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Qualitative inorganic analysis
Talanta.1958,Vol. 1, pp. 285-289.PergamonPressLtd., London.
BOOK
Qualitative
Inorganic Analysis.
REVIEWS
G. CHARLOT, translated
by R. C.
MURRAY.
Methuen, London, 1954.
Pp. xi + 354. 42s. Quantitative
Inorganic Analysis.
G. CHARLOT and D. B~ZIER, translated by R. C. MURRAY.
Methuen,
London, 1957. Pp. xi + 691. 84s. PROFESSOR Charlot has had an excellent idea in bringing together the principles of inorganic and physical chemistry and showing their application to the understanding and development of qualitative analysis. Most practising analysts and teachers of analytical chemistry are aware of these principles, but it is convenient to have them assembled into a text-book. Part I of the text of his qualitative book deals with the theory of the subject, and unfortunately shows signs of careless writing. For example, on p. 5 hydrogen sulphide is said to be a stronger acid than water because sulphur is more electronegative than oxygen (!) whereas on p. 128 the reason given is that the sulphide ion is bigger than the oxide ion. The S- ion is called the hydrosulphide ion. The definition on p. 45 of condensed ions as “compounds with the ions of water, Cr,O, S- for example” is meaningless, and the section on valency theory seems rather inadequate in a modern text. There is a fair amount of repetition in Part I, and quite often ideas are applied in a manner at variance with their initial description. On p. 46, for instance, it is assumed that an increase in ionic strength necessarily implies an increase in activity coefficients. On p. 48 there is confusion between pH and hydrogen ion activities (e.g. “Right up to a pH of 9.1, the concentration of Hg ions is independent of pH . . . . Even at pH of 1, approximately There are a number of typographical errors in this 90% of the Hg(CN), remains undissociated.“). section, some of which may be confusing to the student. On p. 22 V(I1 +) is said to be reduced to V(IV), and on p. 57 log H+ is equated with log PH. Part II deals with the detailed chemistry of most of the elements and has a most useful compilation of equilibrium constants and oxidation potentials. The diagrams showing how solubilities and potentials change with pH are particularly useful. A few minor points should be mentioned however. It is implied on p. 150 that the oxinates of calcium, strontium, and barium do not precipitate in alkaline solution (they come down at pH 9, but dissolve in hot ammoniacal ammonium chloride solution). The statement on p. 137 about the stability of the argentocyanide ion in acid solution seems at variance with that given on p. 88. Perchromates should not be represented by the CrO*+ ion (p. 169) and it is at least debatable whether AlO,- ions and ZnO,a- ions exist in solution. The potential of -1.6 volts for the PrO,/Prs+ couple, and the description of sodium peroxide as a complex of the O,- ion are probably printer’s errors. Part III gives a brief account of the practical application of the first two parts. On the whole, this is a useful book which should prove helpful to students of analytical chemistry. The translation seems remarkably free from infelicities, although a few sentences are somewhat vague, notably that on p. 22 referring to equal proportions of oxidant and reductant.
The companion volume on quantitative analysis falls into two parts-one on general principles and methods of analysis, and the other on a systematic description of the determination of the principal elements. Much of the first part of the book on qualitative analysis is repeated in Part I, and in addition there are chapters on sampling, statistics, physical methods, etc. In general, the treatment of the various topics is rather uneven, and sometimes barely adequate. Thus sampling is dealt with in just over a page, emission spectroscopy in five, and radioactivation methods in five and a half, whereas twenty-eight pages are devoted to a very detailed account of electrolysis and another thirtyone to its application. Many are indicated by a Part II is a rather uncritical compilation of methods of determination. reference and a brief mention of the principle involved; in others an outline of the method is given, but often too sketchily to be of great use. In general the descriptions given are so condensed as to 285
BOOK
Qualitative
Inorganic Analysis.
REVIEWS
G. CHARLOT, translated
by R. C.
MURRAY.
Methuen, London, 1954.
Pp. xi + 354. 42s. Quantitative
Inorganic Analysis.
G. CHARLOT and D. B~ZIER, translated by R. C. MURRAY.
Methuen,
London, 1957. Pp. xi + 691. 84s. PROFESSOR Charlot has had an excellent idea in bringing together the principles of inorganic and physical chemistry and showing their application to the understanding and development of qualitative analysis. Most practising analysts and teachers of analytical chemistry are aware of these principles, but it is convenient to have them assembled into a text-book. Part I of the text of his qualitative book deals with the theory of the subject, and unfortunately shows signs of careless writing. For example, on p. 5 hydrogen sulphide is said to be a stronger acid than water because sulphur is more electronegative than oxygen (!) whereas on p. 128 the reason given is that the sulphide ion is bigger than the oxide ion. The S- ion is called the hydrosulphide ion. The definition on p. 45 of condensed ions as “compounds with the ions of water, Cr,O, S- for example” is meaningless, and the section on valency theory seems rather inadequate in a modern text. There is a fair amount of repetition in Part I, and quite often ideas are applied in a manner at variance with their initial description. On p. 46, for instance, it is assumed that an increase in ionic strength necessarily implies an increase in activity coefficients. On p. 48 there is confusion between pH and hydrogen ion activities (e.g. “Right up to a pH of 9.1, the concentration of Hg ions is independent of pH . . . . Even at pH of 1, approximately There are a number of typographical errors in this 90% of the Hg(CN), remains undissociated.“). section, some of which may be confusing to the student. On p. 22 V(I1 +) is said to be reduced to V(IV), and on p. 57 log H+ is equated with log PH. Part II deals with the detailed chemistry of most of the elements and has a most useful compilation of equilibrium constants and oxidation potentials. The diagrams showing how solubilities and potentials change with pH are particularly useful. A few minor points should be mentioned however. It is implied on p. 150 that the oxinates of calcium, strontium, and barium do not precipitate in alkaline solution (they come down at pH 9, but dissolve in hot ammoniacal ammonium chloride solution). The statement on p. 137 about the stability of the argentocyanide ion in acid solution seems at variance with that given on p. 88. Perchromates should not be represented by the CrO*+ ion (p. 169) and it is at least debatable whether AlO,- ions and ZnO,a- ions exist in solution. The potential of -1.6 volts for the PrO,/Prs+ couple, and the description of sodium peroxide as a complex of the O,- ion are probably printer’s errors. Part III gives a brief account of the practical application of the first two parts. On the whole, this is a useful book which should prove helpful to students of analytical chemistry. The translation seems remarkably free from infelicities, although a few sentences are somewhat vague, notably that on p. 22 referring to equal proportions of oxidant and reductant.
The companion volume on quantitative analysis falls into two parts-one on general principles and methods of analysis, and the other on a systematic description of the determination of the principal elements. Much of the first part of the book on qualitative analysis is repeated in Part I, and in addition there are chapters on sampling, statistics, physical methods, etc. In general, the treatment of the various topics is rather uneven, and sometimes barely adequate. Thus sampling is dealt with in just over a page, emission spectroscopy in five, and radioactivation methods in five and a half, whereas twenty-eight pages are devoted to a very detailed account of electrolysis and another thirtyone to its application. Many are indicated by a Part II is a rather uncritical compilation of methods of determination. reference and a brief mention of the principle involved; in others an outline of the method is given, but often too sketchily to be of great use. In general the descriptions given are so condensed as to 285