00’’ CHEMISTRY AND INDUSTRY Oct. 3, 10‘74

REVIEWS QUASTITATIVE ORGASIC JIIcnoawaLrsrs. By I?.

Pi-cgl, D.Sc., P1i.D. Trnnslatcd from tlic sccond rcriscd and cnlnrgcd Gcriiian cditioii 1)y Dr. Erncst Fylcninn. PI). svf190: London : J. nnrl A. Churcliillt 1924. Pricc 12s. Gd. nct.

dccurntc aiialytical work is tlic foundxtioii upoii 11 liicli all truc progrcss in purc or applictl clicniistr>* must l x built, and accuracy iu nnnlyticnl opcrntions is in turn dcpcnclcnt upon tcchiiiquc. 3licro- chemistry rcquircs nbow nll clsc a pc14cbt tcchnicliie, niitl. if for 1 1 0 otlicr reason thun this, should form part of tlic curriculum in tlic training of evcrj- c.Iieii:ist. Until tlic nppcnrnncc of this triinslation of I’rcgl-s 11ook wc hnve liad 110 iuotlcrii work in tlic J:nglidi Inngungc wliich could hc rightly ctillcd, ns this book can, a trstbook of tccliniquc. Onc cannot but fecl that in this country minlj.ticn1 tcchniquc tlocs not hold tlic position it slioultl in our teaching. Yicrochcmicnl niethotls arc but little kno~-n, bcing to-tliiy coiifiucd to tlic bio-chciiiists and to a fcw ;idvnncctl workcrs who linvc rccogniscd for tlicm-

the nccurncy, of niicrocbcniicnl annlysis. But t h e is nnotlicr aspect of tlic \-aluc of iiiicroclicniicnl ~iictliotls and that is in tlic trnining tlicy afford in corrcct uinnil~ultitiw mctliotls, in scru~iulous clcnnli- iicss ant1 in tlic ar t of lintidling Iuiiiutc qunntitics of iiinttcr without, loss. Zn offering n \vclcoim to this traiislntion tlic rcvicwcr rccogiiiscs that its ~ n l i i c docs not lie in its nppctd to tlic iiiitiatcd ant1 coiircrtcd ; i$ is n book that should bc in tlic hands of cwry analytical clicniist nntl cvcry serious strident : :ind it sliould (lo niucli to witlcn t Iic liliowlctlgc ant1 appreciation of micro-annlyticnl mctliotls :IS w l l as stimulntc furtlicr inrcstigntion with n view to broatlcii tlic field of micro-clicinistry. To thosc iiiifnniilinr with tlic Gcnunn cditioii of I’rcgl‘s book, this triiilslntion will conio as a rcrcliition. Tlic rcvicwcr hio\vs of no othcr work which nppronclics

Far too ninny tlcscriptions of nnnlytical iuctliods publislictl to-day arc so coiidciisccl as to bc wortbless csccpt t o tlic cspcricncctl annlyst. Tlic bcgiiiner frcclucntly obtains rcsults so crroncous as to causc Iiiiu to losc faith in tlic methods or 1ic learns faulty met liocls of iuniiipulution which seriously handicap progress. Prcgl’s iiiinuto detailing of conditions, nppnrtitus and prccautions, his full dcscriptioii of mnnipuhtion, tlic discussion of tlificiiltics met with arid succcssfully ovcrcomc, offcr mi inspiring ant1 invnlunble objcct-lesson to ti11 clicinists wlictlicr iiintlc or in tlic ninking.

