Little is omitted from this book, the most serious omissions being the oil-film experiments of Langmuir, Adam, and others, and the matter of liquid junction potentials. There is likewise a lack of original literature references. Partly because of the unusual order of discussion and partly because of the great amount of information contained in it, the book gives one the feeling of sitting down a t a big dinner where all the food is served a t once. A more orderly display of viands would probably result in VC:IIPT conwmptir,n with less unlcufwr e f i t s . I'orricularly noteworthy and connnendahle are [ h e following: There is a detoilrd table of contents Thi* is m i 4 x in the majority of texts. It is in addition t o the usual subjectand author indexes. The book is abundantly cross-referenced. Many chapters include a rather full discussion of methods. Everv chanter . (or subchapter) is followed by a compact summary. This is a very valuable innovation. Likewise each chapter is followed by a series of questions, some of which are problems, a list of suggestions far further reading (books, articles, etc.), and a list of suggested experiments, often fairly detailed. Ahout 50 problems are offered and the answers are found in an appendix. 124 tables of useful and illustrative data are included. The style is excellent and the emlanations clear. The mathematics of the book is not too elementary nor toa difficult for the average college student. Binding, printing, and general appearance are very good. In conclusion, the author is to he congratulated on a really excellent piece of work. There is reasonable doubt concerning its utility as a text far many courses, but none whatsoever concerning its value as a reference. Any teacher of the subject will find an abundance of stimulating ideas, in the way of presentation if not information. Every chemical library should possess a copy. MALCOLM M. HARING
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U N ~ ~ R S I01 T YMARYLAND COLLBGB PIXI(, MD.
INORGANIC AND THEORETICAL CBEMISTRY.F. Shewood Taylor, Ph.D., M.A., B.Sc., Assistant Lecturer, Queen Mary College, University of London. Third edition. William Heinemam Ltd., 99 Great Russell Street, London, 1935. Chemical Publishing Co. of N. Y., Inc., 175 Fifth Avenue, New York City, exclusive agents in North and South America. xiii 832 pp. 200 figs. 13.5 X 21.5 cm. $6.00. I n the preface the author states: "The hook contains two concurrent courses. The matter in larger type is that which an intelligent student might be expected to study in his first year or eighteen months after matriculation; the matter in smaller type is supplementary-and is required by the University Scholarship candidate and second-year University student." The i k t 200 pages of the hook present the historical background and physical chemical fundamentals of general chemistry. Considerable space is given t o atomic structure theory. The dotted formulas of Lewis and Sidgwick are used freely. The words neutron, deuterium, and positive electron are included and discussed. Considered as a whole and with respect to the limitation of the allotted space the theoretical material is well selected, well presented, and reasonably modern. On the other hand, on p. 188, an acid is defined as, "a compound containing hydrogen, which may be partly or wholly replaced by a metal, when a solution of the compound is treated with certain metallic oxides or hydroxides, such as those of the alkali metals: a salt and water being the only products." The name Br6nsted does not appear in the index and only once in a footnote. On page 131 the large print states that strong electrolytes are incompletely ionized in water solutions, while the subjoined f%e print weasels as to the possibility of complete ionization of strong electrolytes. The idea of activity and activity coefficients does not appear. On p. 137 the formula AgCl is used to represent dissolved silver chloride. Molecular equations are used t o represent ionic reactions throughout the book. The later 600 pages of the book contain chiefly descriptive matter. The preparation and properties of the elements and
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their compounds, in both the laboratory and factory, arc described a t length. Relatively little fine print is found in these pages. Many of the technical processes described have only local or historical interest. For example, i t is rather surprising t o learn.. n. . 682..that.. "the action of mannanese dioxide on hvdrochloric acid is still used, though to a decreasing extent, to manufacture chlorine." Though the title carries the name "Inorganic Chemistry" there is no mention of reactions in non-aqueous solvents, boron hydrides receive one paragraph, while the per acids, metal ammines, non-metallic halides, and oxyhalides receive only scattered mention. The same may be said of hydrides and substances of the intermetallic comnound t w , e . There is little or no attrnlpr to prr.,cnt any gcnrrnlirrd organimliun or theory rrgnrding I h e w and otbcr significant dac-cc of inorganic chemical compounds. The title "Elr.mcntary Throrerical and Dcrcriptivr General Chemistry'' would have been more accurate. Aside from the fact that the volume weighs nearly three pounds, i t is mechanically acceptable, well bound, well printed, and reasonably free from typographical faults. As a classroom text the book will please the teacher who likes a full and extensive treatment. Under American conditions the book will find use as a supplementary text and as a one-volume reference book for teachers and students having limited library facilities. JACOBCOnNOG. ~
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UNIVBRSITV OP IOWA IOW*
CIIY. IOW*
INTRODUCTION TO THE MICROTECHNIQUE OF INORGANIC QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS. A . A . Benedetli-Pichler, Dr. Tecbn. Sc., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, and W. F. Spikes, M.S., Washington Square College, New York University. Microchemical Service, 30 Van Zandt Ave., Donglaston, N. Y., 1935. viii 182 pp. 15 X 23 cm. 8.00. This manual of microscopy applied t o qualitative analysis is divided into three parts. In Part I, 18 pages are devoted t o a description of and the use and care of the microscope. Part 11, comprising 100 pages, gives instructions for carrying out about 60 experiments, 40 of which am the identi6cation tests for the cations and some of the anions. Here the procedures are excellently described, the limits of identification stated, and circular blank spaces provided for sketching the forms observed. A systematic microchemical scheme for the separation and identification of the commoner cations is given in Part 111 (40 pages). The text is illustrated with about 60 drawings and contains a . number of useful tables. The schemes of separations are shown diagrammatically and include limiting proportions. The text is built on the course of instruction in microscopy offered a t New York University. The most valuable feature of the text is the carefully worked out scheme of separation and in this respect is a most welcome improvement over previous texts in this field. It is douhtful whether in a one-semester course all the work outlined in the manual can be accomplished by the average student, and it might have been better for the authors to have designated in some way certain experiments, indicating the others as optional. The technics are described clearly, conciselv. .. and with meticulous care. and the authors are t o he commended for their accomplishment. Particularly helpful :we thc discwstuns on pp. 53-.54, c1arif)lng the rather confured idras of "smsitiviry." and on pp. C7-70 the rclation hrtaren technic and quantity of sample. Typographically, the work is neatly done and seems to be free from errors; on the whole, it makes a pleasing appearance. The large black squares inserted a t points in the scheme of analvsis where the nracedures can be intermnted. . . detract from thr appearwee of the pagc; a less glaring device could h a w been used, but tile idea of cautioning the workrr is ncwrth~lerra good one. This text will doubtless prove very popular with those who. have occasion t o use the microscope in qualitative analysis. CARLJ. ENCELDER OP PITTSB".OA UNIVBRSITY PI"SB"PCR, PBWN*.
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