RECENT BOOKS TIIEGLASSE L E ~ O O EMETHODS. . APPLICATIOSS, A x n TAEORT. them further divided into two parts. The fint volume win .Ualcolm Dole. Associate Professor of Chemistry, Xorthwcst- deal with the aliphatic compounds, while for the second are reern Univwsitv. Tohn \I7ilev and Sons. Inc.. S e w Yurk Citv. .. served the aromatic, cyclic, and heterocyclic compounds, and natural substances. 1941. xv 3 3 2 6 ~ . 117fiis. 15 X 23cm. $4.50. This book corresnonds t o the first oart of the second volume. -. This book presents, as the title indicates, and the author states, "a detailed review and discussion of the glass electrode. and is the firqt roappcar. Its495 p3ges arc divided into thirteen of its limitations and dillicnlties, of its methods and applications, chapters which, in ~eneral,deal wtth the following topics: constitution of benzene; aromatic hydrocarbons and their halogen. and of itsmechanism and theory." The fint chapter is devoted t o a brief electrochemical introduc- nitro, and sulfur derivatives; aromatic substitution and orientation. Srensen's definition of pH as the negative logarithm of tion; polynuclear hydrocarbons; amines; diazo compounds and the hydrogen ion concentration is given, although today i t has diazonium salts; aromatic compounds of the metals and nononly historic interest. I n the following chapter mention is made metals; phenols and derivatives; quinones; and dyes. The work is addressed t o the students, and since the author of "theoretical pH" and "true pH." From a pedagogical point " . convinced that oreanic chemistrv "has t o he underof view this is somewhat confusing, and i t is unfortunate that the is riehtlv author leaves the discussion of the significanceof pH for the clos- s t o d and not memorized" his purpose is twofold: "the erposiing chapter of the hook. The author is, of course, fully aware of lion of the lacts of organic chemistry, and the presentation of the the fact that pH is not a logarithmic measure of the hydrogen ion different theories which have been formulated for thcir cxplanaconcentration, nor even of hydrogen ion activity. This he states tion." The author bas succeeded in his attempt to make an advanced clearly on page 303: "The pH function is not one which lends itself t o thermodynamic definition in terms of the composition and a t the same time didactic presentation of the field of organic and concentration of the solution; i t can only be defined in terms chemistry. The exposition is modern and clear, and good use of electromotive force." Thus, the real character of the villain, is made of recent developments and theories. The ideas of pH, is not fully revealed until the last act. Many readers of this Lapworth, Robinson, and other modern theorists are clearly book, particularly students, may therefore retain quite erroneous presented, and topics such a s the problem of the constitution of benzene, aromatic substitution and orientation. and a few renotions as t o inst what i t is that the elass electrode measures. One 01 the-closing chapters deal;wirh the theory 01 the glass arrangements are well developed and keep in view the didactic electrode. Here the author naturally prescnts chiefly his own character primarily intended for the hook. Only a very brief ideas on the subject, to which this reviewer cannot entirely sub- reference is made t o the problem of resonance, but other topics (such as that of iodanium compounds) which have not as yet scribe. Much of the book which deals with glass electrode methods found their way into the average textbook are included in this and applications succeeds in bringing together a considerable one. Proofs of constitution and structural formulas are abundant amount of useful information for the technician, who will be and well arranged. No references t o the original literature are grateful t o the author for this praiseworthy compilation. The printing is good, with few typographical errors, and the made, although, in a book of this scope, the student desiring to book is well indexed. An appendix, containing some pertinent pursue a subject further would appreciate reference t o articles of a general character. Brief biographical notes on outstanding data and a table of logarithms, is included. chemists are scattered as footnotes. The form of the book and T H E O O ~ RSAEDLOVSKY E the printing are good, and the reviewer has discovered very few TBB R O C X ~ B IL Zm~ m =OR ~ MBDICAL R B S B ~ C ~ typographical errors. The word hidralo is loosely used t o mean NBWYo- CITV hidr6xido (oaaes 8. 212). One is eager t o see the three other parts of the book and the TRATADO DE Q U ~ C ORO~NICA A (Treatise on Organic Chem- way in which the author gives unity t o the treatise. The prosistry). Volume 11. Part I. E n r i p e V. Zappi, Professor of pects are excellent and no doubt the present book will be very Organic Chemistry a t the Universities of Bnenos Aires and much welcomed by bath professors and students of organic La Plata. Member of the Academy of Sciences of Buenos chemistry in Spanish-speaking countries, where it will fill a gap long felt. The reviewer hopes, though, that the usefulness of Aires. First Edition. Libreria y Editorial "El Ateneo." 520 pp. 10 figs. the book will not be limited t o the above-mentioned countries. Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1941. xvi For those interested in learning chemical Spanish, here is a first15.5 X 23.5 cm. class book. The author has planned t o ~ a l l e c in t this treatise the lectures
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delivered by him in his courses a t the Universities of Bnenas Aires and La Plata; it will consist of two volumes, each one of
J. G~MEZ-IB~L%Z
CO~NBLL UN-PSITP I m ~ uNsw , Yon=
