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JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
THE CHEMISTRY OF PETROLRlM HYDROCARBONS
Edited by B. T. Brooks, C.E. Boord, S. S. Kurz, J r , and L. Schmerling. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York. Volume 1: 1954. viii 664 pp. $18. Volume 2: 1955. vi 448 pp. 690 pp. $18. Many figs. $13.50. Volume 3: 1955. vii and tables. 16 X 2 3 cm.
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THEthree volumes comprising "The Chemistry of Petroleum Hydrocarbons" are a monumental contribution to the literature of the petroleum industry. Perhaps this work is best described as ttn encyclopedia although the editors disclaim the scope indicated by such a term. The subject matter extends from basic chemical and ph,ysical properties of hydrocarbons and their mixtures, through the theories explaining their reactions, to the technology of petroleum. The nature of the work is emphasized by its organization as a series of 59 papers (chapters) by 62 authors, each of rhich is substantially complete in itself. Continuity is dependent almost entirely on the organization whieh the editors have achieved. An outstanding characteristic of the work is its timeliness. The very recent literature is covered to the extent that a spot check of references shows a t least one reference to 1955 literature. In general the rtothors have done an outstanding job in summarie ing this recent work. The section on aromatic substitution for example, nhich is particularly wd-documented, contains over 300 references, 40 per cent of whieh are to the literature since 1950. Man). references t o unpublished work are included. Treatment of this type provides the reader not only with an upto-date summery of the field covered, but also with a valuable bibliography for more detailed study. As in most. works of this type each chapter has a style of its own; the treatment of the subjects varies widely, hoth in extent and in style. To some readers this may be annoying, especially when background material is repeated in different chapters. However. it is a defect which w-ould be verv difficult to avoid while retainin; the desirable feature of timeliness referred to above. This reviewer believes the editors chose wisely in making the work as up to date as possible, even a t the expenso of a. greater smoothness whirh time-consuming editing might have achieved. Volume I confines itself largely to the composition of naturally ocourring hydrocarbon mixturen, physicel methods for separation of hydrocitrbons, methods for determination of hydrocarbons, and methods for svnthesis of hvdroearbons. osrtieularlv lahoraextraction, and adduet formation with urea and thiourea. Analytical methods include ultraviolet, infrared, and R a m m spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy. A separate chapter is devoted to t,echniques applicable to t,he higher-boiling fractions of petroleum. ~ a b o r a t o r ysvnthetic methods are rovered extenaivdv for hoth low and high mo~eoularweight hydrocarbons, of the volume deals with the lqsher ~~~~~~h and the final process for hydrocarbon synthesis from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The first ten chapters of Volume I1 comprise a series of papers dealing n.ith pj-rolysis of hydrocarbons and catalytic decomposition, including both the breaking of ea-hon-oarbon bonds and dehydrogenation. A balance between the theoretical and applied chemistry of hydrocarbons is maintained by such companion chapters as "llechitnism for the thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons" and "Conditions and results of thermal cracking for gasoline." A somewhat similar pair of chapters is "Theory of catalytic cracking" and "The effects of the variables in eatalytio cracking." Oxidation reactions of hydrooarbans are covered in a series of seven chapters which extend into Volume 111. Oxidation is discussed hoth from the standpoint of undesireble reactions leading to the deterioration of petroleum products and from the viewpoint of reactions whieh have become of auch great immrtanee in aehievine nanfuel derivatives of hvdrocarbons.
o i : t i . 111 t1,e fmrner gn.up :re c!.ipterr orr to I d ikontt~rizittiwl,polynwriz~tim, s;wcilic pol?r.w~sior lmth iucl and nonfuel use, hydrogenation, and alkylation. The letter group of chapters includes halogenation, nitration, condensation reactions, sulfanation, and a wide variety of less fully exploited reactions of hydrocarbons. I n their preface t o the work the editors point out the great prohlem they faced in choosing material for this work without running far beyond its present size. I n achieving their objective they have chosen well. Important parts of the subject are emphasized, retaining enough detail that most will find reference t o the original literature unnecessary. For the individual wishing to go further into the detail of specific subjects the excellent bibliographies provide a key. P. L. B R A N D T
AYERIOAN O m COILPANT T E X ACITT, ~ TEXU
RARE METALS HANDBOOK
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Edited by Clifford A. Hornpel. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1954. dii 657 pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $12.
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THIS volume is more than a conventional "handhook" and includes information on metals seldom thought of as '"rare." Twenty-seven chapters, each b y authorities competent to assemble and evaluate the information, deal either with specific metals or related groups. The volume editor has added an introductory chapter summarizing sources and metallurgies. Similarly a final chapter presents comparative physical properties with the aid of easily comprehended tables and figures. Chapter bibliographies are included which contain references to the literature through 1952. Metals considered are alkaline earths, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, cobalt, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, the platinum metals, rare-earth metals, rhenium, selenium, silicon, tantalum and columbium, tellurium, thallium, thorium, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium. WILLIAM F. KIEFFER
L. Alders, Research Chemist, KoninLlijkefSheU-Laboratori&, Amsterdam. Elsevier Publishing Company, New York, 1955. x 206 pp. I10 figs. 2 3 tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $530.
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DEALSwith the theory of extraction processes, chiefly on the laboratory scale, but also with a view to industrial applications. INFORMATION PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
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Edited by M. P. Doss, Research and Technical Department, The Texas Company. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1955. 270 pp. Many figs. Tables. 15.5 X 23.5 om. $8.75.
'I'm+ book is the out growl^ of .t ~ y ~ u p w i uonn Lquipnwut ~ fm tltr I'rclmration, Heproduotion, and Ltilizntion oi Trehniotl Information at the Swtcmbrr. 1!453. llretinc of the .imericuu Chemical Society. One chapter deals with special equipment for tvnine. with . ... stendine. .., ete.., another with lenseless eoovine . wn-itin rl pnprrr. TIW(IT tl.rw c h a p t ~ r dw1 s nith photorapl>y ant1 mirronq,\.~~lg, and o w with tlw mure ronvcntioual method* of printing. Projection equipment and preparation of copy and slides are adequately dealt with, as well as various methods of audic-recording. The possibilities of punched cards are presented with a brief review of available materials and machines. I n a final chapter one learns about calculatortors, computers, and other dat%handling machines.
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