A Textbook of Qualitative Chemical Analysis (Vogel, Arthur I.)

Abstract

Journal of Chemical Education over from previous editions in lieu of the more acceptable spelling "yne." The third division of the book, in particular, will appeal to students of chemistry. The book represents, in the opinion of the reviewer, an improvement over the previous edition which is in keeping with the progress of the science involved. The discussion of ionization, chemical equilibrium, balancing equations, and oxidation potential, with the usual sub-topics, is reasonably complete, combining the classic and modern points of view. In the sections covering reactions of metals the usual inorganic reactions are supplemented by inclusion of the more important organic reagents. A fairly large number of acid radicals are covered in Chapter IV, including, for example, cyanide, cyanate, thiocyanate, ferrocyanide, ferricyanide, and the following organic acids: formic, acetic, oxalic, tartaric, citric, salicylic, benzoic, and succinic. In the section on systematic qualitative analysis, considerable stress is laid on preliminary tests by both dry and wet methods before attempting the usual dissolving of solids and analysis of the solutions. The analytical procedures are described with distinctly less detail than we are accustomed to in the United States. This may well be due to the difference in method of teaching the subject in England and in this country. Apparently in England there is less of formal class work than here, the student being thrown on his own in the laboratory after a few introductory lectures. To prevent the laboratory work from becoming a mere routine following of directions, the procedures are purposely left more or less in outline form, thus requiring individual initiative in devising the proper conditions for carrying out particular operations.