RECENT BOOKS COKEFOEMATION PROCESS AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES oa COALS. W . S~urietoslawski,Professor of Physical Chemistry a t the Institute of Technology of Warsaw, Poland. Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America, Herald Square Press, New York, New York. 1942. viii 145 pp. 16 X 24.5 cm. $3.50. The treatment of the subject matter in this monograph is unusual but welcome in coal technology and r d e c t s the training and experience of the author in physical chemistry. T o most Americans, familiarity with the work of Polish investigators is limited to abstracts. so that the present work has special significance in summarizing the results of the investigations carried out in the Coal Division of the Chemical Research Institute a t Warsaw during the past twenty years. While individual American coal technologists will undoubtedly take exception t o some of the views expressed by the author on the various complex phenomena discussed, divergent opinion should lead t o further research to clarify the issues. The present reviewer has found this book very suggestive of new problems for experimental investigation. The author has also included proposals lor new methods of coke manufacture and far the production of semicoke from coals not generally regarded as suitable for this purpose. The use of unusual phraseology and terminology should be pardoned generously in the case of one not writing in his native language, and particularly in this case where the new ideas presented adequately compensate the reader. H. H. LOWRY
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TBIS CITEMICALAGE. WiIliam Hnynes. Second Edition. Alfred A. Knopf, New York City, 1942. x 401 xxivpp. 18 figs. 2 charts. 15 X 23 cm. 83.50. One new chapter entitled, "Chemicals on Active Service" has been added as the enlargement of the book "This Chemical Age" in the second edition, revised and enlarged. The short discussion of wood as a substitute for metals is a worth-while addition. The revision consists of the correction of errors a ~ ~ e a r i nine the earlier edition. For review of first edition.
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THEFOODYOUEAT,A PRACTICAL GUIDETO HOMENUTRITION. Samuel and Vidette Glasstone. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma, 1943. 277 pp. 18 figs. 6 X 9 cm. $2.25. A physical chemist and a plant physiologist-housekeeperhave collaborated in writing this semipopular hook on today's most popular subject-nutrition. A general outline of the energy requirements of the body and a description of the digestive processes are given in a pleasant informative style. The essential constituents of a balanced diet are discussed in some detail with enough historical background t o interest the lay reader in the development of our knowledge of nutrition. Menu planning is related t o nutritive needs in a very practical way and a useful outline translates the recommendations of the National Research Council into terms of common foods. The advice on low cost diets is timely. The authors attempt t o present both sides of controversial subjects. They succeed pretty well in avoiding the danger of approaching the faddist fringe-a feat which takes careful balancing in any popular book on foods. The physiological chemist may find some generalizations with which t o disagree but on the whole this is an accurate presentation of good dietary practice. The book is attractively printed and hound. MARIONFAY W o r n ' s Mmrcnr. COLLBG~ ow PBIINSYLV~ ~ D ~ D L P PBNNSYLYANI& - ,
OUTLINES OP F'XYSICALCHEMISTRY. By the late Fruterick H. Gelman and Farrington Daniels,Professor of Chemistry in the University of Wisconsin. Seventh Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1943. xii f 691 pp. 166 figs. 15 X 22.7 cm. 83.75. The seventh edition of this well-known text, for which, after the death of the senior author. Dr. Daniels is solelv . resoonsible. . appears under the new titleof "physical"instead of "theoretical" chcmiwy; and the familiar red hinding has been replaced by a hlnck cover with the title stamped on a blue-green background. The new edition, appearing six years after its predecessor, is vastly improved and the changes made and the rearrangement of the subject matter will, no doubt, meet with general approval. Some chapters have been partly or wholly eliminated and the contents have been embodied in existing chapters or discussed under new headings. The sequence of topics has likewise undergone changes. After an introductay chapter on fundamental concepts, gases are discussed; then crystals followed by physical properties and molecular structure. The