JOURNAL O f CHEMICAL EDUCATION liquid ammonia. Reduction with NH3 of CrOa to CnOs. Inflammable PxH*as a by-product of preparing phosphine. (The simple experiment of Ca8P2 water was missing.) AsHs is s t least as poisonous as arsine, in the Marsh-Liebig test. Methane from water plants. Volumetric dissociation of meihane by the electric spark. Ethane from the electrolysis of sodium acetate. Ethrane from the Griguard reaction. Ethylene from catalytio dehydrogenation of ethanol. Thermal dissociation of ethylene. Catalytic hydration of acetylene to form acetaldehyde. Prepare tion of silane from Si02, Mg, and HCI; and its self-ignition. Preparation of SnCL. Preparation of NC13 electrolytioally (Vorsicht!). Thermal dissociation of CCb over activated ohmcoal. Conductance of liquid SOz containing KBr; liquid SOe dissolves benzene but not ligroin. Many experiments with NnO. Failure of CO to burn in dry air. CO Ni to form the carbonyl. Difference of limewater when air is (a) inhaled and (b) exhaled through it, an especially good, simple experiment. Mg with COI to give either CO or C. Mg in dry ice. Absorption of water on silica gel. KCIOJ by electrolysis of KCI; and many reactions of KCIOI. Use of thermosoope to reveal positive heat of solution of HBOd in water, hut negative heat on adding Hi3O4 to Ice, in the latter case due to negative heat of melting. Drying effect of concentrated H3S04shown by holding CoCL paper in dry and wet streams of air. Reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline by nascent hydrogen. Nitration of naphthalene to form yellow alph*nitro-naphthalene. Reaction of HNO, with etbylamine, with aniline; formrttion of an a m dye. Dissociation of HzOawith KI, charcoal, MnOs enzymes, silver sol. Many oxidation and reduction reactions of H20.. Dangerous reactions of Na201. Roasting cinnabar, and detecting the SOz by Schniff's (fuchsin) reagent. Preparation of A I G in water to form CaO, an electric furnace. Calcium carbide COz,and HZ. On the red side of the ledger this volume falls heir to a peculiarly German fault: that of getting out a. cannon to shoot a fly. And there are many cannons here. For instance, the Heber ammonia process uses an apparatus containing fifty separate pieces; and this is only one of many Rube Goldberg setups. Also, the drawings are, unfortunately, not labeled. But the modern demonstrator, realizing the advantage of simple apparatus will overlook this grave fault and use this book m a signpost rather than a Baedeker. For in almost every case a little ingenuity can considerably simplify the apparatus. But do not let this fault dissuade you from acquiring a copy.
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HUBERT N. ALYEA
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF VOL. I
THE HYDROCARBONS,
Edited by Adalbert Farkae. Academic Press, Inc., Publishers, 453 pp. 189 figs. 41 tables. 15 X New York, 1950. x 23.5 cm. $8.50.
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P a ~ s ~ c hchemists c secretly entertain the notion that the oldfashioned "practical" type of ail chemists were rude and turbulent barbarians because they disdained the sublime and illuminating ideas of their science. Those who take exception to this point of view will find only vain and delusive comfort in this publication. The authors have applied themselves with eager curiositv and assiduous dilieence to the studv of the theoretical aspects of the physical-chemistry of hyd.&arbons and have produced the most significant compil&m of practical information of this kind available today. The choice of subject matter is excellent, the treatment is outstanding. The contents are as follows: Chapter I, The chemical band in hydrocarbon molecules, by G. W. Wheland, University of Chicago. 53 Dazes. C h a ~ t e r11. The molecular structure of hydrocarbons-as-detenninkd by spectroscopy and electron and x-ray diffraction, by M. H. Jellinek, The Linde Air Products Co., 27 pages. Chapter 111, Mass spectroscopy in hydrocarbon
analysis, by J. J. Mitchell, Beacon Laboratories of the Texas Company, 29 pages. Chapter IV, The optical properties of hydrocarbons; Infrared absorption, Raman, and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, by Norman D. Coggeshall, Gulf Research and Development Co., 54 pages. Chapter V, Optical methods of hydrocarbon analysis, by Norman D. Coggeshall, Gulf Research and Development Co., 48 pages. Chapter VI, The electrical properties of hydrocarbons, by Andrew Gemant, The Detroit Edison Co., 26 pages. Chapter VII, Solvent extraction of hydrocarbons, by Alfred W. Francis, SoconyVacuum Laboratories, 74 pages. Chapter VIII, Solid-liquid equilibria of hydrocarbons, by M. R. Cines, Phillips Petroleum Company Research Department, 48 pages. Chaptera.IX, Chemical thermodynamic equilibria among hydrocarbons, by Frederick D. Rossini, Bureau of Standards, 72 pages. Inasmuch as each chapter was pnpared by an expert actively engaged in the field, it is not surprising to find that the bibliographic material, at the end of each section, is well selected. significant and current. The purpose of this hook is to summarize the physicoohemical basis of the new techniques and methods recently adopted by the hydrocarbons industry, and to help the research worker in exploiting these procedures more extensively and more intensively. The work has been written primarily for the chemist, engineer, or physicist engaged in hydrocarbon technology or research. GEORGE HOLMES RICHTER T a s Rme IN~TZTDTE
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STATISTICAL METHODS IN RESEARCHAND PRODUCTION
Edited by Owen L. Davies. Second edition. Oliver and Boyd, 98 Great Russell St., London. Stechert-Haher, Inc., 31 East Tenth St., New York 3,1949. xi 292 pp. 20 figs. 9 5 tables. 16 X 25 cm. 281-.
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THEvolume under review is the second edition of s. statistical manual written especially for chemists. There is a lesson in the fact that many of the statistical techniques described in this book &st appeared in R. A. Fisher's "Statistical Methods for Research Workers" published twenty-five years ago. Although Fisher's book has gone through eleven editions it is comparittively unknown to physicists, chemists, and engineers. The explanation lies in the absence of illustrative examples of interest to these workers. An adequate understanding of a statistical procedure, such as the analysis of variance, calls far a considerable effort especially when the examples are drawn from unfamiliar subject matter. Busy laboratory workers are not likely to divert the time and energy required to grasp statistical techniques unless there is good evidence that they will prove applicrtble to their own problems. The book edited by Davies does supply just this sort of reassurance and, furthermore, smooths the path of the novice in statistics by good expository devices. The beginner is assisted by the relegation, to the end of each chapter, of all material which would interrupt the main thread of thought. Into the chapter appendixes go proofs, many of the numerical cdculations, and some additional exposition. The text begins with a brief introductory chapter which sets forth what statistics can accomplish for the chemist. The authorn admit that in manv. simole situations statistical techniaues , mrwly confirm the ronclus~onsulrcmly rvidrnt i x t thy dnr:a. Thc point i.i then nude t h 3 t u-; {lac wnqrlr\i~ya d fhr amount oi dnts inrnmr ~3tist'c>,l hidq bt~wmt.iudiup~n~al,l~. The strongest argument for acquiring some familiarity with statistics comes from the intimate connection between the detailed structure of an experimental program and the ststirtied techniques to he used on the data. Statisticians know that the method of statist cal analvsis is determined bv the olen of the exoeriment. The s t a t k i c d computations n' andAshouldbe com~letelyoutlined before any data are recorded. This often reveals shortcomings
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