(1) Inorganic Chemistry for Advanced Students (2) Chemistry for Beginners (3) The MCC Periodic Chart of the Elements

Abstract

THE new edition of Roscoe and Harden's “In-organic Chemistry for Advanced Students” differs from its predecessor (reviewed in NATURE of December 7th, 1899), mainly in the addition of new lessons or chapters on carbon compounds and on the radio-active elements. It is, however, very gratifying to see the new method of making hydrazine from ammonia incorporated so quickly in a text-book, and co find calcium cyanamide duly described as an inorganic compound amongst the compounds of calcium in a chapter which includes a brief but accurate description of the technical preparation of the metal by electrolysis of the fused chloride. The lesson dealing with crystals and isomorphism remains in some need of revision, as three distinct methods are used to indicate the faces of the crystals in the various diagrams that are reproduced; as the symbols used are not explained the simplest remedy would probably be to omit them altogether from the diagrams. The issue of the new edition has supplied an opportunity for introducing the system of atomic weights in which O=16 instead of H=1, and these values are now used throughout the book. The larger volume is intended to be used as a sequel to Roscoe and Lunt's “Inorganic Chemistry for Beginners,” and an element such as chlorine, which has already been described in the smaller volume, is now referred to only under its metallic derivatives. In this way space has been saved for the introduction of more advanced work than could otherwise have been included within the limits of less than 500 pages. (1) Inorganic Chemistry for Advanced Students. By the Right. Hon. Sir H. Roscoe Dr. A. Harden 2nd edition. Pp. viii + 476. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1910.) Price 4s. 6d. (2) Chemistry for Beginners. By T. Jenks. Pp. x + 309. (New York: F. A. Stokes Co.; London and Edinburgh: W. R. Chambers, Ltd., 1910.) Price 3s. 6d. (Chambers's Wonder Books.) (3) The M.C.C. Periodic Chart of the Elements. Pp. 45 (introduction) and chart (folded and bound). (London: Metallic Compositions Co., n.d.) Price 8s. 6d.