treatment of elementary thermodynamics has heen enlarged and is discussed in three separate chapters entitled: Heat, Work, and Heat Capacity; Thermochemistry; Thermodynamics. This setup enables a full discussion of the chapters which follow, an liquids, solutions, solutions of nonvolatile solutes (including electrolytes), and colloids. Under chemical equilibria, both homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria are discussed. The phrase rule and its applications take up a new chapter, Phase Diagrams, containing a number of new figures, some of which are incorrectly drawn (e. g., Fig. 87, h and i). This should also be said of the lattice diagrams for ZnS and CuzO (p. 52, Fig. 21). h e might wish that the author had eliminated the sulfur diagram, that hardy perennial which first appeared forty years ago in Findlay's "Phase Rule" and has since been copied by practically every author of a textbook on physical chemistry. This figure (p. 319) is sadly distorted, and becomes even more so when students reproduce i t from memory! The lower triple point, 0, has a pressure of less than 0.01 mm. and the upper triple point, C, a pressure of 1280 atm.! A more recent example, such as the HsO diagram a t high pressures from Bridgman's work might well have been substituted. Electrical conductance is followed by electromotive force and this in turn by ionic equilihria, where all possible applications of the mass law to electrolytes are treated in a systematic way. The all-important relation between free energy and maximum electric work is, unfortunately, still expressed as in the previous edition. I n student papers or blackboard work this invariably becomes - A F = nPZ where F means free energy and a Faraday a t the same time and E is the same E that is used elsewhere for energy. The reviewer is strongly in favor of the suggestion, repeatedly made, to represent the "Gibbs" free energy by G and designate the energy by U,as was done years ago. Perhaps some day chemists, physicists, and engineers will agree on using the same symbols. The remaining chapters, including the one on chemical thermodynamics, do not di5er materially from the corresponding ones in the sixth edition. I n spite of the inclusion of new material dealing with the electron microscope, chromatography. and polarography and more rigorous derivations of important equations, such as the relation between vapor pressure and osmotic pressure, the number of pages has increased only by thirty. This increase is largely due t o the incorporation of numerous problems (the reviewer counted well over 100) worked out in detail. This admirable feature which distinguishes this edition from most of the current texhooks, and e m from the previous edition (which contained barely a dozen solved problems) will he greatly appreciated hy students and no less by their teachers, whose task will he considerably lightened.
Last but not least, thephysicochemical constantsused throughout the text are brought up to date, the Avogadro constant, for example, being reduced from 6.06 to 6.023 X 10". Altogether, the author and publishers are t o be congratulated, particularly in these difficult times, with the successful completion of an outstanding, thoroughly teachable undergraduate textbook of physical chemistry. H. S. VAN KLOOSTER R.NPSBL*ER
POLYT&CBNIC IN3"T"TE
TaOY,
New Yoar
GENERALCHEMISTRY FOR COLLEGES.B. Smith Hopkins. Professor Emeritus of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Illinois. Third Edition. D. C. Heath and Company, New York, 1942. iv 758 pp. 281 figs. 15.5 X 22.5 cm. 8.80. This third edition of Professor Hopkins' well-known text "follows the same plan as its predecessors, although a few minor changes in order have been made" [cf. J. C ~ E MEDUC., . 15, 99 (1938) and J. Am. Cham. Soc., 59,2476(1937)]. "Theseprovide a sequence which will he more easily followed by the student." The topical order of the thirty-eight chapters conforms closely t o the usual conventional pattern of most of the well-known textbooks in general chemistry. "The Structure of Atoms" (chap. 2) is followed hy "The Periodic System" (chap. 3). "Oxygen" (chap. 4) contains two excellent photographs showing the practical uses of the oxyacetylene torch and one photograph showing the oxygen helmet. More of such photographs would enhance the instructional value and attractiveness of this and other textbooks in general chemistry. "Measurements; G a s Laws; Kinetic Theory" (chap. 5) presents the gas laws in the conventional form. A few problems worked out as illustrations would be helpful t o students who have difficulty with this phase of the work. The reviewer is of the opinion that in a hook of this scope i t would be preferable t o include a more complete arithmetical discussion of chemical calculations, rather than to refer the student to "Laboratory Exercises." "Electrochemistry" (chap. 15) is followed by "Sodium; Acids, Bases, Salts; Ionization" (chap. 16), which presents the subject of acids and bases according to the Bronsted theory. In this chapter, pH and "acid-base equilibria and neutralization in non-aqueous solvents" are also discussed. The explanation of oxidation and reduction reactions according t o the traditional.. oartial eauation method f~~,~ c f OD. 201) , .