APRIL, 1953 Anyone who attempts t o apply polarography to a. practical analytical problem without first taking the time tolearn the fundamental theory of the method is simply inviting failure. KO amount of elegant equipment can compensate for lack of fund& mental knowledge. We do not mean t o imply that routine polarographic analyses cannot be performed by technicians of limited training, hut this should he done under the supervision of a. ohemist well versed in the theoretical and practical fundamentals of polarography." The two volumes of this second edition provide a. complete and well-organized source of the theoretical and praetical fundamentals of polarography whieh the authors would have all practitioners acquire. They will do much in making experts from novices and polarographers from experts. DAYTON E. CARRLTT C m a * ~ e * a eB*r INm'ITOTR THEJ 0 m 8 HOPX-INS UNIVERBITY AYXAPOLIB,MART-LAKD
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most of the text. A number of new problems have been added and the increased size of page permits amore sttractive and more easily read edition. LUCY W. PICKETT MOCNTHOLYOXE COLLEGE SOUTA HADLET, MABBACHUBETTS
REFERENCE BOOK OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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Wendell M. Latimer, and Joel H. Hildebrand, Professors of Chemistry, University of California. Third edition. The Macmillan Co., New York, 1951. xii 625 pp. 5 0 figs. 124 tables. 14 X 21 em. 55.
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QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
William M a r s h a l l MocNevin, Professor of Analytioal Chemistry, and Thomas Richard Sweet, Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemisby, hoth at the Ohio State University, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1952. ix 247 pp. 55 figs. 13 tahles. 14.5 X 22.5 em. $3.75.
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THE is a brief, simply written text in quantitative analysis which is designed for engineers, premedical, and prepharmacy students as well as chemistry majors. I t is successful in presene ing clearly and explicitly the neoessary directions for a laboratory course in quantitative analysis together with a concise explanation of reasons far the procedures. It is expected that the instructor may wish to supplement the discussions of theory. The lxl~arntolyexperiments include, in addition t o gravimetric determinations of sulfate, chloride, iron, nickel, and silica, and usual volumetric determinations, more specialized analyses, such as carbon dioxide in carbonates, carbon in steel, photometl.ie determinrttion of iron in alloys. Of espeoial interest is the determination of sulfate by ion exchange and a versenate determination of hardness in water. The early experiments, hoth in gravimetric and in volumetric work, are written with carefully detailed directions and seem suitable for students with meager chemical or mathematical background. Certain early difficulties such as weighing by sensitivity are omitted entirely and the calibration of weights is in the last chapter. Emon and significant figures are too briefly discussed. The authors have simplified laboratory instructional problems by incl"ding sample notebook pages, suggestions for securing samples and far grading reports. The reviewer would not select the book for chemistry majors hut feels it has muoh merit for those who wish a limited acquaintance with the fidd, or who wish to use it for a special purpose. LUCY W. PICKETT MOOKT H O L ~ ~COLLEDX KE Somn H ~ o ~ s M u .~ s s ~ c a n s ~ m s
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r~visionis that entitled Quantitative Seuarations. which rives
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TEXTBOOK OF QUANTITATIVE INORGANIC ANALYSIS
I M. Kolthoff and E. B. Sandell, Professors of Analytical Chemistry, University of Minnesota. Third edition. The MacmiUanCo., New York, 1952. m 759pp. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $6.50.
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Probahly all teachers of analytical chemistry are familiar with the earlier editions of this comprehensive and authoritative text of quantitative ansly8is. Designed for use both in a beginning s n d advanced course by the serious student of chemistry, i t is one of the most importsnt books in the field. The present edition varies from the second chiefly in an enlargement and reorganization of the chapter on physical methods of analysis giving more attention to such subjects as fluorescence and flnmr photometry. Another chapter involving extensive
T H E is the third edition of an excellent and very well-known reference book, which, although not a text in the ordinary sense, should find widespread use in supplementing most general and inorganic chemistry courses, partirularly those of s. more rigorous nature. The present edition has the same farm and, to a. large extent, the same material as the previous editions. Altogether about 50 pages of new material have been added. At first glance most of the pages appear to be identical with those of the second edition but close examination reveals that many pages have been revised and brought up to date by the change of a word or number, revision of a sentence, or deletion of sentence~and substitution of others for them. In some cases whole pages or sections have been rewritten and exvanded. Chapter XXII, The Radioactive Elements, of the seeand edition has been rewritten and expanded into Chapter XXII, The Actinide Elements, and Chapter XXIII, Nnrlear Resetions. of this edition. Manv oxidatian-reduction potential diagram have been added. Tables have been revised and brought up to date. In the appendixes a new tahle of the ahundanees of the elements has k e n added. ~
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FRED C. F R E Y T I O Uwrv~nsmrOF W~DMINU L*n*xw. W r o ~ m a
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POLARIZED LIGHT IN METALLOGRAPHY
Edited by G.K. T. Conn and F. J. Brodshow. Academic Press, 130 pp. 31' figs. 22 plates. 4 Inc., New York, 1952. xi tables. 14.5 X 22.5 em. $3.80.
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THIS short text, whieh surveys the applications of polarized light in the exsminstian of metals, alloys, and ores, is sponsored by the Optical Methods Sub-committee of the British Iron and Steel Research Assaciiltion. The book comprises seven chapters written by eight experts but does not suffer from lack of continuity, although the various authors do not always agree in their points of view. The first two chapters, written by Conn and Naish, deal briefly with the pertinent optical principles involved in the production of polarized light and with its reflection and absorption by isotropic and anisotropic materials. The third chapter by Hallimond and Taylor considers critically microscopes and auxiliary equipment and also procedures for work with reflected polarized light. In chapter four b y Perryman, which deals with the examination of metal surfaces for grain structure and identification of phases, numerous plates strikingly illustrate the possibilities of the polarized light method. Chapter five by Marroeh. ~~ , whieh noints out the ~ossibilitiesof identification of inclusions in metals and alloys, also contains several highly informative plates. In the sixth chapter the use of reflected polarized light in the study of ores is considered by Cohen, and includes a number of interesting specific examples. The book concludes with a short summarizing chapter by Molt upon tho significance oi polarized light in the study of metals and ores.
