atomio weight table precede Chapter 1. There are six appendexes (53 pages) containing trtbles of equilibrium constants, a bibliography, a review of mathematical operations, mathematical operations for the Beer-Lambert Law, a discussion of the analytical balance with 16 questions and 19 problems, and a fiveplace logarithm table. A large number of questions and problems are appended to each chapter. Several chapters have between 40 and 50 problems. Answers are given for all odd-numbered problems. This text lends itself to flexibility. The authors have written it primarily for the beginning student. There is a considerable amount of illustrative material to emphasiae the solution of pmhlems. The reviewer feels that the text will he well accepted by those who wish to spend a little more than the usual amount of time on the quantitative analysis course.
E. ROGERS HORACE Diekinson College Carliale, Pennsylvania
BaHeriar of Today
Alfied B. Gowelt, Professor of Chemistry, Ohio State University. Researoh Press, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, 1957. v 216 pp. 71 figs. 13.5 X 20.5 cm. $9.
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This little book is written primarily for the person who is unfamiliar with the field of batteries. I t seeks to acquaint the reader with both the recent develop ments in conventional battery systems and new systems which have been developed to meet mare unusual battery require rnents. The suthor has adopted very suceessfully a simple style of writing to exphiin the ideas of batteries, their composition and construction. Several well-drawn analogies serve to place the ideas an more familiar ground. There is an enthusiasm evident in the writing which should make the novice reader much more interested in batteries in general and make him want to read more specialized books on the subject. The impression is left that there are "great doings" rurrently in battery research and that many new developments can be expected in the future. Since this book has been written to acquaint the general reader with the up-to-hte aspects of the field of batteries, it is not surprising that it is inadequate for those working in the field and that several minor ermrs can be found. There are also several items of interest which are not mentioned and others which are :overed all too briefly. Thus, the silverzinc storage battery is not mentioned, even though it has been available for more than five years and is important for several military applications. A short paragraph on the sealed nickel-cadmium battery would have been of great interest since it introduces some new concepts in hattery technology and may have important uses in the future. The reserve type magnesium-cuprous chloride
battery should have been covered since this water-activated battery has been used in large quantities for the past 8 to 10 years in some rather unique applications. The statement that primary batteries cannot be recharged is an oversimplification. Most primary batteries can be recharged to a limited extent, even though they are not designed for long cycle life and it is not economical at the present time. In the figures on pages 81 and 82, various types of magnesium-silver chloride cells are shown but the context describes these as layer-built LeclanehB dry cells. The use of the term "silver peroxide" is not quite correot since Conn and others have shown that this is simply divslent silver-oxide (Ago) and not a. peroxide in the usual sense. In some places the potentials of various electrodes are given without the qualification that these depend in addition on the electrolyte composition and pH. The price of the book seems quite high related to both the size and number of pages. Perhaps this is a sign of the times. I t seems to the reviewer that the author has succeeded in his primary objectives of giving the general reader a review of current battery developments together with enough background information for E basic understanding of battery systems. It is hoped that it will provide a stimulus for more people to enter the fascinating field of battery research.
W. S. HEZBERT Rag-0-Vac Company Madimn, Wiseonsila
Principles of Physical Chemistry
Samuel H . M a m , Professor of Physical Chemistry, Case Institute of Technology, and Cad F . Prutlon, The Food Machinery and Chemical Corp. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1958. 789 pp. Many figs. and tables. viii 16 X 24 om. $8.50.
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This excellent text is redly a third edition of "Fundamental Principles of Physical Chemistry" by Prutton and Maron. The title has been shortened, the author order reversed, and the number of pages reduced by increasing format size and condensing certain chapters. The general appearance of the book has been improved by the enlarged page size and the use of larger stand-out section headings. The table of physicochemicsl constants has been revised and moved to the front right end paper opposite the table of atomio weights inside the front cover. The number of problems, many excellent for the first course in physical chemistry, has been increased to 634, thus allowing ample choice for problem assignments. Most chapters and illustrations of the new text arc identical with those of the previous edition. The more significant changes have been made in the chapters on thermodynamics, solutions, molecular
structure, and colloid chemistry. The second rand third laws of thermodynamics are now covered in the same chapter. The older chapters an nonelectrolytes and eleetrolytes are condensed into a single chapter on eollizative vroverties of solutions. The former chapter on physical properties and structure has been combined with that on molecular structure. A new chapter on surface phenomena separates this m a t e rial from the former chapter covering colloid chemistry. The treatment of colloid chemistry has been expanded and modernized. This excellent and widely used text has been improved in this new edition and consequently should be well received by teachers of full-year courses in physical chemistry.
. .
JOHN
H. BUCKINGHAM Miami University Ozjord, Ohio
Surface Chemistry
J. J. Bikemmn, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2nd ed. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1958. x + 501 pp. 160 figs. 64 tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $15. There is no doubt about it. Bikerman writes from a wide acquaintance with the literature up to recent times. As he discusses in turn the chemistry of the interfaces between the three phases of matter, he brings up time and time again unusual references to pertinent experimental k h niques or technological applicrttions of the concepts involved. This reviewer has found it inspiring to browse for ideas in the first edition of this hook. Although a number of early references have been sacrificed in the interests of space, the new edition should serve as a similar valuable sourcehook. Even though the suthor hoped the present volume would he used by teachers, this reviewer feels that it will not suffice. There is a lack of continuity in the development of surface chemistry as a unified science such that its pedagogical usefulness is seriously impaired. It is as though the suthor brought out too many contributions and unusual references where the steady development would have done better. The second edition does not live up to the first edition in freshness or appreciation of new pertinent information. Because of the vast number of recent contributors and advances in this field, it must be recognized that the burden of bringing this material up to date is tremendous. The best way to emphasize these deficiencies is to point out the names of workers who have been overlooked or glossed over. I t is surprising, to mention a few examples, to find no referenoe to J. T. Davieies and his work on surface films and emulsion^, to the work on the stability of dispersions by Tezak and Matijevic, to the Elton hypothesis for establishing the nature of adsorption from solution, or to the work on chemisarption by Trapnell. Often the weaker references of a worker are roferred
Volume 36, Number
I, January 1959
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