R E C E N T B O O K S CHEMICAL MACHINERY. Emil Raymond Riegel, Professor of

Industrial Chemistrv. Universitv of Buffalo Rdnhnld Pnh- .. ~ -- - ~~- ... - - ~ .-- lishing Corporation. New York. 1944. vii + 583 pp. 436 figs. 98 tables. 15 X 22.5 on. 55.00. As stated bv the author. this book is a collection of infnmatinn ~- ~ ~~~~ ~ .--- ~ -~ -~~...~ --...-

concerning machinery and instruments used in chemical manu- facturing. In deciding what material to include, the author has used three criteria-general application, availability in stock sizes from the manufacturer, and large-scale operation. Laboratory equipment is excluded. The material used was obtained from the manufacturers, and several engineers of various companies have collaborated on CeItain chapters. The types of machinery discussed can be judged from a partial list of chapter headings. Some of these are: "Devices for Reducing the Size of Solid Ma- terials"; "Screening and Grading Equipment"; "Tanks"; "Devices for Propelling and Elevating Liquids"; "Pumps, Blowcases, Ejectors"; "Weighing and Proportioning Solids and Liquids"; "Equipment for the Propulsion of Gases"; "Devices far the Cleaning of Gases"; "Mixing, Kneading and Blending Equipment for Pastes and Solids"; "Separation of Solids from Liquids. I. Settias and Thickeners"; "Evaporators"; "Crys- tallizer~"; "Driers"; "Distilling and Fractjoning Equipment'; "Vacum-Producing Devices"; "Condensers, Steam-Jet Ejec- tors, Vacuum Pumps"; "Heat Exchangers"; "Devices for the Application of Heat and Cold"; "Gas Conditioning"; "Hydrau- lic Pressure Equipment"; "High-pressure Equipment (Heavy- Wall Vessels)"; "Instruments. Part I. Temperature, Auto- matic Potentiometers, Controllers."

The procedure in each chapter is to illustrate by diagrams and pictures the types of equipment for a certain purpose and discuss their performance. Operating dats are given in many cases. It vould be hard to obtain general agreement on the apparatus to be discussed in such a hook; a complete coverage would probably necessitate a large reference work of more than one volume. The uninitiated reader will have the feeling that the writer has emphasized equipment made in his lmality and though this may be justified, the result is that the hook seems more limited in its coverage than it really is.

This mint does not alter the fact that the chemical endneer ~~~- . " and industrial chemist will obtain a large amount of vnluabie in- formation horn the book. It ,hould he required rcading for all senior rhcrniral cnginrcring studcnts and in nn indurtrini chern-

PRACTICA~. METHODS IN BIOCHEMISTRY. Frederick C. Koch, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry. University of Chicago, and Director of Biochemical Research, Armour & Co., Chicago, and Martin E. Hankc. Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Universitv of Chicago. The Williams & Wilkim Co.. Balti- ~ -~~ ~

more. ~ & t h ~dit ion, 1943. vii + 353 pp. 41 tahies. 20 figs. 16 X 23.5 cm. 52.25. This laboratory manual is intended primarily for medical stu-

dents a t the graduate level of intelligence, which reliably existed before the days of accelerated programs and lowered standards. Thus, knowledge and experience are assumed as to chemical mathematics and quantitative analysis, so that few elementary details about making calculations are given. However, because of its wealth of other explanatory material, the hook will be a great aid as a reference to any student of biochemistry. Its ex- cellent selection of practical qnantitati~e methods will aid pro- fessional biochemists. The writers have retained all but one of the helpful features of the senior author's third edition (1941). and have added quantitative determinations for 10 of the amino acids. Other additions are the nitrous acid method for amino

20

nitrogen, colorimetric methods for vitamins, chemical tests for hormones, and supplementary directions in the appendix far the use of newer types of apparatus. The chapter on hydrogen-ion activity and pH has been extended and modernized. It is pain- ful to report that in the pracess of these insertions and revisions there was a heinous lapse in proofreading. There are a t least 50 errors in cross references and in the numbering of tables of data. The wrong references perpetuate the now obsolete page-, table-, and experjment-numbers of the previous edition. There are two different tables numbered "25," so that from there onward each table is wrongly numbered. Just enough of these moss refer- ences have been corrected so that the reader never knows whether or not he will 6nd what he is after. This lessens faith in the ac-

~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ - -. curacy 01 the whole book, and severely dccreajes its value for class use. It is hopcd that by the datc of this writing the condi- tion has been remedied in a printing more recent than the review COPY.

