BOOK REVIEWS Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy James W. Robima, Louisiana State University, Baton Itouge. Marcel Dek204 ker, Inc., New York, 1966. xi pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $9.75.
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During the pest ten years atomic absorption spectroscopy has developed into a meful andytiod method. I n this book a critical examination is made of its advantages and disadvantages. The description of the equipment, although brief, is ad* quate. The hollow cathode, as the most common soimce of radiation, is described with all its recent variations and improve ments, such as the multielement, demountable, and high intensity cathodes. R a d i s tion from s time resolved spark can also be used. A variety of atomizers and deteet o n are described. A number of parameters influencing the analytical results are recognised. Among these are the flame atom-popnlation profile, droplet size, sample feed rate, flame energy, oxide formation, cation intederence, spectral emission from comb~lstion prodocts, absorption of spectral energy by the flame and the solvent, effect of solvents on the efficiency of producing neutral atoms, solvent viscosity, slit width. All of these are briefly disc~lssed. Analytical applications are preqented in adequate detail for 49 elemenb. For
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example, five absorption lines for manganese are listed together with the sensitivity in D&S Der million attainable for each one. ~ d sp&tral e slit width in Angstroms, t,he nature of the flame, in this case an oxidizing flame of hydrogen and oxygen or air, and the sample types are given. These consist of alloys, fertilizers, plants, soils, steel, and blood plasma. References to the literature are included. Five models of commercial equipment, ranging in price from $4500 to $7000, are briefly described. The book ends with a chapter on "Topies related to atomic absorption: oscillator strength, vacuum ultraviolet and atomic fluorescence." There is an author and a subject index. The book will be useful to the graduate student in analytical chemistry, and those who wish to know more about the subject. DE VRIES THOMAS Pudue Unive~sify Lajayette, Indiana
raphy a t the lower division level." TJnfortunately, it is not satisfactory for this purpose on two counts: I t is not uptodate, and it is surprisingly inaccurate. A quick mn-through turned up over a.dozen serious teohnical e m m . These would take unjustified time for an instructor to explain and correct, and would of course weaken the students' confidence in the rest of the text. This is unfortunate since the style, format, coverage, and illmtrations are above average in quality. I t might serve for eamera-club courses for amateun, but a. college freshman chemistry student would note that many points contradict what he has been taught. In other cases even an advanced amateur would wonder a t the lack of mention of any of the many improvements in processing materials since 1940. I n fact, with very few excep tions it might have been written a t that date; although "revised" to 1965, only one reference appeam dated after 1954. The only redly new materid is 8. fair descriptian of the Polaroid Polscolor process, but it refers back to the almost completely erroneous description of the blsck-andwhite Polaroid oroeess.
Introduction to Photographic Principles Lewis Larmore, Ihuglas Aircraft Go., Inc. 2nd ed. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1965. ix 229 pp. Figs. and tables. 13.5 X 21.5 em. Paperbound. $1.50.
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To quote from the Preface, this revised edition "is intended to provide a suitable text for a. one semester course in photog-
text in a technically oriented course. An instructor might better choose from among "Basic Photography" by Langford (Focal Press), "Fundamentals of Photographic Theory" by James and Higgins (Morgan & Morgan), and "The Ilford Manunl" edited (Continued a page A,%#)
