the relative advantages, disadvantages, and applications of different types of scintillation crystals. Chapter 10 deals with the practical problems in choosing, setting up, and checking the manufacturer's specifications of a germanium detector system. The road map type presentation for the installation of a germanium detector system is somewhat repetitious of information presented in earlier chapters. A table is included that identifies the best semiconductor detector to be used for 10 different types of counting applications. Chapter 11 reviews the factors that influence energy resolution in a gamma-ray detection system and concentrates primarily on sources of electronic noise and methods to minimize it. The highlight of Chapter 12 is a table several pages long that lists the most common faults encountered in the operation of a spectrometer system (ground loops, poor resolution, microphonics). The text identifies possible origins of major faults and proposes remedies.
IC for Everyone
Ion Chromatography, 2nd ed. Joachim Weiss VCH 220 E. 23rd St., Suite 909 New York, NY 10010
1995, 465 pp., $95
In most respects this is a veryfinebook. The author's association with the dominant manufacturer of ion-chromatographic instruments and equipment allows him to write authoritatively, and treatment of ion chromatographic topics is generally well balanced because he Chapter 13 covers the special probgives extensive examples from research lems associated with low-count-rate systems. Topics include detector size consid- outside his company. All aspects of ion chromatography, including ion-excluerations, detector shielding, the effects sion chromatography and ion-pair chromaof cosmic radiation, and the reduction of background by Compton suppression and tography, are covered. The book is lavishly illustrated with figures; for example, cosmic ray guard detectors. Chapter 14 the anion-exchange chromatography is also specialized and covers the problems associated with high-count-rate part of Chapter 3 alone contains 127 figures! (>100,000 cps) germanium detector systems. Chapter 15 presents tests necessary Theoretical aspects are covered adefor the establishment of laboratory qualquately, but the book is also rich in the ity control and certification. practical aspects of ion chromatography. This book does not replace more com- The chapter on applications is a wonderful source of information on solving practiprehensive nuclear instrumentation books. Nevertheless, it should be in the li- cal problems. The anion-exchange chromatography sections include thorough, brary of every institution where nuclear clear discussions of anion-exchange resand radiochemistry courses are taught or ins, suppression devices, eluents, and where technicians are trained to do gradient elution. gamma-ray spectrometry. Reviewed by William D. Ehmann, Uni- Inevitably, there are some things about versity of Kentucky, Lexington the book that could be improved. For ex-
ample, Chapter 3 (on ion-exchange chromatography) consumes 184 pages of the total 442 pages of text. It would make sense to at least break this chapter into separate chapters on anion- and cationexchange. In addition, the chapter on detection modes comes near the end of the book. How can all the chromatograms be read intelligently without some earlier discussion of detection modes? Finally, some of the terminology used in the book is different from that used by many chromatographers. For example, the abbreviation "HPICE" is used in the chapter on ion-exclusion chromatography, which seems a bit strange. Nevertheless, this is a book I would recommend highly to practitioners of ion chromatography at all levels. Reviewed by James S. Fritz, Iowa State University, Ames
BOOKS RECEIVED Electrochemistry for Chemists, 2nd ed. Donald T. Sawyer, Andrzej Sobkowiak, and Julian L. Roberts, Jr. John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1995, 505 pp., $64.95
Emphasizing practical applications and real-world instrumentation, this book is intended to give chemists, biologists, and materials scientists a solid understanding of the basic principles and methodology of electrochemistry. Chapter topics include potentiometry, controlled-potential methods, titrations and controlledcurrent methods, indicator electrodes, electrochemical cells and instrumentation, solvents, and electrolytes. Applications for a variety of compounds and matrices are included.
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