BOOK REVIEWS DOCUMENTATION IN ACTION, Edited by J. H. Shera, A. Kent and J. W. Perre. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York 22, N.Y. 1956. 471 pages, size 6 X 9 inches, illustrated and indexed. Price $10. This book is based on the pro- ceedings of the 1956 Western Re- serve Conference "Documentation in Action." It brings together descriptions of systems of documen- tation for use in education, industry or public library. All facets of com- munication as known at the time of presentation are included. In ad- dition areas for future research are included. The book is especially recom- mended to research department libraries. It is a good value and is well printed.--M. G. DENAVARRE. SOLVENT PROPERTIES OF AM- PI-IIPI-IILIC COMPOUNDS, by P. A. Winsor. Butterworths Scientific Publications, London W. C. 2. 1954. 207 pages, size 10 X 6 inches, illustrated and indexed. Price 40s. net. This book a•tempts to give a unified account of the solvent prop- erties of amphiphilic compounds and of related emulsification phe- nomena. These amphiphilic com- pounds are defined as those which possess in the same molecule dis- tinct regions of lipophilic and hy- drophilic character, and thus in- clude not only the typical soaps and detergents but also the hydrotropic salts and[. ?.,the so-called "non- ionic emulsifiers." The approach adopted is of a fundamental nature, with no attempt being made to cover the patent literature or the practical aspects of the subject. The introductory chapter covers such subjects as micelle formation and molecular interactions condi- tioning solubility. The next chapter deals with two component solutions containing amphiphilic compounds. This is followed by a discussion of the general principles involved in solutions of amphiphilic compounds containing water and water-insol- uble organic liquids. Chapter 4 dis- cusses constitutional factors affect- ing the formation of amphiphilic solutions, and chapter 5 the equi- libria in multicomponent systems. Chapter 6 covers solutions contain- ing amphiphilic compounds such as Aerosol OT, ethylene glycol and hydrocarbons not miscible with ethylene glycol. Chapter 7 deals with solubilization of crystalline solids in amphiphilic salt solutions and freezing point depression ef- fects. The last chapter covers x- ray and light scattering measure- ments on detergents solutions and possible interpretations by the au- thor and other investigators. The absence of conceivable mech- anism for explaining water/oil im- miscibility on the basis of repulsion between the different species of molecules leads the author to elim- inate the use of such terms as hy- drophobic, oleophobic and antip- athy. The immiscibility appar- ently arises from the greater com- bined effect of the interactions be- tween molecules of the same species than of those between members of 310

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY 311 different species. Thus the am- phiphilic compounds function as cosolvents for water and water-im- miscible organic liquids or water-in- soluble solid organic compounds. The book carries the reader through such concepts as advanced by the author and other workers such as Bancroft, Bury, Harkins, Hartley, Hess, Klevens, Lindau, McBain, Ralston, Schulman and Tartar. Many complex phenomena are treated in the hope of achieving a clearer understanding of the proc- esses and phase changes involved in the formation of amphiphilic solutions. The result is that the reader must allot an appreciable amount of time and intellectual activity to the subject in order to correlate this data and the inter- pretation. s to fields in which the reader is personally interested. However, in dealing with technical problems all the general features of amphiphilic solvent behavior con- sidered in this book appear recog- nizable, and the general methods given for influencing the phase transitions and intermicellar equi- libria may be applied. It is the kind of text that should be owned by individual workers in fields in- volving the remarkable solvent properties of soaps and soap-like compounds.--HEN•.Y C. SPEEL. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOOY, First Supplement Volume, edited by R. E. Kirk and D. F. Othmer. Interscience Ency- clopedia, Inc., New York 1, N.Y. 19_ 7. 974 pages, size 7'/2 X 10'/2 inches, indexed. Price $2_ . The present volume claims to "bring.up to date," material either appearing in earlier volumes or developed since publication. Some fifty articles from acrolein to water demineralization constitute the text. A few are of cosmetic significance. Montagna's contribution on sorbic acid is most interesting but should have included the properties, especially solubilities, of some of the common salts, such as sodium, calcium and magnesium. The in- activation of sorbic acid by some nonionic emulsifiers thus rendering it useless as a preservative, though known for at least two years, is not given. Furthermore, its general range of usefulness is somewhat below pH 6.0, as indicated by the author. The polyethylene chapter fails to mention work reported within the toilet goods industry on the effect of some materials on containers made from it. Though coverage appears to be adequate, there are spotty omissions similar to the one mentioned. Dugan's contribution on antioxi- dants, particularly as they apply to foods is thorough. A little space devoted to ampholy- tic and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates would have brought this subject more up to date. In the space allowed each author, the amount of subject coverage is amazingly high. The work is typi- cally authoritative though a greater stress on cosmetic industry usage or developments is strongly. recom- mended to the editors in their suggestions to authors. All of us in any way associated with chemistry will mourn the loss of a beloved friend of the profession of chemistry in the passing of Dr. Raymond E. Kirk, senior editor. But this "Encyclopedia" will stand as a living testimonial to his labors for chemists and chemistry.--M. G. DENAVARRE.