BOOK REV1E W S ins is essentiall\. based on the Bohr coy~ceptand the octet rule.) If the book is meant for boys and girls who have not had chemistry, such discussion is grossly inadequate for the topics purportedly covered. it is for those who have already had chemistry, it is largely wasted effort. The various experiments included are mostly traditional laboratory exercises. As mrlst be expected, some are poorly chosen-for example, the reaction of copper and sulfur (supposedly to form CUTS)as an example of accurate qusntitative analysis. More disappointing is the general absence of "open-ended" experiments or suggestinus which might encourage explomtion by the reader.
Theory a n d Principles of Electrode
pro,.,,,,
B. E. Conumy, University of Ottawa, Canada. Ronald Press Co., New York, 303 DD. Fies. and tal,les. 1965. vii 16 x 23.5 cm. $?..
+
After too years without major monographs on modern electrochemistry, 1965 has produced two important volumes in this area. Delalmy's "Double Layer and Electlode Kinetics," though more modest in scope than the p,,t volume, a. very helpful summary of an active and impor. t,nt of Professor Conway's hook is also very helpful hut in a more parochial fashion. Far those who, with thia reviewer, have found many of the publications of Col~way and his eollabarstors difficult to follow, this volume serves as a. quite useful guidebook. Not having to contend with the The price of this small volume must also brevity that the professional jour~valsrebe noted. The book might prove useful quire, Professor Conway has seized the to an ocrarional teacher in the lower and expound his to grades looking for some reactions to fundamental hypotheses and assumptions demonstrate. However, even though about the mechanisms and kinetics of electrode reactions. might be exmost chemists would like to give support and encouragement for the main purpose pected from his bsekgrou,,d, conway is af the book-i.e., to help youngsters iuterto the imperial college ested in experimenting on their o w l r o n e f, electrochemistry whose membem must conclude that the present volume ia best be to use their owl, term, not one which can he highly recommended. e]ectr,,dicists. A bssio tenet of this group is the eonROBBINC. ANDERSON viction that addorption of reactants and/or Vniversily of Tezas intermediates is an important step in slAuslin most all non-trivial electrode reactions.
A470
/
Journal o f Chemical Education
Conway states ou p. L O : "blwL reactions not i~lvolviugsimply changes of valence of inorganic ions proceed by a t least two consecutive steps, adsorbed free radical intermediates are involved and a heterugeneous desorption s t e p . . . i s required before final product formation occurs." This assumption is not a n unreasonable one but one's convictions about its generality would be strengthened if more of the experimental data were examined critically to test its validity. More often than not, the dabs appear to be interpreted as if thia assumption wore k~lownto he truea priori. I t is perhaps not fair t o criticize a hook for stressiug Lhe author's predispositions, but it is then appropriate to advise the unwary reader that there exist different, if not opposing, viewpoints which are worthy of consideration. Table 4-1, for example, lists the methods available for the study of reactant adsorption but slights the more recently developed faradsie methods. A mrre serirus objertioo must he rsiped to the ~ x in y whirh U. C. GraIrame'r term "p~eudocaparitauce"is used by Conway. C:rahame's definition of the term was very clear and altogelher appropriate. Cunway uses it Lu desrrihe n. differentplienomenan, namely, the change with potential of the charge on the electrode arising from adsorbed reactant or product. The adsorption of something is thus required for the existence of Conway's pseudocapacitance while this is not true of Cirahsme's pseudocapacitance.
.. .
(Continued on page A47S)
BOOK REVIEWS The phenomenon Conway is discussing is imporbant and there is no question that there is a quasi-capacitance associated with it, but it is certain to lead to eonfusion to t r y to make "pseudocapacit,nnce" do double duty. This book contains chapters on Pot,ential Differences a t Interfaces, The Ionic Double Layer, Determination of Reactant, Adsorption, Adsorption of Neutral Molecules, Electrochemical Kinetics, Adsorbed Intermediates, Applications to Selected Problems, The Gas-Metal Interface, and a n appendix on Basic Types of Organic Electrode Processes. The style is pithy but readable and the breadth and level of erudition is remarkable. For just these reasons, however, the book would be unsuitable for a beginning course in electrochemistry and i t would be hard work for advanced students. As a reference work and, especially, as a n introduction to the literature, it will be i n d i ~ p e ~ a b l e .
FREDANSON California Inslilule of Technology Pasadena Fundamentals of Classical Thermodynamics
Gordon J. Van Wylen and Richard E. Sonntag, both of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1965. xxiii 634 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $8.95.
+
A472 / Journal o f Chemical Education
This text is designed for ssingle semester or fullbyear course in introductory thermodynamics. After a threechapter introduction into the definition of temperat,ure and the properties of pure sohstances, chapters four t,hrough eight follow the basic first and second law analyses. The main advantages to this book lie in chapters nine through fourteen where the authors present numerous applieations. Some of the unique contents for this mechanical engineering text are the inclusion of chapters dealing with mintores, chemical reactions, and phase equilibrium. The authors and their colleagues have undertaken the tayk of unifying the teaehing of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat and mass transfer of whieh this text serves as the first in 8. series. As this book deals with classical thermodynamics, the area of undergraduate thermal sciences is to be supplemented with an additional text in statistical thermodynamics. One of the more unusual aspects of this book is the symbols which were adopted. As specific and partial mold quantities can provide some confusion to the beginning student, the problem is minimized by simple and consistent symbols throughout the book. Although the text is new, much of the introductory material and applications dealing with cycles and fluid flow are adapted from one of the authors earlier texts, "Thermodynamics." Subsequently, an ample number of problems with varying difficulty have been included with each chapter. Also, the appendix
problems. The sequence of topics is conventional; however, no major criticisms can be given to t,he order of the mat,erial presented. Also an adequate numher of illnstrations is presented for clarity. The authors are to be commended for their style whieh will he quite readable to the beginning student. I n this regard, however, the mare advanced student will probably not use the book as a reference. Although a large number of texts on introductory thermodynamics are in print, this book will he of interest due to its varied applications.
Depnrlment o j Mechanical Engineering University of Tems Aurlin
Solid-State Chemistry of Binary Metal Hydrides
George G . Libourits, Kenneeott Copper Corp., Lexington, Massachusetts.
N-.
A. Benjamin, Inc., New York, 1963. xi 139 pp. F ~ g s .and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $7.50.
+
This book of 131) pages appears in the series of monographs on physical inorganic chemistry. The book intends "to introduce the subject of metal hydrides to
(Continued on page A474)
