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NEW BOOKS
Reactions Involving Free Radicals-W. A. Waters. (is) Mechanism of Cannizzaro Reaction and Some Allied Processes-Joseph Weiss. (14) The Mechanism and Kinetics of Ring Closure-G. M. Bennett. .Is pointed out by Professor Ingold, the syniposium was held a t a most opportune time and followed as a natural and logical sequence t o the earlier symposium held by the Society in 1937. It is now possible for those who do not have ready access t o the Transactions of the Faraday Society t o possess as a portion of their personal libraries a n elegant review of organic reaction mechanisms as we now know them, presented in a concise and yet thorough nianner. The discussions which followed each presentation were stimulating and offered themselves a s valuable addenda t o the main paper. Pertinent literature references relevant t o every phase of the work are included. The English chemists who have directed their efforts toward the Understanding of theso difficult mechanistic processes are to be congratulated 011 the inilia1 successes they have achieved. This well-conceived monograph should be of tremendous value t o all who have “before then1 the ideal of the elevation of Organic Chemistry to a physical status, by the supersesession of its old empiricisms and recipes by physical understanding and exact technique.” RICHARD T. ARXOLD.
Introduction to Electrochemistry. By SAXUEI,GLASSTOXE.6 x 91 in.; vii 4- 545 p p , ; 89 tables; 135 figures. Xew York City: D. Van Nostrand Company, 1942. Price: $5.00. Professor Glasstone has been the author or coauthor of many hooks in this field and has proven himself very capable of presenting theoretical material in a n easily understood form. This book is no exception, since the author has done a n admirable job of bringing the underlying theories of electrochemistry up-to-date and in presenting them in such a manner that students.can easily grasp the subject matter. A s t,he author states in t,he preface, this book is written for use primarily as a text and not as a reference work. The literature references are in the most part t o recent publications nnd review articles from which the student may if he wishes proceed further in his study of this subject. .4t the end of each chapter illustrative probletns are given. S o attempt has been made to give a complete historical background for the prcsent-day theories, but,, in order t o simplify the presentation, the author devotes his entire energy toward ontlining the modern accepied theories as he sees them. The subject matter includcd in this volume is not n s inclusive as the title might indicate. Only t,he electrochemistry of dilute solutions is presented in detail; however, in the case of the discussion of activity, solutions up t o three molal are considered in some cases. For the most part the description and theory of practical applications of electrochemistry are not covered. One very serious oversight is the exclusion of all reference to the subject of fused electrolytes. In general, i t may be said t h a t this book gives a good comprehensive treatment of the theories of modern electrochemistry as they apply t o dilute aqueous solut,ions, presented in a form well suited for use a s a text. H. B. LINFORD. Treatise on Physical Chemistry. Vol. I , Atomistics and Themodynamics. By H. S.T A Y LOR A X D SAMCEL GLASSTONE.679 pp, ServYork City: D. Van Kostrand Company, 1912. Price: $7.50; $6.50 on order for the set. The present is the first of five volumes replacing the earlier second (1931; edition of H. S. Taylor’s well-known treatise of two volumes under the same title. I t can hardly he called a “revision” since, judging from this first volume, a largely rewritten treatise is planned. The first chapter, “The .Itomic Concept of Matter,” by the senior author includes not only the stable atom and stable isotopes of all the elements, together with tables of mass and abundance, but also the radioactive atoms, natural and artificial, including complete tables of properties.
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Methods of separating isotopes are presented in detail, and equipment for accelerating atomic projectiles is described. Atomic fission is adequately treated, while the omission of cosmic rays is perhaps justifiable in a treatment dealing with atoms. The second chapter, “Quantum Theory of Atomic Spectra and Atomic Structure,” by Saul Dushman (317 pages), is an adequate treatment of atomic states and their transitions as revealed by modern spectroscopy. The first and second laws of thermodynamics are presented in Chapter 3 (74 pages) by H. S. Taylor, and the third law in chapter 4 (144 pages) by John S. Aston. The subsequent four volumes are devoted t o the “States of Matter,” “Chemical Equilibrium,” “Chemical Kinetics,” and “Molecular Structure.” S. C. LIND.
Physical Science. By WILLIAMEHRET, Editor, AND LESLIE E. SPOCK,JR., WALTERA. SCHNEIDER, CARELVAN DER MERWE,AND HOWARD E. WAHLERT. 6%x 9) in.; x 639 pp,; 23 tables; 293 figures. New York City: The Macmillan Company, 1942. Price: $3.90. A work covering such a broad field as modern physical science should have, a s this book has, the advantage of a number of authors, each contributing t o his own field of specialization and from his own special knowledge of one of the many subjects treated. On the other hand, in a work to be encompassed in a limited number of pages, there must necessarily be a compromise between space and complete treatment. While the authors have evidently been influenced by this necessity, the result is a book which will disappoint the specialist in many of i t s chapters while a t the same time attracting the general reader by i t s wide range. But the reviewer’s quarrel is not with the exposition but rather with the underlying idea t h a t there should be a course or a book of this length attempting t o cover the entire field of physical science. The idea is fallacious and the result is disappointing in spite of the abundant and attractive illustrations. S. C. LIND.
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Natural and Synthetic High Polymers. A textbook and reference book for chemists and biologists. By KURTH. MEYER. High Polymer Series, Volume IV. 6 x 9 in.; xviii 690 pp.; 79 tables; 180 illustrations. New York City: Interscience Publishers, Inc., 1942. Price:$11.00. This book intends t o give a general survey of the field of inorganic and organic high polymers. I t s main purpose is t o communicate facts. Therefore the author describes, principally, our present experimental knowledge concerning the structure and properties of macromolecular substances in general. I n doing so, he follows the well-established method of chemistry textbooks, starting with inorganic systems (first elements and later compounds) and passing on to organic materials. I n the domain of organic substances, he begins with the synthetic polyhydrocarbons, continues to describe chlorides, alcohols, esters, etc., and finally discusses natural polymers such as rubber, cellulose, starch, lignin, and proteins. Throughout the presentation a critical attitude is maintained. There is no mere enumeration of long lists of original papers compiling and reflecting the results of various experts, but for each substance the author condenses the multitude of facts t,o an essential minimum and presents the result of this condensation in plain and simple terms. I t may be t h a t in some instances too much was omitted, but in the reviewer’s belief the advantage of a concise and clear presentation of fundamental facts outbalances the demand for encyclopedic completeness. Much emphasis is laid on earlier work in such fields a s rubber, cellulose, a n d proteins, and i t is attempted to give the reader a vivid impression a s to how our present knowledge was gradually built up b y the systematic and simultaneous use of physical, chemical, and hiological methods. Owing t o the war and t o the author’s location in Switzerland, t h e final work on the volume was laborious and time-consuming. This may account for the fact t,hat the American literature of the last two years has not always been incorporated to t h e
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