BOOK REVIEWS rapidly changiug statc of the art, rather than careless selection. In general, the bond dissociation energies q ~ ~ o t e for d organic molec~~les tend to dcviate appreciably from values published in the last foor yean. This compilation can be quite useful as a bibliographic source for bond dissociation energies and ionization patentids in that i t carries somewhat more carefd earlier compilat,ions, such a5 that b y Franklin and Field, up to 1962. However, it is not s book for the beginner to use in cavalier fashion, or from which other compilers can make glib qoatations. SIDNEYW. BENSON Slanjord Research Institute Men10 Park, California
Basic Electronics for Scientists
James J. Brophy, Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institnte, Chicago. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1966. xiii 471 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 24.5 em. $9.50.
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There are perhaps half-%dozen texts which are directed to the education in eketronics of students of physical sciences. Nexrlv $1 of these texts have a o o e a ~ din involved in electronic pmblems only recently. The present trends of d l branches of science certainly suggest t,hat students of these disciplines make edueational contact with some aspects of elmtronies a t the undergraduate (or high school) level. Scientists' needs in electronic education are impossible to predict; it is reasonably safe to say that some is necessary just to select instruments and read instruction manuals. A physical scientist experienced in electronics would probably organize and teach this subject in an operational manner, presenting information as it may relate to a specific measurement problem or instrument. An electrical engineer would see tho need for teaching a core of basic information followed by as many xpplications as time or space permits. Author Brophy presents bssic electronics, and a lot of it, compared to other texts of t,ha type. Each topic is treated in depth, e.g., Ohm's law is derived from definitions of current and electron mobility. Passive
freqoency dependence of the rktio of o u e put to input voltages are used only occasionally although the necessary eqnations are usually derived. Bases of operation of vacuum tube and transiston are discussed in separate c h a p ters along with elementary circuits. The diagrams used to explain the operation of transistors, and other solid state devices in later chapters, are particularly good. Equivalent circuits and hybrid parameters are introduced in e d y chapters and used
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Journal o f Chemical Educafion
BOOK REVIEWS throughout. The burden nf all this symbolism is enough to detract (or nomhj a student's attention from significant information. Types of amplifiers-tuned, power, operational, etc.-are displayed in subsequent chapters and their significant features are expressed in quantitat,ive form. Component values are given for mast amplifier circuits and the suggestion is made that they may he found useful for lahamtory experiments. Ilowev~r, no claim is made that all circuits work. Much of the material is useful for reference information through the convenience of an index having about 700 entries. Each chapter has a substantial nomher of exercises with numerical answers. The find chapter is titled Measurement Circuits and one might expect that here the subject would be placed in perspective for students of experimental science. The chapter contains only 40 pages and the measurement circuits have, in part, been already described in previow chapt e a . A very weak point in the chapter is the section headed The pH Meter hut t~ctudlyabout pI-I electrodes. I n d d i tion to having minor erran, it is a. familiar topic to many students for whom the hook was written. Other diverse topics included in this chapter are on wavegtcides, delay lines, electrometers, and magnetic tape recorders. The total pitch of this hook is toward basic electronics and the subject is well presented. There is little r o a ~ o n to h e lieve that the contents will appeal only to science students; engineering students as well may find t,hisbook useful.
D.
