RECENT BOOKS A GERMAN-ENGLISH DICTIONARY FOR CHEMISTS. Austin M. Patterson, Antioch College. Second edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1935. xx 411 pages. 12 X 17.5 cm. Flexible binding. $3.00.
his choice of treatments. The historical approach is by all odds the most informative and inspiring for the beginner. Few people, reading this hook, can fail t o have the desire to learn more about these matters. This work is heartily recommended as a text for graduate study and as a ground breaker for anyone interested in mod- chemical thought. UN-PS11Y On MAPWAND MALCOLM M. HARING
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Only those whose use of chemical German goes back prior to the publication of the first edition of Patterson's "GetmanEnglish Dictionary for Chemists" can appreciate what a tremendous help this book has been t o chemists and chemical engineers. The object of this book is to make it easier for us to use the chemical literature and in the second edition the author has made a very considerable improvement. Not only have more words been ndded, whose use is shown to he necessary, and this increase may be roughly estimated by noting that the second edition has 411 pages in comparison with 342 for the first edition with its addenda, but throughout the entire dictionary a close inspection indicates that many new translations have been added for a large number of the German words. Indeed, the reviewer looks upon this new edition as almost a rewriting of the first edition. On the other hand, the author has not unduly enlarged the dictionary by the addition of German words whose translation is self-evident. The author has retained his very excellent and useful introduction, wherein some of the basic principles of German chemical nomenclature are discussed. The entire dictionary is a scholarly and a most important work. It is indeed hard to see how bny chemist or chemical engineer can get along without a copy of "Patterson" a t his right band. ~ a a ~ UNIWRSXTV ns R. N o n n ~ sS ~ E V E LAPAVBTIB,INDIANA oa MATTER. Herman T. Briscoe, S ~ n u c r u n eAND PROPERTIES Professor of Chemistry, Indiana University. First edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New Yark and London, 1935. x 420 pp. 139 figs. 14 X 20.5 cm. $3.75. This book is neither a comprehensive treatise, critical review, nor popular work on the subject. It is an attempt "to interpret from the chemist's point of view same of the facts and opinions concerning matter as they have been discovered or suggested from the time of Aristotle t o the time of Bohr and Schr6dinger." I t is the outgrowth of several years' lectures designed to give graduate students in chemistry, not specialists in this narrow field, a good idea of the trend and possibilities of modern thought. The development of the theme follows the historical order. Beginning with the Greek philosophers, the author takes us rapidly through the time of Dalton and the ~oqrkof MendeMeff to the beginning of the 20th century. Then In order are discussed radioactivity, the electron, protons and other positive particles, the atomic nucleus and the determination of the nudear charge, the structure of crystals, the structure of the atom from the standpoint of the octet theory, radiation, the structure of the Bohr atom and the origin of spectral lines, electronic distribution about the nucleus, valence, and the new quantum mechanics. Fifty-six pages are devoted to the last subject alone. Although the book is professedly somewhat elementary in character, nevertheless many of the more important mathematical relationships are ably discussed and even derived. There are abundant illustrations. Literature references are scanty, but t o each chapter is appended a very good list of highly speialized, original, and authoritative works on the subject. The style is clear and attractive. The author shows a knack for the use of helpful analogies. The introduction states that many subjects have been omitted. To a certain extent, this is true. Raman spectra and kindred subjects are ignored and Perrin's work on the Brownian movement is dismissed with a word. Nevertheless, the author has been too modest in his claims. Here is, indeed, a full-coune dinner for the graduate student who wishes to become oriented and lav a 6rm foundation for further study. The reviewer wishes to compliment Dr. Briscw especially on
COLLBCB PIBK.MD.
UNIT PROCESSESIN ORGANICSYNTHESIS.P. H. Groggins, Editor-in-Chief. The Color Laboratory, U. S. Department of Apricultwe. F i s t edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company, 689 pp. 15 X Inc., New York and London, 1935. xii 23 cm. $5.50.
