BOOK REVIEWS

and silazanes. In these processes the ~ l l t h o r evalklates the oti1it.y and limitations of the various reaclions. The magnitude of this swvey is evidenced by t,he appsoni- mntely one hundred pages devoted to this area.

The commercial utility of silanes is based primarily on the polymers obt,ained from a. few alkyl- and rtryl- chlorosilanes made, for the most part, by direct synthesis from silicon and organahalides. Methylhalo- silanes are considered in delnil xs t,he author evaluntes the choice of catalyst and the preparation and activation of the con- tact. mixture. Data relate to the distribn- tion of the various prodncts on the basis of variations in time, temperature, pro- moters, and other variables. Extensive details are given for the laboratory syn- thesis of methylchlorosilanes in fluidiaed beds. I t is shown how control of the pra- cess can be attained by the adjmt,ment, of conditions. There follows a presentation of the preparation by direct synthesis of alkylchlorosilanes higher than the methyl series and also of alkenyl- and aryl- halo- nilanes.

This direct synthesis of chlorosilanes has been the subject of many studies an the kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions. Nearly a fourth of the book considers these details. The nature of the silicon-copper contact mixtures is followed during the colrrse of the reaction. The organic halide reacts with the polarized surface of the alloy with the organic g r o ~ p becoming st- tnched to the silicon and the halogen lo the copper. I t is proposed that the wt,e de- termining step i thus a nocleophilie attack of a chlorine ion on a silicon-suhstl.ate bond, details of which are given, followed by several concerted steps to the ~tltimatu product,.

Then fallows a consideration in some de- tail of the physical and chemical properties of organohslosilanes. Iteact,ions are given of the silicon-hydrogen and silicon-halogen bonds. A brief tabulation is given of the physical properties of a wide variety of halosilanes.

Only brief review is given of the indus- trial applications of the silicones obtained from the halosilanes. This review is sd- equate to give a reasonable concept of the field and interesting pictures are given of industrial equipment. The hook ends with a considernlion of analytical pro- cesses, especially instrumental, applicable to the halosilanes.

COURTLAND L. AGRE Augsburg College

Afinneapoli.3, Minnesota 5541 7

The Altr of the Alchemists

C. A . Burland, formerly of the British Museum, London, England. The Mac- millan Co., New York, 1967. xiv + 224pp. Figs. 17..5 X 25 em. $9.95.

The term "alchemy" is a collective noim that embodies a conglomerate of ideas and consequently the composition of a book about this precursor of chemistry is no easy task. Despite the popular notion, alchemy was something far beyond

the transm~ltation of tho baser metals int,o gold or the search for a universal cure for diseases. 11, involved philosophic and religions ideas; the perfection of metals was taken as n aymholic representation of the perfection of man's soul. As- trology, nllmerology and mysticism, phi- losophy and psychology, mythology, and many nther fields were included. Was alchemy widsam or folly: were its prac- titioners sincere seekers after truth or charlatans and tricksters?

From the practical side, mnch good came from this anrient art. The appara- t11s developed and the aeqnnintance with the chemical and physical propwties of the materinls employed have heen of great value in the growth of chemistry. Liebigwas correct in hisstatement that the alchemy of the Sliddle Ages was nrtnally chemistry. The history of alchemy ex- tended from the early pre-Christian times into the present century. I t changed its emphasis as time went an but always i t was the center of controversy and hope, sometimes of wealth or spiritwd reward. The cryptic language employed and the highly involved artistic symbolism have been deciphered in part, though it. must be conceded thst the meanings were kept ohscore not only to protect secrets but also to conceal the pancity or even complete absence of real knowledge and understanding.

The author has shown his skill as a writer on academic n~hjects for t,he non- specialist readers in mimerow previous books. I n the present case he has lraeed the history of alchemy from its beginnings in the pre-Christian centuries down to the present. Re obvioosly has read widely and thoroughly on his subject and has approached his sources with an open mind. He makes no firm judgments but leaves such decisions to his readers. He sets forth the ideas, notions, and findings as clearly as he can. To some, this may yield an unsatisfactory hook, but how else can an honest writer carry on? A good bibliography is provided for those whose interest may prompt additional reading and study of this haffling and perhaps esoteric topic.

A major asset of this truly handsome volume resides in the numerous (130) beautiful plates phis 8 in full color. Even the endpapers and the dust jarket are employed to show nlehemicd symbols and representations. Me*tnre students, teachers, and practicing chemists would do well to consider this volume as an addition to their libraries or to purchase i t as an appropriate gift to a chemically- o~.philosophically-minded friend.

RALPH E. OESPER Unirm-sit?, of Cincinnati

Cincinnati. Ohio

Great Accidents in Science that Changed the World

Jerome S. Meyer. Arco Pnblishing Company, New York 1967. 80 pp. Photographs and diagrams. 15 X 23 em. $3.95.