Thc possibilitics of micro-nnnlytical nicthods in i nd ust ria 1 lnboratorics arc iiinnifold, thcir clnbora tion aiicl adoption is but a mnttcr of tiiiic, whilst tlicir vnlue t o tlic invcstigntor i\.ouId be clifiicult to csiig- gcrntc. No bcttcr introduction to tliciu could bc tlcsircd than is contnincd in Progl’s book. illucli of tho apparatus dcscribcd is cnpablc of mniiy npplicnt.ioiis, tho gonornl principles liavo bccn provon sound a d tho wholc work provitlcs nn adniirablc introduction to tho tcchniquo of handling minuto quiintitics nccumtcly tind wit11 confitlancr. Tlic

sclvcs tl1c ndm11tngc mid tho clcgnncc, as wcll ns

it in iiiinutc dctiiil of tccliniquc aiid nimiipul n t’ 1011.

translation follows thc original with cxccptional fidelity and in this loscs nothing of Pregl’s felicity of description. Indced, tho purist may cren com- plnin that in one or two placcs t,hc traiislntion is too literal mid ns a rcsult offcnds, but tlicse few C ~ S C S arc orcrbnlnnccd by tlic rccognition that so fnithful x trnnslation docs convcy thc full spirit and fccling of tlic author. Tlicrc arc but few errors in t,hc tcs t niid tlicsc arc of sninll momcnt. Onc cannot but liopc flint. this translntion i i i q bc the iiicnns of inspiring ninny of our clicriiists to n grcatcr cffort nftcr pcrfcction of technique ns 1 ~ 1 1 as n fuller rcnlisntion of the irnnicnsc importnncc of nccuratc nnalyticnl n-orli to progrcss in both p r c niid npplicd clicmistry, and, finnlly, of tlie utility of iuicroclicuiicn 1 nicthods.

H. \Ir. GREKSWOOD

A TEsT-boo1c OY ISO~CASIC CI~EMTSTRY. Editccl by J. XEWTOS FRIESD, D.Sc., l’1i.D. Vol. 11. ‘he AllinliJIctnls nnd thcir Congcncrs. By A. J. ]j‘AlJiER, Ph.1)., 13.11. Pp. ssvi3-379. London : Chnrlcs Grifliii and Co., Ltd., 19%. Price 20s.

Tlic Tcst-book of Inorganic Chemistry, cditcd l ~ y Ilr. J. Xcwtoli Friend, adriuiccs a stcp iicarcr coniplc- tioii with tlic nppcnrnncc of Volunic II. by I h . A. Jainicsoii \l’nllicr. Tlik \dunic dcnls with G U J I I ~ I. of tlic Periodic Tablc-lipclrogcn, tlic alkali mctals, coppcr, silrcr and gold. Tlic tiiiiiuoniuui compountls arc iiicludcd nf?cr tlic nllinli nictnis.

Tlic nrrnngwicnt of tlic subjcct mnttcr is 011 tlic iisual lines. End1 clcmcnt is discussed iiiidcr tlic licnds of uccurrcncc, history, preparation, pliysicnl properties, cliciuical prolwrtics, chnrnctcrist ics of tlic ion nnd npplicntions. ‘J’lic chicf rcscarclics on t lie atoniic wiglit of tlic clcinciit arc tlicii discussctl, Spci i t l nttciition bcing p i t1 to modcrn work. Tlicsc sections tire clcnrly ~rrittcn, arid tlic trcntnicnt is concisc niid ndcquntc. I n thc cnsc of tlic nictnls tbcrc followw n tlcscription of the niost important conipoiiiids and snits of t l l C mclnl.

Dr. A. I{. H. ‘J’uttoil coiitributcs n short but very intcrcsting suniiiiury of tlic rcsults of his rcscnrchcs on tlic isomorpliism of tho nlltnli inctnl sulpliatcs nntl sclcnatcs ant1 thcir bcnring on the qucstion of ntoinic strwturc.

