REVIEWS the analysis of ( a ) fixed oils, fats and waxes, and
( b ) volatile oils. it is assumed that since the sub- Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Vol. 1 : Theory and Ap- stances arc complex mixtures whose analysis neces- plication. Edited by L. G. CHATTEN. Marcel sitates the use of many methods, they are used as Dekker, Inc., 95 Madison Avenue, New York, examples. Both chapters are disappointing in N. Y. 10016, 1966. xii + 504 pp. Price $14.50. that they are listings of physical and chemical This text is a contributive volume with 13 chap- proccdures with some explanatory comment. ters by 13 different authors. The purpose of the The chemical methods arc not adequately explained volume, according t o the preface, is “to provide a with equations and the calculations are represented broad basis on which the senior undergraduate and by formulas which do not invite reasoning. The graduate student can build.” The editor writes that section on functional group analysis is not done “Although it is anticipated that the student has a well. fundamental knowledge of chemistry, each of the The following observations may be made in chapters deals with some basic principles which summary. The treatment in several of the chap- will serve as a review.” If the advanced student ters is too elementary. No use or mention is made is to use this book and it is assumed that he has of statistics, nor is enough use made of organic studied quantitative analysis and organic chem- reaction mechanisms. Instrumental topics are istry, in the reviewer’s opinion, the text has not introduced with little or no background (thereby met these objectives. requiring another book and additional expense). A detailed examination of the book supports this Not all chapters have problems and questions. contention. The introductory chapter introduces If this text is to be used by advanced students, in the concept of quality control and sampling; in spite of several good chapters, some good experi- addition, the subjects of mass and volume deter- ments, and an admirable use of literature references, mination and laboratory techniques which are it falls short. usually treated in a first course in analysis are re- viewed. Although the calculation of titration Reviewed by Thomas Medwick curve points and titration of mixtures is treated College of Pharmacy very well, some twenty pages are used t o review Rutgers-The Slate University equilibria topics which should be familiar t o students Newark, N . J . at this level (or at least they can review on their own). The chapter dealing with precipitation, complex formation, and oxidation-reduction methods is an extensive consideration of the very numerous analyses of this type with some theoretical com- ment. Similarly, the chapter on acidimetry and Sulfur Dioxide. Applications in Foods, Beverages alkalimetry deals with rudimentary analytical and Pharmaceuticals. By Loms C. SCHROETER. Pergamon Press, Inc. 44-01 21st St., Long topics, e.g., methods of expressing solution concen- trations, and then treats many different acid-base Island City, N. Y. 11101, 1966. xiv + 342 pp. analyses. This type of material would be better 14 X 22 cm. Price $11. presented in a reference rather than a textbook. “Sulfur Dioxide” is a n excellent monograph con- Nonaqueous titrimetry is presented a t too practical taining both the applications of this commercially a level without use of topics such as glacial acetic important compound in pharmaceuticals, foods, and acid equilibria. The chapter on complexometry is beverages and theoretical reference material useful good, but rigorous calculations involving complex t o medicinal, inorganic, analytical, and pharmaceu- equilibria are not adequately developed. Although tical chemists. the chapter on alkaloidal assay is interesting, it The first chapter contains a complete review of the fails, e.g., to use structures and calculations t o preparation and properties of sulfur dioxide. The point out acid-base behavior and to employ thc properties of this compound are described in a concept of partition coefficients to explain solvent sophisticated physicochemical manner and are well distribution behavior. However, the use of tables referenced. An outstanding characteristic of the to summarize the many analytical methods is ex- book is the number of references (over 1100) that are cellent. The miscellaneous methods chapter is cited. very good in its treatment of topics such as the Thc second chapter, dealing with the oxidation of Karl Fischer titration, gas analysis, and nitrosation. sulfur dioxide, is particularly good. Sulfite oxida- Likewise, the section on ion-exchange separations tion in aqueous systems is discussed in detail from a is very well done. Enough theory is presented to kinetic-mechanistic standpoint reflecting the au- permit the student to make simple calculations thor’s expertness in this area. Many of the key describing column behavior. Column, thin-layer, references are to the published work of Dr. Schroeter. and paper chromatography are treated well in a Chapter tbrce contains the inorganic reactions, single chapter but certain organizational lapses complexes and clathrates of sulfurous acid species. are disturbing, viz., partition column chromatogra- The reactions are limited to those typical of aqueous phy and two-ditnensional thin-layer chromatography sulfurous acid systems. The complexes and clath- are introduced in sections discussing detection rates are considered in a quantitative manner. methods. The experiments a t the end of this Chapter four, dealing with the organic reactions of chapter are good. The last two chapters deal with sulfites is another particularly complete and good
Liquids, Solutions, and Interfaces: From Classical Macroscopic Descriptions To Modern Microscopic Details (Topics in Analytical Chemistry) (Fawcett 2004)