BOOK REVIEWS On pages 204-5,pH is defined in terms of logarithms, hut logarithms are neither defined nor tabulated in the hook. On page 217 there is a suggested difference hetween vdence and undefined oxidation number, and this is the only time the latter term secms t o appear in the book, including the glossary. There are statements whieh varv from the fallacious t o the half-true to the misIrading. These are the kinds of statemants which stndents will grasp and remember. The following are examples: "Acids, bases, m ~ dsalts are ionic compounds.. ." (p. 172); "All bases in water solutions arc alkalies hut not all nlkalies
are haues" (p. 181,; I n discussing methods for expressing hydrogen ion concentration, "One is by use of the cH notation, whieh reoresents the numher of emms of hvdrogeh that are srtunlly ionized within a liter of solution" (p. 204). For thaw familiar with the seventh edition, the format is similar. The n e s edition is more clearly divided into three parts: I. Besic Concepts of Chemistry (Chapter.; 1-12); 11. The Chemistry of Carhon Comoaunds ( C h a ~ t e r s 13-161: 111. Appliei ~ i o l d g i e a i chemist& (Chapters li-29). As before, each chapter begins with a survey and outline and ends n i t h s. summary and qnestions and exercises. The entire book has been revised, but the text in Parts I and I1 is very similar t o chapters 1-17 in edition seven, except t h a t the old chapter 13 on the hala-
gens and alkali metala has been condensed and incorporated into the new chaptcr 2. The questions and exerrises are moshly the same Part I1 has been most extensively revised and expanded from five t o 13 chaptors t o give n more complete treatment t o foods, enzymes, digestion, metabolism, vitamins, inorganic selhs, hormones and blood. The appendices include a bihliography, glossary and a section on the removal of stains. The section on basic mathematics has been omitted in line with the almost complete omission of arithmetic. If i t is true, as the authors state, that more and more student nurses are coming wit,h a background of high nchool ehemistry, books of this type nhieh are inferior to the modern high school texts in chemical background material, will certainly discourage more prospective nurses than they will encourage. The chemistry course for nurses still awaits a modern, mthoritntive, and imaginative textbook. MILTOXK.SNYDER The Colomdo Colleye Colorado Sprinqs, Colorado Analytical Chemistry of the Rare Earths
R. C. V i c k e ~ y , Malihu, California. Pergamon Press, Inc., New York, 1961. Volume 3 of the International Series of Monographs on Analytical Chemistry. viii 139 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 rm. $6.50.
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The-Radiochemistry of the Rare Earths, Scandium, Yttrium and Actinium
P. C. Stevenson and W. E. Xervik, both of the Lawrence Radiation Laborator)., University of California, Livermore. National Academy of Sriences, Nationxl Refiearch Council, Noclear Sricnce Series, NAS-SS-3020, 1961. Available from the Office of Twhnical Services, Department of Commerce, Kashingtnn, 11. C. x 282 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 24em. Paperbound. $3.
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The increased interest in the chemistry of the lanthanide elements is reflected in the simultaneous appearance of these two monographs. I n the first, Dr. Virkery has provided a review of the different techniques used in rare earth analysis. Deserintions are eiven for samnle deeomnon-instrumental quantitative techniques. Perhaps the most valuahle aspect is the critical evaluation throughout of the various procedures with precautions against thc various pitfalls whieh can frustrate the uninitiated. In perticular thc chapters concerning absorption and emission spectrometry-visible, U.V., and S-ray-should be of intprrst to evwy chemist interested in instrumental analysis of the lanthanides. In general, the hook is easy t,o read and well-referenced with only an orrasional mistake ( e g , the omission of Tahlr I in Chapter 3). Too descriptive and too limited in scope to be of broad general interest, this monograph should be of interest t o strdents of s n a l y t i d chemistry who desire t o broaden (Continued on pnye A770)
BOOK REVIEWS their horizon to include n group of element8 likely to become increasingly important. Dr. Vickery recants an earlier view that ion exchange techniques were of slight importance. However, he still fails to describe the full versatility of these techniques for the lanthanides, and gives few references to guide the reader to a more complete knowledge. A second criticism whieh can be made is the rather useless chapter on itsdioehemical Techniques in which the discussion is quite inadequate and sometimes even misleading. However, these areas whieh constitute the two faults in an otherwise useful and wellwritten hook are very adequately treated in the monograph by Dm. Stevenson and Nervik. This second work is one of a series of monographs on the radiochemistry of the elements prepared under the sponsorship of the Subcommittee on Radiochemistry of the National Academy of SeiencesNational Research Council. (See THIS JOURNAL, 37, 386 (1960), 38, 72(1961).) The chemistry of the lnnthmide elements is reviewed with emphasis on the complexes of these elements both with inorganio and organic ligands and an the results of the studies by solvent extraction and chromatographic techniques. A great hody of information is presented with little attempt a t critical evaluation. The latter part of the book is devoted to 29 separation procedures far these elements. Any reader of this monograph cannot help but be aware of the necessity for much
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more research on the lanthanides and for this reason it is recommended to all students of inorganic chemistry. These two monographs complement eaoh other very well. Neither discusses lanthanide chemistry from a fundamental viewpoint, bath being descriptive in nature. As specialized monographs, they are of interest primarily to the chemist who occasionally encounters these elements. Their value to students is mare limited although both suggest many experiments 'with theseelementawhich couldbeincluded in inorganic and analytical laboratory courses. I t is to be hoped that these volumes may provide the necessary stimulittion for the production of s. fundamental text on these elements. GREGORY R. CHOPPIN Florida Stale Uniuwsily
Tallahassee Crystal Structures.
Supplement 5
W. G. Wyckoff. Interscience Publishers, Ine. New York, 1960. 20 X 25 cm. 526.50. The publication of supplement 5 completes this monumental work, the first portion of which was issued in 1948. Additions to Chapters 2-15 are included. Some are supplementary pages. Others are pages to replace those issued earlier. Inorganic Formula Index, Mineralogical Name Index, and Index to Organic Compounds are also provided in the present supplement. See THE JOURNAL, 26, 280 (1949), 35, A620 (19581, and 36, A533 (1959).
W.F.K.
