BOOK REVIEWS Quanlil.4ve Inorganic Analysis
R. Beleher, University of Birmingham, England, and A. J. Nutten, Government, Laboratory, Hong Kong. 2nd ed. (Buttprworths Seirnt,ific Publications) Butterworths (i. Co. (Canada) Ltd., Toronto, 1960. x 300 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 25 om. $7.
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As stated on the dust jacket, this book is "A Laboratory Manual for Students As such i t and Practising Chemists!' has much more emphasis on the anlytical procedures and less on chemical equilibrium theory than most of the current books on quantitative analysis used in colleges and universities in this country. This second edition is in general like the first with some mod5crttions in the procedures deemed de~irablein light of experience or n,here new method8 or mat?rials have become available. The first section of the book deals w i t h the usual introduction to analytical vork: cleaning of equipment, methods of filtrstion, procedures for weighing, etc. I t is interesting to note that these authors believe the swinging pointer balance to heobsolete so that analysts should be trained on aperiodic or single pan balances. Each group of analytical procedures is preceded by a diseuasion of the general principles involved in this type of snalysis. A particular analytical procedure is introduced by a general discussion of the method followed by a section on the interferences to be expeoted. The detailed procedure for the analysis is then given. followed by the method for calculation of the reaults. I n several instances, additional methods for the same determination are given, sometimes in detail and sametimes in general terms. Each section is conoluded with a generous liat of references. There is no wwtted specc in this book. Although it contains only some 370 pages there are inclrtded the following numbers of analytical procedures: gravimetric, 24; titrimetric, 70: colorimetric, 7; plus some potentiomctrie titrations, elwtrolytie analyses and industrial analyses such as steel, brass, and limestone. In addition to the numerous analytical proeeduros there are short sections on theory of precipitation, acid-base relationahips and theory of indicatorn, colorimctry, adsorption indicators, and balancing oxidation-reduction equations. These seetions are brief and it is apparently the authors intention that the reader should consult other books for further development of the theory. As a laboratory manual or a reference book on most ordinary analyses of inorganic chemistry this book neems very adequate. As a textbook for the teacher who wishes to emphasize chemical equilibria in quantiative analysis this book would have t o bc supplemented by other SourCPS.
PAULK. GLASOE Wittenberg Uniuemity Springfield, Ohio (Continued on. page A461
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Journal of Chemical Education
