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RBCBNT ROOKS
VEGETABLE FATSAND OILS. George S. Jamdeson, U . S. Department of Agriculture. (A. C. .S. Monograph Series), Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1943. 508 PP. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $6.75.
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LABORATORY P a n c r ~ c e oa O R C ~ I CCHEMISTRY.G. ROSS Robertson, Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles. Revised Edition. The Mamillan Company, New York, 1943. x 369 pp. Illustrated. 13.5 X 21 cm. $2.50. "The main feature of this volume is an unusually extensive. but informal treatment of the principles underlying laboratory
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"The development of knowledge. , especially in chemistry," ,he author states in his preface, ,'has been so rapid.. . , and the &Ids. . . so varied that it is difficultfar any individual to keep i,, touch with progress in branches of science outside his own spePart I on "Theory and General Technique" covers the first cialty." N~ one will seriously disagree with this pronouncement. when 152 Pages. This section is indeed much more complete than or, J ~undertook ; to write ~ a hook ~ ~ the ~ field usually found in an introductory manual. It is excellently done. fats and oils, he might have been expected to act on The author's style is clear, and discussions are easily followed. his awn suggestion that "when men who have spent years in the Frequent diagrams and fipures are used. For example, there are are to cMlrdinate their 30 figures in the 50 pages on distillation. Many excellent practical of important suggestions are given upon such subjects as troublesomecleansing knowledge , , , , they perform a semice of the highest ,,due.*, The thing to do then was to make these specialists perform such problems, sharpening a cork borer, removal of tubes and thermometers from stoppers, the problem of humping, choice of service; i t is unthinkable that anyone would have refused. solvents and the use of mixed solvents, the clarification of soluThis reviewer does not claim specialized knowledge on a" oils, but he has worked in the drying oil field for 40 years and would Part 11, "Laboratory Experiments," contains directions for to know who gave that section of the book critical toll. 'be j9 ew~eriments (PP. 153-332). Standard methods for standard sideration. Take the chapter on linseed oil, for instance: On page 275 the flashpoint is given as 2 4 0 0 ~instead . of z ~ ~ P can . , preparations are given. The choice is good and ranges up to the errorwhich could do a lot damage, if accepted as true by under- Gripuard, maIonic ester synthesis, the Skraup and the Diene Syntheses in the latter Part of the section. In the accompanying writers and fire departments. That the preparation of boiled discussions the degree of advancement of the student is coninflammable fumes d l come as in steam.heated kettles Optional syntheses are listed and frequent references to = shock to every linseed oil plant manager in the country and to sidered. other manuals are included. Questions are asked a t the end of every chemist who knows that linseed oil does not decompose at steam temperature. Sales managers will be equally astonished to each experiment. Following the main preparative section supplementary synfind that them is an oil sold as 'gsingle-boiledoil.sv ~~d Jamieson, a id blown [oxidized]oil is prepared by thetic sequences are listed which involve literature searches and ing to the use of material found in such sources as "Organic Syntheses," u ~ ~ ~ . f i ,ra,~ so d ~we z learn, dioxide in place of using etc. A brief introduction t o qualitative organic analysis is given than a y,oiled,z oil (whatever that means), andis less mixture of linseed oil and tung oil wiU thicken faster in the last 16 Pages. The book closes with an appendix of useful tables, lists of supplies needed for each experiment, etc. than linseed oil alone. A s a whole the text is excellent and most unusual in the extent . has put take pages to untie the knots D ~ jamieson it stresses and explains the techniques of organic chemistry. I t into some of his paragraphs. According to the author, for example, corn oil has been used in definitely goes beyond the average text in this respect. I t not only discusses these techniques from a theoretical basis but gives corn oil is a ,,ondrying the manufacture of linoleum and "il, and the details of the process used should he interesting. many practical suggestions. particularly is this true of many Perilla oil, he states, does not polymerize at as low a temperature simple little things most of us learned the hard way and which as linseed oil. &me ~ i t sad h experiences lasing batches we sometimes forget t o Pass On to the beginner. The reviewer certain that it to teachers. If I will be as amazed t o read this, as they will be to learn that upon heating, Perilla oil is said t o become darker in the presence of speak personally. we are using a t present a laboratory mandriers than without them, w h a t oil doesn't? ~ , , d if anyone ual that we have considered most excellent. After studying Rob"tson I am tempted lo to it. following the method given on page 267, can get a "bright and . OSBORNE R. QUAY~.I clear" oil without an intervening treatment, after the last of the EIORYU N I V B B S ~ Y "undissolved" (!) water has been separated, he should never have Exon= UNrvs Rsnu, GBoamA to worry about a job as an oil r e h e r . A minor error which should be corrected: Glen H. Pickard's riame is consistently misspelled Pichard. THE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF SULRUR (TETRACOVALENT SULF~ Enough of adverse criticism, lest anyone should think that Dr. C o ~ w u m s ) . Chester Merk Szrter, Director of Chemical Jamieson's book has no value. Quite the contrary is true. A Research. Winthrop Chemical Company; Formerly Professor compendium of vegetable oils and fats is a necessity, and this of Chemistry. Northwestern University. John Wiley and Sans, Inc., New York, 1944. v 858 pp. 41 tahles. 