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JOURNAL OP CHEMICAL EDUCATION
hy one on the states of matter. Herein is included a section on crystal struc. ture as gleaned from recent X-ray diffraction measurements. I n the chapter on the Periodic Law, along toward the middle of the book, the student is made acquainted with some of the recent work on isotopes. It is interesting t o note that in the first edition the compounds of carbon received notice in only two chapters. Now, the subject matter is almost doubled and chapters on the hydrocarhans and petroleum, carbohydrates and coal-tar compounds, and on fats, oils and foods have been added. The metals are treated much the same as previously. Colloids and the purification and softening of water receive treatment in special chapters. The section on electric cells has been made more adequate than formerly. The authors fight shy, whenever possible, of the use of electrons and ions t o explain oxidation-reduction reactions. They justify this on the grounds of simplicity, t o avoid introducing mechanisms of reaction. I t is a question in the reviewer's mind whether it would not then also be wise for the authors t o omit the use of "nascent" oxygen (0) and "nascent" hydrogen (H) in their explanations of some oxidation and reduction reactions. Each chapter has an appended list of questions and arithmetical problems. These seem t o he more than adequate t o make the student both review what he has read and apply his newly acquired knowledge. Important statements and laws, in the reading matter, have been set in italics t o make the subject easier t o review. I n the opinion of the reviewer bold-faced type would help still more in this direction. The printing, binding and paper of the book are of better than average quality. The numerous, excellent illustrations, especially of industrial processes, should greatly assist the student t o visualize that about which he is reading. WILLIAMF.
EHRET
DECEMBER,1927
The Methods of Organic Chemistry. C. W. PORTER,T. D. STEWARTAND G. E. K. BRANCH,Members of the Faculty of the College of Chemistry in the University of Caliiornia. Ginn and Co. Boston. First Edition, 1927. iv f 311 pages. 14 x 20.3 cm. $2.50. I n reading this book one is impressed by two outstanding features which distinguish it from many other laboratory manuals in this field. One is that it covers a large range of subject-matter as isashown by the titles of the chapters, namely :-Mechanical Operations; Organic Preparations; Class Reactions-A System of Qualitative Analysis; Acids, Bases and Indicators; and Quantitative Analysis. It is suitable for either a long or short course. With a little additional aid from an instructor on making derivatives and working with mixtures, it could he used for a course in qualitative organic analysis. Directions for the preparation of some fifty-three compounds are given. These are clearly presented and so selected as t o give the instructor considerable choice. Questions intended t o stimulate reference work follow each preparation. The other feature of the book is the space given t o theory. Thi;is especially noticeable in the chapter on Mechanical Operations and the chapter on Acids, Bases and Indicators, the -latter being entirely a theoretical discussion. There are 102 Review Problems and a useful appendix a t the end of the book.
J. W. HOWARD Introduction to the History of Science. Volume I. From Homer to Omar Khayyam. GEORGE SARTON, Associate in the History of Science, Carnegie Institution of Washington. Published for the Carnegie Institution of Washington by the Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore. 1927. xi 839 . .~ pp. 17.5 X 25.8 cm. $10.00.
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