VOLUME 33, NO. 1 , JANUARY 1956
49
show more extensive changes. Section X, the Technology of Water, revised by W. Francis, shows new references as late as 1949. The acknowledgment is identical, as is much of the other materiel. Ozone and lime-soda. softenine have been rewritten and expanded, and the chapter is lengthened by five pages (194a to 194f). Part I, Organic, seventh edition, 1952, was revised previously (J. CHEM.EDUC.,30, 268 (1953)). Now Part I, seventh edition, appears with a 1955 publication date. Anyway, it is all thc same material. The conclusion of the 1953 review will be extended to include Part 11: These books outlived their usefulness after the 1922 edition.
third edition, 1952) has B fine section on paragraphs and outlines. This newest book, "Modern Technical Writing," by Sherman, has features not included in the others. After the introduction, the second text chapter stresses effective organization, basing all technical writing on logical outlining, and picking out such difficult topics as parallel treatment of points, logical arrangement and allotment of apace, and clarity. Shdents find this basic logical analysis very difficult, and on thh failure fallow most of their others. Sherman's emphasis should help to overcome this. Abstract principles of organization are very hard t,o apply to concrete writing problems, however, and the well-phrased sections on "the orocess of nreoarine a n outline" and "eheekine sn
KENNETH A . KOBE
U N I V E R ~OF I TT~ E X * ~ AUSTIN, T B X * ~
MATHEMATICS FOR THE CHEMIST
G. I. Kynch, Professor of Applied Mathematics, University College of Wales. Academic Press, Inc., New Yak, 1955. vii 364 pp. 81 figs. 14.5 X 22.5 om. $4.80.
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THIS book is written to aid research chemists, physicists, and chemical engineers in applying mathematical principles in their work. It accomplishes this by furnishing a. large number of exsmoles usine exoerimental data erouoed accordine to the
designed for review and reference use rather than as an intraduetion to any of the topics treated. Many salved and unsolved examples are provided, some in a b ~ t r r ~ cform t and others in chemical terms, i. e., equations of state, equilibrium constants, rate exoressions, soecific heat exoressions, and wave eauatians. The foliowing libt i f chapter headings indicates the scope of the book: Introduction, Applmimate Solution of Equations, Sequences and Limits, Differentiation, Applications of Differentiation, Rational Functions, Circulm Functions, Exponential, Logarithmic and Hyperbolic Functions, Properties of Curves, Integration, Methods of Integration, Integrals, Series, Complex Numbers, Differential Equations, Functions of Several Variables, Surface and Volume Distributions. Determinants. Vectors. Partial Differential Equations. A n excellent biblidgraphy is supplied a t the end of each chapter. At first glance, the practicing chemist who has made limited use of his mathematics since college days may classify this as too technical for his needs. However, more careful examination will indicate that the author has, a t each level from algebra through vectors and partial differential equations, presented a. concise exposition followed by extensive examples, in such a. u.ay as t o refresh and clarify the chemist's mathematical understandine. This hook ghonld be of real value in helping to bridge the gap between the theoretical mathemsties and its applications in the physical sciences. ROBERT D. ROWE S*N DIE.O STATE COGLB.. S*N DIE(IO.C*LI.ORNI*
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MODERN TECHNICAL WRITING
T. A. Sherman. Prentice-Hall, Inc., New York, 1955. 424 pp. $6.35. EACH of the several recent books a n technical writing has features lacking in the others. Kerekes and Winfrey's "Report Preparation" (Iowa State College Press, second edition, 1951) is full of illustrative matter; Ulman's "Technical Reporting" (Halt, 1952) has rapid-fie brevity useful as a. desk companion; snd Nelson's "Writing the Technical Report" (McGraw-Hill,
ples. Second only to organization, Sherman empha~iseseffective style; he omits general strictures on gammer to concentrate here on direct, concise, simple, concrete writing designed t o convey technical ideas in language surest of reaching its readers. General guidance in grammar is given in a "handbook of fundamentals" a t the end of the hook, and both of these sections are commendably fundamental indeed. Following arganiailtion and style, the book briefly discusses mechanical form; judging from student errors this section could have been longer. On the other hand, certain other texts emphasize this point a t the expense of points Sherman stresses. Selection of s. course textbook is sometimes hard if good hooks are few; sometimes because they are plentiful. Thereare man" good books on technical writing, but no instructor can afford to overlook Sherman for his impart,, emphasis, and examples. D. A. REDMOND NOVA SCOTIATECXNIOAI. COLLECE H~~rr*x N., S.. C A N A D A
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
Walter I. Moore, Professor of Chemistry, Indiana University. Second edition. Prentice-Hall, Inc., New York, 1955. xii 633 pp. 206figs. 77 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $7.50.
