with what may he considered as the chemistry of cellulose,-purification, properties, derivatives, constitution, and micellar structure. Isolation and purilication processes are discussed, and a few of the well-known processes of dispersion and the formation of derivatives and modifications, such as cellulose nitrate, acetate, and ethyl cellulose, are discussed briefly. Properties and commercial uses of these are mentioned. Chemical constitution takes up a few pages, and physical structure is treated in the last chapter. Here the chain structure of the molecule and the aggregation of chains into structure of a micellar nature are treated briefly. While brevity is the keynote of the treatment, the items included have been rather happily chosen to give the reader a comprehensive over-all view of the cellulose situation as of the present time. I t is for the most part sufficiently critical in the context for its purpose-that of giving the reader an introduction to the subject. In its bibliography the author has selected a rather small, but fairly representative list of investigators in cellulose studies The book gives one a rather complete picture of cellulose a t little more than a single reading, and thus furnishes a useful outline to the busy reader as well as to the chemist, the biochemist, and the biologist. 0 . L. SPONSLER
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THE SCATTERING OP LIGHTAND THE RAMAN EFFECT. S. Bhagauanlanz, Ramchandra Deo Professor of Physics, Andhra University. Waltair. Chemical Publishing Company, Inc., Brooklyn, New York, 1942 (first American Edition). 333 pp. 41 figs. 66 tables. 15 X 22 cm. $4.75. This book gives a comprehensive treatment of the problem of the scattering of light by matter. Much of the material, particularly the detailed theory, has been found previously only in journals, and the author has performed a real service in bringing i t together. The exposition throughout is very clear, and the comparisons of experiments with theory are numerous. After a qualitative discussion of a few examples of lightscattering in nature, the fundamental laws and theories of this subiect are resented with adeouate mathematical detail The polarization and intensity of light scattered by anisotropic molecules, light-scattering in liquids and solids, optical anisotropy in relation to molecular structure, and birefringence are among the topics covered in the first part of the hook. I n the latter half of the hook, scattering with a change of wave
length, or Raman scattering, is considered. First a qualitative description of the phenomenon is given. This is followed by a simple (though inadequate) theory of the e5ect. Then a complete theory of the intensities and depolarizatiou factors of Raman lines is presented, and detailed comparisons with experiment are made in numerous tables. Applications of t h e Raman effect t o molecular structure is considered in some detail, and applications to chemical problems are briefly discussed .in relation to selected examples. A chapter on experimental technique is included. These applitations have been given a more detailed treatment in other texts, and the author has wisely avoided duplication. This book should prove a valuable reference source to the graduate student of physics or chemistry, and to the research worker interested in molecular structure. A. B. F. DUNCAN U N ~ Y B R S ~ TDP Y RoCHBSTBII ROCIBSTEE.NBW YORY
ESSENTIALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY. Norman Kharasch, Instructor of Chemistry, and Helen S. Mackenzie, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, The Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1942. 513 pp. 99 figs. 15 X 23 cm. 83.50. There is certainly something good to be said for a book which frankly tells the student t h a t "the contents of this book are presented with as little adornment aspossible; for if the study is to be of real value to you, you must see chemistry as it is, and speak its own language. Highly colored descriptions of facts are avoided, for these can lend only to a superhcial understanding which is not our purpose." Thereupon, and from the first page, the authors stick to this principle. They present chemistry as simply and as clearly as the limits of the subject permit. Presumably, the hook is designed for real beginners, not for those who have had a previous course. At any rate, beginners should have little trouble in seeing their way through the intricacies of chemistry as the authors present the subject. In the second chapter the important concept of significant figures is presented in a very simple manner. Chemical arithmetic, is held, throughout, a t its simplest level and is certainly not overdone. Thereare plenty of up-to-datereferences throughout and the questions are well selected to bring out important points and test the student's application of principles. The order of topics is more or less conventional, roughly the first half of the book being devoted to the development of general principles and the second half to the chemistry of the non-metals, the metals, and organic chemistry. One of themost satisfying things about the book is that it is not a ponderous tome. The type is conveniently large, the pages are not crowded, nor are they crammed with additional information in small type so common to many modern textbooks. The appendix includes an outline of the history of chemistry as well as chemical data usually found in such places. The last chapter, on the ceramic industries, contributed by Mr. Axel C. Ottoson of the University of Illinois, takes up someinteresting details not normally appearing in a chemistry text. One might he inclined t o criticize the failure of the authors to makemoreuseof the Brensted concept of bases, especially when a student is studying chemistry for the first time and has nothing to unlearn. Likewise, one might wish that the newer usages in balancing oxidation-reduction equations had been given some space
But the fact is t h a t these things are still largely in the realm of personal taste and are not "musts." The important thing is that the book amply fulfills its chosen mission to present chemistry simply and with as little adornment as possible. For teachers desiring a hook of such nature, it can be recommended without hesitation. SIDNEY 1.FRENCH COLDATB U N l Y B B J l N
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