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The purpose of this hook, as stated by the author, was to compile a text for advanced students in chemistry and chemical engineering, arranged as a study of the unit processes involved in organic syntheses of the type carried out in industry. This involves, according to the author, an examination of the reactants, an inquiry into the mechanism of the reaction, a knowledge of the chemical and physical factors involved, observation regarding the design and construction of equipment, and finally a study of typical technical applications. The book was edited by Dr. Groggins, with the aid of ten contributors who wrote the articles on special fields. As might he expected in any book composed by a corps of specialists, there are a few discrepancies between the statements made on tbe same subject in different places in the volume, but these may he regarded as differences of opinion rather than errors. The hook appears to be admirably suited to the purpose for which the author states it is applicahle-a textbook for advanced students in chemistrvand chemical ensheerins. The unit processes are disaisqed logically, clcarly, and without undue entpha..is upon either the theory or pracrsr., so that the studrnt should ohrain a good tlird's-e).c view of each of the unit processes discussed. The unit pmceSses themselves are well selected, covering the chemical reactions involved in industrial synthetic organic chemistry quite comprehensively. The book is well indexed, and we believe it a valuable addition to the literature of this field.
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QLTAN~lmTIvE Cltan!rcAL ANALYSIS.Arfrul S o c k . Pmfersur in the Technical High School at Karisruhe, and ,lrlhur Slohlcr. I.nivcrsilv of Rcrlin. Translated from the fourth C k m n n edition by winton Petnode, Research Chemist, General Electric Company, and L. AL Dennis.Emeritus Professor of Chemistry a t Cornell University. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York City, 1935. x f 176 pp. 30 figs. 13.5 X 20.25 cm. $1.75.
he hook contains six chapters, as follows: Chapter I. Introduction Chapter 11. General Considerations (apparatus, technic, etc.) Chapter 111. Volumetric Analysis Chapter IV. Gravimetric Analysis ChapterV. Electroanalysis Chapter VI. Electrometric Volumetric Analysis The volumetric analysis includes the usual standardizations of acids and bases, also of oxidizing and reducing agents. There are the usual oractice titrations. Perhaus the unusual thine is the reduction of nitrates with ~ e v a r d a kalloy ( C U - A l - ~ n r There are the usual oxidations and reductions, and also such precipitations as that of silver as thiocyanate and as chloride (Gay-Lussac method). Zinc is precipitated as ferrocyanide. The g r a h e t r i c work includes, among other things, the usual
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determinations of chloride and sulfate, the analysis of certain minerals such as feldspar, dolomite, and chalcopyrite; phosphate by the molyhdate method, separation of iron from manganese by use of hexamethylenetetramine, separation of arsenic by distillation as chloride, a bromometric method for antimony, and a calorimetric (sulfide) method for small amounts of lead. Magnesium is precipitated and weighed as magnesium 8-hydroxy quinolate. Eleetroanalysis covers more ground than is usual in elementary manuals. It includes a determination of copper, separation of copper from nickel, separation of silver from copper by use of graded potential, use of rotated anode and mercury cathode, and, finally, determination of capper, zinc, and tin by a combination of gravimetric, volumetric, and electrolytic methods. The electrometric titrations include pennanganic-iron and a silver titration for mixed iodide and chloride. The procedures are clear and concise, and the work of translation has been well done. The translators recommend this hook because it pays very little attention to physico-chemical explanations, claiming that the late trend in this direction is unfortunate because too little time is left for development of technic. The reviewer must take issue with the translators a t just this point. If there is any branch of chemistry which has profited by application of physical chemistry i t is certainly analytical. I n fact, there are many analytical processes which can neither be explained nor well done without the use of physical chemistry. I t is true that analytical chemistry is an art, but i t is also a science: and i t seems very unfair t o lead a stndent t o think that the manipulative side is the more important. Moreover, it is not true that a proper teaching of the scientific side leaves too little time for the manipulative side. The one is taught largely in the classroom and the other in the laboratory, and the latter will not be neglected if the teacher is "on the job." Again, a student who has been given the proper scientific background will Learn the practical side much more readily, because he sees ihe W. H. CHAPIN reasons for the procedures.
