I n Chapter VI (p. 363) appears a clear and early description of the Camera Ohscum. In Chanter X (0.368) is a discu~sionof the use of convex and concave lcns in camhinations for viewing near and far objects. This has led manp writers to claim Parta as the inventor of both the telescope and microscope. Perhaps of most importance to the historian of science is Book VII which is concerned with magnetism and which presents various polemics against William Gilbert the author of "l)e hlsgnete." The chemist will find much of interest in this volnmc. At least half of tho 20 divisions deal with chemical arts. Whilo the sections on counterfeiting gold and on beautifying women may do no more than produce a quiet chuckle, the section on distillation will give a, clear view of the rather advanced state of this phase of chemical technology in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Whether the chemist is looking for a hook for occasional browsing, for shccr fun, or whether he is looking for a book which will give him an insight into some of the science and superstition of the Renaiasance, I highly recommend this work to him.
,.
SIDNEY M. EDELSTEIN DEXTE CXEMIO*L ~ CORPOR*TION Nm" Y o R ~N. . Y.
PILOT PLANTS, MODELS, AND SCALE-UP METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Robert E. Johnstone, Assistant Director of Ordnance Factories, Ministry of Supply, London; and Meredith W. Thring, Pr* fesror of Fuel Technology and Chemical Engineering, University of Sheffield. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1957. xi 307 pp. 16 X 23.3 cm. $9.50.
+
THE spectacular success of the construetion and operation of the butadiene plants and the enormous uranium processing plants during World War I1 without intermediate pilot plant operation has raised the question as to whether or not the pilot plant is necessary or desirable. The authors do not question the desirability of pilot plants, but they do show the engineer how he can scale-up laboratory data to rive better d o t olants. and nilot ~ l s n t models and scaleup methods for years with success. The first section (111 pages) introducm the subject and deals with the mat,he matics of similitude, dimensional analysis, applicable differential equations, the re gime concept, scale equations, extrapalation, and houndary effects. The second section (132 pages)rtpplies these methods to various kinds of unit operations and process equipment, as do& and flon,passages, fikers, hea&transfer equipment, pnrlred towers, mixing equipment. A short ehnpter discusses con.osion tests and scnlr-np. The final chapter discusses annloguc models, their theory and application, as (Continued on page AS@) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
the electrical analogue for thermal and fluid systems. An appendix defines all terms used, gives dimensions of various physical and chemical quantities, lists dimensionless groups, and lists 2 i 0 elsasified references used in the book. Although the chemical engineering stndent is usually introduced to dimensiond analysis in courses in fluid flow, thc graduate student certainly should become more familiar with some of the methods and applications shown in this book, m d with the book it,self. Engineers in industry are already using these methods. KENNETH I. KOBE
U ~ r v s n s ~OF~ Tr e x ~ Ans~niT . EX*~
FREE RADICALS IN SOLUTION Cheves Wolling, Professor of Chemistry, Columbia University. John Wiley & Sons, 631 pp. Ino., New York, 1957. xii 16 X 23.5 cm. $14.50.
+
IN ELEVEN well-documented chxpt,ers, Dr. Walling asks the fundamental rpestions shout free radicals in solution: What are the structures and physical properties of free radicals? How can free radicals be generated in solution? What types of reactions do free radicals in sohtian undergo? What are the bond energy considerations in such reactions? How do frec radicals initiate polymerizations and what are the time schedules for these pracosses? What roles do free radicals play in copolymerieation, chain transfer and inhibition processes? What are some of the other detailed physical and mechanistic aspects of radical polymerization reactions? What, are the major addition reactions of free radicals which a x of actual or potential utilities in yielding small molecules? What is known about the stereochemistry of such addition reactions and about the rearrangements of free radicals? What are the major aspects and examples of halogen substitution reactions, auto-osidetions, radical formations by t h ~ r m a l cleavages of covalent bonds, arid photochemical oxidation-reduction processes? Dr. Walline "resents his anmws t,o t,hr central topics he has selected in a clear and challenging style, bafiing his answers an a thorough examination of and extensive reference to the original literatnre. The utilities of quantitative data on kinetics, concentmtion effects,equilibria, redox potentials and energy considerations are constantly pointed out; hence, many phases of the work are presented in mathemetiral terms and the understanding of these requires a grounding in kinetic theory and thermodynamics on the part of the reader. In preparing his interpretations, the suthor hits frequently made requisite calculations based on literstore data which lend considerable origina1it.v to the discmsions. Much of the material, however, is presented in a qualitative manner whioh will be readily understandable to one veraed in general organic chemistry. Bccause of his specid interest, a8 well as the industrial and theoretical importance of polymeriss~
~
-.~
~~
~
~
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
