Twelve experiments described in the previous edition have been omitted and several experiments have been condensed by the elimination of same of the alternative procedures. For example, discussion of the Pulfrieh instrument has been deleted from the experiment on refractometry, and in the experiment on vapor pressure the isoteniseope method has been dropped while the Ramsay-Young method is retained. Experiments have been rewritten rather thoroughly to improve the clarity of presentstion without resorting to detailed instructions which would leave nothing to the students' initiative. In this, the authors have done a very commendable piece of work. Equations have been added to illustrate calculations, sueh as the correction of a manometer to zero degrees and the correction of pressure for the presence of water vapor. There is also in evidence an improvement in precision of same operations. Paragraphs on practical applications and suggestions for further work appear a t the end of each experiment, and a degree of flexibility as well as interest is thus added. References are also given a t the end of each experiment, but the reader will be disappointed to find that some of them have been out of print for a considerable time and are unavailable in many libraries. Part I1 of this hook discusses both the theory and application of many more advanced experimental methods. It obviously cannot cover the several subjects with the comprehensiveness of a multivolumed treatise and the research worker will not find i t a satisfactory substitute for such a treatise. Hou-ever, the graduate student as well as the undergraduate will find that these pages contain much helpful information. ALARIYA
WILLIAM B. BUNGER POLYTECHNIC INBT~TDTE
AWORN.ALAEAM*
ELEMWTARY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTAL GEOMETRICAL FEATURES OF CRYSTALS
M. I. Buerger, Professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. John Wiley & Sons 528 pp. Inc., New York, 1956. u i i i Many figs. and tables. 1 6 X 23.5 cm. $8.75.
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THIS book is a n excellent treatment of the symmetry of crystals, a subject which is basic for any study of the crystalline state. "The subject matter . . . falls naturally into three sections. About the first half of the book is devoted to a rational development of the megascopically observable symmetries of crystals. A second part . . is devoted to a. discussion of the internal ~ymmetriesof crystals. A third section contains some advanced material." Although the main treatment employs only elementary methods, the book ends with three chapters on group theory and its application.
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VOLUME 34, NO. 2, FEBRUARY, 1957
Thus we have a very clear and thorough development of the theory of space groups. Among the examples of substances crystallizing in the several classes, listed in Chapter 10, there are quite a few errors in formulas and names, but most of these (such as NalPO,.ZH.O on page 130) will be immediately obvious t o a. chemist and should not cause too much trouble. Professor Buerger has made many important contributions to the field of Xray crystallography, contributions which are quite familiar to many chemists. This latest book is a valudde contribution to the teaching (or learning) of crystallography. I t will be useful as a refresher for the research worker in chemical crystallography who has learned his crystallography the hard way and also for the beginner. It should be recommended reading for any chemist who is concerned with structure of crystals. E. C LINGAFELTER OI WABB~NOTON UNITERBITY S r m ~ ~ WABBINGTON e.
SODIUM: ITS MANUFACTURE, PROPERTIES AND USES
Marshall Sittig, Ethyl Corporation. New York. American Chemical Society Moncgraph No. 133. Reinhold Publishing 529 Corp., New York, 1956. viii pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $12.50.
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WITH the ever increasing applications of sodium in modern chemical technology, the appearance of this monograph is timely. I t will be welcomed and used by many. The emphasis is largely on industrial production and uses. Introductory chapters a n early work and current manufacturing methods are followed by a discussion of solubility and alloy formation, handling problems, and uses based on physicill properties such as sodium's superior qualities as a heat transfer medium and as a n electrical conductor. Chapter 6 deals with inorganic reactions (73 pp.), Chapter 7, withorganic reactions (87 ~ p ) and , Chapter 8, with analytical chemistry (14 pp.). These sections are concerned with reactions involving sodium metal rather than those of its many important compounds such as NsC1, ete., except as they are so related. As expected in the monograph series, the authors give what appears to he 8. very complete set of references to original research. These are so numerous, e.g., 403 in the chapter on solubility and alloy formation, 475 on inorganic reactions, 679 on organic reactions, that only a brief indication can be given of the content of each. References to a. great deal of work from the patent literature and t o reports not published in usual journals are included which will be of considerable value to those engaged in or anticipating research in the field. Each chapter contains numerous schematic diagrams of well-established processes as well s s photographs of equipment and apparatus where such are informative. Many tables and graphs of experimental data are presented.
Chapter 9 presents a detailed summary and critical analysis of thermodynamic and physical properties of mdium, with the majority of the 80 pages devoted to the vaporization (and dimenzation) problem. The authors find it impossible to correlate high and low temperature vapor-pressure results and conclude that greater reliance should he placed in the farmer. Interpretation of vapor-pressure data is complicated somewhat by the fact that the vapor phase is composed of a mixture of monomer and dimeric molecules throughout most of the measu~ahle range. A perhaps overly detailed discussion of this aspect of the problem is resented with data given in ~ s s i o u sconvenient forms in mare than fifty tables. I n addition to vaporiza,tion data. and related basic thermodynamic properties, tables are included with a discussion of the results of various investigators giving the density, viscosity, surface tension and parachar, thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and heat capacity (also acoustical velocity and compressibility) of elementary sodium a t various temperatures. The book most certainly fulfills the author's hope that it "will provide an entree to the broader body of technical literature which it representband in so doing, will encourage chemists and engineers to work with sodium-an interesting, versatile, and useful material." N . W. GREGORY U ~ r v ~ n s mOFr WASHLWTON SEATTLE, W*BRINGTON
THE EXAMINATION OF NEW ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Walter T. Smith, Ir., Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, and Ralph L. Shriner, Deparhnent of Chemistry, State University of Iowa. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1956. vii 136 pp. 47 figs. 21 X 28 em. $3.50.
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THIS volume contains methods for the determination of functional groups and elements, directions for preparing analytical samples, criteria of purity, weighing procedures, and molecular weight determinations. Semimicro methods are used, but some mscromethods are also given. Most of the methods included in thin manual are selected from articles in the literature and rewritten in terms easily understood by students unfamiliar with sueh sndyses. The directions are specific enough so that students can work independently. Apparatus required is inexpensive and most of it can be assembled by the students themselves. Adequate directions are given for preparing equipment and reagents. The methods used supposedly have been tried in comparative situations and have been found to be most effectivein a high percentage of compounds with a majority of students. Problems for student use are included in a separate section. This recent addition to a field of organic chemistry, that is characterized by a limited number of suitable texta, should
