736
New Books
The practical result of electrolyzing aqueous caustic soda is the decomposition of water, b u t t h a t is not the case when electrolyzing a concentrated sodium chloride solution. Also, so far as the reviewer knows, nobody makes sodium amalgam commercially and recovers the mercury by distillation, p. 318. The reviewer would like to say something about the alleged argument on p. 336 to show t h a t there is no difference between solvent and solute, b u t i t would not do any good and, after all, the matter is one on which a difference of opinion is permissihle. Though one cannot conscientiously praise the arrangement and though a good deal of the physical chemistry is unfortunate either in \?ording or in application, it must be recognized that the book contains a large amount of useful information and t h a t in some cases one runs across information n-hich is not generally familiar. As a n instance of this, the reviewer takes pleasure in quoting the following passage from p. I S I “ A solution of ferrous sulphate is precipitated v i t h a n excess uf sodium hydroxide and Tyarmed; if hydroxylamine (or one of its salts) is now added to the green ferrous hydroxide, red ferric hydroxide is formed very quickly, the hydroxylamine being reduced in this alkaline solution to ammonia. On acidifying, a n acid solution of a ferric salt is obtained; if this is treated with a hydroxylamine salt, i t is suddenly decolorized because of reduction to ferrous salt, the hydroxylamine being now in the oxidized condition in the acid solution.” The translator has done his work n-ell. II .ilder D , Ba ri crojt Geslittigte Salzlosungen vom Standpunkt der Phasenlehre. 131.’ Ermt Janecke. 17 X 24 c m ; p p . in187. Halle: ll~zlhelm K n n p p , 1908. Przre: paper, 9 wznrks.-The book is based on lectures given bv the author in 1906 a t the Polytechnic in Hanorer. The subject is treated under the headings: diagram lor water and for other one-component systems; classification of salt solutions according to the phase rule; saturated solutions of one salt which crystalliyes alyiays withoiit water of crystallization, one salt and \rater ith the salt separating as hydrated or anhydrous salt; solutions of two salts with a common ion, no solid solutions possible ; occurrence of solid solutions in saturated solutions of two salts with a comnion ion; solutions of a salt in basic and acid solvents; aqueous solutions of three salts having the same ion in common; aqueous solutions of four Palts having the same ion in comnion; solutions of reciprocal salt pairs; solutions of reciprocal salt pairs when there is a fifth and sixth salt present a s solid phases; salt solutions Tvith three different cations and two anions or three different anions and two cations. The special feature of the book is the graphical representation of the different equilibria. I t seems to the revieTver t h a t it \yould have been a good plan to have added a chapter on methods of determining the composition of solid phases. The diagrams for distinguishing between a double salt, a’solid solution and a mixture can hardly be repeated too often. l17ildev D . Baltcvojt
+
Die edlen und die radioaktiven Gase. B y IVilliam Ramsay. I-ovtvag, gehalteii am 6sferreicltischeii Ilige)zicur-tc. Arcititekterz-l-ereiM 2u 11.zen. 16 X 2 4 m. b. H . , 1908. Price: cm; PP. 3 9 . Leipzig: Akademisclze 1’~~rlagsgesellschaft linen, 1.40 marks; bound, 1.80 marks.-The author starts with the experiments
New Books
737
of Priestley and of Scheele on the composition of the atmosphere, gets by quick stages to comparatively recent times, and gives a very readable account of many of the steps in connection with the discovery of the inert gases. The following passage is interesting xhether we agree with i t or not: ‘‘ ITe consider i t probable t h a t the emanation, which has proved indifferent to all chemical reagents, is to be included in the list of the noble gases. If this assumption is correct the emanation must have a high atomic meight for in this group there are only tTVo vacant places; one mith the atomic weight 1 2 8 4j = 173, and one with the atomic w i g h t 128 C 90 = 218. SOK i t semis probable that, if an element should under any circumstances acquire the power to decompose, its decomposition products would be elements of the same group. Since helium, neon, and possibly argon are among the gaseous decomposition products of the emanation, since the decomposition is not changed by water, copper sulphate solution or anything, and since lithium is probahly one of the products of a copper sulphate solution which has been exposed to the emanation, i t seems not impossible that in the first case only a portion of the emanation yields such products as helium and neon while a much larger fraction, about g2 percent of the whole amount, serves as a source of energy. , . . .” TI.ilder D . Bancrojt
+
La Rdfractom6trie et ses Applications Pratiques. B y D. Sidersizy. (Encj,clop&die scientifque des Aide-.\l&nto?‘re publike sous la direction de -11, L&autP.) 12 X 19 cm; p p . 172. Paris: G a ~ ~ t h i e u - l ~ i l l a rPrice: s. paper, 2.50 jvancs; bound. 3 fmncs.-In the preface the author says: “ T h e determination of the index of refraction of liquids has assumed considerable importance in the last few years and the refractometer has become of great use to the chemist. Just as fast as the physicists and the manufacturers have improved their instruments, making them more accurate, the chemists have increased their investigations in regard to all possible indices of refraction in order to use these constants in the analysis of organic siibstances and especially in determining cases of adulteration in cases where the ordinary methods of chemical analysis often fail. “ l y e have thought t h a t i t xould be useful to combine in a volume of the Encyclop&die scieiztifique des dzde-.lJ&?noire the most striking of these investigations and improvements, pointing out first the theory of refraction, then the different methods used for the determination of the indices, and lastly the practical applications to analytical chemistry.” The headings of the chapters are as follows: refraction of light; determination of index of refraction; new refractometers; practical applications of refractometry; numerical tables. In the last chapter, there are tables giving d a t a for glasses, solids, liquids, oils, fatty substances, essential oils, gases and I I ~ i l d c rD . Bancrojt vapors. Polarization et Saccharimbtrie. Bj, D . Sidersk?i. Encj,clop&dieScientifique des A i d e - . l I h o i r e , publike sous la direction dc .\I. L&aut&. Deumiime e‘dition, r e w e et auggment&e. 12 X 19 cm; p p . 168. Pavis: Gauthzer-I.’illors; .llasson ct Cz’e.-In the preface to the second edition the author says: “Since the appearance of the first edition many experimental data have been collected in regard to the rotatory p o m r of organic substances and these
