BOOK REVIEWS element of a group is somewhat disconcerting. The author has collected n. large body of lit,t,lc-linowndata (there are 111 tables in tho text) and provided much interesting discussion. He leaves no doubt that the refractions of compounds can be used to provide valuable st,ructural insights; a t t,lw s:me time, he makes i t plain that thorough and bhaughtful preliminary study is required to establish the necessary corrolntions. The reviewer knows of no othrr comparahle u w k , and accordingly rwommonds Batsanov's book as a minor but signifiesnt contribution to the literat,ure an the invest,igl?tion of chemical structures. G o R n o ~G. EVANS Tufts Uniuersily M ~ d j o ~Mnssachusetls d
Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry. Volume 1 C, Classical Analysis Edited by Cecil L. Wilson, Queen's Universityof B~lfast,Ireland, and Daoid W . Wilson, Sir John Cass College, London. Elsevier Publishing Co., Amsterdam, 1062. (Availnhle through American EIsevier Publishing Co., Inc., New York 17, N. Y.) xraa 728 pp. Tables. 1G X 23 cm. $24.
+
This part of Volume I maintains the very high s t a n d d s and excellence of the pr~vioustwo parts (THIS JOURNAL, 37,
A824 / Journal .of Chemicol Education
A382 (1960), 38, A766 (1961)) which describe the theoretied aspects and general applications of the classical methods of analysis. Included in tho eight chapters of Volume IA and ID are the topics of inorganic and organic qualitative imalyais, inorganic gravimetric and titrimetric analysis, and org-nnic quantitative analysis. The two Chapters ( I S and X of Volume I) in IC present the use of these earlier described principles and applications in the determination of t,he individual olomenta Chaptcr IX, Main Group Elements, consists of 363 pnges and detailed discussions for 34 elements subdivided into seven main groups. Chapter X, Transition Elements, consists of 348 pages and discuesions subdivided into eight sub-groups far 30 elements plus the lnnthnnons and platinum metals. The approximately 4000 references (for esample, 355 for iron) are each referred to in tho text and give some indication of the scope of coverage. The actual laboratory directions seem vory complete and, in general, include "notes," separations and procedures, interferences, chemical e q u a tions, and expressions for per cent cnlculstions. This volume can serve ns n lnlm ratory manual for many analyses. Much of the analytical chemistry is presented for. each element as i t is actually "encountered in practice." The editors are to be commended for carrying out this approach where practical wther than simply to give laboratory procedures for each element in rel.zt.ivelp "pure" form or samples.
There are no serious criticisms of this part of Volume I. The text is practically devoid of figures and tables. The lab lxocedures are not intended for the novice, hut are adequate for a capable analyst. The treatment of all material has indeed been comprehensive, and s s has been stated previously in the earlier reviews, the works are "peerless and are recomnlended far d l teachers of analyticnl chemistry and d l other personnel sssocinted with this ficld." J. M. PAPPENHAGEN Ifenpm College Garnbiet; Ohio Reagent Chemicdr ond Standards
Joseph Roszn, formerly of Merck & Co., Inc. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, 1961. 4th ed. vii 557 pp. 16 X 23.5 em. $14.50.
+
The fourth edition of this reference book is an up-to-date compilation of reagent standards with assays and tests for inlpurities, common solution formulations, etc. The basic format remains the same as t h ~ tfor the previous edition (THISJOURNAL, 32, 496,[1955]) with the more significant changes being as follows: (a) inclusion of some 30 new reagents, including three vitamins and ten L-configuration amino acids, (b) a table of gravimetric conversion factors, and (e) a table which gives the pH of solutions a t a stated concentration for some 120 common
(Continued on page 9826)
BOOK REVIEWS chemicals. This book continues to serve as a. valuable addition to every chemical library or analytienl chemistry laboratory.
J M. PAPPEXXAGEN K m y a College Gamhzer, Ohto Standard Methods of Chemical Analysis. Volume 1, The Elements
Edited by N . Howell Furman, Wake Forest College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 6th ed. D. Van Nostrand Co., Ine., Princeton, New Jersey, 19fi'2. xix 1401 pp. Figs. and tahles. 16 X 23.5 cm. 525.
+
The preface states that the charaeteristics of earlier editions have been maintained in the present sixth edition. This has required the addition of a third volume, devoted entirely to chapters on physical and instruments1 methods and their applications. I t has also newssitsted the publication of the threevalumcs separately, a t approximately annual intervals. In Volume I, the elements are taken up, in general in dphabctical order. .48 may be expected, tho quality of the chapters vmieries with the hackground and specialized experience of the contributors. Some chapters have been extensively revised and brought up-to-date and are very satisfactory. Others are not quite up to standards. The sections on Detection tend to be old-fashioned, and advantage is often not taken of selective and sensitive organic reagents, nor of microscopical crystal detectiona Sometimes dubious choices are made among methods. Thus, for colorimetric determination of nickel the dithiaoxalate method is described, with no mention of the "oxidized" dimethylglyoxime method (Ni chapter, p. 703), although the latter is recommended in other chapters treating the determination of nickel in various elements. Many omissions could be pointed out. No colorimetric or fluorimetric method is given for gallium, the platinum metals and others. Separation of germanium by carbon tetrachloride extraction is not mentioned nor is determination of germanium with phenylfluorine. Same potentiometric methods are briefly described; for example, titrstion of ferrous iron (p. 551), of chromium(V1). of cobalt(II), and of manganese, but no potentiometric titretion is mentioned in the chapters dealing with the various halides. Amperametric titration of copper, but not of other elements,ismentioned. Presumably electrochemical methods of analysis will be dealt with ,& greater detail in Volume 111. The Hurley calorimeter (p. 574) would seem to have had its day. Probably the chief value of this volume lies in the large number of detailed procedures given for analyses of commercially important materials (ferrous and nonferrous alloys, ores) in which it is superior to any of the large number of general (Continued on page A828)
A826
/
Journal of Chemical Education
