THE SYSTEMATIC IDENTlRCATlON OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: A LABORATORY MANUAL Ralph L. Shriner, Profemr of Organic Chemist1.y. The State University of Iowa, Reynold C. Fuson, Professor of Organic Chemistry, and David Y. Curtin, Professor of Chemistry, both of The University of Illinois. Fourth edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Yark, 1956. ix 426 pp. 25 figs. 43 tables. I S X 22 cm. $6. THE teacher of qualitative organic analysis will welcome this new edition of this well-established text. Professor Curtin revision. makes his debut as joint author in t h i ~ As one compares each new revision with its predecessor, one is impressed by a positive evolutionary process rtt work in methods, techniques, and treatment of theoretical aspects of the subject. The authors maintain, chiefly, the farm and content of previous editions. Tho chapter headings remain the same with two exceptions: ( I ) The Use of Spectroscopic Methods for Functional Group Determination is added, and (2) the alder Interpretation of Experimental Data is replaced by Introduction to the Solution of Structural Problems. The introductory chapter presents crtrefully the general information required for the identification of an unknown, with special emphasis on the establishment of the functional group present. The detailed steps of procedure m e outlined in the second chapter with due emphasis on the value of control experiments and the necessity of integrative evaluation as the analysis proceeds. The listing of functional group tests "in the general order of ease and reliability" lessens the tendency to grope aimlessly during the analysis. The section on the examination of the literature has uddergone exteneive revision. We find older references replaced and augmented by newer ones, and a critical evaluation of all references presented. A more detailed report form is presented whirh follows the student's work more closely and demands a logiral approach to tho solution of an unknown. The chapters on preliminary examination, the determination of physical properties, and elemental analysis are altered to a minor degree. The approach of the chapter on solubility classes emphasiees the significance of solubility studies in relation to information about functiand groups. New and redly welcome information in this chapter includes a more complete discussion on polarity and soluhility, intermolecular forces, electronic and steric effects on acidity and basicity, and a survey of the sohhility classes. The importance of the information gained from classification tests justifies the repeated emphasis on control tests and careful observations. The arrangement of the order of classification tests is improved. The authors omit a few classificittion tests from the previous edition (Ferrax, iodic acid, and mercuric chloride-sodium ethoxide tests) without loss, and extend the use of the bydroxylamine test. The inclusion of the chapter, The Use of Spectroscopic Methads for Functional Group Determination (Chapter 8), recogni~es the importance of the techniques of infrared and ultraviolet for the analyses of organic substances. The authors present a brief yet reasonably thorough discussion, including the theoretical aspects, profuse with illustrations and literature reference. The teacher could use it in a. limited experimental way if facilities are available. The chapter on the preparation of derivatives is similar t o that in the preceding edition. Mention is made of the quantitative methods for the detection of functional groups. The recent literature on derivatives is reviewed; 65 references are added from the period 1947-54. The tahle Listings of derivatives remain very much the same. A few new values are added, and the p-nitro phenyl hydrazones are listed for aldehydes and ketones. The new edition omits the table of miscellaneous liquids. Lit,tle revision has been made in the chapters on tho Separation of Mixtures, tho Solution of Experimental Data, and Problems. The authors dismiss methods of purification hy the inclusion of several recent references to the literature on special methods. 0
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Readers will note that the page designation which will be used for indezing these Book Reviews is A308.
