JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
234 timation of the elements, and none of the volumes published since that time has contained such chapters. With the publication of the work on eold, however. the inclusion of analvtical methods is renewed-a &nee which kill be welcomed bv &chemists. I In uddition to this h i p t c r (24 pxr~ti),1'11rt3 contains wry conlplrtr dircuncion~of the pllysicnl pnq~rrtirsof gold (143 pxxe , i r d ~I~crn~chcmio:~l I,rh~vior (57 yxg~r),and 115 rcxctivity tusurJ many types of chemicals (23 pages), as well as a very short chapter ( 1 page) on its physiological action. The preparation and reactions of gold compounds are then discussed in some detail (112 pages) and the volume is completed with a chapter on the alloys of gold (192 pages). Since mast of the gold of commerce is used in the form of alloys, these have been the subjects of much research, and they are treated here a t some length. Gold is usually alloyed with copper or silver to improve its hardness and mechanical properties, and the alloys with these metills are therefore trested in the greatest detail. The amalgrtms, which are important in the metallurgy of gold, also receive detailed treatment. These books, like others in the Gmelin series, are of necessity expensive, hut they are essential to every chemical library.
Instructions for the performance of more than 40 tests for the various functional groups are given in the second section, which concludes with a brief descriotion of the aoolicatiou of uhvsiosl methods to the detection of such erauos: ' ~irectians'fo"r t,hr prcparation of dvrivxrivr~are given i u the third section, in a l w h the importance of welt iuetors ns the purity of ir-igents, r:!tit, of reoctnntc, rrwtalliz~rionprocnlurc, etv., is clearly illustrxrd I,? examples. The various classes of organic compounds are then dealt with in turn. Each chapter opens with a critical discussion of the vs."ous possible reagents and derivatives, and gives full instructions for the use of the reagents selected, and for the preparation of typical examples of derivatives. A brief final chapter, written in colhhoration with Dr. T. S. Ma. deals with ouan~
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now under way, for the critical evaluation of micro and semimicro techniques for a large number of such estimations. As indicated in the preface, elementary quantitative snalysis is not dealt with. Excellentlv illustrated and includine some 2000 literature ref-
JOHN C. BAILAR. JR
in practical organic chemistry are a t a more moderate level. The style is clear and the spirit of inquiry whieh runs right through is very infectious. 0
JOHN T. STOCK
MICRO AND SEMIMICRO METHODS
UNIY-~T
MINNEBOTA MINNBBOTA MINNEAPOLIS.
Nicholas D. Cheronis, Professor of ChemMry, Brocklyn College. Volume VI of "Technique of Organic Chemistry," edited by Arnold Weissberger. Interscience Publishers, Ine., New York, 1954. xxiii 628 pp. 221 figs. 41 tables. 16 X 24 cm. $12.
OF
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INTHE introduction to the three main parts into whioh this book is divided, the development of microchemistry is traced, the terminology is discussed, aud the advantages and applications of miorochemical techniques are pointed out. Teaching aspects are by no means overlooked; despite the obvious economies in materials and other advantages made possible by the adoption of micromethods, Professor Cheronis expresses the opinion that students should he introduced gradually to such methods. Micro and semimicro techniques far such general operations as crystallization, distillation, sublimation, extraction, etc., are extensively discussed in Part I, together with such determinetions as those of melting point, density, molecular weight, etc. From the outset, the highly practical nature of this book is apparent; although the numerous forms of apparatus available for a given purpose are critically reviewed, detailed description is usudly limited to one or two. These are generally either emy to make or are available commercially. The value of the micrascope, both in the determination of melting point and in the study of fusion phenomena, is pointed out and, in discussing the calibration of thermometers, the author draws attention to the scarcity of accurate melting-point data on organic reference standards. Preparative reactions are described in Part 11, micro and semimicro methods for oxidation, reduction, halogenation, and other important operations being given. These are illustrated by selected preparations, for whioh full detailils, including yields, are given. Frequent reference is made to the hitherto unpublished work of the author and his co-worker8 and many simple tips, such as the pre-treatment of a rubber stopper for a bromination apparatus, and the "on the spot" preparation of 100 per cent nitric acid, anhydrous aluminium bromide, etc., are neatly woven into the text. A chapter contributed by Dr. A. R. Ronzio describing microsynthesis with tracer elements provides a perfect illustration of a branch of chemistry in whioh microtechniques are indispensable. Analyticd procedures and reactions are the concern of Part 111, whieh is subdivided into three main sections. The first of these deals with the characteriaatiou of organic compounds. Schemes for identification are discussed and procedures for preliminary examination and for the detection of elements are described.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY. VOLUME XIII: STlLBlTE TO THERMOCHEMISTRY
Edited by Raymond E. Kirk and Donald F. Othmer, Professors and Heads, Departments of Chemisky and Chemical Engineering, respectively, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Assistant editors, Janet D. Scott and Anthony Standen. The Interscience Encyclopedia, Inc., New York, 1954. xvi 952 pp. 19 X 27 cm. Single copy price, $30. Subscription price, $25.
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WHATimportant and interesting subjectsappear in theinterval from Stil- to Thermo- ? Sulfur, sugars, terpenes, and textiles, with their ramifications, dominate the interval. There must be other suhjects, which certainly are more than space fillers. The inorganic chemist will find the elements strontium, tantalum, tellurium, thallium, and their compounds. In addition to the element sulfur is its inorganic compounds, sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide, and sulfamio acid. Organic sulfur compounds occupy a large section, with other topics such as organic sulfides, sulfinic and sulfonic acids, sulfones, sulfouamides, sulfa drugs and sulfur dyes. Succinic and tarhric acids have small sections. Terpenes and terpenoids are treated in some detail-acyclic, cyclic, sesqui-, di-, and tri- types of compounds. Sugars are treated as a. chemical group and also the members produced commerciallv for v s h u s usen. The tiochemist finds several important subjects: st~mulmts and depressants of the nervous system, streptomyces and autibiotics, and the tetracyclines. The physical chemist has the importaut subject of surface properties and thermochemistry, as well as thermal analysis. The chemiml engineer finds stoichiometry, the unit process of sulfonatiou and sulfation, as well as temperature measurement. The various indrrst,ries and technologies run from the natural to the synthetic. Sugar and textiles dominate the subject. The manufacture and analysis of sugars cover sucrose in detail and also the other commerical sugars. Textile fibers are surveyed in general, but the acrylic, vinyl, polyester, tetrafluoroethylene, and glass fibers are discussed in detail. The general fields of testile technology and testing cover the preparation and treating of the cloth from the fibers. Other important subjects me styrene
