SEPTEMBER, 1950
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THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND THEIR COMPOUNDS
N. V. Sidgwick, Lincoln College, OxEord. Oxford University
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853 pp. and iv Press, London, 1950. Two volumes: xxxii 849 (855-1103)pp. 15.3 X 24.5 cm. $14.00.
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AN EXM~INATION of the current literature gives evidence of greatly enhanced activity in the field of inorganic chemistry over that of a decade or more ago. Many workers in the field have expressed concern over the lack of a oue- or two-volume treatise summarizing the present state of knowledge about inorganic substances. Teachers of inorganic chemistry for ad-
themwlves on modern inorganic ihemistry. The desires of all
three of these groups to a very large extent will be met by Dr. Sidgwick's monumental work entitled "The Chemical Elements and Their Compounds!' Dr. Sidgwiok has kept the promise. which he made (1929) in his stimulating volume "The Eleetronio Theory of Valency" (p. 256). The present work "is an attempt to describe the chemistry of the elements in the light of modern ideas of atomic and moboular structure, and to show how far the face can be canverted from a mass of unrelated data into a coherent whole. It dealswith the. elements in their periodic groups, and desoribes their more im-. portant compounds, with the evidence for their strqctwes; the. changes of properties which oocur within the groups, and between, one group and another, are emphasized [often by tableel: The. sndytical, metallurgical, mineralogical, and %edmiod details; me kept in the background. The hook is fully documented: inmganic. [to the summer of 19481. It might he callw! araFi~,n?J
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JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
chemistry, except that it gives carbon its proper place as by far the best known of the elements, and discusses under it the more important principles, though not the details, of organic chemistry." The second volume contains an author index (41 pages) and a subject index (34 pages). Once again, chemists are indebted to Dr. Sidgwick for producing a very significant compilation which will greatly aid in the development of chemistry. The magnitude of the present undertaking is really staggering. The excellence of the organization and presentation is very commendatory. Typographical errors are unusuillly few. The coverage of topics is remarkably complete. One can only hope for occasional supplements because, as the author states, "many of the statements in this book already need correction and amplification" because the subject is advancing so rapidly. In the face of the consistent high quality of this valuable work, any adverse criticism seems inappropriate. With no sense of trying to belittle Professor Sidgwick's efforts, your reviewer has a few regrets about the book. The limit of umfication and systematization of inorganic chemistry which is possible with present knowledge is not realized in this work. The incorporation of more diagrams to indicate crystal structures and graphs to show relationships would be most helpful. The failure to use the nomenclature approved by the International Union of Chemistry is regrettable. The designation of the transuranium elements ss a "urmide" rather than an "actinide" series is apt to create an unfortunate wrong impression of their chemical behavior. However, these matters m d other similar ones are trivial compared to the accomplishment. "The Chemical Elements and Their Compounds" is strongly recommended to all who have an interest in inorganic chemistry. Even at fourteen dollars, the hook is a bargain. W. CONARD FERNELIUS
Tam PEN~BYLTANIA STATE COCLEGE
ST*TECOLLE~E, PENNBTL"*N,*
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THE ALKALOIDS, VOL. I
Edited by R. H.F. Monske and H. L. Holmes, Dominion Rubber Research Laboratory, Guelph, Ontario, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, respeotively. Academic Press, 525 pp. 16 X 23.5 Inc., Publishers, New York, 1950. viii cm. $10.
