THE CHEMISTRY OF THE COORDINATION COMPOUNDS Edited by John C. BoiIar, Jr., Professor and Head of the Division of Inorganic Chemistry. University of IUinois. A.C.S. Mononra~hNo. 131. Reinhold Publishinn carp.; &w York, 1956. x 834 ; Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $18.50.
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TEE publishers' statement on the inside front cover of this volume demribes the work as "The most complete, up-to-date and thoroughly documented survey ever published on the chemistry and uses of eoordination compounds." The editor, in his preface, states "no attempt has been made to cover the chemistry of coordinsr tion compounds eompletely-to do so would require many volumes." Contradictory though they may seem, this reviewer feels that both statements are e s aentially correct. The twenty-three c h a p ters, by a total of twenty-four contributors (including the editor and his editorial assistant, D. H. Busch) cover most of the major topics into which the subject might he divided. As is often the case in volumes involving different authors for each chapter, the writing varies somewhat in caliber but on the whole is well done. This must he considered a tribute to Professor Bailar since, as he states in his preface, all of the contributors are his former students. As a consequence, the attitudes of the various authors are largely those of the school of inorganic chemistry at the University of Illinois. This relationship between authors, and theobviouscare taken in editing has resulted in relative freedom from duplication in the conteqt of the various c h a p ters. At the same time it has resulted in de-emphasis of other points of view which are also currently in favor. Chapter 1 contain^ an excellent general survey of the field and 2, a discussion of the early development of the coordination theory. The reviewer found the material on theory prior to Werner exceedingly interesting and completely new to him. Chapters 3 to 6 inclusive are devoted largely to the theory of bonding and stability in various types of complexes. The statement on page 22 that the Werner postulate of d i d bridging to form polynuclear complexes "has been found untenable by X-ray analysis" does not a p pear to he supported hy references. The recent work of the Sillen school in Sweden does tend to support the Werner hypothesis, as does the illustration an page 22. Chapters 7-10 consider the important problems of isomerism in coordination compounds. In the section on solvate isomerism, regarding the aggregation of basic chromium(II1) chloride, it would seem important to point out that the more
recent work of Eyring and Hall indicates that aggregation does occur in these s y s tems, in contradiction to the data from viscosity studies. Chapter 10 on s t e r e chemistry particulerly impressed the reviewer as exhibiting depth of understanding of the problems enoountered in assigning structures and coordination numbers to complex species. Chapters 12 on acid-base theory as a p plied to coordination compounds, 13 on olation and polymerization in such s y s terns, and 14 on the heteropoly acids cover this important area of the subject. C h a p ters 15-17 are on particular classes of complexes. The application of physical methods to the study of complexes is d i s cussed in Chapter 18, while the concluding Chapters 19-23 are devoted to various practical applications of the subject: electrodeposition, analytical chemistry, n a b u r d products, dyes and pigments and water softening. In Chapter 20 the definition of an insoluble "inner complex" on 0. 672 is much more restrictive than elsewhere in the book. In fact, the type of inner complex defined by these authors is a very special class in the much broader category which would be designated "inner complexes" by almost all the other authors of the work. It would, perhaps, have avoided considerable confusion had some special term been spplicd to this category, or had special pains been taken in its definition. Even though the various chapters prcvide reasonably good entry into the liter* ture it must be noted that even the 5000 references claimed could not provide complete coverage. Thus, the work of many quite active American workers in the field does not appear to be discussed adequately. There is relatively little space devoted to physicochemical data, and almost no quantitative consideration of the energetics of complex formation. Similarly, the thermodynamic and kinetic a p proaches to coordination chemistry are mentioned very briefly; very few equilibrium or rate constants are presented. I t is difficult to define the potential audience for the hook, since it includes so much data. Certainly it should find favor with workers in the special fields covered by Chapters 19-23; and it will he indispensable for any practicing chemist whose research or other interests involve coordination compounds. The volume does not seem suitsble for an undergraduate text; apparently it was not intended for such use. It could serve admirably as a text in a graduate course devoted to the descriptive chemistry of inorganic coordinittion compounds. LEWIS POKRAS
MODERN INSTRUMENTS IN CHEMICAL ANALYSIS Frank M. Biffen, Research Specialist, Johns-Manville Research Center, and William Seaman, Research Fellow, American Cyanamid Co. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1936. ir f 333 pp. Many figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $7.50. THIS new hook appeals to the reviewer for several reasons. (1) The title is more appropriate than certain others in this area have been. Thus, fine analytical balances and volumetric ware are not excluded, at least by implication, as analytical measuring instruments, as various authors have done in their "instrumental methods of analysis." (2) The sample has not been overlooked. "Very often the actual preparation of a mmple is the most tedious and important part of the anelysis." (3) The viewpoint of the authors is that of experienced analysts who have handled materials. They recognize both that the use of a measuring instrument is inevitable in quantitative determinations; and "tbt the chemical analysis, .usually starting by s chemical preparation and ending by s chemical deduction, is the all-important factor. . . ." Analyzing most polycomponcnt systems usually involves much more than measurement. The pre-measurement operations, such as preparation and adjustment of conditions, may be the most time-consuming and difficult parts of an analysis. The stated aim was to include "those which in some important methods. aspects are recent enough so that one could not assume that the average practicing analytical chemist or any other interested chemist would have learned all that should be known about them in school. On the other hand, some methods, which a n currently in the research or develop ment stage, have not been included hecause they are not yet sufficiently well advanced to he considered as a practical part of the analytical chemist's tool chest." No doubt some, especially teachers, will question the selection msde. To teach a balrtnced course of this kind one would want to add comparable material for a number of well-established electrical, optical, thermal, and other types of instruments. The approach for esch method was "to introduce just sufficient theory to provide the reader with the hare minimum neces saw for him to follow intellieentlv - . the subsequent exposition of the workings of the apparatus in question and its application to analysis." Adequate references are provided in each case for additional information. The methods included, with page cover(Continued on page A2.58)
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