RECENT BOOKS DISTILLATION.Joseph Reilly, D.Sc., F.Inst.P., F.R.C., Sc.I., F.I.C., Professor of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Methuen & Co., Ltd., London, 1936. vii 118 pp. 41 figs., 10 x 16.5cm. Price in America $1.25, through The Chemical Publishing Go. of New York City. Stated price in England 2s 6d, net each. This book is one of a series by Methuen & Co. Ltd. of London on chemical subjects and therefore apparently conforms t o other books in this series in scope and purpose, namely to present the salient facts of a particular narrow subject in a concise yet authoritative manner, so as to serve as a convenient handbook either for specialists in the field covered or for persons of technical training to explain the principles of the subject plus selected practical examples. The author has been successful in condensing and correlating a considerable amount of difficult fractional distillation theory i n the space available to him. The examples of fractionating columns and equipment given are up to date and the additional references given to the literature are well selected and helpful. The section on “Aeeotropic Mixtures” is authoritatively. written with a special emphasis on refining alcohol by azeotropic agents with which the author is especially familiar. The subject of vacuum distillation in the laboratory is well covered. Destructive distillation and sublimation are passed over fairly briefly. The author’s job of selection from the wide field of fractional distillation topics has been a very difficult one and doubtless no two men’s opinions could be expected to check even closely on such selection. The reviewer would have preferred somewhat less material on vacuum fractionation in favor of more discussion of the theoretical and practical effects of varying the number of plates in a column on the results and in consideration of various types of applications. Also a brief survey of the extremely important applications of fractional distillation in the petroleum industry would perhaps have been desirable. I n the section on Azeotropes there should have been included brief descriptions of the azeotropic distillation of acetic acid and instances if not a table of still other azeotropic agents. Aside from these suggestions rather than criticisms the book seems to be well worth reading and keeping on the desk for handy reference on the fundamentals of fractional distillation and on azeotropic alcohol distillation. WALTER J. PODBIELNIAK
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PODBIELNIAK INDUBTRIAL R~D~BARCH AND ENQINEERXNQ LABORATORIES CHICAQO, ILLINOIS
COLLOIDCHEMISTRY,PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS.Jerome Alexander, M.Sc., National Research Council. 4th ed. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York City, 1937. xviii 505 pp. 43 figs. 16 x 24 cm. $4.50. Jerome Alexander’s brief introduction t o COLLOIDCHEMISTRY, whose first edition was published in 1918, has grown beyond recognition in this imposing fourthedition, of 1937. It now affords an unequalled assembly of the most various fields of knowledge illustrating colloid behavior. The author has had the advantage of being editor of the comprehensive survey of colloid chemistry, compiled by many of the active 209
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workers in the subject, in four large volumes. He now gives his own personal conspectus of all the interesting items which appear t o have any relevance t o colloid systems. His avowed object is ‘ I . . t o form a broad mosaic which gives a coherent picture of nature. . . .” and “ . . . breaking down the artificial mental barriers arising from scientific specialization. . .” “Observable facts are stressed, theoretical considerations being incidentally invoked so that the facts may be betfer coordinated and their import understood.” The book makes fascinating reading as it is filled with the most interesting information, some of it very topically up-to-date. It is addressed to the general reader as well as to the student. It is not a text in the ordinary sense. For the most part i t dispenses with mathematical theory and with tabulations of data. The industrialist in whatsoever field, the medical man, or the biologist, chemist, or physicist will find references to facts of his own knowledge placed in intriguing juxtaposition to others from diverse or highly specialized fields. Naturally, each will wish to pause and study in greater detail the considerations which are only touched upon with regard to his particular interest, but this stimulus is one of the main purposes of the book. The book covers so much ground that it is of little avail to quote the chapter headings of its four hundred fifty-four pages which are followed by a bibliography, a glossary, and full author and subject indexes. The historical portions and the general introductions and general properties are dealt with in the first one hundred fifty-eight pages, then follow practical applications, finally extending into biology, medicine, genetics, hormones, vitamins, physiology, pathology, bioelectricity, and lastly a twenty-fourth chapter describing simple experiments which the general reader can attempt for himself t o illustrate some of the chief principles which have been discussed. The printing and make-up of the book are excellent. JAMES W. MCBAIN
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STANFORD UNIVERSITY STANFORD UNIVERSITY. CALIFORNIA
CHEMISTRY.Frank C. Whitmore, Dean of the School of Chemistry and Physics, Pennsylvania State College. First Edition, D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York City, 1937. x 1080 pp. 14 x 21.5 cm. $7.50. This book describes the facts and generalizations of organic chemistry. It does this without the dreariness characteristic of reference books. The author steers a happy mean between a college textbook and a reference book. The text is very reliable and up-to-date. Much discussion of the theoretical aspects of the science would be beyond the scope of the book, and the author shows, in general, commendable restraint in avoiding such topics. Occasionally even greater restraint might have been exercised. For instance, all reference t o the theory of resonance in organic compounds might have been omitted. Actuallyit is often used to explain facts, though no adequate account of the theory and its implications are given. The reviewer doubts whether the changes of position of hydrogen atoms implied in the resonances suggested for pyrazole and imidazole are consistent with the theory of resonance. The book fills a real need, and should achieve the high measure of success that i t deserves on its own merits. G E R A L D BRANCH OnGANIc
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UNNERSITT OF CALIFORNIA BEPX~LIIT, CALIFORNIA
