D a s A U S B L ~DER N SALZE(The Efflorescence of Salts). Karl Schultze, Hygienic State Institute of Hamburg. First edition. Theodor Steinkopff, Dresden and Leipzig, 1936. ii 99 pp. 36 figs. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $1.60 net. This book is by no means a new textbook, but rather a compilation of researches which have been made upon the subject of efflorescence. The author has done an excellent piece of work in including so much accurate material within a relatively small number of pages. While the publication is of an introductory character, the material therein constitutes a comprehensive survey of efflorescence and its many applications. The volume is divided into seven topical divisions as follows: 1. Variety of Names and Early Writings 2. Efflorescence in Soils 3. Climate and Micro-climate 4. Efflorescence of Building Materials 5. Researches Directed toward an Understanding of the Mechanism of Efflorescence 6. Capillary Theory of Efflorescence 7. Influence of Dispersion I n the book the author discusses in meticulous detail the various aspects of the subject and hrings the available information relative to efflorescence up to date. To supplement the theoretical discussion, the publication is adequately illustrated with both line drawings and photographs, all of which are carefully and accurately made. Throughout the volume, careful attention is given t o the continuity of reference material. I n the opinion of the reviewer, the author has succeeded very well in his attempt t o treat the subject of efflorescence in a comprehensive manner. I t is recognized, of course, that it is not possible to treat every phase of the subject in equal detail within such a comparatively small number of pages. The author, therefore, deserves credit for the line publication. As previously stated, the book is not intended for use as a text, but rather as a source of reference material for anyone engaged upon a piece of research which may involve efflorescent materials and their behavior. The completeness of references is deserving of mention inasmuch ds there is a total of one hundred sixty-three references tabulated a t the end of the descriptive material. Their selection shows a wide acquaintance with the prevailing literature on the part of the author. From the standpoint of chemical education, the reviewer wishes to compliment the author and commend the volume t o the attention of the research worker. R. K. CARLETON RAODBISLANO STAT=COLEDE
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groups. At the end of the chapter is to be found (1) a list of equations, (2) a summary and review, and (3) a list of problems and laboratory exercises. The remainder of the cation analysis is treated in a similar manner in Chapters VIII t o XI11 inclusive. The treatment should he valuable to both the student and instructor. What is ordinarily cation group 111 is divided into two parts, the first part including iron, chromium, and aluminum and being designated as group 111, and the second part including zinc. maneanese. cobalt. and nickel. and beine desi-ted as group IY. It would seem more convenient to desigmate these two groups as Illa and I I l b The meatest deviation from usu4 practice is a separate rrcatment of thc arsenic, antimony, and tin group, which may be omitted or included as desired. Chapters X N and XV treat the identification of some simple acid radicals. This treatment is inadequate for more than the simplest cases, which are apparently all that the authors have intended should be included. Chapters XVI and XVII take up the analysis of dry unknowns and appear to be only moderately well done. In the cases of several of the cations with which the student frequently has dif6culty several good tests are given, e. g.. bismuth, arsenic, and manganese. Under the tests for manganese is included the oxidation of manganese by periodate, which so far as the reviewer knows has not previously been included in a hook on elementary qualitative analysis. On the whole this b w k is unusnallv well done and should find a wide usefulness.
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INVENT~ON IN T A6 %NTTRT~ CHEMICAL DlscovEn~ AND -~ ------CENTURY. Sir Wil2iam A. Tildes. D.Sc., LL.D.. 2c.D. F.R.S. Revised by S. Glasstone, D.Sc., Ph.D.. F.I.C., Lecturer in Chemistry, University of Sheffield. E. P. Dutton & Camp a w . Inc.. New York City, 1936. Sixthedition,revised and reset. xvi 4 9 2 ~ ~13.6 . X 21.4 cm. 12 portraitsand 131 other illustrations. Price $4.00. ~
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For nearly twenty years this book, the first edition of which appeared in 1917, has made chemistry interesting, and its accomplishments significant and comprehensible to a large public untrained in the mysteries of the science. The same public since 1917 has been offered many other works of popularization, but the present book remains one of the best of them. While one may reasonably have doubted in 1917 whether the chemical discovery and invention of the seventeen years just past were KINQSTON. R ~ O DISLAND B sueiciently important, sufficiently m e r e n t from the chemical discovery and invention of the nineteenth century, t o deserve a FUNDAMENTALS OF QUAL.ITAIIVE CHEMICALANALYSIS. Roy K. new and stout book about them-there ,mn'now, twenty years McAlpine, Ph.D., and Byron A. Soule, 2c.D.. University of later, no longer be any doubt that the twentieth century deserves Michigan. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York City, a hook for itself. A revolution has occurred in physics; new 1936. ix 325 pp. 3 figures and 12 tables. 15 X 23 cm. foundations, laid largely since 1900, have been accepted and a 52.40 net. new structure of chemistry has been erected upon them; new This unusudly well written book is suitable for the second- products of organic synthesis have come into common use; semester course in college chemistry in which qualitative analysis vitamins and hormones are discussed in the ,&ily newspapers. is presented. I n Chapter I is presented some timely review mate- The book treats both of the theoretical background and of the rial which indudes a list of simply stated definitions. Chapters practical achievements of contemporary chemistry. 11, 111, and N treat the topics Chemical Arithme&c, Formulas The hook is divided into four sections. The first deals with and Equations, and Ionization Theory in Analytical Processes, chemical laboratories and the work which is done in them; respectively. I n Chapter V are described in detail several im- the second with modem discoveries and theories, the principleo portant laboratory manipulations, vie., precipitation, addition of of chemistry, the electric discharge in gases. the elements of the a reagent, folding and fitting a filter paper, filling funnel stem chemist, the discovery and properties of radium, the structure with water, washing precipitates, and removing precipitates and disintegration of atoms, solutions, electrolysis. the architecfrom Bter paper. Also, directions far several preliminary ex- ture of molecules, catalysis, and colloids; t h e third with modern periments are given. applications of chemistry, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, the metals Chapteq VI treats the lead, silver, mercury (011s) group. and some of their compounds, luminosity of &+mes,petrol, coal First, common compounds and reactions are described. Second, tar, the production of dyes, drugs, hormones, and vitamins, the precipitation of the group is described. Third, directions for perfumes and essential oils, vegetable fiber and cellulose, rubber the separation and identification of the cations of the group are and plastics, explosives, and the fixation of nitrogen; and the given. Next follows a critical review of cousideration~inv~lved fourth part with modern DromesS in oreanic chemietrv. . >.suears. in evaluating observations made and the proper use of these protcins, natural colors, eni.ymr,, etc. The trt~ntmmt,as might observations in reporting the group. This is followed by an be expected, conforms rather to Rririvh industrial practice than excellent discussion on the relation of the group to other cation to American, hut the difirrrnms are not rmportant except to the
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