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THISvolume is the first of five that are contemplated to serve as a "Handbuch" to cover the pertinent knowledge of the chemistry and pharmacology of the alkaloids. Volume I has seven chapters: I, "Sources of alkaloids and their isolation," by R. H. F. Manske; 11, "Alkdoids in the plant," by W. 0. James (Oxford, England); 111, "The pyrrolidine alkaloids," by Leo Marion (National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada); IV, "Senecio dkaloids," by Nelson J. Leonard (University of Illinois, Urban3 Illinois); V, "The pyridine alkdoids," by Lea Marion: VI, The chemistry of tropane alkaloids," by H. L. Holmes (University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada); VII, "The strychnos alkaloids," by H. L. Holmes. The first chapter is general in character with an informative discussion of the natural occurrence, distribution in the plant, isolation and separation, and purification of alkaloids. The second chapter affords a detailed description of the histology, cytology, ontogeny, metabolism, and biosynthesis of alkaloids as well as the factors affecting alkaloid formation, the metabolic status and consequences of alkaloid formrttion. Each of chapters 111, IV, V, VI, and VII i4 confmed to n discussion of alkaloids in a specific class. A general introduction is included in each chapter, followed by treatment of each alkaloid independently; the source, properties of the alkaloid and its derivatives, and pertment chemistry concerning the determination of structure and method of synthesis where such has been completed. The authors have inoluded occasionally useful descriptions of important isolations and significant degradative procedures. They have avoided including any incorrect historical formulas. In
the chapters on strychnos and tropme alkaloids, tables have been included of the various degradation products and derivatives with physical constants and references. Any book in this field suffers the disadvantage of being puhlished several years alter the chapters have been written. As a consequence, there are very few references later than 1946 and none later than 1947. In certain classes of alkaloids, pmticulady those of the seneeio and strychnos type, important papers have appeared in the last three years. The authors intend to issue supplements a t periodic intervals in the future to bring the information up to date. The book is readable, well arranged, and can he highly recapmended. The subsequent four volumes will he ezgtgerly anticipated. ROGER ADAMS
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THIN FILMS AND SURFACES
Winifred Lewis. Chemical Publishing Co.. Inc., Brooklyn, New York, 1950. vii 120 pp. 12 tables. 8 diagrams. 14 X 22.5 cm. $4.75.
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THEfly l c a f s t ~ t e"T1.i~ ~ h w k k IL vritiml survey of the results of rescarch on thin mcrnllic tilma mrd aurf.ww with sperial rcfcrvnre 10 aluminum!' Alunlinun~was cl~oterrfor the pwatejt portion of the ili*cus?inn as i r h35 played a part i u marly difirwnt inS mosr u r i c d ill~stri~ri~uli of the vestigations nwl 3130 R R O ~ Jthe applied physical, electrical, and chemical properties discussed. However. the volume does in the first chaoters attemnt to a u k line slmr id knmw 111 t h presrnc ~ ahout the srructurv, pn,ductiorr, and merlmniu4, opriml, nwgncrir, rlccrnrol, and cherllic~lpnq,c r u r of rlriu mttdlic films nr.d surfaces in gcncrA, u h g the later chapters on aluminum far an example. The author hopes that this little monograph will summarize the important work which has been done on surfaces, much of which is obscured in general treatises under many scientific headings.
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THE SEPARATION OF GASES
M . Ruhemonn. Oxford at the Clarendon Press, England, 1949. Second edition. xii 307 pp. 157 figs. 32 tables. 16 X 24 cm. $6.
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TXE fimt edition of this work appeared in 1940 and was the first orderly exposition in English of the theory and principles of the practical appliention of low temperature techniques for the separation of tho oonstituents of gaseous mixtures. The second edition incorporates changes snd additions in seven of the twelve chapters thereby increasing the book by same forty-four pages. The fine printing and excellent figures as well as the quality of the paper enhance the welcome which will be accorded this excellent volume. During the war considerable impetus was given to improvement of the seoaration of the constituents of sir. Oxveen in . runrmmr qwttatities nil* r q u i r ~ ~ I lI t ~l . ~Vnirrd Srntw S a v ~ l , Army, :!ud .\ir f w w , p,irrivuldg rl~n,ugllwtrhe Pnchc 3rca To transport cornpremed oxygen, eighteen pounds of oxygen to one hundred of tank iron, would have been impossible considering the enormous amounts required, and the need was met by the development of mobile plants of several designs and capacities. The author refers to a part of this development, particularly the turbine ex~anderand reversine interchaneer develaoments. The theorcti&l tre%rmcntin G'hTpters 11 an; IV, ~ ~ u h l , r i u m of Gnirous and 1.iquirl .\lixrurcs nnd IIcar, \Vork und Eutrq.!, is vzr? undcrmnrlrlrly writrrn. The snty-eight diagrmnh ud in these ehspters aid greatly in gaining a rapid comprehension of the theory and principles involved in the separation of binary mixtures. It is greatly to be regretted that so little factual ~~
