NEW BOOKS Electricity, Sound, and Light. By Robert -4ndrews .Vlillikan aizd J o h n .Uills. 21 c m ; p p . iz. 389. Boston: Ginn & Co. Price: $2.00; m a i l i n g price, $ z . z ~ . - ‘ ‘ This book represents primarily a n attempt to secure a satisfactory articulation of the laboratory and class-room phases of instruction in physics. I t is a n outgrowth of the conviction t h a t in courses of intermediate grade in colleges, universities, and engineering schools a real insight into the methods of physics, and a thorough grasp of its foundation principles are not readily gained unless theory is presented in immediate connection with such concrete laboratory problems as are calculated to give the student a sound basis for intelligent theoretical work. “Severtheless the book is intended to be much more than a laboratory manual. I t represents an attempt to present a complete logical development, from the standpoint of theory as well as experinlent, of the subjects indicated in the title.” The headings of the chapters are: magnetic and electric fields of force; determination of the strengths of magnetic fields and magnetic poles; measurements of electric currents ; measurement of potential differences ; measurement of resistance; temperature coefficient of resistance; galvanometer constant of a moving-coil galvanometer; absolute measurement of capacity; comparison of capacities, determination of dielectric constants, and the ratio of the electrostatic and electro-magnetic units; electromotive force atid internal resistance ; comparison of electromotive forces; electro-magnetic induction ; constants of the earth’s magnetic field; self-induction; magnetic induction in iron; electrolytic conduction; velocity of sound in air; musical properties of air chambers; longitudinal vibration of rods; waves in strings; diffraction of sound and light ii-aves; diffraction grating; refraction of light; total reflection; photometry; dispersion and spectra; polarized light; radioactivity. This seems to be a very useful book and one to be recommended to the chemist. T h e chapter on radioactivity is unusually clear. On p. 181,however, the authors credit to Clausius a good deal larger share of the electrolytic dissociation theory than really belongs to him. Clausius never postulated any quantitative relation betxeen molecular conductivity and dissociation. I n fact, Clausius never assumed anything more than a n infinitesimal dissociation II-ilder D . Buncrojt under a n y circumstances. 14
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Physikalische Chemie der Metalle. Sechs Vor.’riige iiber die ~issenscizajtliciieiz Grundlageit der .Iletallurgie. B y Rudolj Schenck. 18 X 26 cm; p p . ia 193, Hallc: TVilhelm K n a p p , 1909. Price: p a p e r , 7.00 marks; b o u n d , 7.50 marks.The volume is the outgrowth of a course of lectures delivered in 1907 before the engineers of the Rhine provinces. The subject was treated under six heads: general properties of the metals; metallic solutions and alloys; alloys of the metals with carbides ; oxygen and sulphides ; metallurgical reactions ; decomposition of carbon monoxide; blast furnace reactions; the reactions of the sulphides.
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New Books
The author is unfortunate in that he wrote his book just before Upton's paper on the carbon-steels appeared. The result is that this portion of the book was obsolete before i t appeared. The rest of the book is interesting though there is some question whether the physical chemistry here presented is really of much use to technical men. One cannot help feeling that there is a certain lack of contact. ll'ilder D . Baizcrojt Grundriss der allgemeinen Chemie. B y A'ilhelm Ostwald. Vierte, vollig umgearbeitete Aupage. 16 X 24 cm; p p . ix + 661. Leipzig: lVilhelm Engelmann, I909. Price: linen, 21.20 marks; bound, 22.50 marks.-This new edition differs from the preceding ones in two respects. The phase rule point of view is predominant throughout and there is a very marked epistemological tendency. To one who knows the subject already, the book is more interesting than ever, because it goes deeper. It will not, however, arouse the enthusiasm in the beginner, which so many of us felt in regard to the first edition. Concurrently with the change in the point of view there has come a lack of interest in regard t o details. Many statements re-appear in this edition even though their inaccuracy is a matter about which there can no longer be any dispute. On p. 113, we have the familiar law that what is in equilibrium in one way is in equilibrium in all ways. Saturated solutions of salt in alcohol and in water are in equilibrium with the same solid phase; but they are not in equilibrium with each other. On p. 334, we read that catalytic agents do not displace the equilibrium. This is not true for a solvent and it is not true for what are apparently irreversible reactions. O n p. 460, we have the erroneous statement that two solutions which are isohydric with a third solution are necessarily isohydric n4th each other. The color of methyl orange as a n indicator, p. 474, is referred to the sulphonic acid group, although we get practically the same color changes when there is no sulphonic group present. The voltage of the gas cell is given on p. 509, as 1.06 volts and no one could tell from the text that the surface tension method does not give true single potential differences. On p. 5 2 1 , the excess voltage for mercury is stated to be due largely to the smoothness of the liquid surface in spite of the fact that frozen mercury shows the same characteristics. The reviewer admits frankly that he cannot understand the point of view which makes it possible for a man to put in Fig. 36 on p. 356 and still to maintain that the only difference between solvent and solute is one of relative masses. Some day the present attitude of the chemical world in regard to this point, will be looked upon as analogous to that of the fetich worshipper. The last three sections of the book deal with microchemistry, photochemistry, and chemical affinity. When we have a two-phase system in which one phase occurs as a number of separated masses while the other phase forms a continuous mass, the first is called the dispersed phase and the second the dispersing phase or medium. When there are only two phases to be considered, they may be classified as follows: (a) The dispersing phase is gaseous. Since two gas phases cannot coexist, the second phase must be either liquid or solid. If liquid, we are dealing with a fog; if solid, with a dust.
