of the modern material for later courses. Fortunately, not all teachers think alike so we have variety instead of uniformity. General Chemistry is a scholarly production, carefully and clearly written, and is well illustrated. It should make a strong appeal to teachers who desire a thoroughly modem textbwk and who wish to stress certain aspects of the newer chemistry. The publishers have done their part well. The book is printed on excellent paper and is attractively bound. WILLIAM FOSTER PR~NEBTON U-ERSITY New Jeassv
ParNCSTON,
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I m o ~ u c r ~TOo ~ INORGANIC CHEMISTRY.G. H. Cartledge, Head of the Department of Chemistry, The University of Buffalo. Ginn & Co. Boston, 1935. vii f 609 pp. 52 figs. 14 X 20.5 cm. $3.00. LABORATORY EXERCISESIN INORGANIC C H E M I S ~ YG. . H. Cartledge and H. M . Woodburn, The University of Buffalo. Ginn & Co., Boston. 1935. v 149 pp. 23 figs. 14 X 20.5 cm. $1.00.
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energy change, quantum number, reaction velodty constant, and Planck'sconstant. Adds, bases, and salts are developed hy t h e h h e n i u s theory, with no mention of other viewpoints. The Laboratory Exercises i n Inorganic Chemistry is a worthy companion of the textbook, whose unique order makes a special laboratory manual necessary. The authors have assembled a list of 25 experiments each leading "to a conclusion of more than test-tube proportions." There are, for example, no experiments whose end is the preparation of hydrogen, chlorine, or hydrogen chloride. hut each of these is prepared or used "in a natural way as a necessary step toward the attainment of a larger goal." The appendix contains lists of materials as well as some of the tables which appear in the textbwk. The teacher who has grown weary of the familiar textbook plan of organization with its tedious recital of the facts of descriptive chemistry and is longing for a new approach to the science with an attractive and modern treatment will find these hooks fresh, new, and vigorous. The teacher who expects a textbook to furnish detailed information about the materials of chemistry and their functions in modern life may find too much theory and too little attention to fact and application. T o all the books will appeal a s excellent products of a successful course of study, and the authors are to be congratulated upon presenting a unique plan, a skilfully designed course, and well written, splendidly executed books which are real contributions to modem B S. HOPKINS chemical education. U N l Y B R S I n OP ILLIN018
These books are products of the careful study of methods of teaching chemistry which has been made a t The University of BufIalo. In the preface to the textbook the author questions the effectivenessof the conventional inductive approach "according to which the individual student has t o a considerable degree retraced the laborious pathway by which the science was deURBAN*, ILL. veloped historically.. The point of view adopted in this course is that we now know a great deal about atoms, and that we may apply this knowledge t o deduce and correlate a large number SCIENCECRAFTMINERALOGY MANUAL.Francis Burt Roseuenr. of facts." A.M.. Cornell University. Published for and copyrighted by I n accordance with this plan the first two chapters deal with the Porter Chemical Co., Hagerstown, Md., 1935. 143 pp. 12.5 customary introductory matter, after which there are chapters X 25 cm. Illustrated. Paper covers. $1.00. devoted to Atoms and Elements; Atomic S t I U c t ~ and e Chemical Change; and Mass Relations in Chemical Change. T o illustrate This manual of mineralogy is evidently intended t o accompany the principles outlined in the first five chapters, the author selects the "sets" of specimens of minerals which the Porter Chemical the short period sodium t o chlorine for detailed study. These Co. has prepared for sale to youthful and other amateur students elements are chosen because they are typical members of their of minerals. I t will be recalled that this is the company which respective families as well as for their practical importance. has done so much to interest youngsters in chemistry through the This order has the advantage of bringing typical metals into the Themcraft" sets. The first part of the manual gives a conearly part of the course and it serves to impress upon the mind densed hut well-planned exposition of the fundamentals of the of the beginners the idea that "there are physical reasons be- subject under consideration. This incluldes some elementary neath the observed facts of chemistry." instruction in the use of apparatus, a brief account of the eleOther chapters are devoted t o Solutions; Chemical Equi- ments of geology, of chemistry, and of crystallography as applied librium; Periodic System; and Nitrogen Family. Such subjects as to mineralogy, and chapters on physical and chemical properties Electrochemistry, Photochemistry, Colloidal Solutions, Carbon in general and of blowpipe and chemical tests as applied to the Compounds and Radioactivity are not developed in separate identification of minerals. Most of the remainder of the manual chapters but are "woven into the text where i t j s believed they deals with descriptive mineralogy, considering,many common may he most e5ectively taught." Hydrogen, oxygen, and the and some less common minerals in systematic oriler, beginning halogens are placed late, while the remainder of the petals are with the elements and going on with the sulfides, oxides, halides, grouped together in four chapters. In all there are 24 chapters, carbonates, etc. Chapter VII gives a good condensed account the last being devoted to Sulfuric Acid and the Alkali Industries of gems and gem minerals. A chapter on "collecting" follows The highly condensed treatment of certain of these topics might and the final chapter contains tables useful in the identification raise in some minds a question as t o why the word "Inorganic" of minerals and instructions on their use. was included in the title. Scattered throughout the hook are some 128 experiments which The chapters are concluded with stimulating exercises, many are designed to illustrate tests for individual minerals. Most of of which are distinct departures from the conventional style. these experiments are simple and the instructions are clear and Some of the problems may be pretty difficult for beginners. excellent. The whole aspect of the manual is more like that of a Answers to a fiw of the problems are given in thq appendix. serious educational work of elementary character than like a The book is not profusely illustrated, but the illustrations commercial production. In fact, teachers of courses in minerhave been carefully selected far their usefulness. The line draw- alogy might profit by a study of the method of this manual and ings show outstanding merit. The appendix is brief but proh- copies of it would be of value in the departmental libraries of ably contains most of the information which is needed. The schools and colleges. FRANKB. WADE index is complete and the mechanical features of the book have THB SBOETRIDDB H I OScaoor. ~ been carefully considered. INDI*N*PO'.B. 1ND. The approach through atomic structure permits the author t o o5er his~discussionsin terms of modern theories which are used FILMS. 1000 AND ONE. THE BLUE BOOKOF NON-THEATRICAL generously. Most of the fundamental conceptions of presentThe Educational Screen, 64 East LakeSt., Chicago. IU. Elevday physics and physical chemistry are employed in the exenth edition, 193536. 144 pp. 10.5 X 18 cm. W.75 (to planations of chemical phenomena. There is free use of such Educationa2Screensuhs~ihers,$0.25). terms as activity cae5cient. coBrdination number, dipole, free
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