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through a great variety of texts and journals, many of nhich are almost inaccessible to the average xyorker. Electrokinetics deals lvith the electrical behavior of the phase boundary a t interfaces The solid-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces have been most n idely studied, although unquestionably solid-gas and liquid-gas interfaces shoTr similar phenomena. .kt these interfaces, electrokinetics is concerned n i t h the so-called Helmholtz double layer, and should not he confused n i t h the Nernst, or thermodynamic, or membrane potential. The book opens n i t h an excellent “Historical” chapter n hich adequately covers the literature from Reuss (1808) t o Helmholtz (1879). This is followed b y “Early theorj- and related experiments,” n here the contributions of Helmholtz, Quincke, Wiedemann, Lamb, von Smoluchov ski, Perrin, I’ellat and others, in building up the theory of a rigid double layer are considered. These chapters are folloned by others on “Earlv confirmation of theory’’ and an excellent discussion of “Alethods.” A discussion of “Recent theory and related experiments,” in n hich the reviewer as delighted t o find a thorough treatment of the diffuse layer theory of Gouy and Debye and Huckel, closes the theoretical section. Later chapters deal with “Proteins and some related compounds,” “General effect of salts on inert surfaces,” “Inorganic surfaces,” “Organic surfaces,” “Gases,” “Blood cells, spermatozoa, tissues, etc.,” and “Bacteria, antibodies, x iruses, and related systems.” An appendix follons, n hich includes a key to the mathematical symbols used in the formulas, a table of the numerical value of the various constants and factors, and a list of patents covering various phases of electrokinetic behavior. Author and subject indices close the volume. Throughout the hook the mathematical treatment is excellent. The author, while himself actively doing research in this field, presents impartially his o n n viewpoint and the vieirpoints of others. One sometimes even nishes he nere not such an inipartial critic. As one glances through the literature references one is impressed v,ith the fact t h a t the vast majority date since 1920. Industry. hiology, and medicine have all profited by the use of electrokinetic technics They nill profit still more as workers in this field are multiplied, and this hook nil1 he a great assistance to t h a t end. I t is highly recommended to all n ho are interested in the solution of the problems of interfaces. I t should be in all chemical, physical, a n d biophysical libraries. The price nill be the only deterrent to Its purchase by many individuals. Ross AIKES GORTKER.
Physico-chemical Practzcal Exercises. By 17’. N. RIE ASD JOSEPH REILLY. 19 x 13 cm.; xiv 276 pp. London: Methuen and Co., 1934. Price: 7s. 6d. The authors of the nell-knon n book, “Physico-chemical Methods,” now in its second edition, nhich is so useful to the advanced norker for reference, have here given us a much smaller volume, intended for students x-orking for an honors degree in chemistry. The hook begins n ith a mathematical consideration of error, nomography, a n d calibration of apparatus. Important as this is, it IT-ould have been better, in the revieirer’s opinion, to have placed this section a t the end of the book The student beginning n o r k on physical chemistry is too apt to concentrate on the elimination of amall errors and unknon ingly introduce larger ones. The experiments described, seventy-three in all, are many of them usual in such textbooks; there are, honever, interesting additions, e.g., in surface tension, Jaeger’s method, viscosity bv the falling sphere, Rast and Menzies’ methods in determination of molecular neight, and the use of the glass electrode and valve electrometer. On
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the other hand, exercises not usually found in an elementary textbook are described: e.g., measurement of gas viscosity, vapor pressures, heat conductivity of gases, and the Kernst calorimeter. Theory is introduced TI here necessary. There are seventy-four diagrams in the text, some of nhich might be improved, e.g , the Pulfrich refractometer, capillary electrometer et c . The student n ho has the time in his degree course to FT ork through all these experiments will have laid an excellent foundation for a study of physical chemistry and the book, a t its reasonable price, can be strongly recommended. IT. H . PPATTERSOX.
Krzstallchemie. By 0. HASEEL.(Band 23 of Wissenschaftliche Forschungsberichte, Naturuissenschaftliche Reihe. 22 x 15 cm.; vii 114 pp. Dresden and Leipzic: Steinkopff, 1934. Price: unbound, 9 R M ; bound, 10 RM. LTntil a year or so ago many of the existing treatises on x-rays and their applica-
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tions to crystal physics and chemistry nere rather out of date, a n d some of the latest viens mere only t o he found in isolated papers. Yew editions of iTeell-knonn norks have no\$ appeared, and in addition n e have before us a small book by Dr. Hassel dealing n i t h n h a t is generally referred to in English as chemical crystallography. Dr. Hassel’s on n researches on coordination compounds are his passport to this field, and in Kristallchemzt he has giben a lucid account of the laRs t h a t may be deduced from crystal structure determinations by means of x-rays. W.L. Bragg was the first to deduce approximate atomic radii from crystal-structure determinations and this has been folloned in later years by the elaborations of Goldschmidt, Pauling, and Zachariasen. Using the figures for atomic size, and electrostatic energy considerations, Pauling has also deduced a set of rules of great importance in structure determination. Dr. Hassel’s book deals with all these points, and n i t h many more, of which the crystal chemistry of the silicates and of the intermetallic compounds may be mentioned. The treatment throughout is simple and avoids all reference to the various technical methods of obtaining results. In this respect it is particularly valuable t o physical chemists, particularly a t a time a h e n questions of atomic binding are receiling so much attention. It is a book to be read side by side n i t h Sidgwick’s CotalentLznk. There are few illustrations, 11hich is perhaps a pity, but this consideration was no doubt dictated b y the fact t h a t the book is one of a series.
J. T. RAXDALL.