The Preface states "The purpose of this book is to show how seemingly unimpor- tant things are occurring all the timein our

daily lives, to which we pay .no t the slightest attention, hut, many of which led to great changes in civilization-beeaose someone did pay attention," Pastenr took this samo thooght an impart,ant step further whcn he declared that these cn~eial seemingly chance observstions always occur to the prepared minds. Though the anthor, doublless far theatrical purposes, adopts the position t,hat. the accidents discussed in this baok were in themselves peculiar to their discoverers, there is little doubt that eventnally they would have happened t,o someone else. Scientific t.snths do not remain nndiscovered far- ever, a fact that fundamentally distin- goiahes science from the literary or nrlistir achievements. The masterpieces pro- duced by Shakespeare, Beethoven, Rubens, etc., were not lying in wait so to speak; had these men not lived their work would never have heen created.

This little hook was written for boys and girls b ~ t i t deserves a t least a brief ~ w i e w here because i t admirably illus- trates the kind of literature that should be pot into the hnnds of our juveniles. I t covers R wide range of topics and men, and in each case tells of the chance dis- covery and the conditions surrounding the latter and then gives a picture of the mod- ern industries thst have been the eventnal frnits of these seeds. The chapter head- ings are: The bath that launched a million ships (Archimedes); The compass needle that pointed east (Oersted); Five words that changed the world (Morse); Arid spilled on a pair of pants (Bell); A fourteen billion dollar industry ant, of a whsp's nest (REeumur); Why don't yon? (Eastman); Let's build a glider with one of those gas engines in i t (Wright hroth- em); I t was old, dirty and moldy-hnt, he kept i t (Fleming); The lucky accident, that stretched around tho world (Good- year). These were t,he beginnings, re- spectively, of: the shipping industry, electricity, t,elegraphy, the telephone, paper, modem photography and cinema- tography, air travel, antibiotics, and rub- ber. These chapters deal with chemistry only in an indirect fashion and a similar volume could probably be based on the "Accidents" that came to chemists.

The illustrations constitute a major factor in this book and should he looked a t with much at,t,ention. 1Iany of t,hem have true historical value. The baok shorlld be included in school libraries or i t would be an appropriate gift to a yomg- ster with an active mind.

RM.PA E . OESPER Univmsily oj Cincinnati

Cincinnali, Ohio

Keine Angst vor chemischen Formeln: Grundbegriffe der Chemie

Walter Botsch. 2nd ed. Frmckh'sche Verlagshandhmg, W. Keller & Co., Stuttgart, Germany, 1967. 88 pp. Plates and diagrams. 13 X 19.5 cm. DM 3.80 = 80.05.

In rough translation the title of this little book is "Do Not he Afraid of Chemi- cal Formulw." Designed far the lay reader i t presents in clear fmhion the

(Continz~ed on page A514)

A512 / Journal o i Chemical Education

BOOK REVIEWS

fundamental ideas that underlie the formulas and symbols of the chemists that appear so undecipherable t,o the uninit,i- ated. Using simple language the author gives an adequate explanabion and notion of the facts and theories on which chemical symbolism is based. Examples are: the history and meaning of chemical symbols and formulas; chemical reactions and equations; structure of the atom, valence electrons, electron clouds, electron octet; the types of chemical bonding; polar and nan-polas liquids and their solvent powers; ions and ionic reactions; etc. The latter portion of the book is devoted t,o a. dis- cussion of organic formulas; aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, isomers and no- menclature; unsaturated compounds and their activity. Functional groups are dis- cussed. also carbon rines and heterocvlio

the closing chapter as examples of macro- molecules and artificial technical ma- terials. The photographs and diagrams aid greatly in clarifying the disoussions.

Obviously there would appear to be little point in reviewing this volume in the columns of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION; every properly trained stu- dent is or should be thoroughly versed in what this book offers. The reason for

learning to read German, especially chemi- cal German. No vocahnlary is applied so the inexperienced reader is forced to employ a dictionary, a valuable teaching exercise in itself, and best of d l he can test the accuracy of his translation against his own knowledge or if need be against a standard English text. He thus simul- taneously learns to read German and to verify his ehemied knowledge. The hook costs only one dollar and so is suggested for individual purchase or as an auxiliary text far class use in a. course devoted to chemical German; a kind of laboratory exercise book.

RALPH R. OESPER Unive~sity of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

Ph6nomBnes MagnCtiques et Structure

Andrd Michel, Facultk des Sciences d'Orsay, France. Masson et Cie., Paris, 1966. vii + 140 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 25 cm. Paperbound. 34F.

This paperback is a short monograph on the relationship between t,he measured macroscopic magnetic properties of matter and t,be at,omir structure of matt,er in its

author avers, the present, book is written by a chemist for chemists.

A straightforward exposition is pre- sented of the magnetic properties of mat- ter with practical interpretations a t a level easily understood by junior and senior chemistry majors in this country. It ia

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AS1 4 / Journol of Chernicol Education