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Recent Books
Modern Inorgaaic Chemistry. J. W. MELLOR. Longmans. Green & Co., New York. New Edition, 1925. n 1103 pp. 13 X 20 cm. 64.25. In the midst of the task of producing his prehenrive rofesJor Mellor has some- ,
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how contrived t o bring out a revision of his well know,, tert-book of inorganic chemistry. The new edition differs only in detail from the older one: the titles and order of the chapters are un: changed and even the paragraph headings are the io neady all inrtanees. The volume has been d a r g e d by nearly two hundred pages, t h e increase consisting in amplification and additions throughout t h e book. These changes bring t h e descriptive portions of the t e x t up-to-date, for the mort pa*. Unfortunately, there are numerour indications that t h e revision h a been hastily made, for one finds in the new edition many of t h e errors and
(p. 477), and the discussion of transport numbers (P. 374) is very eoniusing. On page 388 i t is *tated in both editions t h a t silver deposits on the anode when the electrolyte contain5 potassium cyanide, this being given as evidence t h a t the silver is i n t h e anion. The statement (p. 410) that there may be a missing element between cadmium and mercury in t h e second group of the periodic system would appear t o be rather mild in these days of atomic numbers. In the section on the preparation of fluorine (p. 330) there is no reference t o the newer process depending upon the electrolysis of fused potassium acid fluoride. 1n the discussion of molecular weight determinations (pp. 257-8) only the older forms of apprratur are given, with no reference t o those more recently developed by Cottrell and others. On page 411 there in sn unfortunate repetition of several lines almost verbatim. I n addition, typowaphical errors are suffieicntly prominent to make one cautious in t h e use of the physical constants 8 5 given. But in spite of its errors, which are generally obvious t o a chemist. and reanrdless of the fact t h a t the theoretical discussions are often inferior t o the excellent portions of t h e book, t h e reviewer has been for years an admirer of Mellm's t e x t . T o the teacher of genera1 "hemistry i t is almost indispensable. I t contains historically interesting details which are very suggestive; i t telln many of those practical minutiae which mort texts take for granted without right but, ss Emerson remarked, these are the most impor-
t a n t things in the world when you are confronted by them. Finally, Mellor is always the chemical philompher: he never loses an opporlunity t o teach t h e method of science, t o show its successes and failures, t o point t o its foundationr and goah. and t o scrutinize its implements of erperimentation and logic. While Mellor's text does not appeal to the reviewer as a suitabie tert-book far elementary students, every teacher should have a ropy for the sake of the illuminntion and interest t h a t i t will add t o his teaching.
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G.H. C ~ ~ T I . B D C B General Chemistry. H. I . S c x ~ a r m o a n . LongEdition, mans, Green & Co,, New York, 631 PP. 31 figurer. 21.5 X 1025. vi
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13'5cm' Price'83'75' T o t h e reviewer's koowledpe Lhia is the only telit-book prepared "for students already some-
had a year of t h e subject in high school has convinced the author t h a t they should not be given class work or texts planned for those who have had no chemistry at all. College chemistry for such students should concentrate on the fundamental pheno#ha and principles, and on t h e ~ i m p l e applicatianr r which can be discussed with some degree of thoroughness." Following in t h e path of Doctor Sticglitz's procedure with his beginning analytical chemis*. t h e author suggests opening "the course with two weeks of daily lectures and no laboratory work." "The dnsr-room work is. of course. supplemented by laboratory iostruction" and a laboratory manual t o accompany this t e r t is promised The methad of the t e r t is t h a t of the formal logical type using the definition and theory as a starting point in the largely deductive synthesis of the body of piinciples set forth. The language is generalized rather than specific: the illustrations, both in figures and appeal t o specific experiences of the student.. arc scattering and almost negligible. In other words, the author has made no effort t o "humanire" hi3 subject. Accepting his method, t h e author is t o be commended for a book t h a t is clear cut, concise. and consistent in its treatment. If appeal t o student.' experience is beneath the dignity of a college course in chemistry then each chapter's exerciees are teachable and a great aid t o further development in chemical abstract reasoning. I n content t h e following chapter headings i-di-