Although divided into "parts" and ''chapters," the ape+- m a t s are conveniently numbered in a single order for the entrre volume. The titles of experiments are often so worded that they tell what the experiments are intended to show or why they are important. This manual further lives up to its titleof "practical" by omitting experiments and methods which are now of only historical interest, and which have been replaced by simpler and more accurate techniques. For example, for urea plus ammonia in urine the urease direct Nesslerization method is given, and for ammonia alone, the zeolite micromethod. Again, total phos- phorus in urine is measured by the Neuman-Pembertan method in two alternative forms, or by the modified Fiske and Sub- harrow method. The latter also serves, of coune, for estimating inorganic phosphates in blood, plasma, or serum. Each pro- cedure begins with a clear statement of the principle involved. Footnotes provide references to the biochemical literature. With all their practicality, especially in the excellent chapter on quan- titative blood analysis, the authors fail to heed their own warning about glycalysis in Folii-Wu filtrates to which the sodium tung- state but no sulfuric acid has been added. Why not put in the acid first, and the tungstate last? Besides, this modification makes a coarser precipitate which is easier to filter, and which always yields a clear filtrate on the first attempt. Again. in the titration for free acidity in gastric juice by Topfer's method, a yeilow end point is described, instead of the intermediate orange color which appears in the lower pH range where recent workers believe that really free acid is all neutralized.

Apparently with the desire to save space and materials, the publishers have used thin paper printed on both sides, small type for the large amount of explanatory matter, and this same small type for the entire appendix of general directions and re- cipes for reagents. The helpful list of reagents and amounts needed for the experiments, which followed the appendix in the third edition, has been omitted. Nevertheless, there are more pages in this fourth edition, a t no increase in price. The sub- ject index has been retained, but is not entirely free of errors. The binding appears sturdy, and allows the pages to lie flat con- veniently.

TERNARY SYSTEMS. G. Masing. Translated by B. A. Rogers. Reinhold Publishing Corporation. New York, 1944. v + 173 pp. 166 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $4.50. This is an introduction to the theory of three-component sys-

tems. Its avowed purpose is to furnish a detailed discussion of a few representative types of three-component systems, both in solid models and isothermal sections. There is no discussion of the experimental methods used to secure data, since these are rather generally known. However, three actual systems are dis-

4

cussed in very considerable detail. These are the Fd i -A l , Sn-Zn-Cu, and Fe-CSi systems.

There is a brief discussion of the phase rule itself, of methods of plotting, and the significance of important sections. Then fol- lows a detailed discussion of simple entectic mixtures, solid solu- tions (both continuous and broken-series), compounds having congruent melting points, and systems having limited miscibility in the liquid state. The process of crystallization, state spaces and state surfaces, isothermal sections, and sections perpendicular to the plane of concentration are treated very thoroughly in every chapter. A "general law concerning contiguous state spaces" is set forth.

Saturully, seven chapters devoted cxclusivcly to such discus- <ion are miulficicnt to rover all possihlc or cvcn likely cases. The author rcpeattdly states "only the fundamental problcms can hc presented." However, brevity has been carried too far in some cases. Thus the discussion of the influence of binary compounds with incongruent melting points on the ternary diagram leaves much to he desired. Furthermore, the use of the term "conode" for eaniueate svstems seems unnecessanr and canfusine. ... . . ~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ..

Nevrrthdess this book rewerents a very real contribution to phase theory. I n general the discussions are very full and clear. The numerous diagrams arc well cxwuted. Author and rranr- lator have done a notable piece of work. Any student of the phase rule will find this a valuable addition to his library.

MALCOLM M. HARING UNIVERSITY 0s MAXYLIWD Cormon P*ap, MnlnnnD

THOMAS JEPPBRS~N nm THE SC~ENTIPIC TB&NDS OP HIS TME. Cknrles A. Browne. Chronica Botanica Co., Wltham. Mass., 1944. 16 illustrations. 63 pp. 17.5 X 26 em. $1.25, This volume is one of the finest tributes to Thomas TefIerson

which has recentlv been mhlished to commemorate the 200th anniver- of his birth. I t is handsomelv illustrated with man$. . ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ ..~~. facsimiles, a u.ood cut of Monticello, an old wood engraving of the Univ~nity of Virginia, a diagram of the ilontirello Garden, a silhouette of Jefferson, a drawing of the plant Jcffersonia Barton, and other cuts.

In commenting on Jefferson's remarkable versatility, the author points out that this quality was also possessed in high degree hy several of his contemporaries: Benjamin Franklin, Toseuh Priestlev. Count Rumford. 1.-A,-C. Chantal. Comte de . . -Cha&Ionp, ~ & y Brougham, ~ i ; ~ u m p h r y Davy, and Alex- ander von Humboldt. Through citations from his writings the author shows that Jefferson was a conservative spectator of the scientific revolution of his time and that his scientific interests mere largely utilitarian rather than theoretical, but that he did speculate as to the origin of sea shells on mountain taps.

