1. J. R. Partington. Chemical Thermodynamics. An Introduction to General Thermodynamics and Its Applications to Chemistry. 1924. Pp. 275.

2. O. Sackur. Lehrbuch der Thermochemie und Thermodynamik. 2nd edition by Cl. v. Simson. Berlin: Springer, 1928. Pp. 347.

3. Partington. Chemical Thermodynamics.

4. O. Sackur. Textbook of Thermochemistry and Thermodynamics.

In the field of thermodynamics there are many textbooks devoted to its foundations and to its applications in technology, but there are very few textbooks that would present, in an accessible form, not only the first two principles, but also the theory of equilibrium in physicochemical systems. A number of very valuable books that are called textbooks of thermodynamics are in fact not such; works such as the courses of Duhem, Planck, van der Waals, and Konstamm, among others, are expressions of the authors’ personal views and work, and attempt to set forth a series of thermodynamic questions from the standpoint of their own ideas; such courses are one-sided. A beginner who has studied, say, Planck’s Thermodynamics will, of course, become acquainted with the two principles of thermodynamics, but for him 99% of current journal articles devoted to the thermodynamics of chemical processes will remain inaccessible, simply because two-thirds of Planck’s book are intended to show that the new characteristic function proposed by him quite successfully solves a number of problems of physical chemistry. Familiarity with such courses—let us call them creative—is essential for persons working specifically in the field of thermodynamics, but not for beginners.

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For the latter, “pedagogical” textbooks are needed, in which the subject is presented not one-sidedly, but from the point of view of various methods of treating the topic. To write such a textbook on thermodynamics is a very difficult thing, if indeed it is possible at all. The point is not that the number of questions subject to thermodynamic treatment is enormous, and that therefore every textbook, in order not to turn into a reference book, must deliberately limit the list of questions; the point is that one and the same question can be treated by different thermodynamic methods.

At the present time, among thermodynamic methods two are the most important. One of them, in its purest form carried out by the Dutch school and finding many adherents among scholars of other countries, is the method of Gibbs, operating with the basic characteristic functions, chiefly the $\psi$- and $\zeta$-functions. The second method, deriving from the work of Helmholtz and van ’t Hoff and having deeply penetrated physical chemistry thanks to Nernst, operates with the so-called maximum work. There are many textbooks from which the beginner either does not come away at all, or comes away with a very vague idea of the relation of maximum work to free energy (the $\psi$-function); there are even textbooks in which it is said that the $\zeta$-function is cumbersome and has secondary importance. Until quite recently, the German school of physical chemists strove to treat all equilibria, both at constant volume and at constant pressure, with the aid of only one function of maximum work, $A$. Since maximum work is performed at the expense of a decrease in free energy, it is a function of volume and temperature; only with these variables do we obtain the simplest relations. If we pass to phenomena of equilibrium at constant pressure and wish to study them with the aid of the same maximum work, we obtain very complicated and confused relations, in which it is easy to go astray; how much labor and caution are needed to obtain correct results in this case is best shown by Wegscheider’s works devoted to the theory of chemical affinity. Meanwhile these questions are solved comparatively easily if we grant equal rights of citizenship to the two functions $\psi$ and $\zeta$, the first $\psi=f(v,T)$, the second $\zeta=\varphi(p,T)$. Obviously, wishing to operate with maximum work, we must distinguish two such works, at constant volume and at constant pressure.

The first, and it seems the only, attempt to write a pedagogical textbook of thermodynamics that would prepare the beginner for reading the works of different schools belongs to Partington. His book, A text-book of Thermodynamics (1913), sets itself such a goal, but the execution can hardly be called successful, since the result was a rather dry and dull reference book. The author himself felt this, which is why he decided to write almost anew the textbook Chemical Thermodynamics, 1927, which differs greatly from the first; here the author sets forth the first method of two functions, but also speaks sufficiently about the method of maximum work. The textbook is much

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has gained in scope, simplicity, and greater interest. In addition to chapters on chemical equilibrium in various systems, there are chapters devoted to electrochemistry, capillarity, Nernst’s theorem, and quantum theory. Each chapter ends with a collection—sometimes a large one—of problems (with answers). I believe this book to be the most typical and, up to the present time, successful textbook of thermodynamics for beginners. I consider its translation into Russian highly desirable.

Sackur’s book is the most successful attempt to provide a textbook of thermodynamics in the spirit of the German school, but already taking into account the significance of characteristic \(\psi\)- and \(\zeta\)-functions. Here the reader already clearly sees the connection between maximum work and free energy; but since the author very quickly passes to the method of maximum work, a number of questions concerning equilibrium at constant volume and constant pressure are not sufficiently clear. In general, Sackur treats some questions more deeply, and the mathematical side as presented by him is more serious than in Partington. The new edition appeared under the editorship of Simson, and since 16 years had passed since the publication of the first edition, the editor had to rewrite two chapters, namely those on heat capacities and on Nernst’s theorem.

A. Rakovsky.