-140 ~ - and ~ . is likely to be questioned by some instructors. In a comprehensive text of this type, a statement of the ion electron or the electron transfer mechanism would be helpful. In addition to the exercises and problems a t the end of the chapters, there are exercises inserted after various paragraphs t o assist the student in clarifying his ideas. Each chapter includes also an extensive list of references to the chemical literature, probably far more than the average class can use, a t least in the larger institutions, where library space and time are a t a premium. "An attempt has been made t o call attention t o some of the practical applications of chemistry in our complex modern life. . Production data, especially for the metals, are as recent as can be obtained and are included to permit a comparative study of the relative importance of these materials which are now so vitally connected with national defense." The clear, dignified style of the text together with the authoritative background of its distinguished author commends the b w k to all instructors who desire a well-balanced book for use in regular, full year courses in general chemistry.
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survey of the entire field of organic chemistry (88 pp.), (11) the aliphatic series (275 pp.), (111) the alicyclic series (3 pp.), (IV) the aromatic series (88 pp.), (V) the heterocyclic series (7 pp.). The kaleidoscopic survey contains an introduction to homologous series and graphic formulas. I t includes some methods of preparation, a few typical reactions of various functional groups and some uses of important organic compounds. This survey also has a discussion of the theory of relative electronegativity which the authors state, "is an attempt t o systematize organic chemistry" and which "is offered as a theoretical postulate that may or may not be vindicated by experimental data." The authors suggest that the kaleidoscopic survey may be presented a t the beginning of the course, a t the end of the course, or be omitted altogether. The reviewer is of the opinion that such a survey a t the beginning of the course would overwhelm the average student, if he is expected t o learn the formulas, names, methods of preparation, reactions, and electronic interpretations. If presented a t the end of the course, it could semi as a review and also for the development of the theory of relative electronegativity, which, incidentallv, is referred t o onlv occasionally in the other Darts of the book.. Since this theor; is offered as an attempt t o systematize organic chemistry, presumably for the beginning student, it would be desirable to develop the theory in the early part of the book and then use it throughout the hook in explaining some of the typical reactions of the various types of compounds. While the above represents the reviewer's opinion, it should he noted that the authors recommend the use of the survey a t the beginning of the course, this recommendation being based on actual teaching experience. I n the main portion of the book, the presentation of each topic follows the same orderly sequence of (A) occurrence, isomerism, use, (B) nomenclature, (C,) commercial methods of preparation, (Cz) laboratory and special methods of synthesis, (D) physical properties, (El) general reactions, ( E X ) special reactions. The hook contains an abundance of material for a thoroughly good course in organic chemistry. In a number of instances, the authors specify the chemical company using a given commercial process. The nomenclature of organic compounds is excellent. The treatment of carbohydrates is exce~tionallvthoroueh. A few twoeraohical errors were noted.
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FUNDAMENTAL ORGANICCHEMISTRY.Ed. F. Dcgering, Associate Professor of Chemistry. Purdue.University, and One Hundred Six. Collaborators. First Edition. Tohn S. .~ Swift .Company, Inc., ~incinnati,'Ohio, 1942. x 485 pp. 27 figs. 15 X 22.7 cm. 52.00. This textbook is divided into five parts: (I) a kaleidoscopic
