tendency t o have "modern" chemistry start with Lavoisier's explanation of eombustion. There is no question that Lavoisier performed a service in revealing that combustion can be handled without the mysterious phlogiston, but this service was one of clearing away accumlated rubbish which was impeding the growth of chemical knowledge. Lavoisier's own handling of combustion was encumbered by his introduction of caloric and his notions oxygen as an acidifying principle. These were ultimately abandoned but only after confusing the development of chemical ideas for nearly three decades. I t was the working definition of the element, the concept of conservation of matter, and the doctrine of definite proportions which really laid the foundations of modern chemistry. I n summary, this volume is a welcome addition to the scholarly literature in this historv of chemistrv. I t will not anneal to
await Volumes 1 and 4.
Nickel: An Historical Review
F . R. Howard-White. D. Van Nostrsnd Co., Inc., Princeton, S e w Jersey, 1963. xiii 350 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $6.95.
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Thanks are due to H o w a d W h i t e for this contribution to metallurgical litereture. In an ere. of rapidly expanding scientific achievement, the history of our technology seldom receives the attention it so richly deserves, and the hook provides a welcome addition to one's library. I t is extremely well written and will appeal equally to both layman and speclalist. The scope of the treatment and the research required to compile such a review reflects the author's interest and familiarity with his subject. H e traces the history of nickel from its use in crude tools of meteoritic origin produced in Samarii~and Syria some four to five thousand years ago, through the identification and isolation of the element, the establishment of the industry, and up to its most recent uses in aero-space hardware. Charts, maps, and photographs are used advantageously throughout the text, and a very complete index is included. Furthermore as an aid to the reader in unfamiliar territory, or where greater detail is desired, the author provides an extensive section of notes and bibliography. The initial chapters give a thorough description of the earliest usage of nickel in coina and implements of pre-Christian times, derived from the Chinese, white copper "pai-thnng," or nickel silver, under which name i t was later manufactured in Europe. The smelting of "kupfer-nickel" in Eastern Germany and the first separation of the metal by Cronstedt are described, and lead to the founding of the
nickel industry. To supply this emerging industry, adequate ore supplies were required, and the author relates how the nickeliferaus donosits of Eurooe., New C d edania. and ~ a k s d a were . discovered and developed. The "refractoriness" of nickel and the difficulties encountered in preparing pure unalloyed metal were formidable, and provide informative reading. Such classic procedures as the "Orford tops and b o b toms," "Hybinette," and "Mond Carbonyl" processes are described, but one would prefer to see simplified flow sheets rather than the tabular presentations sfforded. More recent processes are also treated, such as those researched by Professors Caron and Forward, and the "International Nickel Compeny's" matte separation. No account can he complete without reference to the tremendous search for nonmilitary nickel applications t h a t was successfully pursued by the faltering industry, immediately following the First World War. The author treats with this subject in depth and reviews the countless uses for the metal from coinage and plating to high temperature alloys. Of prtrticular interest is the find chapter, which tells of the Large role played by nickel in supersonic transportation. Throughout the later chapters, the reader is constantly aware of the structure and state of the industry, and prominent personages connected with the development of nickel receive just attention. Howard-White regrets that he cannot give more detailed treatment to the numerous events bearing on nickel in recent years. Nevertheless, we are grateful for what has been offered and heartily recommend the book to all of those readers who are interested in the evolution and aceomplishments of our technologies.
electron deficient molecules, and hydrogen bonding. Chapter 4 presents the classification of crystals, the structure of the elements, bonding in the crystalline state, the classification of the elements according to their structure, and the btructure of inorganic compounds. Chapter 5 discusses oxidation and reduction (reduction potentials are used), acid and bases, and reactions in nonaqueous solvents. Chapter 6, on coordination ohemistry, treats stereochemistry, stability of complex compounds, complexones, factors influencing the stability of complexes, theoretical aspects of coordination chemistry (valence bond, crystal field, and ligand field theories), metal carbonyls and related compounds, and oomplexes between metals and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Chapter 7 is concerned with the distribution and extraction of ohemical elements and also the theoretical principles of the extraction of metals by pyrometallurgy. (This chapter includes a very interesting fivepage table on the chief ores of the elements and the methods used to extract the elements from the ores.) Chapter 8 treats solvent extraction and ion exchange and some of their spplicetions. Chapters 9 and 10 (about 80 pages) give a survey of the comparative chemistry of the r e p resentative elements and transition elements, respectively. An appendix of seven pages is devoted to physical measurements in inorganic chemistry. These include diffraction methods, spectroeopy, thermochemistry, magnetism, and dipole moments. To oover so large a number of topics in such s small volume, the authors' prep entstion is concise and to the point and requires the close attention of the reader. I n many cases, the topio is only outlined and will have to he supplemented. The D. H.W I L K I N ~ ~ Nmaterial is up-to-date and appears to he accurate in factual detail. There are no Research Depa~tmat exercises a t the end of each chapter, but a New Jersey Zinc Cornpanu number of references for further reading Palmerion, Pansylvania are included. The authors have succeeded in providing a fine summary of modern inorganio chemistry and the hook should Modern Approach to Inorganic he seriously considered by those wanting a Chemistry text suitable for a ane-semester course. C . F. Bell and K . A. K. Loti, both of RUDOLPH S. BOTTEI Brunel College, London. ButterUniversity ojNotre Dame 293 pp. worths, London, 1963. ix n'otre Dame, Indiana Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 25.5 cm.
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$8.95.
This book is intended to provide a modern s p p r o ~ c hto inorganic chemistry for students with a. limited mathematical background and to introduce some of the recent advances in the field. Although it is only about 300 pages long, virtually all of the topics of modern inorganic chemistry, except mechanism, are included. Chapters 1 and 2 are devoted to atomic structure and cover the electrical nature of matter, radioactivity, nuclear fission, transuranic elements, quantum theory and atomic spectra, wave mechanios, and periodic classification and electronic configuration. Chapter 3 deals with the electrovalent bond, the covalent bond, polyatomio molecules and hybridisatinn, shapes of inorganio molecules and ions, one- and three-electron bonds,
Practical Mathematics for Chemists
F . H. C. Kelly, University of Tasmania. Butterworth, Inc., Washington, D. C., 1963. 156 pp. 19 X 12.5 cm. $3.95. Here is a pocket-sized book, very clearly written in a non-sophisticated manner. I t collects much of the simple mathematics encountered by s. student who pursues his course no further than clsssicd physical chemistry. If he has $3.95 to pay far having together in one place what he should already have read in his texts and laboratory manuals in analytical and physical chemistry, it may be a sensible investment. W. F. K. (Continued on page A288)
