There is a wide choice of exoeriments with special emphasis on the preparation of inorganic substances and the study of their properties. One experiment on the hydrocarbons and their derivatives gives the student nn idea of the behavior of some organic compounda and how the classes can be recomised. Eight semimicro qualitative analysis experiments are designed t o guide the student in determining a scheme for the analysis of some common anions and cations. The letter "F" (formula. weight) is used for quantity of solute per liter, in line with the modern trend in some laboratory manuals and textbooks. Scientists use "F" to denote Fahrenheit, fluorine, and Fsraday. This addition of "F" adds to the confusion for beginning students. It is a needless sidestepping of precise understanding which could be experienced by the student in repeated use of the terms molarity and normality, gram molecular, gram formula, and gram equivalent weight. As x whole this manual is entirely desirable and sat is far tor,^ for the students who do not need an pntensivc quantitative background. MAUD B. PURDY LoursInN* ST*FEUNIVE.~,TS B*TON
ROUOE, LDUIBIAN*
TEXTBOOK OF POLYMER CHEMISTRY
Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr., University of DelE. I.
aware and Polychemicals Department,
du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York. 1957. viii 518 pp. 184 figs. 51 tables. 15 X 2 3 cm. $10.50.
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THIS book is a comprehensive treatise of polymer chemistry, covering all aspects of the subject from the fundamental physical chemistry of polymers to details of eommerrial plastics, fibers, etc. The book is divided into five sections: Introduction, Physicill Chemistry of Polymers, Kinetics of Polymcrizstion, Properties of Plastics, Properties of Fibers and Properties of Elastomers. There are three appendixes giving a useful gloswary of symbols, a table of physical constants, and a list of trade names. Each ~eetionis divided into numerous small chapters; far cnample, there w e 16 chaptors in the second section, 13 in the third, otc. The author is a well-known industrial high polymer chemist, but one who has also given courses in this subject a t the Univcr~ity of Ilelawwe. Thus, in t,he writing of the hook he has been ahle to call on a wealth of informat,ion gained from his industvial researches as well as from his experience as a teacher l'raetieally every aspect of polymer chemistry that this reviewer can think of is troatcd in the hook, except the sul,ject of the specific heats of high polymcrs and theit. heat8 of fusion. The "book was mitten as a textbook in the organic and phyaical chemistry of high polymers" for use in graduate level courses. But for n course devoted solely to the physical chemistry of high polymers, for eramplc, the student will have to supplement his rending in this hook with VOLUME 34, NO. 8, AUGUST, 1957
considerable studies of the literature. as the exposition of most of the topics taken up by Billmeyer is rather brief. Happily, numerous references are given which will enable the student to delve more deeply into m y topic that interests him. The author is to be congratulsted for his fine oraanization of the complex and extensive s;bjeet of polymer chemistry and for his clear writing. From the standpoint of textbook writing i t is somewhat regrettable that the whole field of polymer chemistry is advancing so rapid1.v that many aspects of the subject become out of date almost as soon as the book is published. Nevertheless the comprehensive compendium of Billmeyer mill be useful for many yoam to come. MALCOLM DOLE Non~ar-rsrenrrU ~ t v ~ n a r ~ r EVANBTOW. ILLINOIS
THE CHEMISTRY OF PETROCHEMICALS
Marvin I. Astle, Professor of Chemisky, Case Institute of Technology, Cleveland, and Consultant to Petrochemical Industries. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1956. v 267 pp. 3 figs. 40 tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $6.50.
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THE word "petrochemical" is of the kind defended by the mtetpillar in "Alice in Wonderland." I t means what the user wants it to, notwithstanding derivation or the American Chemical Society (ef. Chem. Eng. News, 33, 2112 (1955); 34, 2548 (1956)). On the caterpillar's side in a mbstantial group, including Dr. Astle and the author (Bland, Pet~oleumProcessing, 10, 1201 (l055))of the following definition: "Petrochemical: a chemical compound or element recovered from petroleum or natural gas or derived in whole or in part
