Vol. 76
634
BOOK REVIEWS The Handbook of Solvents. By LEOPOLDSCHEFLAN, B2, which covers the remaining compounds of sulfur, is due late in 1954. Ph.D., Technical Manager, B. Scheflan, Ltd., Formerly KOreviewer could approach his task without a feeling of Assistant Chief Chemist, the Pyrene Cfompany, Inc. ; humility in view of the monumental scholarship and labor and MORRISB. JACOBS, Ph.D., Director of Laboratory, Dept. of Air Pollution Control, N.Y.C. D. Van Nos- everywhere in evidence. In preparation of these sections trand Company, Inc., 250 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y . the staff “reviewed and analyzed more than 25,000 original publications, extracting information of essential nature, 1953. .viii 728 pp. 18 X 25 cm. Price, $10.00. comparing and evaluating data from thousands of authors, According to the publishers this handbook is intended to and eliminating erroneous and superficial views. ” Obsolcte cover various theoretical and practical attributes of solvents, references are mentioned in separate paragraphs, while the solvent recovery and the physical properties of over 2700 systematic arrangement of valid items makes it easy to find liquid organic compounds. The first eight chapters, any desired detail. In addition, the Gmelin Institute offers amounting to seventy-eight pages, deal with the topics of to supply data published from 1950 on, also progress reports statistics, safe practices, solvent action and power, vapor and answers to individual questions. pressure, dilution ratios, inflammability, and solvent reA comparison with the four hundred pages on sulfur aut1 covery. The remaining six hundred and fifty pages consist its compounds found in the seventh edition (1907) accentuof tabular data on commercial solvents and liquids which ates not only the vast amount of new work on these particum a y become important solvents in the future. lar substances but the rebirth of inorganic chemistry The book appears to be generally uncritical, superficial through its integration with the rest of science. The curas regards the introductory chapters and somewhat out of rent status of physics, astronomy, geology, geochemistry, date. Thus, statistics of the solvent industry are limited mineralogy and metallurgy is mirrored wherever these arc to estimates for production and usage in 1935 and a tabularelated to the chemistry of sulfur. tion of the 1950 figures of the U. S.Tariff Commission for Section A2 is written primarily for the industrialist. I t synthetic organic chemicals. Similarly, in the chapter on begins with the occurrence of the element and of its comsolvent action and power no mention is made of the more re- pounds, all the way from stars to organisms, and it includes cent work on solubility with the concept of solvent energy statistics from every country. Then follow three hundred density and its usefulness, for example in predicting high pages on technology, mainly of sulfur, sulfur dioxide and polymer swelling and solubility. S o reference could be trioxide, sulfuric acid. In spite of drastic condensation, found to the work of Magat or Huggins, while the reference one gets the impression that all the worthwhile variations in to Hildebrand’s classic “Solubility” is to the 1924 edition, procedure are sufficiently outlined, and interpreted in the rather than that of 1936 or the still later revision of Hilde- light of fundamental principles. The corresponding patents brand and Scott in 1950. Indeed, with one exception all are listed and briefly abstracted. Lastly, there is a valuable references in this chapter are before 1950, while the majority chapter on colloidal sulfur, and a brief rilsum6 of physioarc before 1940. In the succeeding chapters the treatment logical hazards. xppears to be similar; for example, the handling of evaporaSection Bt meets the requirements of investigators and tion rates also leaves something to be desired. The funda- teachers. Every type of measurement and generalization mentals are nowhere clearly stated and the references are is woven into the exposition of properties. Molecular strucagain old. tures and mechanics are set forth in great detail. Reactions The data on individual solvents are handily arranged for are described in terms of mechanisms, kinetics, equilibria reference by the industrial chemist, an index of synonyms and energetics. The complicated chemistry of SO and S L h , for those unfamiliar with chemical terminology being in- not to mention SzO1 and SOI, is clearly summarized. Especluded. For the research chemist the tables will be of little cially detailed, of course, is the treatment of sulfur dioxide- utility since no specific references are given for the values its oxidation-reduction reactions including carbon and metcited. IVhile a list of sources is appended, no attempt has als; the liquid as a non-aqueous solvent and as a cookmt-lieen made to key these to the individual solvents. Further, also many other features. ? t o effort appears to have been made to be selective and Here and there in the wealth of detail, gaps will bc percritical in the values quoted. Thus, under benzene, one ceived by the discerning eye, so that no small number of f i r i d : “Melting Point: 5.4 to 5.d0C. Surface Tension future investigations is likely to originate through study of itlyties per cm.) 28.9 a t 20°C. 29.0 a t 20°C.” Reference this comprehensive work. 1)). thc revieivcr to one liquid coiiinionly used as a solvent hfALLIXCKRVDT c HEMICAL LABORA1‘OKY for nitrocellulose in molecular weight determinations, reHARVARD TiNIVERSITY GEUKGE 1;UXtllJS vealed no value for the viscosity of the pure ester although ~ieculiarlyenough the viscosity of a 10% f sec. RS nitro- CAMBRIDGE 38, MASS. cellulose in ethyl lactate solution was given. On the other hand, a check of the “cellosolve” series of solvents indicated general completeness. The Furans.-American Chemical Society Moriogt apll The book should have utility for those desiring rapid Series. By A. P. DUNLOP,Assistant Director, Chemical t-c,fcarence to the formulas and conmion physical properties Research, The Quaker Oats Company; and F. 11‘. PETERS, of ,i wide variety of organic liquids. \’ice President, The Quaker Oats Company. Rcinhold Publishing Corporation, 330 West 42nd Street, lVeir York 1 )8FJAR1hfENT O W C H E X I C A L ENGINEEKING 36, hTew York. 1953. xix 867 pp. 17 X 23.5 cni. 1‘ N I V E R S I T V OF ROCHESTEK UKUUGIITOS Price, $18.00. ROCHESTER 3, SEW YORK This book is intended to fill the “need for rnorc or lc55 encyclopedic coverage of furan compounds with particular attention to the behavior of the furan nucleus.” Its scopc includes primarily compounds with the aromatic furan nuGmelins Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie. Eighth Edition. By E. H. ERICH PIETSCH (Editor). T’erlag cleus and excludes condensed systems (benzofuran, etc.) and Chemie, G.m.b.H., U‘einheim/Bergstrasse, West Germany. hydrogenated monocycles. The text is divided into Parts I , Chemistry, and 11, Industrial Applications. System S o . 9, Sulfur, Section A2. 1952. Pp. 61-510. Part I comprises fifteen chapters which cover structure, 17.5 X 25.5 cm. Price, 135.30. System 1-0. 9, Sulfur, physical properties, nomenclature, synthesis of homologs 368 pp. 17.5 X 25.5 cm. Section B1. 1953. xi and functional derivatives and their reactions, cleavages, Price, $29.40. and hydrogenation of the furans. A comprehensive, critiIn addition to the sections inentioiled above, .4l (histori- cal review is presented with the apparent attempt to mencal) first appeared in 1912 aiid was reprinted in 1952; A3 011 tion every known furan, the method of its synthesis, and i i i physical mid chcmical properties of the clcnicnt is i~owready; nio5t cases its reactions atid the physical properties which
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