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THEgrowth of science has made the selection of subject matter chemistrv. for s. textbook a difficult ~roblem. For ~hvsical " which is no exception, one solution is to subdivide, to introdube new title, such as 'Chemical Physics," and include thereunder such topics aa spectroscopy, atomic structure, and chemical st,atistics, leaving more traditional subject matter, such as thermodynamics, kinetics, and electrochemistry, to constitute physical chemistry. An alternative is to compress traditional subject matter drastically to make room for some of the newer developments. In "Phvsical Chemistrv." Professor Moore has tended to follow
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explanatory preliminary material and plunge vigorously into some fairly complex ideas. Even a moderately bright student, with mathematics through cslculus, a year of physics, and two years of college chemistry behind him, will find this book a rich diet indeed; hut the very bright student with this much preparation or more will find i t a guide to some exciting intellectual adventures. Whether or not a particular teacher will find i t satisfactory as a text will depend upon how many only moderately bright students be has in his class, on the amount of extra time he is hilling and able to devote to the slower ones, and on where his philosophy of education really leads him in finding a solution to the problem of haw far to go in challenging the very best students when this action may invite disaster for some who are only fairly good. For the average group of students taking physical chemistry in college another book would probshly be more suitable. In the preface, the author says: "The difficulty in elementary
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
SO physical chemistry Lies not in the mathematics itself but in the application of simple mathematics to complex physical situations. . T h e derivations are important because the essence of the subject is not in the answers we have today, but in the procedure that must be followed to obtain these and tomorrow's answers." There is no quarrel with this view, but some of the mathematics included is far from "simple," and even so there are places where mathematical difficulties make it necessary to omit parts of derivations. Compromise with completeness in such a hook is always necessary; in this one, the "compromise" is a t a. fairly high level. Next to the level of maturity, the most notable feature of the book is the historical approach. Not only are many of the subjects introduced with an account of their historical background, but they we developed in such a way as to make clear that the ideas in question are still being formulated and revised. The hook contains more than can be covered in two semesters. The chapters on atomic and nuclear physics are designed as background reading, and not even all the rest can be covered thoroughly in two semesters, or probably even in three, unless the students are far better grounded in mathematics and physics than one has any right to expect of undergraduates. But, although the book is unified and progresses with considerable logic from one subject to another, appropriately selected sections can be omitted. The second edition differs very little from the first. There are some errors, and numerous places where a good case can be made for treatment different from that given, but on the whole the hook is well and skillfully written. In view of the large number of ~ymbolsused and especially of the necessity on occasion of using the same letter to signify different quantities, a glossary of symbols would be helpful. For those few who want to use such a book for self-education, the problems would be more useful if some answers were given.
snecific chanters devoted to the measurement, of color or t,o t,he
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WILLIAM E. CADBURY. JR H*"a;n~on~ COLLE~E H*VERPORD. PENNBILY*NI*
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THE CHEMISTRY OF SYNTHETIC DYES AND PIGMENTS
Edited by H.A. Lubs, Organic Chemicals Deparhent, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Compan.1. A. C. S. Monograph No. 127. 734 pp. Reinhold Publishing Carp., New Yark, 1955. xiv 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $18.50.
