RECENT BOOKS A TEXTBOOK oa Pnysrcnr. CRBMISTRY. VOL. I. GENERAL

PROPERTIES oa ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS. J. Nmlon Friend, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.I.C., Head of the Chemistry Department, The Technical College, Birmingham, G. B. J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia. Pa., 1933. xii + 501 pp. Frontispiece, 3 plates and 198 illustrations. 22 X 15.5 cm. $7.50.

As the title implies, this work is intended to be a textbook for senior and graduate students in physical chemistry. Since the material covered is approximately the first half of the con- tent of the average textbook, it is probable that the author has planned for two volumes. The advisability of a two-volume textbook, especially when not intended to be comprehensive, is doubtful. This first volume covers fundamentals, gases, liquids, solids, molecular structure and physical properties, solutions, and colloids.

One thing that will impress the reader is the easy and a t t rac tive style of Dr. Friend. It is a story that he writes for us and writes so invitingly that we are compelled to read on. But one must not be deceived into thinkimg that quantitative treatment is lacking. Mathematics aplenty is incorporated, but not in the bare form that discourages the non-mathematically minded. The author adheres to the correct principle that, once concepts and ideas are grasped, the development in mathematical form is comparatively easy.

The arrangement of material will be found quite unusual. However, there is no consensus of opinion an this point, so criti- cism is scarcely justified. The reviewer would commend par- ticularly the inclusion of two chapters on the fundamental laws and theories of chemistry. Many recent texts neglect this, hut his experience is that, with many students, such a review of more or less familiar subjects in the light of a better back- ground is quite valuable. Dr. Friend's hook is filled, to a very unusual extent, with descriptions of the experimental methods used to investigate the phenomena under discussion. It is abundantly and well illustrated and the three spectrum plates are excellent. There is no lack of tables. The index is quite detailed and cross-referenced, Especially noteworthy are the extensive discussions of the crystalline state, specific heat, stu; face tension, the parachor, and spectroscopy. The type is large and easy to read.

There is a complete absence of problems and literature refer- ences. It seems to the reviewer that omission of the first is serious in any work on a quantitative subject intended for use as a text. As to the second, students may, as suggested by the author, dig them out for themselves, but usually they will not. The work could be further improved by including a discussion of methods for determining atomic weights and especially of the application of X-rays to the investigation of crystal struc- ture

In condusion, however, it should be emphasized that this is an excellent book and one that any teacher or student will do well to have in his library.

MALCOLM M. HAXINO

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY FOR STUDENTS O F BIOLOGY AND MEDI- CINE. D a d I. Hitchcock, Ph.D.. Associate Professor in the Yale Uuiversitl School of Medicine. Charles C. Thomas, Springheld, Ill., and Baltimore, Md., 1932. xi + 182 pp. 26 Figs. 14.25 X 23 cm. $2.75, postpaid.

The purpose of the hook is to bring to the student an uuder- standing of the language of physical chemistry and a knowledge of that part of physical chemistry involved in the appreciation of modern biological research. The treatment is elementary

in character and not intended to equip the student for advanced work without further study of the subject. In this connec tion, the author has succeeded in presenting the subject in such a way that the student proceeding to further study will not have to unlearn what he finds in this text. The author is careful to point out, for example, that many of the laws stated are approxi- mations and that more exact considerations lead to more compli- cated equations.

The reviewer feels that if in Chapter 4 (Solutions of Electro- lytes) the author had gone one step farther in discussing the quantity a, calculated from the conductivity ratio of Arrhenius, and had pointed out that the ionic mobilities are dependent on the ion concentration, his treatment of strong and weak electro- lytes would have been improved. An objection might be taken to the statement on page 69 that "A concentrated solu- tion of a strong acid or hase is a good buffer. . . ." On the whole, the author's treatment is very successful and

should undoubtedly appeal to the teachers of premedical and biological students.

MARTIN KILPATRICK, JR. THE UNIVBESITY OP PENNSYLVANIA

PH~ADBLPAIA. PA.

THE TERPENES. VOLUME 11. TEE DICYCLIC TERPENES, SESQUITERPENES, AND THEIR DERIVATIVES. 1. L. Sirnomew, D.Sc. (Manc.), F.I.C., F.R.S., Professor of Chemistry, Uui- versity College of North Wales, Bangor; formerly Professor of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Cambridge, a t the University Press; New York, The Mac- millan Co., 1932. xi + 627 pp. 14 X 21.5 em. $7.00.

The second volume of this important work will be most wel- come to all interested in this difficult but fascinating field.

Part I is devoted to "The Dicvclic Temenes and Their Deriva- tives," and comprises the following chapters: I . Thujane and Its Derivatives; 11. Carane and Its Derivatives; 111. Pinane and Its Derivatives; IV. Sauteue and Its Derivatives; V. Campbane, {so-Camphane, and Their Derivatives; VI. Fen- chane, iso-Bornylane, and Their Derivatives. Part 11, on "The Sesquiterpenes and Their Derivatives," is divided into these chapters: I. Hydracarbons (monocyclic, dicydic, and tricyclic); 11. Alcohols (acylic, cadinol, derivatives of eudalene, and alco- hols of unknown constitution); 111. Aldehydes; and IV. Ke- tones. Both author and subject indexes are provided.

The author has classified and handled an enormous mass of information in masterlv fashion. and his discussions of the manv

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intricate reactions and structural rrlatwnships involved are lucid m d rasily fulluacd, thank% to the cu tm~ire m e of constitutional formulas.

In few branches of organic chemistry has there been such a crying need for a modem up-to-date handbook as in that covered by the work under review, not 0 4 because of the great interest and importance, both scientifically and commercially, of such natural products as piuene, camphor, borueol, and the like, hut also because the large number of investigations published within the last few years. notably bv Ruzicka and his co-workers. have made the older hooks ho&e&ly out of date.

It would have been difficult to have found an expert better qualified than Professor Simansen to carry through this task, for he is himself a distinguished investigator in the field, whose experience covers Asia as well as Europe.

The work is absolutely indispensable to all who wish up-to- date information on the chemistry of the terpeues.

MARSTON T. Bocenr corursr* UNlvanslrv

NEW Yoex CITY