BOOKREVIEWS
July 5, 1955
3679
often exist for carrying o u t familiar chemical operations on a small scale since these are being constantly used to advantage by the microchemists themselves. For in microchemist r y as with anything else there is always a right way to do something and, if one can find it, he may be able t o save himself much hardship and grief. The present work is broad in scope. Perhaps the authors in their ambition to do a good job have tried to cover too much ground in their volume. Severtheless, on the whole, their offering may be termed “substantial” because i t contains much valuable information along several different lines. The book starts o u t with a brief introduction t h a t presents among other things one significant thought t h a t the reader Superfluids. Macroscopic Theory of Superfluid Helium. Volume 11. By the Late FRITZ LONDON,Duke Univermay or may not be willing to accept: i . e . , the idea of shifting sity. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 440 Fourth Avenue, his concepts of micro, semimicro and macro according to 217 pp. 15.5 X 23.5 whether i t is a n analytical or preparative operation t h a t he S e w York 16, K. Y. 1954. xv cm. Price, $8.00. has in mind. For although the authors are willing to go In this excellent monograph the late Fritz London has along with the traditional 10, 10-25, and 100-mg. sample given a clear and lucid exposition of the theoretical con- weight limits to define the three ranges in analysis, they advocate limits of 50 mg. and 100-2000 mg. for synthetic cepts, for which he himself was principally responsible, to which provide a n explanation for the anomalous properties work. T h e reviewer finds i t difficult from force of habit think of 50 mg. as micro or 2 g. as semimicro. On the of superfluid liquid helium. H e has accomplished this task with a minimum of mathematical complexity, and he other hand, he must admit some justification for the innovation because from a practical view of synthesis i t is has critically reviewed the existing body of experimental indeed true t h a t what really matters is how much material facts within the framework of his theory. As one of the the worker has left at the end of his project rather than how few examples of the direct manifestation of quantum much he was compelled to start with. Nevertheless, the mechanics in the macroscopic properties of matter in bulk, superfluid liquid helium is one of the most fascinating ob- reader should understand a t the outset t h a t the preparative experiments in subsequent chapters will be labeled “micro” jects of study of modern chemical physics. Although many or “semi-micro” on this rather arbitrary basis. details remain to be worked out and many features of the The body of the book is divided into three parts: “Gentheory will doubtless be modified in the future, there seems eral Methods,” “Preparative Reactions” and “Analytical to be little doubt t h a t the essential features of London’s Procedures and Reactions.” The last deals mainly with theory, the Bose-Einstein condensation and the establishment of order in momentum space, are correct. I t is qualitative analysis, although Dr. T. S. M a has assisted with a 6-page chapter on the quantitative estimation of therefore most fortunate both for experimental low temperature physicists and for chemical physicists interested in the functional groups. This last chapter, as one would extheoretical aspects of the problem to have London’s sum- pect from its brevity, is of a general nature only. It takes up two problems t h a t arise in developing a quantitamary of the essential experimental and theoretical material tive method for a functional group: ( a ) the suppression of available t o them in the form of this monograph. interfering side reactions, and ( b ) the difficulty of devising After a brief review of the phenomenology of liquid helium I and 11, a description of the essential superfluid properties a universal method for a given functional group whenever its functional activity will shift with changing substitution. of helium I1 and the lambda point transition, the author The first problem is illustrated by the authors in a discuspasses to the evolution of the two fluid concepts of the propersion of the multifarious acetyl determination; the second, ties of helium 11. H e discusses the equilibrium properties is the problem of estimating the primary amino group. of liquid helium from the standpoint of the Bose-Einstein condensation and points out what modifications will eventu- The chapter closes with a useful table summarizing the present status of quantitative microprocedures for funcally be necessary in the ideal theory. H e then passes tional group analysis. I t should be pointed out here, howon to a review of the transport properties in liquid helium with a review of the essential experiments relating to super- ever, t h a t the author has omitted from the list in the table the important Karl Fischer determination of water. Yet fluidity and second sound. There follows a chapter on the this method is extremely useful and it plays a n important hydrodynamical quasi-continuum with the introduction of role in functional group analysis. I t can be applied in the concepts of rotons and phonons and their relationship to second sound. The quantization of hydrodynamics is almost any reaction of a functional group where water is liberated or consumed, and the list of such possibilities is discussed and the transformation theory of the phonon field long. is presented. Subsequently, the detailed theory of two fluid Beginning with Part I, “General Methods,” as we exthermohydrodynamics is developed in some detail and the application of the equations of this theory to a quantitative amine the book more closely, we find many interesting ideas along with much that is quite obvious to the specialist in description of transport phenomena in helium I1 is given. In a final chapter, the properties of the liquid phase of the organic chemistry. For instance, the idea of adding a “chaser” to reduce hold-up in a small scale distillation, helium isotope He3 are investigated and the properties of the description of the “Chemical &’arefare” microstill of mixtures of He3 and He4 are treated by means of a simplified model, which leads to a qualitative explanation of both the Gould, Holzman and Xiemann, the suggestion of polyequilibrium thermodynamic properties and the transport siloxanes for melting point bath liquids, the good discussion on thermometer calibration, the thorough treatment of such mixtures. of the Kofler micro hot stage, and the description of the STERLIXG CHEMISTRY LABORATORS modified Menzies-Wright ebulliometer stand out in this YALE USIVERSITY JOHX G. KIRKTOOD reviewer’s memory as some of the high lights in P a r t I . SEIV HAVES, CONNECTICUT On the other hand, the incomplete description of the “1-niversa1 Microapparatus” illustrated on pages 135 and 136 was disappointing and forced the reviewer to repair to the library for an understandable description. I t should also Technique of Organic Chemistry. Volume VI. Micro and Semimicro Methods. By NICHOLASD. CHERONIS, be noted t h a t in the discussion of the osmometric determination of molecular weight the author does not mention Professor of Chemistry, Brooklyn College. Edited by the method of Baldes. Yet as modified by Taylor and Hall‘ Arnold Weissberger. Interscience Publishers, Inc., 250 this delicate osmometric method is perhaps the best. I t Fifth Avenue, New York 1, h-.Y . 1954. xxiii 628 pp. should have been included. Another unfortunate omission 16 X 23.5 cnl. Price, $12.00. i t 1 this area was the important itnpruvrme~it by LVhite The phenomenal growth of mici-ochemistry in the short a l d Morris’ in the Signer proceclurr. I t is tlirir rt-fiiirnirnt span of our owti scientific generation and its broad outreacll that makes this methotl practicxble. ____ into so 111:iiiv fields calls for :t good book 011 the subject from time to tiin?. I t is good for spccinlists in other firltls ( 1 ) G. 13. Taylrrr ; r r ~ l h I . I{ I r d I , A i ~ i
