JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
322 feels that it is somewhat more than just an elementary text and that in future yesrs students who have used it will be taking it off the shelves ta find answers to their problems about quantita tive analysis. R E X J. ROBINSON
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS Leicester F. Hamilton, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, and Stephen G. Simpson, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemis0
try, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tenth edition. The 529 pp. 70 figs. Maomillan Co., New York, 1952. mii 16 tables. 15 X 21.5 cm. $4.50.
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THISwell written text is the tenth edition of one first published in 1897 under the authorship of Henry P. Talbot. In the present edition, numerous ohanges have been made but in general the authors have attempted to olrtrify presentation and to modernize and expand the theory. The reviewer is happy to note that the authors have adopted the "so-called Lewis convention" for the sign of electrode potentials. This is certainly a desirable change. The text is divided into five main p a r k Part one is an introduction which inoludes among other topics, The Analytical Balance, Presicison of Analytical Meaeurements, and Review of Some Basic Principles, partieulerly equilibrium; the four remaining parts consider in order, Volumetrio Analysis, Gravimetric Andysis, Instrumental Methods, and .Miscellaneous Determinations. Some of tho miscellaueous determinations are sulfur in pyrite, analysis of plain carbon steel, and analysis of some commercial products. An appendix contains information an preparation of reagents, tables of values needed to solve problems in the text, and a, brief discussion of the use of logarithms. The text is a well balanced introduction to chemical analysis. There are many representative problems solved throughout the body of the text to illustrate the theory. These problems are solved in a. clear, straightforward manner. At the end of practically all of the ohapters there are thought-provoking groups of problems with ansrrera, which furnish the student ample opportunity to test his mastery of the principles. The laboratory determinations are familiar ones which are useful for their teaching value. They are not, in many cases, the latest or shortest method8 for the analysis of a. particular component but the reviewer believes that teaching value should take ~reeedencein this matter. The eeneral plan of presentation of a determination is the theory, a, d&iled descript&n of the proeedure, and representative calcuI~t~ions.The number of laboratory determinations offered to the instructor is sufficiently large t o allow cansiderahle freedom of choice. More extensive discussions of determinate errors, organio precipitants, buffersolutions, and the calibration of volumetric glassware would be of value, particularly to the chemistry major. The calibration of the pipet and of the volumetric flask is treated quite briefly. A larger number of problems on calibration of volumetrio glassware would be helpful to the student. The text is relatively free of errors. Those noted are minor. Far example, an page 379 the electron symbol, r, is omitted from an equittion, and on page 93 an exponent in one of the equilibrium constant expressions is incorrect. In the description of the analytical balance on page 49 there is a change in nomenclature of a balance part from "column" in the figure to "post" in the description. In Chapter XXIV Bouguer's law is credited to Lambert. Where appropriate, ionic equations are used throughout the text. The authors digress from this practice occasionally, e. g., hydrolysis of ammonium chloride on page 142. Adherence to the recommendations of the committee on nomenclature, Division of Analytical Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, would eliminate the ambiguity of the first sentence on page 285. Analytical chemists could help promote better
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nomenclature praotices by following the recommendations of the Committee of the International Union of Chemistry and thus eliminate such names as potassium bisulfate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bi-iodate. The outline on page 393 may be inelusive enough for the scope of this book, but it is not sufficiently inclusive to cover a number of different kinds of methods. An introduction pointing out the limitations of the outline would he in order. The authors briefly consider the Bronsted-Lowry concept of acids, bases, and salts on page 91 and then point out that "the old debkitions of acids, bases, and salts will therefore be retained in this text." However, in dealing with carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, and phosphates the protonic theory is used. Even though the definition of pH as given on page 128 may he a d e quate for a course in elementary quantitative analysis, a brief explanation of a more accurate definition would be informative for the student. The paper, printing, and binding are of good grade and suited for practical use. In general, the figures are very good. Dimensional markings on the wash bottle in figure one would be helpful and, in addition, might reduce the space needed to de~eribeits preparation. In the reviewer's opinion this text is to be held in high regard and can be rocommende3 to all teachers of elementary quantitative analysis for their careful consideration. GLENN H. BROWN UNIVERSITY OP CINCINNATI
C,NCINN*TI.0°K
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PROBLEMS OF LIFE
Ludwig von Bertalanffy, University of Ottawa, Late Professor of the University of Vienna. John-Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. 1952. xi 216 pp. 14.5 X 22.5 om. $4.
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INWRAT might be called an essay on "general biology" in its broadest sense, the author discusses his concepts of life and organic processes as dynamic, open systems, culminating in his "general system'' theory. A more elaborate treatment of thisir planned for a following volume. The author makes it plain that he is not attempting to reduce biological processes to the terms of ohemieal and physical laws, but envisions them 6s higher levels of order and organization than are found in mechanical systems. Nevertheless, readers without a taste for metaphysics may find some parts of this essay in what we might call "metabiologics" a bit hard to follow, and will look for more fipecific details in the next installment. . JOEL W. HEDGPETH S O S I P PINST~TDTTON ~ GI OOEANOORAPHI LA JO'C*. C*LIFORNI*
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PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
Frank H. MacDougall, Professor Emeritus of Physical Chemistry. University of Minnesota. Third edition. The MacmiUan Co., New Yark, 1952. xi 750 pp. 97 figs. 130 tables. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. $6.
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THE is the latest revision of the hook first published in 1936 and revised in 1043. The material on atomic structure hits been revised to inolude a discussion of quantum mechanics and some of its applications. The section an nuclear reactions has been expanded. The theoretical material in the chapter on chemical kinetics has been revised to include an expanded kinetic treatment and a discussion of the theory of absolute reaction rates. The format and typography are both very good. ARTHUR A. VERNON
NORTHEABTERN UNIVERS~TT BOBTON. MAB~AOHUBETTB
