VOL. 8, No. 10
RECENT BOOKS
of a textbook that brought him a fortune in the way of royalties), John Mayow, who like Priestley failed t o interpret his experiments on "vital air" correctly, and other "Makers of Chemistry." He pays tribute t o G. F. Rouelle (1703-70), who is apt t o he sparsely treated in the ordinary history, and states that he "is one of the greatest teachers of chemistry that France or the world has produced . . . the first t o clearly define the nature of a salt and to give a systematic classification to this important class of compounds." The phlogiston theory and the cause which led to Lavoisier's great prououncement are well set forth. The last fifty pages of the hook are devoted to the classification of the elements, the rise of organic and of physical chemistry, and to the structure of the atom. . The hook is well printed and its numerous and well-chosen illustrations greatly enhance its interest. I n short, the volume is a most readable and accurate account, especially of the period before 1800, and one which the reviewer would gladly see in the library of every student of chemF. B. DAINS istry.
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TRB UNIVERSITY OR KANSAS
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There is nothing in the descriptive half of the text to offset the grimness of Part I . The authors have held to their intention not to popularize the subject; they state in the preface that "no historical material has been used, and references to industrial processes have been made as concise as possible." The only human touch in the hook is to be found in the eleven portraits reproduced from the Edgar F. Smith Memorial Collection in the History of Chemistry. The text is well adapted to the needs of the students who expect t o enter science as a profession, hut the reviewer wonders just how "practical and useful'' it has proved to the students pursuing the liberal arts course. The judgment which these students have passed upon similar required courses in chemistry during the last decade or two could hardly be expressed in such terms. Perhaps the syllabus of lectures, appended t o the preface, provides the means whereby a gifted lecturer can give material of more interest and value to this large group of students. JOHN R. SAMPEY now*no COI.LBDB B ~ ~ U I N D H A MALABAMA .
L A W R ~ N C B KANSAS ,
A Shorter Course in Organic Chemistry. J. C. COLBERT,Assistant Professor General Chemistry, Theoretical and Descriptive. THOMASP. M c C u ~ c n e o ~ , of Chemistry, University of Oklahoma HARRYSBLTZ,AND J. C. WARNER, a t Norman, Oklahoma. (The Century Chemistry Series, James KendaU, EdiSecond edition, D. Van Nostrand tor.) The Century Company, New Company. New York City. 1931. xvi 352 pp., diag. York City, 1931. xviii 533 pp. 43figs. 11portraits. 21.5 (Part fold.) 15 X 23.5 cm. S.60. X 14 cm. $3.50.
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I n the second edition of this text the authors have retained the division of the subject matter into theoretical and descriptive sections. The former has been enlarged, particularly in the treatment of the relations hetween atomic structure and the periodic system, and in the interpretation of the theory of solutions in terms of the electron theory. There is as much physical chemistry in the 221 pages of Part I a s is t o be found in any first-year text. The frequent use of mathematical formulas should early accustom the student t o think in these terms.
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Although entitled "A Shorter Course in Organic Chemistry," Colhert's text is by no means superficial or fragmentary in its treatment of the beginning organic chemistry. It is in fact generously full in its treatment of the fundamental concepts and the classes of compounds of primary importance. One of the chief merits of the text is that i t is very obviously written for the beginning student, with the limitations of such a student in mind. Large clear structural formulas are used throughout and the author is not afraid t o explain
2104
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
complex phenomena in relatively simple words. Nor does he hesitate to talk directly with the student, giving in a conversational tone, definite and excellent suggestions far bath study and review. The text indudes unusually splendid charts which show in a graphic manner the relationships existing between numbers of compounds of any given series. These charts are well presented and illustrate a fine point in teaching. They add greatly t o the value of the text. The table of contents is unusually full, being in effect almost an outline of the text, chapter by chapter. Problems, review questions, and suggestions are to he found a t the end of each chapter. Approximately two-thirds of the hook is devoted t o the development of aliphatic chemistry and the remainder to a somewhat briefer treatment of the aromatic and heterocyclic compounds. At the end of the aliphatic chapter is a review chapter and very good chart showing the main relationships of the several classes of eompounds of this section. These wellordered and well-selected charts constitute a most sdmirable point in this new text. A small thing hut indicative of the author's attempt to make the text usable for the beginner is that where a substance is listed in the index in more than one place, the reference is given each time rather than the more usual custom of referring the student from the least t o the more common name. This text is well written and well puhlished and should prove a worthwhile addition t o the too few good introductory texts in this field. It is notable: (I), in its effort t o present organic chemistry as a unified whole; (2), in its informal and forceful style; (3). in its attention t o and constant use of review, and (4). in its successful presentation of the subject in such a manner that the beginning student can really get the subject. O. R. QuAyLE J. SAMuEL Guy EYOPY UNIVBBSIZY ElroaY, G e o a G r ~
O c ~ o s s 1931 ~,
The Colorimetric and Potentiometric Determination of pH. I. M. KOLTHOPP, Ph.D., Professor of Analytical Chemistry in the University of Minnesota. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York 167 pp. 35 figs. City, 1931. xi 15 X 23 cm. $2.25.
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This hook is designed to serve as a text and partial laboratory manual for a six-credit, two-quarter course in the theory and methods for the colorimetric and electrometric determination of acidit". Although based on the well-known works of Kolthoff and F m a n on Indicators and Potentiometric Titrations, i t is in no sense merely an ahbreviation of them, hut is a complete, although not comprehensive, work in itself. It is divided into three parts--~olorimetric methods, potentiometric methods, and conductimetricmethods. Each section hegins with a first-class discussion of the theory involved and is followed by a rather detailed description of the various methods. These descriptions are sufficiently detailed for any one with areasonable background in physical chemical methods t o follow with ease. The errors and pitfalls of the various methods are carefully called t o the attention of the reader. Each chapter is closed with a series of excellent problems based on the preceding material. The hook closes with an outline for a practical course involving the methods previously described. Numerous tables of data furnish most of the material needed in connection with the experiments and problems. Like the other Kolthoff books, it is well supplied with references. Dr. Kolthoff does not claim that this hook is in any sense comprehensive, yet i t is the reviewer's opinion that one thoroughly familiar with its contents should have a very good grasp of this most interesting and important subject. The book may he recommended highly to all teachers of ohvsical chemistrv who . . offer any work in their courses along these lines, even though they may not be in a
