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ablc number of errors, particularly i n orthuxraphy, a n d t h e translation is not alrrays ~ L smooth a s possible, b u t these defects d o not detract from t h e scientific value of t h e d a t a which it contains. 1k~Br:Ii~l. JENNESs.
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O r g a n i c Analgticul Hcuyenfs. \.ol. 4. By I:K.WS J . \YE~.C:IIER. siii 624 p p . S e w Yorli: D. 1-an S o s t r a n d Company, Inc., 19-18. I’rice: $8.00 per volume; $7.00 per volumc on series ordprs. T h e author’s purpose in this series of volunies is “to assemble in one place a description of all organic compouiids used in t h e an:ilyYis of inorganic substances, a n d t o present a discussion of t h e methods employing these reagents.” T h e treatment, is intended t o be complete rather t h a n critical, a n d the inclusion of m a n y inferior reagents a n d methods is freely a d m i t t e d . .ill of t h e literature on t h c sub,ject :ivailable in t h e 1-nited S t a t e s prior t o J a n u a r y 1, 1946 is reviewed. T h e analytical reagents are classified accordiiig t o their structure r a t h e r t h a n according t o their function, :tnd each compound is t r e a t e d completely i n one section. T o facilitate their use, procedures for t h e preparation of many of t h e reagents a r e included. However, n o yields are given for any of t h e preparations; so i t is difficult, t o evaluate t h e m . T h e analytical procedures are reasonably complete; references t o t h e original literature are nunierous. While uctural formulas are given for most of t h e reagents, with t h e esception of t h e alkaloids, t h e structures for niany of t h e metallic complexes are omitted. In this volumc t h e folloii-ing general classes of organic analytical reagents a r e t r e a t e d : acidic nitro compounds, arsonic acids, organic conipounds containing sulfur, alkaloids, diazonium compounds, carbohydrates, a n d dyes. T h e index of organic reagents and t h e index of uses of these reagents for both t h e detection a n d the determination of inorganic subst,ances appear t o be complete. T h e paper a n d t h e binding of this volume a r e of escellent quality. l < . 11. L)ousux .Ift,chunt‘cul Rrhui,i‘o,. oj’ H i y h f ’ o l ! / m c r ~ . \.til. \‘lof i f i g h f’olyr/ic,,s. 1 %TI~ KSBH ~ L F R E .) JR. 581 pp. S e w Ycir!~: Iiiterscieiicc P~i’:~lisIii~rs, Iric., 1948. Price: S9.50. T h e author s t a t e s iii t h e p w f x e t h a t “tile :ittempt has lieen 11i:ttie t o uncover the fundament a1 principlps underlying t h e 1nec1isnic:d 1ieli:tviour of high polymers, a n d t o show how such behavioar is correlated with t h e molecular structures involved.” Such an attenipt may be espectrd t o he fairly successful x i t h r e g i r d t o elastic properties. but, is t o o :mibitions (as t h e author points out j in tle:iling with propertics so coniples as iiltirnatc, s t r e n g t h . An introduction of 90 pages gives a trent.me:it along convention:il liries of t h e gcometry of stresses a n d strains, homogeneous n n t l noil-homogeneous s t r i m e s . \:(,\VI onian ;tnd no11 S e w t o n i a n liquids, and tliisotropy. T h e lnnin contents of t h e liook :ire f o u l ~ din rhe following c h p t e r s : “I’lastcrelastic Uehaviour of -iinorphous Linear High i’oi>mers”; ”ThreeDimeusional C;ross-Liiil;cd Polymers” , ‘’Crystuliization of High Polyiiiers.” T h e subjects of “P1asticiz;~tioiiaiid Soiu[ion”, :ind ” L l t i m a t e Strength a n d Itelateti Properties” also are discussed. An eiiorinous a m o u n t of purely empirical work of prncticnl utility h i s been done o i i various mechanical propertics of high polymers. Quite correctis t h c author has not a t tenipted t o catalogue or descri!je such worlc, and has choseii iiiste:id t o discuss those me:isuremeriis which c:ui be discussed qualitatively or clu:l,iitit:ili-,,ely in terms of furIda-inentai principles. T h e knoxledge of the chernical a n d physical u:it u r e of nlany high polymers is increasing now at a considerable r a t e . For this re:isoii. it is well wortnn.hile t o have rtvailsble a h o o k Tvhich summarizes t h e recn:it developnients in this field. T h e book as a ~vlioleis well writtcii anti interesting. T h e comments of t h e author regarding unsolved problems anti t h e nature of t h e dii’ficulties opposing their solution arp illuminating. However, this rl,virn.pr pcrson:illy is not in fuvor of t h e practice of giving verbatim quotations
