Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Abstract

No fuller or more useful book on soap films than Mr. Lawrence's new volume exists, or indeed will be needed until considerable further research has been done. It is extremely thorough, giving a most detailed account of all important work, and much that has hitherto remained unpublished, or buried in hasty description in an obscure corner of an original paper, is here set forth for the first time. Although nothing of any importance seems to have been omitted, and full literature references are given, the book is nevertheless extremely readable. Sufficient of the chemistry and physical chemistry of soaps is given to enable the reader to fix the relation of these films to other branches of knowledge, with which he may perhaps not be fully familiar before reading the book; and any special points of physical theory used in the study of soap films are briefly explained, so that nothing beyond an elementary acquaintance with physics and chemistry is required of the reader.

Soap Films: a Study of Molecular Individuality.

By A. S. C. Lawrence. Pp. xi + 141 + 17 plates. (London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1929.) 12s. 6d. net.