398 JOURNAL OF CHEl

Scribner's Sons, New York City. 1930 and 1931. xvi + 238 pp.; xviii + 238 pp.; xviii + 237 pp. 162 Illustrations; 175 Illustrations; 165 Illnstrations. 13 X 19 cm. $1.08 each.

These books are a part of a series of texts, "Living in a World of Science," intended for the seventh and eighth grades. [The fourth bwk of the series"Magnetism and Electricity"-was reviewed in the J. C ~ M . EDUC., 6, 2070 (Nov., 1929).] According to the author the selection of the content in each text was guided by three major principles:

1. There is general and wide accep- tance of certain major units of study for the course in the junior-high-school science.

2. Local conditions must be permitted to determine the degree of emphasis upon units and the order in which they are to be considered.

3. The further selection of material and activities for each unit must be based upon a set of criteria which are education- ally valid.

In accordance with this thud principle the following criteria were used in deter- mining the most desirable subject matter:

1. To what extent can the item of con- tent be taught objectively?

2. To what extent d m the item inter- est the pupil?

3. To what extent is the item adapted to the abilities of the pupils?

4. How frequently does the item occur in the normal experience of the pupil?

5. To what extent d m the item repre- sent a knowledge or skill which the pupil will find of value when an adult?

The subject matter of each text is di- vided into sixteen chapters on "a chapter a week" plan. A science "story" is used to introduce each chapter. Each unit includes a review test, a page of problem pictures, a list of things to read and think about, and a list of things to do and make.

Each chapter is profusely illustrated with practical, familiar, and homely en- amples of the applications of science in everyday life. Theoretical discussion is

MICAL EDUCATION FEBRUARY, 1932

reduced to a minimum. The style is in- famal, dear, readable, and often conversa- tional. The numerous science "stories," anecdotes, newspaper references, and ex- periments should appeal to every boy and girl interested in science. Many excellent teacher- or pnpil-demonstration experi- ments and individual pupil laboratory ex- periments are described. This series of texts is recommended to teachers of gen- eral science and physics who desire a series of experiments to supplement those found in the usual textbook in these fields. Pu- pils will welcome this series as an impor- tant addition to the science library.

C. M. PRTJIIT UNNBRSITI OR ALABAMA

UKIY&BSITY. ALABAMA

Potentiometric Titrations. DR. I . M. KOLTEXOFP, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of Minnesota, and N. HOWELL FURM&. Ph. D.. Assaci- ate Professor of Chemistry. Princeton University. Second edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, and Chapman and Hall, Ltd., London, 1931. xiv + 482 pp. 74 Figs. 23 X 15 un. $6.00.

The purpose of this book is to collect, discuss, and critically evaluate the methods of potentiometric analysis. In the re- viewer's opinion, this has been done in a very excellent manner.

The general arrangement is that of the first edition. However, the authors have felt i t wise to reduce the space allotted to the theoretical treatment in order that more might he available for the newer developments in the field. The first three chapters of the first edition have been condensed to nine pages. The next three chapten on theoretical considerations re- main as before. In spite of this the book has adually increased in size by 132 pages. Without depreciating in the least the gen- eral excellence of the work, and appreciat- ing fully the reasons for the au thm ' choice, the reviewer feels that i t might have been worth the extra cast to include a fuller discus,ion of the theoretical aspects.

VOL. Y, NO. a KC.LP.IY I

Although these are thoroughly treated in "Volumetric Analysis," by the same authors [for a review see J. CHEM. EDUC., 6, 504 (Mar., 1929)) in the end a self-con- tained book is preferable.

Several new electrodes are described. such as the platinum and iodoso-benzene electrodes, etc. The subject of the glass electrode has been very considerably ex- panded. New and special designs of elec- trodes are also included. Especially note- worthy is the great increase in the number of vacuum tube circuit? that are described.

The greatest increase in material is found in the section dealing with the po- tentiometric analyses themselves. Many analvses formerly incorporated in a single chapter have been expanded to whole chapters. A considerable number of new methods are found in the miscellaneous section. Very valuable new chapters are those dealing with the use of ceric sulfate. arsenious oxide and chromous chloride and sulfate.

There are abundant references to the literature and an excellent set of useful tables in the appendix. A four-place ~ ~

logarithm table has also been added. The bibliozra~hv has been expanded from six- . . . teen t o thirty-five pages.

In conclusion, the authors are to be heartily congratulated on the way in which they have made available the ma- terial in this important field. No student of the subject or practical worker can af- ford to be without this guide.

[For a review of the first edition of this hook see J. CHEM. BDUC., 3, 846 (July, 1926). 1

MALCOLM M. H.4RING

Examination of Water, Chemical and Bac- teriological. WILLIAM P. MASON. Prof Emeritus of Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Sixth edition, revised by ARTHURM. BUSWELL. Profes- sor of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chief, Illinois State Water Survey John Wiley & Sons. Inc., New York

City, 1931. ix + 224 pp. 34 Figs. 15 X 23 cm. $3.00.

The preface states: "In attempting a revision i t has been our aim to preserve as far as possible the spirit of the original work. Few changes have been made ex- cept where i t war necessary to bring the terminology up to date.

"The purpose of the book has always been to supply the needs of the under- graduate student rather than those of the routine analyst. For that reason consid- erable space has been given to the develop- ment of a setting for the various analytical tests so that the student will see them in their true perspective.

"The present edition differs from the former principally in the addition of the newer analytical procedures. The meth- ods for the determination of pH and free chlorine are notable examples. A more extensive discussion of losses due to hard water and detailed direction for the syste- matic analysis of boiler waters also have been included. A chapter of laboratory exercises in water treatment describes procedures whereby a student may actu- ally carry 6ut the common processes of water treatment, such as softening, coagu- lation, and chlorination. The exercise on water softening is based upon a series of tests which were a part of the routine orocedure used by the Kennicott Water Softening Company to determine the cost of chemicals required for treatment. This group of exercises has been found espe- cially useful in courses designed to instruct engineering students in the principles of water examination."

The original text with the slight changes indicated makes up about half the book. Besides the additions noted above one ap- pendix of 35 pages gives in full Reprint 1029 of the United States Public Health Service on drinking water standards. Al- thouch this r e~ r in t is distributed free by the Public ~ k t h Service, its inclusion helm the other extensive additions to make the bwk one of the largest collections of information relating to the examination of water and interpretation of the results.