I
Recent Books
Magnetism and Atomic Structure. E. C. STONER. E. P. Dutton & Co.. New 371 pp. 13.5 X York, 1926. xiii 22 cm. s5.00.
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Do we chemists spend too much time organizing discussions as to whether oxidation and reduction should be inter~ r e t e dwith the aid of t k electron concept, the while our physical brethren Praq on to the unexplored terrain which rightly belongs within thc realms of our science? Some such query as this suggests itself after a perusal of the Present In i t is treated the problem of atomic architecture and, as aid in the elucidation of the problem, the data of the modem theories of magnetismare utilized. Atomic architecture is essentially a chemist's problem, since therein must he found the keys t o the solution of the chemistas problems of elementary properties an* compound formation, valence, strudure, and the like. And yet, how little of the work on atomic structure that has heen achieved in the post-war period can be gracefully attributed to the chemist. The hook under review, therefore, represents a call to arms to all vigorous young physical chemists who would fain share in the spoils of achievement. I t is more than this, however; it is a veritable armory of weapons with which t o advance to the assault. T o many chemists the weapons are as unfamiliar and unwieldy as the lances of our forefathers. The spoils of victory already attained are such, however, as t o prompt effort to the attainment of the necessary skill in their use. The student will find in the book an account af magnetic phenomena and of their interpretation in terms of modern quantum theory. The treatment is selective and not exhaustive, no general treatment of ferromagnetisrn, for example, being given. Here, however, the chemist
can learn how much has been achieved in the realm of paramagnetics, of the importance of quantitative measurement of the diamagnetism common to all matter. The Stern and Gerlach experiments on the moments of atoms and the experimental justification of quantum theory predictions are discussed and explained in detail. If the chemist would have inspiration for the task already ahead of him in this work let him turn first to Chapters XIV and XV and see what magnetism tells concerning the strudure of the atoms, the magnetic properties of compounds, alloys, and crystals. "permalloy" is one prize from such studies. He will surely take heart for the labors inherent in the first thirteen chapters, HUGHS. TAYLOR Practical Colloid Chemistry. WOLPGANG OSTWALD, DR. P. WOLSFX, AND DR. A. K u ~ . Translated by I. N g w m ~ K~ELMASS M.D., , Ph.D., Sc.D., AND CLSYELAND, P ~ . D . E. p. Dutton and Company, New York, 1926. 4th edition. xvi 191 pp. 10 x 20 cm. 22 illustrations. $2.25.
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This is a translation of the fourth edition of the authors' "Kleines Praktikum der Kolloidchemie." There are 183 experiments distributed as fallows: Preparation of Colloids, 47; Diffusion, Dialysis, and Ultrafiltration, 16; Surface Tension and Viscosity, 13; Optical Properties, 23; Electrical Properties, 7; Experiments with Gels, 30; Adsorption, 15; Coagulation, Peptization, and Related Phenomena, 32. I n addition there is given a brief description of a number of commercial colloids and a scheme of colloid analysis. Each section opens with a brief erplanation of the phenomena t o be studied and is followed by spedfic directions for carrying out the several experiments. It is
