AUGUST, 1951 0
INTRODUCTORY QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
Ernest H. Swift, Professor of Analytical Chemistry. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California. Prentice-Hall. Inc., New lg50. ix + 534 pp. 48 figs. 23 l5 22 om. $3.90. INITIALpaging t h o u g h Swift's "Introduotary Quantitative Analysis" left the reviewer with a decidedly favorable impre% sion; c l o w examination has strengthened this feeling. This hook is excellent; the material has been carefully selected, logicslly organized, and presented in a clear, simple, and concise literary style. There is close correlation between the theoretical principles and the laboratory procedures. After a thorough discussion of the pertinent principles, a concise procedure is presented, followed by numerous explanatory nates. The various section headings, printed in type which really stand out, indicate rareful organization and facilitate ready reierence to desired information. This hook is arranged with the volumetric preceding the gravimetrir work. The first four chapters, 62 pages in length cover various laboratory instructions, weighing and calibration of wuights, quantitative analysis in general, the definition of certain terms, and calibration and use of volumetric apparatus. Volumetric analysis is introduced by an excellent chapter on precipit,ation analysis. The author states: "Precipitation, rather than neutralization, methods are first treated because precipitation phenomena. lend themselves to the general introduction of massaction principles and to the use of these principles in an evaluation of end point errors. Neutralilisstion methods are deferred until later in the course, since experience has shown that students are troubled by the equilibria involved, especially their application to indicator selection and errors, and to titrations involving polyprotic acids." The Gay-Lussac method for silver, zinc with ferroeyanide and an external indicator, and the Liebig method for cyanide are discussed briefly, chloride by the Mohr, Volhmd, and adsorption indicator method in more detail. The principles of reduction potentials are developed in a short chspter of eight pages and then applied in the chapters on permanwnate. cerimetrie. and iodometric (iodine and thiosulfate)
447
pound per liter but does not indicate the specific mold or ionic species in which it exisb. .4 molal solution contains one grammolecular weight of the pasticular molecule or ion per liter of so~ution. Howsever, in this text concentrations are expresseJ mainly in terms of normality. The author ststes "reagents are exurwed bv their normslitr concentration exceot where confusion is likily to result in which case their formal concentrations or hoth the normal and the formal eoneontrs,tions will be given. Molal concentrations will be used in mass-action considerations where it is desired to express the concentration of some particular species or molecule asit esistsin thesolution." The hook is intended for use in either a one-semester or oneyear course. Ample experiments are included for a year course. However the author's students are in some cases ~equiredto consult other sources for methods of analysis of some assigned substance. "The author is convinced of the advantages which accrue to the student of being requiled to consult other texta, reference works and the origin$ literature once he has acquired a sufficient background of experience to he able to exercise some critical judgement in so doing." A striking feature of the book is the number of referenres to the recent literature and frequent. footnotes commenting upon articles in the literature. The author's endeavor to encourage originality upon the part of the student is to be highly commended. The level of the book is one which should give the student an excellent training in the theory and technique of quantitative analysis. Same teachers may consider the level of the book too high for the short course, particularly for nonchemistry majors. A section of fifteen pages of lecture demonstrations is a feature which should be welcomed by hoth students and lecturers in quantitative analysis. The author is to be congratulated upon the success he has attained in blendine toeether the ever-increasine amount of theoretieal pincipl&de&nded of quantitative ch&stry today and the simplicity of preentation desired for the sophomore student. R E X J. ROBINSON
U N ~ V E R ~O~F T WT* S " I ~ ~ . T ~ X SEATTLE. WABIINWOX
PHYSICS: ITS LAWS, IDEAS AND METHODS
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the standardization of permanenate against arsenious acid. The section on xidimetry and alkalimetry includes a thorough discussion of indioators, the standardization and application of acid and base solutions. Nitrogen in an a r e n i c compound is determined by the semimicro Kjeldahl method, and ammonium or nitrate by the macro Kjeldahl distillation technique. Gravimetric methods of analysis are applied to the determination of chloride, sulfur in pyrite or sulfate, and copper and lead electrolytically. Gravimetrio analysis is discussed in considerrtble detail in r e p r d to solubility, factors affecting the physical char-
eellent chanbers i n the oreoarstion of solutions of the srtmde and on s e p a r a t b s . In the cdspter on separations brief discussions of chromatography, ion exchange, and organic reagents are in-
section are devoted to the-sublect of precision, a%racy, and significant figures. Solutions of the problems and mswen are being prepared for distribution to instructors using the text. No logarithm table is included. Tables of atomic weights, ionization constants of acids and bases, dissociation constants of complex ions, solubility product, and standard (molal) and formal reduction potentials add to the utility of the text. The author still advocates in this text his logical but unorthodox system of designating concentrations which he used in his previous text., "ISjmtem of Chemical Analysis." That is, a formd solution contains one gram-formuls, weight of the stated com-
Alexander K o h , Assistant Professor of Physics, the University of Chicago. McGraw-Hill B w k Co., Inc., New York, 1950. xvi 890 pp. 458 figs. I1 tables. 16 X 24 cm. $6.50.
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THIStextbook has a twofold aim: to give training in physics to students in the biological sciences, and to give training in the methods of the physical sciences as one of the objectives of general education. I t is organized into four parts in which the study of physics is approached in different ways, proceeding from the simple to the more abstract. In Part A, dealing with mechrtnics,vector fields,andheat,lam~sareinferred fromobservations. The mathematical formulation of physical laws is shown to make possible the prediction of new facts, to be then tested by experiment. I n Part B, the atomic theory of electricity and matter is used to demonstrate the theoretieal approaoh, using mechanical model theories to explain the behavior oi gases, the phenomena relabed to electricity in motion, and electromagnetic phenomena. Part C deals with the wave theories of sound and light. Here the student is shown that mechanical models are inadequate to explain some physical phenomena. The mechanical wave theory of light is displaced by an electromagnetic wave theory. Part D deals with the emission and absorotion of lieht. - , wave mechanics. radioaclivily, and the theory of relativity, It becomes evident that neither mechanical models nor classical theories are adequate in these fields, but that theories devoid of pictorial character and requiring an arbitrary revision of fundamental concepts have been quite fruitful in interpreting these phenomena. Much has been written on the theme that training in science is valuable in general education, in that those ~ v h ohave studied science will he more scientific in their approach t,o problems in other areas. Psychologkts are quick to point out that such
