DURING the past few years the civilised world has begun to realise the advantages accruing to scientific research, with the result that .an ever-
increasing alnount of time alld thought is being devoted to various
branches of science.
No study has progressed more rapidly than chemistry. This
science Inay be divided roughly into several branches: namely, Organic,
J>hysical, Inorganic, and Analytical Chemistry. It is impossible to
,v rite any single text-book which shall contain within its two covers a
thorough treatment of anyone of these branches, o,ving to the vast
amount of information that has been accumulated. The need is rather
for a series of text-books dealing more or less comprehensively ,vith
each branch of chemistry. This has already been attempted by
enterprising firms, so far as physical and analytical chemistry are
concerned; and the present series is designed to meet the needs of
inorganic chemists. One great advantage of this procedure lies in
the fact that our knowledge of the different sections of science does not
progress at the same rate. Consequently, as soon as any particular
part advances out of proportion to others, the volume dealing with
that section may be easily revised or rewritten as occasion requires.