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iu very neak and does not influence the values of molecular weights computed from the longitudinal dispersion, assuming that the distance between the light beam and the upper edge of the strip separating it from the photographic plate is great enough (1.5-3.5mm.) so that the light circle produced by the Tyndall dispersion cannot act on the plate. REFERESCES
( I ) ADAIR:Skand. Arch. Physiol. 49, 71 (1026). (2) BRIGGS,D. R.: J. Phys. Chem. 39, 983 (1935). (3) LEPESCHKIN, W.W.: Protoplasma 36, 100 (1940). U'. W.: Biochem. %. 309, 254-69 (1941). (4) LEPESCHKIN, (5) LEPESCHKIN, W. W . : Physik. Z . 43, 489-96 (1942). (6) LEPESCHKIN, W.w.: Protoplasma 36, 422 (1942); 37, 25 (1943). (7) LEPESCHKIN, W. W . : Iiolloid-Z. 106, 141 (1943). (8) POLSON, A , : Kolloid-Z. 87, 149 (1930). (9) S ~ R E N S ES. N ,P. L.: Kolloid-Z. 63, 111 (1930). (10) SVEDBERG, THE: Kolloid-%. 86, 119 (1935). (11) WENT, I S T V ~ANN ,D FA RAG^, F.: Biochem. Z. 230, 238 (1931).
SEW BOOKS Qualitalive A n a l y s i s b y S p o t Tests. Inorganic and Ovganic d p p l i c a t i o n s . By FRITZFEIGL. 574 Third, completely revised, English edition, translated by Ralph E . Oesper. xvi pp. New York-Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishing Company, Inc., 1946. Price: $8.00. This edition of Feigl's book differs from the second English edition of 1939 in several respects. Kewspot reactions have been added (one gets the impression t h a t few important reactions of this type have been developed in the last half-dozen years) and, moreover, the previous text has been subjected t o a thorough critical examination. A new feature is the inclusion of a detailed account of the manipulations involved in spot-test analysis. A chapter on the detection of free elements has been added, together with a bibliography of some 140 items on the application of spot tests. The translation has been made in a manner t h a t leaves nothing t o be desired, but signs of the British origin of the former translations linger in the use of felspar for feldspar and opening u p for decomposition. The subject index is exceptionally complete, and the almost entire absence of typographical errors points t o careful preparation. T h e great value of Feigl's work t o the analyst is well known, and further encomiums on the present edition are superfluous, The author, in the preface, asks for co6peration from fellow chemists in the way of suggestions, and the reviewers take advantage of this opportunity t o comment on some of the tests which they have used from time t o time. O n page 50, under the detection of mercury with dithizone, i t is implied t h a t antimony interferes by reacting with dithizone; actually antimony does not form a dithizonate. The statement t h a t even low concentrations of acid prevent the reaction of silver with dithizone is not in accord with our experience, which indicates t h a t the reaction is about 90 per cent complete i n 6 Nsulfuric acid solution with a relativelysmall excess of dithizone. I,tis hard t o believe t h a t i t is possible t o detect 1microgram of mercury i n the presence of 100,ooOtimes a8 much silver. Selenium and tellurium should be added t o the elements t h a t are precipitated by stannous chloride i n the Bettendorf test for arsenic (page 79). On page 100, the prevention of interference of silver i n the dimethylaminobenzylidenerhodaninetest for gold by precipitation of silver chloride might be pointed o u t . A saturated solution of silver chloride i n
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0.1 5 hydrochloric acid gives no more color with the reagent than (1.1 mirrograni ufgold when the reaction is carried out in a t u b e of 1 cross section. I t seems t h a t phusphotungstic acid should be mentioned as a reagent for quinquevalent vanadium, since the yellow color it gives is several times stronger than t h a t produced by hydrogen peroxide. Although the fact is not perhaps of much practical importance, it is worth mentioning under the thiocyanate test for ferric iron (page 124) t h a t trivalent ruthenium also gives a red color with thiocyanate which is strong enough t o enable a microgram or so of this element l o be detected. S o reference is made t o the use of thiosulfate as comples former with foreign metals in the detection of zinc with dithizone (page 1391. Morin should be added to the reagents listed for beryllium (page 147). ..is a fluorescence reagent in sodium hydrmide medium i t is more sensitive than those now included. On page 150, under the peroside test for titanium, i t is stated that cerium also gi>es a color reaction. Thisisanerrorwhichforsomestrangereasonis found inanuniber of books. Actually, hydrogen peroside reduces ceric salts t o the colorless cerous. The use of S-hydrosyquinoline for the detection of indium and particularly gallium should be mentioned (page 162). The quinolate complexes of these metals can be cstracted with chloroform from solutions having the proper p H . The chloroform layer shows strong fluorescence in ultraviolet radiation. S o reaction is given for rhenium. The stannous chloride-thioryanate test for this element might u-ell be described, especial1)- since I\ e 1101v have a good method for the separation of rhenium from interfering molybdenum. The part dealing with organic spot tests has been exrendcd from 95 pages in t h r ]!VI!) edition t o 115 pages in the present edition. This part contains sections on the detectinn of elements in organic con~pounds,detection of characteristic groups, and identification of specific organic compounds. Again, Feigl has carried out the pioneer work in this field ~n which only a beginning has been made. I t is hardly possible t o develop within a short time a complete scheme of ”qualitative organic analysis by spot tests.” Since qualitative organic analysis is taught in most universitics by the organic chemistry departments, i t is unlikely t h a t many organic chemists ivill heconie acquainted with the organic part of Feigl’s book. This is t o be deplored and the author might consider the publication of a review of his contributions t o qualitative organic chemistry in sonic periodical which is readily available t o organic chemists, With increasing development of spot tests in organic analysis the publication of a separate volume on this subject might deserve consideration. If this is done, a more critical selection of reactions published in the literature would seem advisable. For esample, in the part dealing with the detection of nitrogen in organic conipounds fpage 315) the very sensitive Iijeldahl method could be added. Phosphorus in organic conipounds may also be detected by this method. Moreover, the oxidation of nitrogen t o nitrate b y the procedure of Hog1 (1033) might be included. Under aldehydes the reaction of Rawnitz (1931), and under glycolic acid the reaction of D4nigZ.s (page 300) might have been mentioned. E. B. S A S D E L L . I . i r . KOLTHOFF.
Polarographic. S’heorciische Gruiidlageii, Prablische .limfuhriitty u i i d Anuendimyeii d c r Elrblrolyse mi! der Iropfcndeu Quecbsi1berclc~;lrode. Ry J. HEYROVSKY. 511 PI).; 252 fig. Vienna: Springer ’i’erlag, 19-11, Lithoprinted by E d u a r d s Brothers, Inc , Ann Arhor, Vichigan, 1044. .4. book written by H e y r o ~ s k yon polarography hardly needs a recommendation. Xot only is Professor IIeyrovsky the originator of polarography, hut he and his associates have developed the theoretical fundamentals, practical performance, and the analytical and other applications of polarography. T h e present book is well l~alancedivith regard ro presentation of the theory :ind :he practical applications. In t h e first 210 pages a clear d i s c ~ s s i o nis given o i the theory of polarography. J n this part inore emphasis could have heen placed on the significance of exact numerical values of the difusion coefficient in the Ilkui.ii. equation. especial!y in the
