ns
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
ture," by William N. Liscomb of the University of Minnesota, surveys chemical architecture mainly from the viewpoint of Pauling. Numerous applications of the principles of chemical bindina to such substanoes as water, diborane, the oxides of nitrogen emphasize the ramifications of this approach. A brief tre& ment of the nature and properties of crystals as well as the structure of glasses and liquids completes this contribution. "Theoretical and applied nuclear chemistry," by Paul R. O'Connor of the University of Minnesota, suceinetly covers theoretical nuclear chemistry under the following five divisions: basic nuclear properties, fundamental properties, nuclear stability, spontaneous nuclear react,ions, and preparation of isotopes. A minor disturbing feature is the presentation of the fundmental oarticles. The nhaton is not included. Further. the mesons
the topics considered are exchange reactions, ultramicrochemistry, and the use of tracers in tlnalytical ohemistry. These two chaptern are directed to the study of the 98 chemical elements. The first contribution is by Glenn T. Seaborg on "The actinide mries" in tho final chanter of this book. The
sented: their isotope^, occurrence, chemical and physicd pproperties, and uses. The over-dl presentation is remarkably uniform and coherent. Quito a. high standard ia set for the latter volumes. The orincipal usageof t,he set as a whole appears to be as a readily understandable reference for advanced courses in inorganic chemistry where a, modern struct~uraltreatment ia demanded. The first two chapters could well nerve an the basis of a one-semester course far students unacquainted with quantum mechanics. EDWARD D. GOLDBERG SOAIPPB I N ~ I T O T I OF O NOCEANOORAPRI LA Ja~r,*.C ~ ~ r r o n m ~
0
SEMIMICRO QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
Hervey Hubbard Barber, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Professor of Cbemisky, Lincoln Memorial University, and T. Ivan Taylor, Professor of Chemistry, Columbia University. Revised edition. Harper & Brothers, New Yo1.k. 1953. xi 404 pp. Illustrated. 15.5 X 24.5 cm. $4.50.
+
THIS book is an extensive revision of a previous edition. I t is intended for a fairly substantial course in semimicro qualitative analysis. A reasonably good background in general chemistry is desirable. The first part of the hook deals with cations and the second section with anions. The arraneement of materials for each cation mouo is: oreliminnry rxprrinwnri, rummary uf rcnrtims i n crutlirw ionn. outof iorlir rquililrrin "1,lmr nnd d i r e u 4 m of prorrdwr, tl~et,~.? 1hcxI1Ie to t h n~n a l p ~ si~nalv.4, ~f k n ~ w n e n ~urnknmws, ~cl che111ical reactions in the analysis, questions, and problems. Units and terms are well defined. Discussions are clear and in simple language. Much of the material is presented in t a b l e outline form. There is some repetition of material but it doer; not necessarilv detract from the worth of the book as a text. In mast cases where other good methods of separation are available they are given in the discu~sion. In connection with a discussion of the cation groups the authors include a good disouasion of the behavior of the rarer elements with respect to these groups. The general analytical scheme used is more or less etandard. Group IIA in separated from group IIB with NaOH and CHaCSNH*. H$ is replaced as a source of sulfide ion by CH&SNHs in both Group I1 and Group 111. Group 111 is divided into two sections. The first is divided
.. .
~ run for .\I*', CrO;., arrd into thrrr pilrta and individual t e 1 dre %n*-. Tlw rnond divwiun id divided into four pnrrr urtd irrdividun1 tcstx urr run for Fr -'. >In-*. ( ' o - - . and Xi ' '. The anion analysis includes tests for23 anions. The anions are discussed in an independent section in the back of the book and probably would be omitted in brief courses. The methods of filtering and manipulating small amounts of material certainly warrant careful consideration by everyone interested in qualitative anslgsis. RAY WOODRIFF
THE SCREEN PROJECTION OF CHEMICAL EXPERI. MENTS E. J Hartung, Professor of Chemistry, University of Melbourne. Melbourne University Press; New York: Cambridge University 291 pp. 14 plates. 67 figs. 14.5 X 22.5 Press, 1953. xiv om. $4.15.
+
INVIEW of our large lecture classes that seemingly pet larger P I . to P W rdlerltd i u o w plwr 3 rarh WHT. the ~ C Y ~ Fi*~hap&)?. hard\ n.fercnrc to a fnirlv nee. und rrlntivt.ly uraltvrlopr~dint t l t o . This Imok ir dt+i~nedfor ihr chvro~istrvtwrhw as an aid in setting up lecture demonstrrttions that can be projected onto a screen. Approximately 350 projection experimcnts are described and indexed, ranging from absorption speotra to wetting of glass and wax. The major fields in which projection demonstrations are presented include gases, liquids, solids, solubility, chemical reactions, diffusion, electrochemistry, surfaoe chemistry, colloids, photochemistry, and color phenomena. Many of these are adaptations of conventional lecture demonstrations, but there is shown a considerable amount of ingenuity in adapting these to projection demonstrations. There are, as well. a number of new exoeriments which nhow r..~ on4d~mhl~ ~~~~~~~~. tho"ght and planning in their de&lopment. A study of these experiments will almost certainly suggest new ones to the reader. A general index refers to those sections of the book which deal with apparatus and equipment. Although the references to commercially available equipment are not specific, there is ample discussion to orient one to the types of equipment which are available. The author describes several nieces of eadeetrv which can be con~tructedin the lecturer's work&op. ~ h ;i&liiation would leave the uninitiated with the impression that many of them items are unavailable commercially. The book does not mention or allude to the more modern type of equipment which han been specially designed for vertical projection. I n this respect the references imply a lack of acquaint-
which it will be-submit,ied. Anv lecturer in chem& " or other physical mienees who wishes either to expand or improve his classroom demonstrations will profit by a study of this hook. ~
.
~
~~~~
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE
A, I. Oparin,
~ ~ by Sergius ~ Morgulis, ~ lSecond ~ edition, D~~~~ p~lications, N~~ York, 1953, xdv + 270 pp. 13.5 X 20.5 cm. Paper bound. $1.70.
THISnew editionis essentially the same as the 1938 edition with the addition of a new preface by the translator to remind the reader of some of the recent discoveries bearing on the problem of biochemical evolution and the nature of life.
~
