JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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theories for chemisorption are presented. His second chapter is devoted to a very complete presentation of the kinetic laws in surface catalysis, including a discussion of numerous specific reactions. In thme two chapters considerable data are presented in table form. In his last chapter the theory of absolute rates of surface reactions is developed rand compased with experiment in several instances. Catalyst carriers, promoters, accelerators, poisons, and inhibitors are discussed in Chapter 6, by W. B. Innes, with the aid of several cuts and the liberal use of tables. In the fallowing chapter F. G. Ciapetta and C. J. Plank discuss techniques of preparation for important metal and compound catalysts. The last chapter, which is devoted to the increasingly important subject of magnetism and catalysis, is written by P. W. Selwood, who deals briefly with theories of magnetism, applications of magnetism to catalysis, and some experimental methods. The book is well printed, contains a very complete set of references to the literature, has author and subject indexes, and has very few typographical errors. The editor and the contributing authors have cooperated most effectively to make the present volume an outstanding contribution to the field of heterogeneous catalysis. This text is a. hook which everyone having an interest in catalysis will want to own. Because of the uniform excellence of this first volume, the remaining volumes in this series will he awaited with keen interest. B n o a ~U x r v m a ~ r RBODEIBLAND
W. W. RUSSELL
PBOVIDBNCWL
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REFRACTORY HARD METALS
Paul Schwarzkopf and Richard Kieffer, in collaboration with Werner Leazynski and Fritz Benesovsky. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1953. xi 447 pp. 100 tables. 97 figs. 16 X 24 om. $10.
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INRECENTyeaS, metallurgical workers have developed research in two independent regions of temperature. One searches the region of low temperatures, the approach to absolute eero, and minimum energy levels of materials. Because of its association with modern theoretical physics, this investigation has been widely publicized and its results considered particularly dramatic. The other area. of research is that of high temperatures. Because of the inherent difficulties in handling and testingof materials s t high temperatures, dramatic results have not been as forthcoming as from the prohe into the oold. None the less, there is a continually increasing demand for materials to be used in high temperature applications. In response to this demand, Drs. Paul Schwarzkopf and Richard Kieffer heve coll&oborsted with Dm. Werner Leszynski and Fritz Benesovsky to make rtvailahle to the English-reading scientific world, "Refractory Hard Metals." In this hook the authors offer a summary of an extensive review of the literature on the materials constituting the class of refractorv hard metals. The bard metals discussed are limited hv the
A serious shortcoming of the survey is the ahaence of any consideration of testing methods and techniques. Testing of more common materials for routine applications has become standardi5ed. Testing of these uncommon materials fabricated for utilization in frontier applications is by no means standardized or well known. As a matter of fact, the absence of satisfactory test methods is a significant handicap to the more rapid development and expanded utilization of these materials. Surely a. discussion of current testing techniques, their limits and reliability should he included in a revised edition of this review.
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BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL RADIATION
Edited by Henry A. Bloir, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1954. xvii 508 pp. Illustrated. 16 X 23.5 om. $7.
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BY FORTUNATE coincidence or perhaps intent, this volume on "Biological Effects of External Radiation" hits been released by the publisher almost concurrently with Volume 2 2 s of Division I V of the National Nuclear Energy Series entitled "Biological Effects of External X and Gamma Radiation." Both volumes cover much of the same field hut the presentations of the m a t e rial, methods, and techniques are sufficiently different to be refreshing and make interesting comparative reading. This book, like many in the National Nuclear Energy Series, loses some of its effectiveness by its late appearance and by the fact that d l of the work reported in it wag completed by 1947. In spite of this tardiness, whieh tends to relegate the book to the realm of historical reference, it is so well organized and edited that it is highly worth while reading. There are two outstanding chapters on an aspect of the effect of external mdiation which has received scanty attention p r e viously. These chapters present some very interesting findings on changes in "finger ridge" detail following radiation to the fingers, such as might be encountered in fluoroscope operators, dental X-ray technicians, etc. The chapter covering the orosscirculation experiments by Lawrence and Valentine is well presented, excellently documented, and well worth reading. The idea of dividing the book into three parts is good, and makes for easier understanding of the material presented. The first part covers the methodology as well as growth, pathological, and hemstological studies performed after singledoses of wholebodyradiation. the second part covers similar studies after chronic radiation; while the third part is given over to methodology and pathological studies followine fractionated doses of fast neutrons. The - third Dart of the hook is ~rimarilvof interest, hemure ~ ~of .-it,. ... hia~ -.. ~ ~ ~ torical reference value. The work described in this part is among the earliest biological studies in this field, when methods of measurement were poor and standards of comparison were Iwklng, so r h n t it, value. HF ,811 .LIIIVC vcicrerwe is guc~tionnl,le. For s ptlrol, intcrcstcd i n l r ~ ~ni .v~ t l a &of biolouiwl study in the &Id of r:Admlogy, tllii book is hiphly rccon~n~t:r.dd. ~~
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FRED A. BRYAN
to an nnevaluated presentation of reported information on the structure, prrpalolion, 311d propcl.tics of the a l ~ w cclnee oi rrratcrialu. Thr aurlam cwcr alarut 2000 rricrcnccs and huvr orennircd tl~esul~ierr rn.,rrcl. B I B ;s f o m that wll LC ralu~blcto the investieators loo!& for mecific information or sources of infor0
tion, and properties are presented under each member of a subgroup. The authors have presented the data of the investigators. It is to he regretted that the authors, with their wealth of experience in this field, did not see fit to evaluate the variant views. I t is especially to be regretted that even when theauthors are reporting their own variant information, no explanatory comments are provided.
MONOMERIC ACRYLIC ESTERS
E. H. Riddle, Rohm h Haas Company, Philadelphia. Reinhold 221 pp. 35 tahles. Publishing Corp., New York, 1954. vii 16 X 23.5 cm. $5.
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A TECHKICAL monogmph on s subject whieh the author ohviously know-s something ahout. He should, being a prominent member of the staff of one of the principal mnnufactu~wsof methacrylates, Rohm and Hms Company.
