REVIEWS 177 



embodied a very large bulk of work ; and it is only by reason of the skill with which 

 they are presented that the facts can be brought into so narrow a compass without 

 confusion. The subject-matter lies for a great part beyond what was discussed in 

 the larger volume referred to ; hence, although there must be some overlapping 

 between them, the two books should be taken together. Here are few experimental 

 details, but it is evident that all results have been submitted to the author's keen 

 criticism before being admitted. The aspect of the subject discussed in this volume 

 is one which will greatly interest chemists, quite apart from metallographers. 



I. M. 



The Synthetic Use of Metals in Organic Chemistry. By A. J. Hale, B.Sc, 

 A. I.C. [Pp. xi + 169.] (London : J. A. Churchill, 1914. Pricey. 6d. net.) 



This is a book which should make its chief appeal to the practitioner of organic 

 chemistry rather than to the student, but there is much which is of value to both. 

 To the student it is (or should be) a matter of minor concern whether a given 

 organic process works better with, let us say, barium hydroxide instead of calcium 

 hydroxide, unless the fact illustrate some fairly wide matter of principle. To the 

 researcher, on the other hand, such knowledge may be vital. 



The book is divided up in a way which seems a little arbitrary, although the 

 author's experience must presumably have found it to be the best ; thus the 

 chapters are arranged according to the various kinds of metals employed. By this 

 method quite different processes are often classed under one heading, and also 

 essentially similar processes are scattered among different chapters simply because 

 more than one kind of metal can be used. Thus reactions of zinc alkyl compounds 

 are in Chapter IV., whilst the corresponding magnesium Grignard reactions are in 

 Chapter III. 



The subject-matter is not limited to the metals themselves, but is extended to 

 include their inorganic compounds. One result is that under " Sodium and 

 Potassium" we find such diverse and unrelated reactions as those of metallic 

 sodium on alkyl halides, potassium cyanide on ketones, and potassium hydroxide 

 on aldehydes. 



From the point of the student (for whom the work was chiefly written) this book 

 is useful in showing what a very large bulk of all manner of organic syntheses is 

 effected by the use of metals and metallic compounds, and it also provides numer- 

 ous well-selected practical examples to be worked on in the laboratory. The book 

 will also prove convenient for original workers and for teachers who wish for 

 material to exemplify their own systematic treatment of organic synthesis. 



Quantitative Analysis in Practice. By John Waddell, D.Sc, Ph.D., etc. 

 [Pp. vi + 162.] (London : J. A. Churchill, 1913. Price 4s. 6d.) 



This is a book which ought to prove very useful to students beginning quantitative 

 chemical analysis. Primarily, it forms an introduction to technical methods, but 

 this really adds to its value as an aid to those who take up the academic side ; for 

 of the three essential factors in technical work which are neatly summed up in the 

 introduction as honesty, accuracy, and speed, the first two are always to be insisted 

 upon in " pure " chemistry, whilst the third is often apt to receive too little attention. 

 Further, most teachers noticevthat students are often more interested in analysing 

 everyday substances than in performing similar operations upon pure chemicals ; 

 accordingly, here we find the examination of clay, cement, coal, iron ore, and such 

 materials forming a great part of the book. The accounts of the principles, no 

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