BOOK REVIEWS The newly added part 111 treats on 60 pages the general chemistry and metallurgy of the metals covered in the analyt,ical part. Naturally, it has to be very brief and condensed and wodd seem quite valuable for reviewing purposes. The authors state (on page 81) that "normally, the chief purpose of an annlysis is to determine the cxtion content of an unknown." In keeping with this unusual viewpoint,, they devote barely 8 pages of a 3Wpage book to the analysis far anions. Much can be mid in f2~vorof a more balanced treatment: Not only is it potentially valuable to know how to tell gypsum from limestone, hut the less systematic work of anion detection de-
mands careful ohscrvatition and logical interpretation and cannot degenerate as easily into cookhooker,v as the systematic work with any kind of cxtion separation scheme. The 120-page treatment of fundamental theory is essentially sound. The discussion of the stability of complex ions is excellent and the questions and problems on coordination compounds are thoughtprovoking and well explained. Since more and more general chemistry courses and probably all organic chemistry courses, nowadays, treat acid-base reactions as proton exchanges, it seems advisable that analytical chemists do likewise. The list of solutions in t,he appendix would gain in usefulness if gram solute per liter solution were given besides molnrity. The format of the book is very handy,
print is clear and easy to read, and illustrations are well done. R r c e m E. FRANK Uniuersity of Nmlh Dakota Grand Fmks
Specfrorhemieal Analysis
L. H . Ahrens and S. R. Taylw, both of the University of Cape Town, South Africa. 2nd ed. Addison-Wee ley Publishing Company, Inc., Reading, Massachusetts, 1961. xxiii 452 pp. 16 X 23.5 cm. $15.
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In this new edition the authors have expanded znd modernized the material of the edition of 1950. As indicated in the subtitle, the hook is a guide for the d.c. arc analysis of geological and related materials, including rocks, ores, minerals, meteorites, and soils. Part 1 (176 pp.), General Principles, covers simple theory, d.r. arc characteristics, sampling problems, qualitative analysis, and quantitative analysis. Part 2, The Elements, considers m a n i p dative details for the determination of 49 elements in addition to the rare earth metals. Then follows a chapter on the doterminetion of some elements present as major constituents in ~uhstancessuch ss silicates and feldspars. References to an extensive bihliography (45 pp.) are cited throughout the book. This compilation covers the literature to December, 1959. The wavelength tables (70 pp.) include the most sensitive lines in the arc. They were prepared perticulsrly far the an;& ysis cf minerals, rocks, mils, meteorites, and reletcd materials. This hook reflects thc extensive experience of the authors, and should he very valuahle to those working with the kinds of substances covered.
M . G . MELLON Purdue University Lafqjelte, Indiana
The Phyrico-Chemical Constants of Binary Systems in Conrenfrakd Solulions. Volume 4: Systems with Inorganic plus Organic or Inorganic Compounds (Excepting Metallic Derlvalives) Jean Tzmmermens, Universite
Lihre, Brussels, Belgium. Interscience Publishers Inn., New York, 1961. 1332 pp. Tables. 19 X 24.5 cm. $39. This is the final volume of the series. In addition to "Systems with Inorganic plus Organic or Inorganic Compounds," (629 p a p s on water solutions), there are formula indexes, hoth organie and inorganic, and the bibliography. These latter rover the entries for all four volumes. A brief list of errata is included in the bound text. See THIS J O ~ R N A L , 37, A16, A384 ( 1960).
A644
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Journal of Chemical Education
