1108
NEW BOOKS
Lehrbuch der anorganischen Chsmie. By ERNST H. RIESENFELD.Zweite, neubearbeitete Auflage. 7 x 10 in.; vii 4- 706 pp. Wien; F. Deuticke, 1939. Price: unbound, 10.50 RM.; bound, 12 FlM. When a book of this type calls for a second edition within five years, i t is evidence of a favorable reception. In the meantime the author has gone from the University of Berlin t o the Nobel Institute in Stockholm. The greatest value of this book lies in giving a comprehensive view of the whole field of chemistry, both descriptive and theoretical, necessarily condensed, but yet clear. It is such a book as should be required in the reading of every candidate for an advanced degree in chemistry, t o furnish a true background for specialized work. I know of no other book which so well fills this place, the next best being Morgan and Burstall’s Inorganic Chemistry (which should also be required), but Fliesenfeld’s book is not confined t o modern developments and is broader, though of course, since i t covers so much more ground, i t is not as detailed. Another advantage to the American student is that its perusal would give a familiarity with the German vocabulary of chemistry, which would facilitate the reading of all German chemical literature. New to this edition is the following: the chapter on “Isomerie und Isotopie bei Wasserstoff, Sauerstoff, und Wasser” ; material on deuterium; the use of natural and artificial radioactive isotopes in solving problem of constitution; and the significant biochemical relations of many elements. Much other material is brought well up t o date. The theoretical material of physical chemistry is taken up in a natural connection, a subject often being treated a t first in a simpler form; e&, catalysis is first taken up under the combustion of hydrogen and carbon, then in connection with mass action and equilibrium, then under contact sulfuric acid, and finally under the Haber process; complez satts are first considered under nitrogen and ammonia in the ammines and cyanides of nickel, then under nitric acid in connection with the coiirdination theory, then under the iron cyanides, and then very fully under the complex salts of chromium. Colloid chemistry is taken up under sulfur, and is excellently epitomized. The historical data are rather carefully checked, and the industrial side, including metallurgy, is for the most part the practice of today. A few American development6 have escaped notice : no mention is made of “HTH” or “TSP” ;Pyrex glass is spoken of as “englisch”; the use of platinum in “Zahntechnik” is mentioned, but not that of pal1adium;of the electrolytic diaphragm cells, only the Griesheim and Billiton are referred to. But these are minor flaws and there are not many of them. A few illuatrative experiments are described with good diagrams. The press-work leaves nothing to be desired, and only a very few typographical errors have been noticed (185.8’ for -185.8’ aa the boiling point of argon, and so for krypton and xenon). Altogether, i t is a comprehensive, well-balanced book, and one to be highly commended. JAB. LEWISHOWE.