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of m a n y pages in length direct from t h e original literature, as is done, for example, i n pp. 243-287. Binding a n d typography a r e excellent, E. J. MEEHAN. u n d / h e i r f k / , i i , a / i c e s . Hy A . \V. Ii.\i.sros. S e n . Y o r k : J o h n W l e y a n d Sons, I n c . , London: C‘hapiuan e n d H a l l . L t d . . 1918. T h i s hoolt is ii inost valuable addition t o t h e increasing *American literature on f a t t y :tcids a n d oils. T h e organization is good. a n d coverage of t h e various subjects is quite complete, there being over 5000 well-chosen references in t h e txyelve chapters ccmposing t h e book. T h e numerous tables a n d graphs a r e \yell printed. T h e first five chapters deal with t h e f x t t y acids. their .syntlirsis. structure, physical properties, occurrence in n a t u r e , a n d methods of preparation from natural f a t s . T h e remaining chapters arr o n t h e derivatives of f a t t y acids, their synthesis, properties, aiicl uses. Reactions of t h e hydrocarbon chain (oxidation. addition, substitution, polynierization) a r e discussed according t o t h e t y p e of reacTiori. Reactions iiivolving t h e carboxylic acid group are classified according t o t h e structure of t h e derivatives (esters, aniides, nitriles. amines. alcohols. ethers, mercaptans. sulfides, sulfonates. anhydridcs, acid chlorides, aldehydes. ketones. hydrocarbons. a n d soaps). C h a p t e r VI11 on t h e amides, nitriles a n d amines is particularly complete a n d Tyell-orgxnized. as would be expected from t h e special interest a n d experience of t h e author in this field, evidenced by his s t a t e m e n t , “Few, if a n y , series of derivatives of naturally occurring or synthetic substances possess t h e intrinsic academic and coinniercial interest which is t o he found in t h e nitrogen-containing derivatives of t h e fatty acids.” T h e section on metallic soaps is ruther short a n d makes bare mention of t h e considerable literature on physicnl a n d colloidal properties of aqueous soap solutions. T h e inclusion of an author index would a d d greatly t o t h e value of t h e book, as mould t h e alpliabetical listing of references. which are listed nuniericallyat t h e ends of t h e chapters. T h e duplications which exist lict\yeen this hook a n d Marklev’s recent Fatty .-lcids are inevitable, h u t t h e organization a n d emphasis of t h r tn-o books a r e sufficiently different so t h a t thpy complement one a n o t h r r very n.cl1. T h e frequent mention of a c t u d a n d suggested uses of t h e derivatives a d d s much t o t h e usefulncss of t h e book. This hool; should be owned by r w r y person working in fields related t o f a t t y acids antl their derivatives. I)OS.U,I) H. WHEELER. F ! i / t { / .icids
S y n t h e i i c S I e ! h o t l s 0.f O i g a i i i c Chr>;,iistr!/.-1 Thesaurus. l3y \V,THEILHEIMER, Vol. I, 19421914. !Yiih :Lforen-ord hy T . REIcHs,rEIx. Translated by H ~ s \VYSBERG. s s 251 p p . S e w Yo1.1.:: Interscicnce Publishers, l n c . . 19%. Price: S5.00. T h i s , ? h e first of a series of projected volumes. deals ~ v i t ht h e literature of 1942-1914. Reactions nre classifiedLtccording t o a n wdnptation of the systen; devised by\Veygand. T h e chirf Lases of t h e classification are i c i ) tlir elements linked together when n new bond is formed, (b’) Jvhether t h r reaction is addition, rearr:ingenient. exchange, or elimination, and !c! t h e t y p e of bond Tv!iieh is l)rolie1i. T h i s , conihinetl with n definite older of t h e elements iII. 0 , S.S. H x l . , etc.! anti tlir “priuciple of 1e.test position.” 1)orroiyed from Beilstein, leads t o :t rigid order in n-hich reactions will be considcrecl--an index, so t o spesli, arrxnged on a cliffpreiit \insis frum the a1ph:thericnl. S o t :ill of t h e possihle perniutntions and coni11iiintio:is xrc wprcsexitec!, lio\vcvcr. The iiidivitluul cnrrics :ire slictchy. 1)ut complete enough t o c o n w y a p r e t t y good i d e s of t h e m e t h o d . antl references t o t h e original a r t i c l w (and t o Ciicnzical abstract.^ for t h i s English editioii) :ire included. Tlie ilook is not primarily :t tiooli on laboratory methods, l)lut, R S t h e rauthor s t a t e s , “ I n this series of volumes there a r e going t o be recorded regularly neiv methods for synthrsis of organic compounds, improvements of known methods,” e t c .
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