BOOK REVIEWS that the author has lost his audience in n jungle of statistioal symbolism as so often happens. The discussion of instrumentation covers a. wide variety of counting methods including windowless flow, proportional, scintillation and liquid scintillation counters as well as the 1,andsverk electrometer. Differential pulse height analysis is con~pieuousby its absence in the section on scintillation counters. Thia omission seems to the reviewer to be regrettable since this method holds so much promise for the future. Probahly in large measur? because of thia omission, there is no discussion of the important topic of activation analysis; though it can of course be argued that nuclear reactors are still not mffioiently available to warrant its inclusion. The detail concerning the operation of n Tri Carh liquid scintillation counter is quite complete. The 50-90% efficiency range for this method suggested on page 202 may be a hit misleading although t,he value does fall in this range for sonw isotopes. There is a chapter covering a broad, representative group of chemicd techniques and s brief find chapter on biological methodology. The teacher who ha- been searching for a. laboratory manual which spells out iu fairly elementary fashion the detail8 of radioisotope manipulations u?ll welcoms this volume. The writing is generally clear and to thc point. While the author has passed up the opportunity of supplying information in few areas currently needing attention, perhaps in the lnst analysis omission ia better than a poorllorganized presentation. The researcher will likely find the point of view a bit elementary, though even he may welcome the convenience of a singlevolume source of detailed information, While this volume probably will not have the same appeal to all groups for which it is written, it, is on the whole n very creditable work and ehauld do much to facilitate the dpvelopment of laboratory courses a t the int,rodurtory level. DONALD S.
ALLEN
Sfote linirersily College of Edvcniion
Albang, New York
Chemistry for Colleges and Schools
D. N . Underwood, Malet Lambert School, Hull, Englsnd. St. Martin's Press, Inc., New York, 1959. viii 469 pp. Figs. and tables. 13.5 X 19 em. $3.50.
+
Since the launching of Sputnik I, cribica of high-school chemistry have blasted off into orbit, and they me still beeping. They imply that chemical education in any mature country surpasses that in t,he TJnited States. "Textbooks are out of date" proclaims a New York newspaper science editor currently. In t,he presence of these many pressures (Continued a page A666)
A554 / Journal o f Chemical Education
BOOK REVIEWS that are now being exerted on high-school chemistry in the United States, i t is refreshing to read a completely new texb hook from Great Britain. This book sets the extremists and the faddists back on their heels. The boak contains sound conservative chemistry, chiefly descriptive, treated thoroughly. Mr. Underwood uses but little theory in his textbook. Every bit of theory eon-
hecomk thoroughly familiar with atomic and ionic speoies, and that their properties should be experienced through numerous chemical reactions. Further, arithmetic is liberally applied, and quantitative reasoning based an experiments is illustrated far more than in this country. For example, the formulaof carbon dioxide (and that of several other compounds) is established by experiment. Mr. Underwood's treatment is enlivened by delightful anecdotes related in the first person. The language is carefully chosen and used with great efficiency. The hook gets along nicely without n. periodic table, without a coordinate covalent bond, without an electron sublevel, and without lip service to pH. Searching questions are placed a t appropriate levels, mostaf them from universityexaminatians. Answers to quantitative questions are given a t the end of the boak. The few inaccuracies such as the explanation of hydrolysis, the relative activity of odium and calcium, and the explanation of the bleaching action of sulfur dioxide, do not detract from the excellence of the hook. raw material in contrast to petroleum and natural ggaa on this side of the Atlantic. The book is not the rotogravure t,ype of profusely illustrated textbook published in thiscountry. Simpletwo-dimensional line drawings are used. This book seems quite adequate for the "last two or three years of an Ordinary Level Chemistry Course." ELBERTC. WEAVER Phillips Aeadem!, Andover. Massaehvsetls
Turbulence:
An introduction Mechanism and Theory
to
Its
J . 0.Hinze, Technological University, Delft, Holland. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1959. ix 586 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 23.5 em. $15.
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If you are like many of us and are not completely familiar with the latest ideas and theories about turbulent fluid flow, then this book was written for you. Not only does Professor Hinze give sufficient theoretical basis in the field of turbulence, but he doesit with thegreatest of clarity. This is not s. handbook on turbulenee and obviously the t~uthoris capable of s I(Continued on page A6681
A556 / Journal o f Chemical Educofion
