(1) Treatise on General and Industrial Inorganic Chemistry (2) Trattato di Chimica Generale ed Applicata all' Industria (3) A Text-book of Inorganic Chemistry

Abstract

(1 and 2) DR. ETTORE MOLINARI is professor of industrial chemistry at the Royal Milan Polytechnic and at the Luigi Bocconi Commercial University in the same city, and his treatises on inorganic and organic chemistry are, apparently, mainly directed to the special character of his teaching in those institutions. Here chemical theory, in effect, is wholly subordinated to practical application, and the books are simply descriptive manuals of chemical technology, adapted to the needs of polytechnic students and suitable for general reading. They may be said to occupy a position intermediate between the general treatise on chemical theory and the specialised handbooks on chemical technology. Prof. Molinari goes so far as to say that his books reflect the change which has come over the teaching of modern chemistry. In his opinion the methods and spirit of the teaching of Liebig, Hof mann, and Kekulé no longer correspond with present-day requirements. The “beneficent impulse” which these great teachers gave to chemical studies was, we gather, too exclusively “scientific” and “theoretical.” The author, however, is a little unfortunate in his argument. He could scarcely have selected three names more alive to the utilitarian aspects of chemical science, however mindful they might be of the primary purpose of their calling and profession. The whole development of certain great branches of applied organic chemistry may be said to have sprung directly from the teaching and example of Liebig, Hofmann, and Kekulé, Liebig's genius ranged over practically the whole field of the industrial chemistry of his day; Hofmann early threw himself, with characteristic zeal and energy, into the newly created synthetic colour industry, the enormous extension of which is fundamentally based upon Kekulé's fruitful conception.

(1) Treatise on General and Industrial Inorganic Chemistry.

By Prof. Ettore Molinari. Second edition. Translated from the fourth revised and amplified Italian edition by Thomas H. Pope. Pp. xix + 876 + 2 plates. (London: J. and A. Churchill, 1920.) Price 42s. net.

(2) Trattato di Chimica Generale ed Applicata all' Industria.

Vol. ii. Chimica Organica. By Prof. Ettore Molinari. Parte Prima. Terza edizione riveduta ed ampliata. Pp. xix + 624. (Milano: Ulrico Hoepli, 1920.) Price 28 lire.

(3) A Text-book of Inorganic Chemistry.

Edited by Dr. J. Newton Friend. Vol. ix. Part 1. Cobal, Nickel, and the Elements of the Platinum Group. By Dr. J. Newton Friend. (Griffin's Scientific Text-books.) Pp. xvii + 367. (London: Charles Griffin and Co., Ltd., 1920.) Price 18s.