The Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry by G. Brauer has been a valuable addition to the detailed preparative literature for some years largely because of the number and diversity of methods which are contained in its pages. The translation of this work, therefore, will simplify the task of synthesis for chemists whose German is less than proficient.

Because laboratory practice, as outlined in Part I of the Handbook, is in some ways different from laboratory practice in the United States a number of additions and omissions have been made in the translated text. These include: (1) the removal of the names of German suppliers and tradenames and the substitution of American trade names and suppliers, the latter only occasionally, (2) conversion of German glass and ground-glass joint sizes to their American equivalents, (3) substitution throughout the text of "liquid nitrogen" for "liquid air", (4) improvement in the nomenclature where it was judged unclear. In addition, certain brief sections have been omitted or rewritten when the practice or equipment described was outmoded or so different as to be inapplicable in the United States.

It is hoped that these changes have been consistent and wise despite the diffusion of responsibility for the production of a book of this size.