RECENT BOOKS T m SCIENCE OP EXPLOSNES. Marlin Meyer, Professor of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, New York. Thomas Y. Crowell 452 pp. 74 figs. 48 tables. Company, New York, 1943. xi 14 X 21.5 em. $4.50. The author, in his preface to the book. proposes not to make this bwk "a textbook of synthetic organic chemistry or a treatment of special topics in organic chemistry," reminding us that "this latter information is readily accessibleinother books, whereas that set forth here is not." This reviewer is hard put t o understand why the author felt justified in devoting more than 10 per cent of his text to the manufacture, etc., of sulfuric and nitric acids. Why, too, is one told how to use a balance and calibrate a set of weights, Other directions in laboratory procedures which pertain directly to examining explosives should prove extremely useful. More of these could have been inserted a t great benefit if chosen as well as those which appear. Some topics are barely touched upon. Most outstanding in this respect are the combined topics "Black Powder. Pyrotechnics, and Incendiaries;' all of which are crowded into 18 pages. With the.above exceptions, the text is well written. The author has succeeded in bringing together, "in relatively simple and readable style." much that is known about explosives. The questions a t the end of each chapter should prove useful to both the teacher and the beginning student of explosives. A. T. BURTSELL
+
0s N B W Yo== N e w YO==CITY
C O L L ~ D B01 TBB
POWDER METALLURGY. Fram Skaufiy. Translated by Marion Lee Taylor. Philosophical Library, Inc.. 80 pp. 15.5 X 23 cm. $3.00. New York, 1944. v The term "metal ceramics" is applied to the process of changing metal powder into compact metal bodies by caking or cohesion. Since the author believes that in the future more and more metal objects will be made by this process than by the older
k N C 1 P L E S OP
+
one of melting and molding, he has w~ittena hook on " ~ r i h : ciples of Powder Metallurgy." The advantages of metal ceramics, according to the authbr, are the following: hardness is greater; size of grain can be controlled; high casting temperatures are not needed, therefore different molds can be produced; reaction of the metal with the material in the bed of the crucible is eliminated; porous parts can he easily produced with properties such as specific weight and electric conductivity. POR WARAND INDUSTRY. Paul H. Daus. BASICMATHEMATICS Professor of Mathematics, University of California; John M. Gleeson, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, San Diego State College; and William M. Whybum, Professor of Mathematics and Educational Supervisor. ESMWT. University of California. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1944. xi 277 pp. 277 figs. 14 X 22 cm. $2.00. Would-be or rusty mathematicians should find "Basic M a t h e matics" useful, the former for self-instruction, the latter for r e instruction. Elementary principles of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, plane trigonopetry, solid geometry, and spherical trigonometry are set down and coordinated. Practical prablemsanswers to which are found elsewhere in th6 book-follow each explanatory Section. Tables of logarithms and a protractor are also provided.
+
ANALYSISRECORD BOOK. M. G. Mdm. Pmfessor of Analytical Chemistry. Purdue University. Thomas Y. Crawell Company, New York, 1944. 30 pp. of text. 11.5 X 20.5 cm. $.75. Mellon's "Quantitative Analysis Record Book" consists of ruled blank pages permanently bound. It contains an introduction which explains how t o prepare reports and indirectly suggests to instructors a method for inspection and grading. Additional useful information included are a calibration curve, a table of atomic weights, sample records, a graphic logarithm table with directions for its use, and a numerical Logarithm table.
QUANI~TATIVE