Tlic trcntiimit of tlic dcscriptivc part is moro 011 tlic lines of wliat o m mny call tlic older school of tcx%-loob. Tlic \vcalth of physico-chcmical dnta to which \rc liarc bcconic nccustomcd is lacking liere. For csnniplc, reversible rcactions arc not discussed from tlic point of view of inass action. Quantitntivc dntn and cquilibriuni constniits arc omitted. No figurcs arc gircn for tlic dcgrcc of hydrolysis of such finlts as thc nltnli cnrbonatcs, cynrridcs and borutes. Rcfcrciices bcnring on tlicsc points are, of couree, givcn, but in a tcxt-book of this nnture 0110 might reasonably espcct l o Lo informed \vlicthcc, say, fiodiiini cnrbonntc was iuucli or little Iiyclrolyscd in solution. For tho propcrtics of solutions, of salts gcliernlly, such as density, conductivity, viscosity, etc., onc is given n rcfrrcnco only. Tlicsc oniissions

Oct. 3, 10% CHEnfISTRY AND INDUSTRY w 3

nre probably dictated by considerations of space, bu t it is curious t o find thnt for solid salts in many cases rather full (and oftcn widely differing) data arc given for density, mcltin -point, specific heat and

fact1 thnt, compared with thc data for tlic corrcspond- ins propcrties of solutions, thcsc figures are, to sny tllc least, inaccurate and lcss oftcn rcquircd.

With thcsc limitations, n+icIi arc obviously part of the plan of thc V O ~ U I ~ C , 1ion.crer much somc may regret thcm, tlic author has clone his work ivcll. Thc descriptions arc cIcar nnil concisc, and the numerous rcfcrcnccs carefully clioscn rntlicr than cshaustivc. Tllc solubilitics of most important salts arc givcn, Ilut tlicre arc oiic or two nnomnlics. Thus the solubility of potnssiuni hydrogen sulpliatc is given, b u t not that of the sodium salt, whilst 110 solubility data arc given for, among others, horns and copper nitratc. Thcrc arc ren~arImbly few errors in the test. Tlie printing is admirable, and the gcncral gct-up of tlic book a credit to tlic pu1)lishers. A n idea of the number of rcfercnccs may bc obtained from tlic fact tliat tlic nnnic index cstcncls t o ciglitcen and a half doublc column pngcs. A full subjcct indcs is also proridctl. An eight-pngc table of tlic dates of issuc of tlie principal clieinicnl journals forms a wclcomc fcaturc of tlic rolumc. JOSEPH I<sos

ASILTSC ASD ITS DERIVATIVES. By P. H. GROGGISS. Pp. viif360. London : Chapmnn nncl Hall, Ltd., 1024. ISs. net.

This book is o m morc csainplc of tIic modcrn and incrc;tsing practice of publishing monogrnphs oil singlc substanccs or on single parts of proccsscs. “lie practice ariscs from tlic necd of the industrial clieiiiist for easily acccssiblc information which slid1 bc botli authoritative and complctc, and \vhich, owing to tlic enoriiious growth of l;nowlcrlge, lie is unable to find in tes tboob and dictionnries bnd cannot always look up in current technical litemturc.

Tlia present monograph on aniline, wliicli is me11 produced both as to type ancl illustrations, is not incrcly a digcst of existing knowlcclgc, but attempts to usc tho data given as a vchiclc “ for prcsenting tlie Lusincss of plant chcniistry.” Tlicrc is thus a clmptcr on fiow sheets, and tlic analysis of costs, and onc on tlicrinal factors wliich, if not sct out xitli the clcnrncss and directness of Mr. I<. B. Quinnn, illustrates vcry fairly tlic methods lic ndvocatcd in tlic sctting-out of a teclinical problem in a scientific mnnncr. k’ollowing a brief introduction on tlic bcginnings of tlic dyestulr industry, aro chapters on tho mauufncturc of anilinc from bcnzanc, in which plant and its working nrc discusscd. Curiously enough tho innnufacture of iiitrobcilzenc is taken last. Tho rcasons may bc surmised, but tlic illversion of tlic logical scquciicc is not liclpful to tlic student for whom tlic book is intwidcd. Tho details givcn arc suflicicntly full and accuratc and tlicrc is cvidcncc in this part of tlic work of first-bnd espericncc of plant which lias led tho author to give soma w r y uscful tcchnical informtioii which is not readily ncccssiblc. Tlicrc is not, howcvor, nnytliing very iicw, nor do thc yiclds quotccl s h o i ~ any ndvantago over thoso obtaiiicd in this conntry.

