592  Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.    { ADecimb^i9M?' 
These  are  presented  in  accordance  with  the  most  modern  views  of 
physical  chemistry,  and  give  the  reader  an  excellent  idea  of  the 
great  advances  of  this  new  branch  of  science.  The  classification 
of  reactions  according  to  the  conditions  of  equilibrium  indicated, 
and  the  application  of  the  phase  rule  to  determine  the  several  sys- 
tems is  very  clearly  and  intelligently  stated  ;  the  ionic  theory  and 
its  applications  in  the  explanation  of  the  phenomena  of  electrolysis 
is  equally  well  stated,  and  some  of  its  applications  of  importance 
for  physiological  chemistry  indicated.  Practical  applications  of 
these  theories  are  also  indicated,  as  in  connection  with  the  discus- 
sion of  the  electromotive  series  where  the  author  explains  u  a 
knowledge  of  the  electromotive  series  is  of  practical  importance, 
since  in  all  cases  where  objects  of  metal  (alloys,  combinations  of 
metals  in  contact,  metals  with  mechanically  or  galvanically  prepared 
metallic  coatings)  are  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  elements  an 
opportunity  is  afforded  for  the  formation  of  short  circuited  galvanic 
couples,  as  a  result  of  which  the  metal  with  the  highest  solution 
tension  dissolves,  but  the  other  remains  intact.  Galvanized  iron  is, 
therefore,  not  so  strongly  oxidized  at  points  where  the  zinc  covering 
has  been  injured  as  if  it  were  not  galvanized,  while  tinned  iron  on 
an  injury  to  the  tin  coating  oxidizes  (rusts)  more  readily  than  it 
would  if  it  were  not  tinned,  because  the  iron  has  a  greater  solution 
tension  than  tin  and  a  lower  solution  tension  than  zinc." 
The  portion  devoted  to  inorganic  chemistry  is  in  the  main  well 
written,  and  in  every  way  up-to-date  in  its  statements,  but  it  suffers 
in  places  from  too  great  condensation,  made  necessary  by  the  wide 
scope  of  the  book.  The  analytical  reactions  are  specially  noted 
after  each  metal  in  a  section  on  the  detection  of  its  compounds. 
The  translator  has  made  a  blunder  in  the  section  on  Iron  (page  280), 
by  translating  the  German  steinkohlen  by  the  word  anthracite.  In 
speaking  of  the  blast  furnace  he  says :  "  Anthracite  cannot  be  used 
directly,  but  must  first  be  converted  into  coke."  It  is  needless  to 
say  that  coke  is  made  from  bituminous  coal  and  not  from  anthracite. 
The  classification  and  general  treatment  of  the  organic  section  is 
very  satisfactory,  and  serves  to  give  one  an  excellent  survey  of  the 
field  of  organic  compounds  and  the  relationship  existing  there. 
The  book  is  provided  with  a  very  full  index,  and  has  an  enormous 
amount  of  information  compressed  in  its  627  pages. 
S.  P.  Sadtler. 