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T m s critical, compact, and up-to-date mongrapb has been wrib ten by men who have spent the major portion of their professional careers in the field of dyes, pigments, and related intermediates. While no attempt has been made to treat the subject in the encyclopedic manner, it is obvious that every major type of dye and organic pigment has been described adequately. The editor makes appropriate reference to the importance of the dye industry in the American economy where it serves ss a full reserviar of organic chemicals from which we may expect important future developments. Following 100 pages of discussion of the important dye intermediates related to benzene and naphthalene, the following specific topics are considered: Azo Dyes (84 pp.), Azoio Dyes (46 pp.), Sulfur Dyes (32 pp.), Anthraquinone Dyes and Intcrmodiatetes (215 nn.1. Indieoid Dves (25 on.). Phthalocvanine Dves
list of important sulfonic acid intermediates, and a very welcome critical bibliography arranged according to the specific topics previously considered in detail. The publisher's allegation that this work is the ultimate in dye chemistry probably would have gone unchallenged had this volume appeared in 1951. The existence of Venkataraman's two-volume treatise, published in 1952, makes some sort of comparison advisable, however. The Lubs work does not include
Because it contains only half as many pages as the earlier work, it is obvious that the Lubs work must omit some detail. In this reviewer's opinion all libraries should possess both treatises; the individual purchaser may pay $29.50 for 1442 pages (Venkataraman) or $18.50 for 734 pages (Lubs). Unless he be an expert in a particular phase of dye chemistry it ie not likely that he will have any firm preference for either work, taking into eonsideration their relative size and cost. CO. DEWEYA N D AMY CHEMICAL CAMBRIDB M~ A.~ ~ A C K U B L T T B
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EDWARD R . ATKINSON
CATALYSIS. VOLUME 11: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES (PART 2)
Edited by Paul H. Emmett. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1955. vi 473 pp. 61 figs. 53 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. 512.
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T m s book is the second of R. series dealing comprehensively with catalysis. The editor Paul H. Emmett is wellknoanforhis research and contributions in the field of catalysis. The first hundred pages, written by W. B. Innes, deals with heterogeneous catalytic vapar-phase reactions in 8 systematic manner, and makes intensive use of tables to present a. large number of literature referenoes. This chapter brings up to date the compilation begun in "Catalysis" by Berkman, Morrell, and Eglaff, and includes pertinent comments. The second chapter, by A. Wheeler, deals authoritatively with reaction rates and selectivity in catalyst pores. Thia chapter provides a physical and msthematical picture of reactions in catalyst pores and also discusses experimental techniques and several catalytic reactions. The next two chapters, comprising about one-fifth of the text, are written by H. M. Hulburt. Chapter 3 deals with the nature of estslytic surfaces from the electronic viexpoint of modern solidstate physics. Current theariessre capably di6cus6ed nith re~pect to semiconductors, metals, and dislocations. Chapter 4 is concerned with the nature of complexes on the surfaces of catalysts sucb : ~ soxides, metals, promoted metals including alloys, and also with the problems of surface heterogeneity. Chapter 5, which "resents the eeneral theories of heteroeeneons catalvsis. is writ-
. . .
hensively with catalysis in homogeneous reactions in a liquid phase, and takes up about a quarter of the book. In this chapter theories of kinetics, rate laws, and reaction mechanisms are discussed dong with aoid-base catalysis, effects of medium and complexing agents, catalysis in redox reaotians, negative catalysis, and miscellaneous examples. This text presents an up-to-date appraisal of the current status of the above-mentioned and related topics, and completes the consideration of fundamental principles initiated in Volume I. The present volume maintains the high standards set by the first volume and the authors have rendered an imoortant service in
to develop adequate theories and to evaluate the numerous, at present conflicting points of view. Anyone having a serious interest in cat.alysis will want to be familiar with this text, and the forthcomine volumes of the series will be awaited with much W. W. RUSSELL