Although Jefferson placed great emphasis an the financial importance of the tobacco crop in Virginia, he considered i t "a culture productive of infinite wretchedness" and discouraged the planting of it except a t times when it commanded an unusually high price. Dr. Browne states that Jefferson's correct opinion regarding the great impoverishment of the soil by this crop was based on empirical observations made before Theadore de Saus- sure had pointed out the importance of the mineral constituents of the soil in plant nutrition. Jefferson's appreciation of the ability of peas to enrich the soil also antedated by 40 years Bous singanlt's proof that they are able to assimilate nitrogen from the atmosphere. A special article by Dr. Browne on Jefferson's swices to agricultural chemistry has appeared in the Scienti$c Monthlv for Tanuarv. 1945. > , ~ ~ ~

The authoralx, emphasizes the cosmic outlook which Jeffu- *on erpresscd in his "Notes on the State of Virginia" and his con- stant desire to find out how any given observation about this state compared with similar observations in the world as a w h o l e a point of view which Alexander van Humboldt later developed much more comprehensively in his "Kosmos."

Dr. Browne also mentions Tefferson's careful testinz of a

Jefferson's mechanical ability is exemplified in his invention of a "plow with mould-board of least resistance." In studying the discussion of the mechanics of the plow, "the age-long symbol of peace," the author was impressed by Jefferson's eloquent plea that nations devise a more rational means of settline their differ- . ences.

Jefferson regarded his election to the American Philosophical Society as "the most flattering incident" of his life; this great organization, too, has published a handsome bicentennial volume in his honor. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - - ~

Dr. Browne discusses in detail the scientific accomplishmenfs of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which he regards as "Jeffer: son's greatest contribution to science in the service of the nation" and "an enduring monument to the genius of Jefferson, who first conceived the project . . . and who outlined the instructions which its faithful commanders followed to the very letter."

This timely, scholarly, carefully documented, and beauti- fully written account of the labors of Jefferson and his con- temporaries is a valuable contribution to the history of science in America

Fnnz E P ~ A ~ . INORCAN~C CHEMISTRY. Fourth English Edition. P. C. L. Thornc, Sometime Lecturer in Chemistry a t the Sir John Cass Technical Institute, London, and a t Woolwich Polytechnic, and E. R. Roberts, Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry a t the Imperial College of Science and Technol- ogy and at the Sir John Cass Technical Institute, London. Oliver and Boyd, Ltd., Edinburgh, Scotland, 1943. Ameri- can Photo Offset Reprint. Nordemsn Publishing Company, Inc.. New Pork, 1944. xii + 921 pp. 23 X 15.5 cm. $8.75. In America. a t least, Ephraim's textbook has found little use

as a text; as a reference book, however, it has become one of the classics of inorganic chemistry. In it, the author sought to systematize and unify inorganic chemistry by discussing ele- ments and compounds as classes, rather than individually. The aim of the book was partially stated in the following quotation from the preface: "In this book unconnected facts have been included only in so far as they illustrate the general matter under discussion; in this way a clearer general view of the sub- ject is obtained and the separate facts are remembered as a part of an intelligible scheme. By treating related compounds to- gether, comparisons and connections and their causes and effects are clearly emphasized, after which any special properties of par- ticular substances are mentioned."

The generalizations are given such prominence that it is some- times difficult to find specific information about "particular substances." This was especially true in the first English edi- tion; i t has been partially corrected in later editions by a greatly enlarged index.

The success of this work, and its value, are indicated by the fact that after nearlv 25 vears. it is still one of the most wideh ~~~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ . . used bwks in advanced inorganic chemistry. It has appeared in numerous editions in Gcrmnn, Ihgliih, and Spani-h. The frst English edition (1926) was based upon the third German edition; subsequent English editions have been revisions of this, rather than t&slations of successive Getman revisions.

The fourth English edition is remarkably similar to the third. While a great many changes have been made, most of them are minor and very few are significant. The reviewer doubts whether such changes are sufficient to justify the publication of a new edi- tion.

More changes could have been made, especially in correcting errors which found their way into earlier editions. For example. the statement that the rare earths can be separated through the volatility of the acetylacetonates (page 344) has appeared in all of the English editions, although no successful separation through this method has been reoorted. The eeneralization that the

method for obtaining fresh water from salt vatcr, and ha9 pub- ox~dr.sof sulfur. wlcnium, and tellurium rract with water to give li-hed this historic report with suitable comments in the J o m s n ~ acids (page 313, is incorrect as regards tellurium trioxidr (page <,P CHEMICAL E ~ C C T I U S for Dccemb~r. 1943. 301).