14 x book has made a good start toward a highly desirable goal. What is needed. to make it a dependable reference work, is a more 21 cm. $10. thorough sifting of the available data, and this can he accomI,, a very real sense this hook fills a need in chemistry, plished only by increasing the number of consultants to Superhe chemistry of sulfur-containing compounds has intend the compilation of the next edition. No one acquainted always bee,, important, and this is particularly in recent years with conditions in the linseed oil field, for instance, would have with the phenomenal development of such compounds from a countenanced the publication of the table of iodine values on page viewpoint. 270, without pohting out what changes have taken place since ~ h book , is something more than a reference work, A,, inthis table was printed in 1911. The chapters on all oik should he teresting has heen made doubly attractive hy s wherever procurable, liberal use of reactions and structural formulas. The author has read by =pe* in these respective and when the subject has t o be submitted without the benefit of made an e ~ ‘etatinclude references to the important literasuch cooperation, it should be so stated. ture covered by Chemical Abstractr to January 1, 1942." The A reference book like this should he as authoritative as it can chapters are as f o ~ o w s : E~~~~f, id; Aliphatic be made, and it is no reflection on Dr. Jamieson that he himself ~ ~ l id^; f ~~h~~ preparation i ~ of ~~~~~~i~ Sulfonic Acids; could not check all the statements contained in the literature of ~h~ properties and ~~~~i~~~ f,, ~~~~~~i~ Sulfonic Acids; which he made use. Derivatives of Aromatic Sulfonic Acids. 1. Sulfonyl Halides, OITo E'SENSCHna Esters, and Anhydrides; Derivatives of Aromatic Sulfonic I-BB S o ~ ~ r m On. r c coarponsorsc COYPANT C ~ C I D O ,I L C ~ N O I S Acids. 2. Sulfonamides and Related Compounds; and Sulfones.
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sulfuric
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The unusually thorough and excellently documented literature promises a long life of usefulness to a b w k that will 6nd a cordial reception by those in both academic and industrial circles. Organic chemists everywhere are deeply grateful to Dr. Suter for an invaluable monograph, and they hope that the author will not be long delayed in presenting the remainder of sulfur chemistry in a second volume. HENRYGILMAN IOWA ~
ST*% COLL&O& S S IO , W*
TUNGSTEN.K. C. Li and Chung Yu W m g . (A. C. S. Monograph, No. 94.) Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New Yark, 1943. xvii 325 pp. 15 X 23 cm. $7.00. This book is intended primarily for chemists and engineers who are commercially interested in tungsten. The parts which will be of most interest t o teachers and students are the Foreword, and the chapter entitled "The Economics of Tungsten." I n the Foreword Dr. Li describes his own experiences in the growth of the tungsten industry-his interest in the metal while he was a student in 1913 (when almost no one except the Germans saw any value in it), his discovery of tungsten in China and the organization of a company t o exploit it, and his successful efforts to divert Chinese and South American tungsten from Japan and Germany to the United States. The chapter on the economics of tungsten throws some light on the complicated international situation in regard t o this strategic material, as well as on price and production trends. Tungsten is so impostant in the economics of war that it plays a much greater role in world politics than its tonnage might indicate. The other chapters may be described briefly: "The History of Tungsten" and "The Chemistry of Tungsten" are reminiscent of Mellor's "Comprehensive Treatise," and were evidently compiled t o a large extent from Mellor and from Gmelin's "Handbuch." Even though the present usefulness of tungsten depends largely upon the physical properties of the metal, i t is unfortunate that the chemistry of this interesting element has not been discused more critically, and that no developments of the past 10 years have been described. "The Geology of Tungsten" (89 pages) desaibes ore bodies in all parts of the world. "The Ore Dressing of Tungsten" (42 pages) and "The Metallurgy of Tungsten" (68 pages) are discussed from the engineering point of view, the latter, chapter being largely a description of patented processes. "The Analysis of Tungsten" (8 pages) gives laboratory procedures. "The Industrial Application of Tungsten" (22 pages) discusses the uses of tungsten and its alloys, carbides and compounds, while "Substitution of Tungsten" describes the possibilities of using other metals (chidy molybdenum) in place of tungsten. This b w k will undoubtedly he useful t o many chemists and metallurgists, but is too limited in scope t o be of great value to most readers of THIS JOURNAL. JOHN C. BAILAR,JR. UYIVBXSIIY 01ILL~NOIS UB~ANI.ILLINOIS
