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The present section deals entirely with the technical preparation of potassium salts. After historical and economic sections (the latter with useful tabulated statistics of production from 1881 to 1936,from which i t appears that Germany and France are now the main producers), the text deals with methods of extraction from the raw materials and the preparation of each of the technically important potassium salts. There are long sections on the treatment of carnallite and kainite, including the working up of the magnesium salts. The text is descriptive and there are no phase rule diagrams. Felspar, leucite, glauconite, cement kiln and blast furnace dusts, sea water and sea weeds are given as sources, and there is a brief section on organic sources, but wood ash and suint do not seem to be included. The present section, i t will be seen, is of considerable technical interest. The main emphasis is on the Stassfurt sources, for which more information is available than is the case for some of the other technical sources. J. R. PARTINGTON. Reports on Progress i n Physics. Volume V. Published by the Physical Society (London). 26 x 18 cm.; iv 445 pp. Cambridge: The University Press, 1939. Price: 20s. The present volume of annual reports deals with the same general range of subjects as previous volumes, but the sections on electricity are much shorter and room is found for special topics such as adsorption in solutions, recent theories of the liquid state, plastics, instrumental aids to defective hearing, electric wave filters, cosmic rays, and the teaching of physics in schools. The standard is high, and the aim set out in the preface that the volumes shall be intelligible and interesting to non-specialists and a t the same time informative and suggestive to workers in special fields, is perhaps as nearly realized as i,s possible. Physical chemists will find much to interest them in the present volume. J. R. PARTINGTON.
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The Elements of Physical Chemistry. By F. W.GODDARD A K D E. .J. F. JAMES.viii 251 pp.; 67 figures. London: Longmans, Green and Company. Price: $1.80. This little book is designed for the study of physical chemistry by students in England who are preparing for Higher Certificate, First Medical, and University Entrance Schblarship Examinations. At the conclusion of each chapter questions and problems are inserted of the kind that might be met in the above-mentioned examinations. There are two hundred and fifty such questions and the answers are given in an appendix. The ten chapters cover the usual topics in a beginning book in physical chemistry: atomic structure; gaseous and liquid states; solutions; osmotic pressure and colligative properties; mass action; thermochemistry; electrolytes; catalysis; and colloids. The treatment is concise. Students in this country should find the extended list of problems with answers valuable in their own study of physical chemistry. GEO. GLOCKLER. Electron Optics. By the Research Staff of Electric and Musical Industries Limited. Compiled and written by Otto Klemperer. 8+ x 5+ in.; 84 figures; x 107 pp. Xew York: The Macmillan Company. Price: $1.75. This volume is the third addition to the new series of the Cambridge PhysicaE Tracts and gives an excellent account of a very modern and important topic. The use of electron beams functioning as light rays and their diffraction in electrostatic and magnetic fields opens up an important field of physics. The resolutions already
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attained approach molecular dimensions and little imagination is needed to visualize advances in microscopy that appear to be of the greatest importance to many fields of science. Besides the optical uee of electron beams, their importance aa image transformers in television and aa current multipliers is also discussed. The present tract affords a ready means of becoming acquainted with these modern developments. GEO. GLOCKLER.
A Course of Study in Chemical Principles. By ARTHURA. NOYESAND MILES S. SHERRILL. Second edition. 82 x 5f in.; 6 tables; xxv 554 pp. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1938. Price: $5.00. This famous text has been rewritten and rearranged,-a revision that had been contemplated before the death of the late Professor A. A. Noyes. The first five chapters were published in pamphlet form several years ago. The new arrangement is aa follows: Chapter I. Chemical substances in general; Chapter 11. The first and second law of thermodynamics; Chapter 111. Gases and kinetic theory; Chapter IV. Solutions and molecular theory; Chapter V. Solutions and ionic theory; Chapter VI. Reaction rates; Chapter VII. Chemical equilibrium; Chapter VIII. Phase rule; Chapter IX. Free energy values. The laat chapter includes a short discussion of the third law of thermodynamics and calculations of free energy values from spectrographic and heat data. These modern developments might have been rendered in a more extensive manner. The method used in the first edition, of teaching the fundamental laws and propositions of physical chemistry by means of problems is retained in the second edition. This procedure puts the burden of presentation upon the reader and student. Any individual who will work through the many excellent problems will be amply repaid for his efforts, for he will have covered the subject of physical chemistry in a thorough and complete manner. I t is evident that no person in any way even remotely interested in the subject of physical chemistry can afford to omit this volume from his “must purchase” list of books for his library. The notation used agrees in many respects with the one employed by Lewis and Randall. The book is a n excellent text for students in physical chemistry and advanced courses and is to be highly recommended for the clear and precise presentation of an intricate subject. GEO. GLOCKLER.
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Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Science. Jubilee Volume of original papers prepnted in commemoration of the fiftieth birthday of Sir C. V. Raman. The volume contains thirty-eight papers by various authors and has been collected in commemoration of the fiftieth birthday of Sir C. V. Raman. Most of these papers pertain to the subject of the Raman effect, the theory of small vibrations, force constants, diffraction of light by supersonic waves, etc. Some are concerned with quite different topics having no connection with the general theme. The papers are written in English, French, German, and Italian. The volume should be of interest to research workers in the field of the Raman effect. GEO. GLOCKLER. Principles of Flotation. By IAN W. WARK. 101 figures; 39 tables; 346 pp. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1938. Price: 21s. From Australia, cradle of froth flotation, site of the first agglomerate tabling, and early user of skin flotation (DeBavey), comes now the best book yet written on froth flotation. The author WBS the first to publish anything on the modern cationic collectors which have made possible reliable flotation of silicate minerals. The