cvcn conductivity of tlie B used salt, in spitc of tlic

In Chapter IV, eight mcthocls arc discusscd for the scparntion of ariilinc from the reducer charge. The mctliod used in this country, of generating steam for thc aniline distillation in n special boiler using the surplus aniline water, is not, on the author’s figures, quite tlic chcapcst. It is, however, tlie clcancst and the licalthicst and rcduccs handling to a minimum.

Tlic rcruaindcr of the book is more in the nature of a compilation, and papers which liarc appeared in scientific and tcchnical journals arc freely quoted from. Abstracts from patcnts, mainly of Germnn origin, arc gircn tcxtunlly. Undcr phcnylglycine, four Gcrman patents arc mentioned, but tlicrc is 110 rcfcrcncc to otlicr pntcnts, somc of tliclu English, of morc recent datc, wliicli dcnl with altcrnativcs to tlie iisual anilinc-monochlorncctic acid routc. Onc cliap- tcr is dcvotccl to the prcparat’tion of derimtives of anilinc, S O I ~ C of ihc products bcing trcatcd summarily, whilst others such as the alkylanilincs arc considered a t some lcngtli in a liclpful mnnncr. Thc list given of aniline dycstufls is iiicoinplctc and more accurate inforinntion is contniucd in thc “ Colour Indcs ” of the Socicty of Dycrs and Colourists. A9 was to be espectcd in o book by an Atncrican nuthor, special refcrencc is made to the anilinc dcrirativrs used as accclcrators in tlic rubber industry.

The book should provc a useful addition to tho slielves of tlic tcclinical clicmist, and is certainly intcrcsting by virtue of its insistcncc on accurate costings and its survey of nlternatirc nictliocls.

8. T. DE ~IOIJ lLPIED

YE.\R &Ol; OF Tl lE h E R 1 C A S X5SoCIATios OF ‘I’ESTILI.: CJIEJIISTS ISD COLORISTS. 1’11. 105. KC\\. York, 1924.

‘I’lic ycar book is the only publication of the Associntion, but rcports of scctioiis appcnr in the American .Dyestuff licportcr, just ns in England tlic reports of sonic socictics which linrc not yet advanccd to tlic position of publisliing tlic‘ ’lr OI\?i journnls npl~car in the tecllliicitl prcss. This asso- ciation appcars to carry out in Anicrica siinilnr Eunctions to those of tlic Socicty of J)~).crs and Colourists iii this couiitry : thus prizes itre given for tlic solution-of tccluiical problenls, nnd n list of American-made tlycstufrs is givcii on siiuilnr but less aiubitious lines to tlic Colour Inclcs of tlic Society of Dycrs ancl Colourists.

Tlic nicnibe~sliip of tlic nssocintion is G S S and this is tlic sccoiid yenr of publicnthi of tlic ycnr book. Iicsearcli ~vorli is cncourngccl and rcports on the fristncss of clycstuffs to light, pcxspiriition, chlorine, ctc., arc given and staiiclnrcl nietliods of testing for fnstiicss litid do\vii. Tlicsc nictliocls arc the most interesting pnrt of tho volunic. It is dillkult to undcistnnd wliy tliis association is not connected with tho American Clicniiciil Society, diicli has its iniiustrinl sections nnd 1% section dcvotctl to tho chcniistry of ccllulosc. I n fact, botli iii E ~ ~ g l n ~ i d nnd Arucricn tlicrc is too inucli overlnpping of societies, niid chciiiists engiigcd in tlic tostilc industries would wolconio niiy cllort to simplify t lie position botli 8s regards iiiectings of socictics atid tlic supply of nbstrncts. s. H. H1C:OlSS