BOOK REVIEWS -
tration Profiles in n Stagnant Film, MsssT r a n ~ f e rCoefficients in Circular Tubes, and Heating Value of a Fuel Gas. The experiments cover t,he various fields of transport phenomena quite well. Some of the experiments are essentially the same as have been used in chemical engineering undergraduate laboratories far many years. However, the emphasis is more on illustrating the baaic principles rather than obtaining mensurernmts of "design" or "op~rating"dats. Each experiment contains sections on theory, apparatus, procedure, suggested experimental work, suggested data record, suggested report items, suggested calculations, and suggest,ed discustiion q u e e tions. A? can be seen from this ht, extremely careful and detailed direction8 are given. This very thoroughness could lead to a. criticism of the book in that possibly too much detail is given. The student would not get much experience in using his awn ingenuity in deciding how to go about obtaining the desired information. This book is the first in its field, and it should he of great help in introducing t,ransport phenomena experiments into undergrrtdunte instruction.
KENNETH B. BISCHOFP University q f Tezas Austin
Biochemists' Handbook
Edited hy C v i l Long, Royal College of Surgeons of England, and consultant editors, Earl J . King, Postgraduate Medical School, University of London, England, and W'aren M. S p w y , College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columhia University. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, 1961. axii 1192 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 25.5 em. $'25.
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The Editor with E. J. King and W. M. Sperry n8 Consultant Editors and 171 contributor8 ha8 collected together for the first time A vast amount of biochemical dabs and information. Major divisions deal wibh chemical dats, information, and procedures, description of same 300 individual enzymes, metabolic psthwa,ys including specific biosynthese~ of many important compounds, chemical eomposition of animal tissues, body fluids and plant tissues, and physiological and nutritional data. Contributing authors are recognized scientists. The principal difficulty in the preparation of s collection of data is the appropriate selection if important and useful material with rejection of less important or rarely used materid. Selections for this "Handbook" are well made. In the early part descript,ions for the preparation of standard d u t i o n s are perhaps unnecessary and could he replaced by less easily found information, eapecinlly since t.he descriptions are not detailed and w e n use old-fashioned language one or two places such ns "milk (Continued on page ASZ4)
A322
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Journal o f Chemicol Education
BOOK REVIEWS of lime." There is a, trifle over-emphasis on animal data compared to plant data, even though special prominence has been attempted for plants. However, these are mild criticisms and it is this reviewer's opinion that the compilation is good, representing a vast collection of useful data. Although designed especially for bioehemista the book will be more useful to workers in the general field of biological science. I t should prove eapeeinlly vsluable to advanced &dents and t,o teachers who continually need a t their fingert,ips sources of biochemical data. Roy I,. WHISTLER Purdue Uniwrsity I.&@tc, Indiana
Trcmroctionr of the Symposium on Electrode Processes
Edit,ed by Em& I'eager, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1961. xiv 374 pp. Figs. and tables. 22.5 X 28.5 cm. $20.
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This volume records the transactions of a symposium on electrode processes held in May, 1959, under the joint sponsorship of the Elrctrochemiral Soriety and the Air Forrc Office of Srientitir Kcsearrh. Sixteen papers eo-authored by 24 workers are present,ed together with hoth the oral and eommuniwt,ed discussion of some 35 part,ieipnnts. Threc broad areas arc represented: double layer phenomena and P T O C P ~ F - s (papers by Frumkin, Gierst, Grahame, and Parsons); metal and hydrogen drposition and disaolution (Horiuti,
Piontelli, Boekris, Kolatyrkin, Conway, and Breiter); and fast electrode reactions (Randles, Llapis, and Barker). In addition, single papers are presented on electrode reaction mechanisms (Vetter), electrochemical ultrasonic eflects (Yeager), and the theory of electron transfer processes (R. A. Marcus). Four of the papers (hy Frumkin, Piontrlli, Kolotyrkin, and Boekris) were not presented orally at, the symposium. -4 paper by Levich on eleetrorhemiral hydrodynamics was originally schrdulrd, but was neit,her presented nor availshle for publication. Under tho capable organization of the rhairman, Professor Delahay, the symposium was really an int,rrnntion:kl review of u,ork in the field of elertrade processes; only four of the papers wwr contributed from tha United Stat,es. T ~ Symposium P provided t,o those attttending an infrequent opportnnit,y far open discussion u 3 h overseas associates which nxs often provocative and always interesting. The oral discussion W E recorded a t t.ho Svmposium, and hoth the oral and rommunicntod diarussions have heen cnrefully edited t o provide enjoyable as well as s t ~ i m n l h n greading. The papers, however, nrr n heterogt-neous rollwt,ion which vary eonsidrrahly in value. As often happens with a program of invited speskers which muat ha prepared months in advane?, many of the chapters are essentially short reviews of papcrs publi~hed previously by the ant,hors and suffer from heing n e i t h ~ rconprehcnsivr nor critical. While this type of presentation is often preferred to stimulate discussion nmong those attending the Symposium, the u ~ i t t , e nrecord should provide a more meaningful int~rpret,at.ion,either as n comprehensive review or as a critical research cantribnt~ian. Happily, a, few of the chapters do fit the latter rlasiiitication. For example, the paper by Gierst on the influence of the douhk layer on the rate and mechmism of an rlectrode rmetion in an out,standing contrihutian aa is dtested hy the seven pagm of discussion whirh follow. Similarly, Graheme's paper on the senrrh for sperifir adsorption of cesium ions a t a mercury surface is a qualtity presentation typical of that school. The usefulness of this hook is limited much in thesame manner ns are the annual reports of the Cornit,& International Thermodynamique et CinCtique Electrarhemie. The various chapters lack eongruity, hut the discussions which aceampany every paper make thpir ~ c e ~useful ss to anyone interested in dcet,rodeproeesmx. The untimely delay in publication is partially compensated hy the outstanding editing of Dr. Ymger. The large size (8'12" X 11") is an unwieldy nnisanre which is to be discouraged. Cnfortunat,elv. the rice to value ratio must he
the prow~dingaof lympasia 0x1 selerted topirx is, for hptter or worse, n a n firmly estshlished. The value of them records obviously drpendn on the quality of the papers and the a M t y of thp editor. This reviemr is ronvincrd that the book format is not t,he h& medium for ilissemin~ting (Continued on page A.%?6)
