CALCULATIONS OR QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS. Carl J. Engelder, University of Pittsburgh, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York City, 1939. vi 174 pp. 14 X 22 cm. $2.00. As another of the series of familiar and excellent textbooks in the field of analytical chemistry by this author appears this little hook presenting three hundred original problems. These new problems are arranged in fifteen sets, each of which illustrates a fundamental subject in the field of quantitative analysis. One set is supposed t o cover a weekly assignment supplementary t o the conventional semester's work in elementary quantitative analysis. Discussion of theory together witb numerous illustrative examples accompanies each problem set. Odd-numhered orohlems with answers are intended for home assimments: even-numh~redproblems without answers arc suited for classroom work, quizzes, or examinstions. The gcneral stylc, therefore, is parallel with the author's hwk, CALCIJLA?IOSS OF QUALI-
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THE BOOKOR DIAMONDS.J. W. Hershey, McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas. Hearthside Press, New York City, 1940. xii 142 pp. 11 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $2.00. This book was written for the general reading public as well as hiih-schwl and college students who have a desire to learn something of the non-technical aspects of science. The author has accomplished in an excellent manner his desire that it interest the reader without sacrificing accuracy. Starting with a fascinating chapter on "The Early History of Diamonds" the story of the "King of Gems" is carried through chapters on"Superstitions and Religious Uses of Precious Stones," "Brazilian Diamonds," "South African Diammids," "Diamonds Found in Other Parts of the World," "Properties and Tests for Diamonds," "Cutting Diamonds," "Remarkable Diamonds and Gems," "Other Precious Stones," "The Buying and Uses of Diamonds," and "How to Make Synthetic Diamonds." This last chapter is of especial interest to the chemist, since the author, who is credited witb having made the largest synthetic diamonds on record, reviews his many experiments in connection with this work. Among the illustrations isan attrartive plate rhon.ing fiftytwo varieties of prcrious and semi-precious stOnCS in t h ~ i rnaturd colors. All who in any way have an interest in diamonds will find this book both profitable andenjoyable reading. J. W. HOWARD
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STATBUNIYBPSITY MISSOVL&MONTANA
MONTANA
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CHEMICALI m u s r ~ r s s . D. M . N d t . Editor. Leonard Hill Ltd., London, 1940. Fourteenth Edition. xviii 364 lxxix pp. 21.5 X 28 cm. $4.00. I n order t o fulfil its purpose as "a compilation of the data and information essential t o the conduct of all process industries." the fourteenth edition of CHEMICAL. I ~ ~ S T R contains I E S facts concerning the constructional materials for the chemical industry; the power plant and water treatment; factory equipment, layout, and location; size reduction; the mixing and blending plant; separating and grading, handling, conveying and transport of materials; instruments and laboratory apparatus; raw and partly manufactured materials and heavy chemicals; the raw materials of perfumery; fine chemicals. pharmaceutical perfumery and drugs; mathematical tables; and a comprehensive bibliography. I n addition t o this wealth of information on "processes of manufacture entailing chemical or other scientific formulae, with a list of materials, plant, equipment and raw products necessary for these trades," CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES contains indexes t o subject matter, to advertisers, to commodities, t o trade names and marks. The organization of the material is such that specific information is readily available.
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CHEMICALPUBLICATIONS, THEIR NATUREAND USE. M . G. Mellon, Ph.D.. Professor of Analytical Chemistry. Purdue University. Second Edition. McGraw-Hill Book Co.. Inc., New York City, 1940. xii 284 pp. 4 figs. 52.75. The new edition of Professor Mellon's book on the use of chemical publications emphasizes the three objects of the first edition: (1) to discuss the origin of chemical literature, (2) to present lists of source material, and (3) to offer means of training students in the use of this material. I n each of these departments, the book has been enlarged, markedly improved, and brought up to date. I t demonstrates the increased volume of chemical literature of the past twelve years by the lengthened hibliograpbical lists in the body of the text. I n addition to the fields formerly covered in the first edition, several new ones are discussed. Thev are selected fields of applkd chcrni3try including metallurgy, biocherniitry, and agricultural chemistry in the main text, and helpful information con. cerning physics and engineering in the appendix. There is one entirely new chapter on some miscellaneous compilations of secondary sources such as recipe bwks, catalogs and biographical works which are of use as reference books. For the teacher of courses in the use of chemical literature, this hook continues t o include excellent, specific problems for the student to use in practice in literature searching. These have increased in number from fourteen to nineteen, although the individual assignments for each question have been reduced by half. Among the new problems are those relating to metallurgical, medical, pharmaceutical, and dye chemistry, and matters of interest to the industrial chemist, such as an economic survey of a chemical commodity, or afinancial report. The combined text and problems make this book particularly advantageous t o anyone teaching this type of work for the first time. This edition has been carefully compiled and assembled, giving an excellent result for but slight additional cost. VIRGINIABARTOW
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TEE S T R U ~ ~ oaRMETALS E AND ALLOYS. W. Hume-Rolhery. Chemical PublishingCompany, New York City. 1939. 120 D . .. 13 X 22 cm. $1.75. f he monoRrnph\vns originally puhlishcd in 19:1F and has now bcrn rewrrttrn. It begins with an introductory chapter on the "Electronic ~ackgroundto Metallurgy" which has been made intelligible to readers of little formal training in recent physics and chemistry. Then follow the cbpters, "The Crystal Structure of the Elements," "The Atomic Radii of the Elements," "Primary Metallic Solid Solutions," "Intermediate Phases in Alloy Systems," and "Imperfections in Crystals and Deviations from the Ideal Lattice." Especial emphasis is given to the advances of the last fifteen years which may be related to the electronic structure of metals. The author demonstrates that a great deal of the rather elaborate develooment can he described in elementarv terms and exemolifird hy particular solid solutions and alloy systems. The interesting regulnrilirs first recognized by the author himself, the socalled rlectronic-compounds, have hcrn given scant thcomical discussion. After reading the monograph one would no longer hesitate to include in the undergraduate curriculum an introduction to the electronic structure of metals. SIMONFREBD ~~
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MELLOR'SMODERNINORGANIC CPIEMISTRY. G. D. Park63 and J. W . Mcllor. Longmans, Green and Company, New York City, 1939. xix 915 pp. 13.5 X 22 cm. S4.50. This new edition embodies extensive chanees in cornoarison " with the previous editions, due t o the great development of the subject since the book was first written. I t is now virtually a new book.
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