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Laboratory glassblowing
Book reviews
303
for accuracy in sampling, today an advanced subject, and see how much one relied on chance for accurate replication of results in the past, and how much more precise thay may be made now. But this is to mention a very few of the branches of the subject that are dealt with in this first volume. It is right to mention all the headings: After a general introduction by the Editors, there is a chapter dealing with the Materiafs used for analytical vessels (G. H. Wyatt), Sampling (R. C. Tomlinson), Statistics (I?. C. Wood), Weighing (G. F. Hodsman), Measurement of Volume (R. Goulden), Solvent Extraction (G. H. Morrison and H. Freiser), and Organic Reagents in Inorganic Analysis (F. Holmes). Gas Analysis is described in the third chapter by A. E. Heron and H. N. Wilson. P. W. West, H. Weiss and A. 0. Parks deal with ~~rga~c ~~iitative Analysis, and A. McGookin with Organic Qualitutive Analysis. The sixth and final chapter is on Inorganic Gravimetric Analysis; it is introduced by Professor C. L. Wilson, and written by F. E. Beamish and W. A. E. McBryde and L. Gordon. This last chapter discusses the preparation of precipitates, their filtration and washing, and subsequent weighing; the purity of reagents, the use of organic reagents, and practical and theoretical filtering media, crucibles, heating devices, desiccators and miscellaneous considerations; and finally precipitation from homogeneous solution of hydroxides and various apparatus; anions. Generally speaking this chapter may be said to review the subject of gravimetric inorganic analysis pretty thoroughly in the course of rather more than 100 pages; but the reader will not find in it the specialised directions for the determinations of each cation and anion that would have appeared in most of the older textbooks on analysis, except in a few instances. The Editors have rather been at pains to achieve what has been looked for of late, and to review the whole subject covered by their title page. Emphatically they have not produced just another cookery-book. It is too early to foresee just how the remaining volumes of this great work will turn out. A study of the first section leaves one full of respect for the Editors and authors and of pleasure at what they have already achieved. Let us hope that all concerned will go from strength to strength, and that the completed work will fully justify the promise of its start. K. A. WILLIAMS
Laboratory Glassblowing. Pp. vii + 160. 21s.
L. M. PARR and C. A. HENDLEY. George Newnes Ltd., London,
1956.
VERBALor written instructions of the technique of glassblowing can become extremely involved and detailed, but remain, at the same time, completely inadequate. The authors have avoided many of the usual faults of this type of book and have presented adequate details of most glassblowing techniques in a simple and lucid manner: in particular, their many diagrams are extremely clear and accurate. Two unusual aspects of this book deserve comment: first, for certain articles the authors give methods of construction which give satisfactory results but which are not necessarily employed by professional glassblower (indeed, he would probably be horrified with some of the details); second, as well as those for standard glassblowing exercises, details are given for the making of stopcocks, metal-to-glass seals and calibrated apparatus which the reader would not expect to Iind in such a small volume. The book is well-indexed, and contains appendices which list impo~nt data such as standard joint and tap spec%cations and sources of supply of glassblowing equipment. The book is very readable, so much so that the text could be described as “gripping” in that it is difficult to put down the book until the job in hand is successfully completed. The book is also written with some gentle humour, not all of which is intentional; the legend “no sudden construction” at the end of an arrow pointing to the centre of a diagram of the requirements of a stopcock is wholly accurate for a beginner, if not wholly proof-read! Because of the nature of glassblowing it is doubtful whether a complete novice would soon become a highly competent glassblower with the aid of this book alone. However, a worker with a little knowledge of the technique will become a much more accomplished glassblower in a much shorter time if he has this book at his side. D. A, PANTONY
303
for accuracy in sampling, today an advanced subject, and see how much one relied on chance for accurate replication of results in the past, and how much more precise thay may be made now. But this is to mention a very few of the branches of the subject that are dealt with in this first volume. It is right to mention all the headings: After a general introduction by the Editors, there is a chapter dealing with the Materiafs used for analytical vessels (G. H. Wyatt), Sampling (R. C. Tomlinson), Statistics (I?. C. Wood), Weighing (G. F. Hodsman), Measurement of Volume (R. Goulden), Solvent Extraction (G. H. Morrison and H. Freiser), and Organic Reagents in Inorganic Analysis (F. Holmes). Gas Analysis is described in the third chapter by A. E. Heron and H. N. Wilson. P. W. West, H. Weiss and A. 0. Parks deal with ~~rga~c ~~iitative Analysis, and A. McGookin with Organic Qualitutive Analysis. The sixth and final chapter is on Inorganic Gravimetric Analysis; it is introduced by Professor C. L. Wilson, and written by F. E. Beamish and W. A. E. McBryde and L. Gordon. This last chapter discusses the preparation of precipitates, their filtration and washing, and subsequent weighing; the purity of reagents, the use of organic reagents, and practical and theoretical filtering media, crucibles, heating devices, desiccators and miscellaneous considerations; and finally precipitation from homogeneous solution of hydroxides and various apparatus; anions. Generally speaking this chapter may be said to review the subject of gravimetric inorganic analysis pretty thoroughly in the course of rather more than 100 pages; but the reader will not find in it the specialised directions for the determinations of each cation and anion that would have appeared in most of the older textbooks on analysis, except in a few instances. The Editors have rather been at pains to achieve what has been looked for of late, and to review the whole subject covered by their title page. Emphatically they have not produced just another cookery-book. It is too early to foresee just how the remaining volumes of this great work will turn out. A study of the first section leaves one full of respect for the Editors and authors and of pleasure at what they have already achieved. Let us hope that all concerned will go from strength to strength, and that the completed work will fully justify the promise of its start. K. A. WILLIAMS
Laboratory Glassblowing. Pp. vii + 160. 21s.
L. M. PARR and C. A. HENDLEY. George Newnes Ltd., London,
1956.
VERBALor written instructions of the technique of glassblowing can become extremely involved and detailed, but remain, at the same time, completely inadequate. The authors have avoided many of the usual faults of this type of book and have presented adequate details of most glassblowing techniques in a simple and lucid manner: in particular, their many diagrams are extremely clear and accurate. Two unusual aspects of this book deserve comment: first, for certain articles the authors give methods of construction which give satisfactory results but which are not necessarily employed by professional glassblower (indeed, he would probably be horrified with some of the details); second, as well as those for standard glassblowing exercises, details are given for the making of stopcocks, metal-to-glass seals and calibrated apparatus which the reader would not expect to Iind in such a small volume. The book is well-indexed, and contains appendices which list impo~nt data such as standard joint and tap spec%cations and sources of supply of glassblowing equipment. The book is very readable, so much so that the text could be described as “gripping” in that it is difficult to put down the book until the job in hand is successfully completed. The book is also written with some gentle humour, not all of which is intentional; the legend “no sudden construction” at the end of an arrow pointing to the centre of a diagram of the requirements of a stopcock is wholly accurate for a beginner, if not wholly proof-read! Because of the nature of glassblowing it is doubtful whether a complete novice would soon become a highly competent glassblower with the aid of this book alone. However, a worker with a little knowledge of the technique will become a much more accomplished glassblower in a much shorter time if he has this book at his side. D. A, PANTONY