RECENT BOOKS SYSTEMATIC INORGANIC C m a a r s r n ~(of the Fifth and Sixth Group Nonmetallic Elements). Don M. Yosf, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, and Horace Russell, Jr., Instructor in Chemistry, California Institute of Technology. PrenticeHall, Inc., 1944. xx 4- 423 pp. 78 figs. 109 tables. 15 X 23 cm. $4.60. The spirit of this hook is well indicated by the opening paragraph of the preface: "Inorganic chemistry has undergone a marked transition in the last three decades as it has grown from an almost purely desniptive branch of science to a field in which all of the modern developments of physics and chemistry find application. I n this field the quantum theory plays an important role in the establishment of energy states and molecular structures and in the explanation of the periodic law; thermodynamics finds application in the prediction of the degree of completion of chemical reactions a t eonilibrium: statistical mechanics makes oossihle the ealculatiou of the thrrmodynamic properties of substanrrr from qtomic and molmlar data and deepens our imiyht into the still unsolved problrmi of the rare. of rhrmh.al rrarrhm.;: finally, the phenomena of natural and artificial radioactivity not only increase our knowledge of the fundamental structure of matter hut also. through the use of radio-elements as tracers, greatly extend our understanding of the mechanisms of chemical reactions. From these considerations it is evident that any discussion of a chemical element or compound iscomplete onlywhen thespectroscopic, structural, thermodynamic, chemical, kinetic, and nuclear properties have been considered. I n addition t o these more modern aspects of the subject, due consideration must be given to the older, humbler, but nevertheless important, chemical facts that one finds in simple experiments with test tubes, beakers, and flasks." In spite of the fact that the scope of this book is limited to the chemistry of only six elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen. sulfur, selenium, and tellurium), it is s volume which every teacher of inorganic chemistry, and every practicing inorganic chemist, should own. I t represents a new point of view in the writing of inorganic textbooks, and will be stimulating and thought-provoking even to those who do not wish to use it as a text. The factual material of inorganic chemistry, both old and new, is carefully selected and critically discussed with frequent references to the original literature. The great amount of information which is summarized in the figures and tables gives the book considerable value in reference workvalue which is enhanced by the detailed indexes. The usefulness of this volume is diminished, of course ,by its very limited scope. I t is hoped that the authors will see fit t o extend the work as won as time permits. JOHN C. BAILAR, JR. UN~YBPSITI 0 s ILLINOIS
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UEBAN*. ILLINOlS
A LABORATORY MANUALoa PLASTICSAND SYNTHETIC RESINS. G. F. D'Aklio, Director of Research, Prophylactic Brush Company. John Wiley and Sons. Inc., New York. 1943. vii 134 pp. 19 X 27 cm. 82.W.
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The first laboratory manual in the field of plastics contains 88 experiments which include all the common types of polymeric reactions except the preparation of the polyalkylene sulfides. Twenty-six test methods are given for determining various physical and chemical properties of the resins. Enough practical experiments are included to satisfy teachers who are sending students directly into the field. Suggested extensions of some experiments are given which should stimulate the best students. and some of these might well be used for problems in research on thc undergraduate level. The questions included are thought provoking and pertinent. About one-fourth of the experiments
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were repeated in this laboratory and the directions were found t o he adequate for a competent undergraduate who had had a year of organic chemistry. The reviewer would suggest one addition t o the manual: a statement of the average yields which might be expected from the reactions that are organic preparations of simple compounds. The appendix contains a list of sources where materials and apparatus may be purchased. LEALLYN B. C L ~ P BROWNUNWBPSITY PBOYIDBNCB, R ~ D ISLAND B
A SHORT C o m s e IN QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS. Hobart H. UJilillard, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of Michigan, N. Howell Furman, Professor of Chemistryat Princeton University, and John F. Flagg, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Rochester. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1943. ix 253 pp. 28 figs. 9 tables. 15 X 22 cm. $2.50. This hook was designed by the authors to meet the needs of special groups of students such as those in premedical, predental, nursing, agricultural, and engineering curricula, for training, a t an elementary level, in the theory and practice of quantitative analysis. The authors state in their preface: "For these stndents, a course in quantitative analysis serves a s a background for more specialized study in the particular field of interest. Such a course should provide an understanding of the theory of quantitative procedures and moderate training in the technique of the more common analytical operations which these students may need t o use." The authors have used as s framework the standard text, "Elementary Quantitative Analysis," by Willard and Furman. In rexard to this frame they state. ". . numerous eliminations and &isions have been made in it to produce a b w k that will cover only what is considered a reasonable amount of work for a one-semester course in quantitative analysis." but admit in the next paragraph, "in this book will be found somewhat more material than can be covered in the normal term of 14 or 15 weeks." The first five chapters and 66 pages are devoted t o the theory and principles of analytical chemistry together with an introduction to certain general analytical techniques. The next six chapters and 114 pages are given over to simple volumetric procedures. The last two chapters and 57 pages are devoted to the theory and practice of gravimetric analysis. An appendix of 27 pages includer the following items: Literature of Analytical Chemistry, Mathematical Operations. Stock Solutions of AcidBase Indicators, Dissociation Constants of Acids and Bases. Solubility Products, and Common Logarithms. The experiments are chosen from among the determinations which are common in most elementary courses in quantitative analysis and are illustrative of the more or less classical procedures of g-avimetric and volumetric analysis. They are not chosen with a regard t o the special interests of the special groups t o which the book is addressed. Some potential users of this text will regret that the whole subject of instrumental methods of analysis is avoided, especially in view of the importance of such methods in the workaday lives of the noncbemists who might be expected to take such a brief course in quantitative analysis during their preprofessional training. A generous group of well-designed problems is placed a t the end of most of the chapters. Some of the problems are provided with answers, a fact which will be welcomed by students using the book and probably by the busy instructors also. Literature citations are numerous and are given in fcatnates. The drawings, tables, printing, and binding all contribute to a book which is attractive and pleasing to use. A minimum of "fine print" will encourage the student t o omit little of the material.
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