of research orientation, a3 is abnndantly
Fred the size of the type been a, little
clear from Chapter 8, the last chapt,er,'On
Identifying the Type of Reaction. The
positive ideal is maintained wherever
possible. Thus the arbitrary limits of
insolrtbility versus solubility are given,
bnl lhcy are based on snggcstiona in cited
published mnlerinl.
This papcrbnck has B periodic table of
tho elemenls on ils otltaide hack cover.
Rtruciwal diagrams are not stingy and
are generally well conceived. The index
is good.
I t is prohlematic as to where t,o insert,
this book in an established e~trliculrrm.
In a small college it ma" find its place,
a t the earliest, eoncwrently in the second
semester for gifted stndents only. I t may
make s good basis in ihe upper level sem-
inar course for nlmosl; every chemistry
and pre-medicnl ~mdwgmdoate. I t would
be oxeellent for pt.ivnte study anywhere
in ihc r.t~t.rir~d\lmand even for reference.
Interpretation of Technical Data
J. W . Richards, C.Eng., M . I . Chem.
E. I). Van Noslrand Co., Ine., Prince-
ton, New Jewey, 1968. 195 pp. Figs.
and tables. 15.5 X 21.5 cm. $7.
As stated in its W e , this book was
writt,en primarily to inform concerning
techniques for the determination of "laws'.
or equations which best represent the re-
lationships among experiment.al data.
This limited objective is achieved as t,he
anthor proceeds from discussions of fun-
damentals and/or errors to discussions of
different algebraic and trigonometric eqna-
tions to a. short discussion oi the least-
squares method of dat,a fitting, terminat-
ing with a valuable chapter on the
"hazards of self deeept,ion."
The book is filled with pl.actical ex-
amples. These examples are d l engineer-
ing oriented but are easily understood by
those in other disciplines. I t is not a n
exhaustive treatise nor is it meant to be.
The discussion of errors and error theory
is quite superficial. The fitting of ex-
perimental data by mathematical eqlra-
dions using the method of leasthquares is
very brief but probably will meet the
needs of the majority of potential readers.
Particrrlarly interesting a1.e the dis-
cussions of the pitfalls which often en-
trap the unwary experimentalist and of
correlation theory. The treatment of
dimensiarral analysis as a method for din-
covering the correct form of an eqmtion is
excellerit. The advantage ni the w e nf
linear plots is stressed thlm~ghout and
many ingenioi~sways to obtain s w h plots
are presented. Figures and tables are
well prepared and easily read. Appendix
1 contnins a listing of i~sefulleast,qnares
normal ea~w.tions. The eneineerine hias
is evident in the li.;lings of dimensioned
quantities in Appendix 2 and dimensionless
groups in Appendix 3
Volume 45, Number 8 , August
larger, the averall impreriou given by
this hook wmdd have been improved.
This is not a text in error theor" and the
fitting af erpe~.imentsldata, h,lt i t is an
excellent self-help aid for sitldents and an
invalnshle sollree af practical assistance
for the p ~ w t i r i n gexpevime~llnlistin any
field.
Pyrotechnics
George W . Weingal.1. 2nd ed. Chemi-
ral Publishing Company, Inc., New
Ymk, 1067. xii + 244 pp. Figs. and
tables. 14..5 X 21.5 em. 88.50.
If yon must know how lo make snakes,
rockets, or Chinese firecrackers, this book
will tell yon. The approach is strictly,
empirical-a. "how-to" book-no "why."
The recipicq are full of saltpeter. The
second edition is an only slightly modified
firs1 edition (1947). Safety is mentioned,
but not properly emphasized. If this
book is in a school library, somehow,
control over its circulation should be
establiihed! The author considers pyro-
technics to be a craft, not a n art. True,
but lie shodd add "not for beginners."
I t seems anacronistic to call a book both
interesting and dangerans, but it is.
1968 / A621