p. 5,l. 2--cryst$s of class 1 show no symmetry. p. 23,l. 11-(111) is read "one one minus one." pp. 37, 3 W l a s s e s 19 and 22 are hexagonal. not rhamhohedral. p. 44--hexagonal pyramidal means 6 (not 3) cleavage planes; tetragonal prismatic means 2 (not 1). p. 89-X-ray workers place Ba(N0a)s in class 30 (p. 40; = Tc = Pa3); this may account for its lack of optical activity. p. 132-"twinkling" is an interesting term; defined on p. 150. p. 144.1. 23-refractometers extending well above 1.70 are not uncommon. pp. 153 st sep.-fir used in place of mr. p. 157-y used in place of 7 . pp. 158 et ssp-"optic normal section" is used t o mean a section containing the optic axes, because the optic axes are then normal to the axis of the microscope (p. 182). "Optic axial section" is used for one normal to an optic axis. p. 159, I. 2&@arallel is better than straight (extinction). p. 160, Fig. 147-010shouldread 001. p. 169--formula of diopside does not agree with that on p. 160; formula of microcline is erroneous; trace of pericline twinningon 010 (Fig. 159) is too steep for plagioclase. These comments are all rather minor and do not serve to detract seriously from the value of the book. Any teacher willing to cover optical methods with polarized light in a course separate from (and presumably preceding) one on general microchemical methods will find this book different from any in English known t o the writer, and careful examination is unreservedly recommended. The tariff on scientilic books apparently operates in this case, as in so many others, to increase by 50 per cent. the cost of a text of great potential value in the United States. TEE u ~ ~ v e ~ s OF r r cnrc~oo v D. JEROMEFISHER C~1C100. ILLINOIS
O s s n ~ mCOLLBGB OBBI-LIN, ORID
CRYSTALS AND THE P O ~ I S I NMICROSCOPE G (A Handbook for Chemists and Others). N. H. Hartshorne and A . Stuart of the University College of Swansea. Foreword by G. T. Morgan. Edward Arnold and Co., London (Longmans, Green and Co., New York City), 1934. viii 272 pp. 217 figs. 14 X 21.5 cm. $6.00.
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This rather small book by a chemist and a geologist, excellently illustrated with line drawings, succinctly and carefully covers its subject. Chapter beadings (with number of pages to each) follow: I, Crystalline State (7); 11, Morphobgy (41); 111, Optical Properties (43); IV, Polarising Microscope (29); V, Parallel Light Examination (46); VI, Convergent Light Examination (48); VII, Examples of Use (13); VIII, Methods and Experiments (29). As is to be expected, the major portion of the book is given over to optical methods. The section on morphology, however, is treated a t satisfactory length. It covers indices of faces, habit, cleavage, twinning, and lists the 32 classes with their symmetries (and examples) by systems. Chapters III-VI call for no particular comment as regards contents and arrangement, though one is very favorably impressed in respect to clarity of exposition, accuracy, and completeness of coverage. Chapter VII cites and briefly describes over 50 published examples of the use of the polarizing microscope in inorganic and organic studies, giving a fair idea of their variety, but is of course far from exhaustive. The final chapter (followed by a page of references to determinative tables and an index) summarizes in systematic fashion the methods of study of non-opaque crystals and describes 14 experiments to be carried out on laboratory-grown crystals which serve to illustrate well the principles covered in the book, including the special value of optical methods in attacking certain chemical problems. While the hook is remarkably free from errors, same were noted. These and some controversial points are as follows:
BIOCKEMICAL LABOMTORY METHODS FOR STUDENTS OF THE BIOLOGICAL S c m ~ c s s . Clarence A. Morrow, Ph.D.. Late Assistant Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, and William M. Sandstront,,Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Agricultural Biochemistrf,'University of Minnesota. John Wiley & Sans. Inc.. New York City, 1935. xv 319 pp. 38 figs. 12 tables. 15 X 23 cm. 53.75 net.
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This laboratory manual is designed to accompany Gortner's "Outlines of Biochemistry." The opening chapter deals with the colloidal state; the classes of colloids, and their behavior, diffusion, hydrogen-ion concentration, and surfice phenomena in solutions are illustrated with an extensive series of experiments. Then follow chapters on Physical Chemical Constants of Plant Saps, Oxidation-Reduction Potential, Proteins. Carbohydrates, Glucosides and Tannins, Fats and Allied Substances, Enzymes, and Plant Pigments. There are many experiments on the preparation of individual amino acids, their estimation, and the preparation of their derivatives. I n addition to the conventional exercises on the carbohydrates there is an excellent section devoted to the pre~arationof unusual sugars. The material dealing with plant pigments touches upon topics of interest to students of nutrition. I n many instances the directions for the experiments are preceded by a discussion of the principle involved or the significance of the topic, and a t the end of every experiment is a list of pertinent references. The directions are clear while a t the same time the student is compelled to call more or less an his own resources and experience. There is a conspicuous lack of consideration of biochemistry of animal tissues and body fluids; in other words, there is little appeal to those t o whom biochemistry means medical chemistry. Nevertheless, this new edition represents a distinct contribution to the teaching of general biochemistry. ARTHUR H. S M I . ~ YALE UKIYBBS*
NEWHIYEN, CONNBCTICWT
