NEW BOOKS Der disperse Bau der festen Systeme. Allgemeine Theorie der Verunreinigung fester 240 pp. Dresden and Leipzig: Systeme. By D. BALAHEW.23.5 x 15.5 cm.; vi Theodor Steinkopff, 1939. Price: unbound, 7.50 RM; bound, 8.62 Rhf. Theories of the mosaic structure of real, as distinguished from ideal, crystals have
+
been constructed by many writers with the object of arcounting for special properties of solids, surh aB their behavior on deformation or their action on x-rays. The work of I3alarcw is concerned rather with the rhemiral properties of crystals, especially thcir tendency t o retain impurities when separating from solution. The author has carried out many experiments in this field, which he has tlrscribecl i n numrrous papers. His main idea is that a crystal is always built u p of small 111(1rks,often so small that, their composition departs markedly from the stoirhiorntTtric ratio. and that thrse blocks are separated by irregular channels, in whic.li I o w i g n niolwulrs, atoms, or ions are retained. This is described as internal adsorption. If barium sulfate he precipitated in the presence of potassium permanganate, the crystals are colored red, and this color is not removed even by long contact with reducing agents. Other similar examples are described. The formation of suhmicrons when a crystal is i n process of dissolving is also taken as evidence for a block structure. The hearing of such observations on gravimetric analysis is discussed, and means are drscribed for obtaining precipitates with the least possible contamination, internal adsorption being regarded as of greater importance than adsorption a t the free surface. X-ray evidence is referred t o b u t not discussed quantitatively. Again, although reference is made t o the appearance of crystals under the microscope, this method is not applied in any systematic way. The presentation of the author’s ideas involves a great deal of repetition, and the work might have been condensed with great advantage. There are many references t o the literature, but also some surprising omissions. Thus, although mention is made of the action of impurities in modifying the habit of crystals, there are no references t o the work of such investigators as Beudant, Tertsch, and Buckley, although their experiments, especially those of Buckley, have thrown much light on the way in which foreign ions and niolecules are built into the structure of a growing crystal. The general impression derived from reading the book is t h a t the author has rollected many useful observations on crystals which support the view t h a t some kind of block structure is usually present, but t h a t they fall short Qf providing an explanation of t h a t structure. The conrluding theoretical argument is unconvincing.
C.H. DESCH. Mellor’s Modern I?lorganic Chemisfry. Revised and edited by G. D. Parker in eollaboration with J. \V. hlellor. 6 x 9 in.; xix 915 p p . ; 241 figures; 68 tables. New York: Longmans Green and Company, 1939. Price: $4.50. This is the ninth edition of what has come t o be generally accepted as one of the standard books of inorganic chemistry. The contents have been entirely rearranged and largely rewritten. The first sixteen chapters are devoted t o theoretical material and inrlude: properties of gases; chemical change; molecular t,heory; atomic and 136
+
137
NEW BOOK8
equivalent weight; classification of the elements and constitution of matter; solutions and their properties; electrolysis and electrolytic dissociations: thcrrnochemistry; chemical equilibrium; reaction velocity; and the colloitlal state. The other twenty chapters are devoted to the chemistry of the elements and their compounds. The separate headings are: hydrogen and water; oxygen; carbon; nitrogen; the atmosphere; sulphur; the halogens; the inert gases; the alkali metals; copper, silver, and gold; the alkaline earth metals; zinc, cadmium, and mercury; the elements of Group 111; the elements of Group IV; the elements of Group V ; selenium and tellurium; chromium, masurium, and rhenium; iron, cobalt, nickel, and the platinum metals; radioactivity and the radioelements. The general plan is thus to treat the theoretical and physical-chemical material in the first part of the book and the factual inorganic material in the second part. The salts are discussed under the heading of the metal concerned, which brings the book more in line with current practice. A little more space might have been devoted t o the treatment of the modern theory of electrolytic dissociation and uses of the Bronsted theory. This revised edition is a valuable work and contains a great deal of useful material. The binding and cover are very good. The book is t o be recommended t o students and teachers both as an advanced textbook and as a reference work. ARTHUR.4.VERNON.
+
PrScis de Chimie Physique. By A. BERTHOUD. 10 x 64 in.; 133 figures; vi 498 pp. Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1939. In this book Professor Berthoud has given a lucid, able, a n d h t e r e s t i n g survey of the field of physical chemistry. By omitting details of experimental arrangements arid, above all, by avoiding verbose discussions, he has contrived t o include in a volume of moderate dimensions a treatment of virtually all the topics that are the concern of physical chemists. For students who can read French easily, this book lvil! be an rxccJllent introduction to physical chemistry. Although the book throughout is characterized by clarity of etyle and attractiveness of presentation, I am of the upinion t h a t the discussions o' thermodynamics, of heterogeneous equilibria, and of the electrunic theory of valence are t o be especially commended. On the other hand, the treatment of the Debye and Hiickel theory, even in an introductory textbook, seems t o be less than adequate. A more controversial point I S the rather extensive use of results of quantum theory and of wave mechanics wit,liout laying, in my opinion, a sufficient foundation. F. H. R I A C D O ~ ~ G A L L . /