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FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRYAND APPLICATIONS. Chcllhlte A . Francis, Formerly Instructor in Chemistry, Teachers College, Columbia University, and Edna C. Morse, Instructor in Chemistly, Teachers College, Columbia University. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1943. Second Edition. xi 537 pp. 98 figs. 15 X 22 cm. 8.50. This book cunaitute$ the serundedition of a text well known to chemistry twrhrrs in rhe nppliud field of nursing education. The authors state in the prrface tu the lirst cdirion that the marerinl and outline of work fallow the recommendations presented in the Curriculum Guide for Schools of Nursing published by the National League of Nursing Education in 1937. In other words.
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the material comprises a summary of inorganic, organic, and biochemical principles with applications in the field of medicine and nursingpractice. Since many of these pertain t o subjects required of home economics students, the authors suggest that the text also may be used with that group. The second edition followr closely the plan of the first one. I t apportions approximately one-half of its contents to inorganic chemistry, one-tenth to organic, and the remainder t o biochemistry. The subject matter included in the second edition does not differ appreciably from that in the first one, although changes noted by the authors in its preface are apparent. The sectiom an atomic and molecular weights, valences, solutions, and cyclics have been simplified and reorganized. Some material on chemotherapy has been added, which should increase student interesr. Theionization theoryalso has been extended to includemore than the Arrhenius view. The reviewer feels that the second edition would benefit froni some further changes. Unfortunately, a praiseworthy attempt to explain certain subjects in detail leaves the reader somewhat confused. By way of example might be mentioned the distinrtion made between oxygen the substance and oxygen theelement. Moreover, a t the risk of seeming unappreciative of the excellent review questions, tables, and illustrstions which have been provided, thereviewer wishes that more study aids had been included such as chapter outlines, etc. The student needs all possible assistance in understanding the many points which have to be covered in this type of survey course. Finally, insufficient space seems to have been accorded t o the vitamins. This is done intentionally, however, because the authors state in the preface that they prefer to discuss these compounds briefly and leave their detailed consideration for other courser of study. The advisability of their decision is open to question in view of the current popularity of the subject. In conclusion, it must be said that the authors have done a creditable job in preparing this text. I t covers the field and illustrates its points with well-chosen applications. However, the busy or immature student may experience some difficulty in comprehending certain sections easily and quickly and may be slightly hindered in her progress by the relative lack of study aids which frequently are found in s k i l a r texts and are so helpful t o the beginner. HELENI . MINER
TEXTBOOK OF QUANTITATIVE INORGANIC ANALYSIS.I. M.Kolt'hoff, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of Minnesota, and E. B. Sandell. Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistrv. Universitv of Minnesota. Revised Edition. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1943. xvii 794 pp. 1.71 figs. 15 X 22 cm. Cloth. $4.50. This is one of the two or three most useful texts on the market for the teacher or serious student of elementary analytical chemistry. More comprehensive than most books intended for a year's course in quantitative analysis, i t may also serve as a brief reference work in the field. All distinctive features of the earlier edition, such as the thorough discussion of precipitation processes. and the inclusion of sections on conductimetric titrations and organic reagents have been retained, and there is a new section on ampemmetric titrations. Spectrophotometry is more completely discussed in this edition. The arrangement is essentially unchanged, and the four principal divisions are: Gravimetric Analysis, Volumetric Analysis, Physics-Chemical Methods, and Analyses of Complex Materials. Although decidedly condensed. the theoretical sections are clearly written and generally adequate. A four-place logarithm table and list of atomic weights forms a separate folder in a packet a t the back of the hook. This book is very useful for a review of the field at the senior or graduate level, as well as for beginners.
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UNIVBBSINOF WISCONSIN MADISON. WISCONSIN
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