64
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
difference between physical and chemical atomic weights, the Lyman and Balmer spectral series, and many others. The index is exceptionally easy t o read and appears adequate. No serious misstatements or typographical errors were noted. The binding appears durable and is oertainly attractive. J A Y I . YOUNG liwe'e COLCGCE
NI~EB-BADRE, PENNSYLVANIA
0
QUALITATIVE INORGANIC ANALYSIS
G. Charlot, Professor of Analytical Chemistry. b o l e Superieure de Physique et de Chimi8 Industrieues de Paris. Translated by John . Wiley & Sons. New York, 1954. xi R. C.M u ~ ~ Y 354 pp. 9 3 figs. 14 X 22 cm. $7.
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book emphasiaes the physico-obemioal The first 125 pages of the book deal with theory. It is a thoroughly logically organized presentation, ~~~~~l chapter headings are Oxidants and Reductants (Exchange of Electrons), Acids and Bases (Exchange of Protons), and Complexes (Exchange of paphs, and equations, both Ions and Polar chemical and mathematical, are used extensively. The second section of the book is entitled Chemical Properties and the Characterization of Ions. This section covers 187 pages and gives fairly complete information on the strength of widbase pairs and slightly ionized compounds with equilibrium constants, solubility-product constants, and stability constants. Oxidation-reduction equilibria are emphasized and a great number of constants are given. A large numher of ions are discunsed, including many of the rarer elements. The discussions are surprisingly complete for a book of this nature. However, very few structural formulas are used. 111 of the book is entitled ~ ~ and ~ ~ ~ of Qualitative Analyses. I t is only 16 pages long. Principles and methods are well stated but detailed procedures ave in general left up to the student. This gets away from the Customary cookbook methods, but i t doubtless would cause many of our inexperienced, unresourceiul students considerable diaculty. While the book recommends semimicro technique, it could be readily adapted $0 other methods. Since the book has such a wealth of fundamental facts it should assist both students and instructors to develop better techniques and routine^ in the laboratory. R,
WOODRIFF
MOWTAN* STATE COCLEOE Bozavm. M o r r r ~ m
ESSAYS IN SCIENCE Albert Einstein, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey. Reprint. Philosophical Library, New York, 1954. xii 114 pp. 10 X 17 cm. $2.75.
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THESE essays were originall? published as "Mein Weltbild" in 1933, and translated from the German in the following year. "'The World as I See It' in its original form includes essaYs by Einstein on Judaism, Germany, Politics and Pacifism, and sundry other topics. These have been omitted in the present abridged edition,"according to the preface. Several of thesixteen papers in this volume are concerned with the theory of relativity (they are not mathematicsl), while others discuss the nature of research, of science, of physics. There are e s s w on Kepler, Newton, Maxn.ell, and Bohr, one on the formation of meanders in rivers, and one on the Flettner ship. B, XEIGHTON
sn*nrnvonm c o ~ r ~ o e
sw.,a~e~ons.FENYBPLVANI*
LES CONSTANTES PHYSIQUES DES ORGANIQUES CRISTALLISES
COMPOSES
I. Timmermann, Professor Emeritus, University of Brussels. Masson et Cie, Paris, 1953. 558 pp. 8 0 figs. 16 X 24 cm. Paper bound, 5200 fr.
THEi8 a comprehensive monograph including not only considerable tabular data hut also an extended series of specialized chapters discussing the fundamental principles underlying the behavior of crystalline substances. I t is no mere exposition of generalities, or introduction to the subject. In the first oi three main parts there appear such topics as preferential configuration, relation of molecular weight to crystal phenomena, X-ray spectrography, isomorphism, polymorphism, and relation of crystalline state to specific heat, dielectric conatant, density, plasticity, and electromagnetic influence. The seoond part introduces relations t o the liquid state. A well selected series of the better literature references, including Institute reports, appean here' many American Finally, the third part presents the kinetics and thermodynamics Of the subject. While one would scarcely anticipate great use of this volume in American undergraduate curl$cula, the work should certainly go a n the shelves of any chemistry department offeringgraduate training' G. ROSS ROBERTSON uh-rvmmr or c m ~ o n x r ~ Los AROELEB,C*L~TORNI*
THE PERMANENT REVOLUTION IN SCIENCE Richard L. Schanck, Chairman, Department of Sociolagy, Bethany Philo-~ ~h College: h ~ Leotmer. ~ id Carnegie ~ ~ Institute of ~ Technology. ~ 112 pp. 14 X 22 cm. sophical Library, New York, 1954. xvi $3'
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q " r n permanent revolution in science" is seen by Dr. Schanck the development of equilibrium systems and then systems oi systems which in their growth result in a general revolution based p r ~ r i i nthe will, the nation of progress. The first few chapters in the book, on the emergence of physics, chemistry, and biology give a good general survey of the use of ,tatistical methods in deriving truths of a scientific nature in systems too complicated to trace individual elements. The results of such scientific inquiries are statements of "trends" apparent in the average behavior of the system. The trends are really observable without much study, hut the statistical study gives an objective measure of the relative importance of the various factors working in interdependence. The success of the method consists in having a limited number of important factors. This method, only recently articulated in physical science, was launched by Freud and Marx in their respective fields and almost entirely misunderstood by their followers. In the field of sociology Lester Ward shared with Marx a somewhat common position on the role of science, though he developed his subject matter differently. And so the method of modern experimentdism took over in social science rather imperceptibly and some. ti,, unknown to the exponent. with the ~d~~~ A. singer, jr., Rras establishing standards, as was Dewey, hut Singer would extend modern methods to introduce a standard which is not a fixed one, can be progressively reformulated an ideal, but one by an adequate method, ~h~~ he have a developmental ethic whose basic idea, is the dealing with mankind "SingerXs psyohoiogid individuals who compose d l ideal unlike 'ends' is not attainable, hut, like an end, is approachable. He defines such progress as a measure of man's cooperation with man in the conquest of nature." With the "emergence of methodology," which is elaborated in the last chapter, the author leaves philosophy stripped of its as
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