JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION Reciprocal Relations, (3) Systems of a Single Component, (4) Hent conduction, Electricd Conduction, and Relaxation Phenomena in Continuaun Single Component Systems, (5) Diseantinuous Systems without Chemical Reactions, (6) Discontinuous Systems with Chemical Reactions, (7) Continuous Systems (Diffusion, etc.), (8) Thermo-electricity, (9) Chemistry, (10) The Stationary States, (11) Further Discusfiion on Foundations. Althoueh the mathematical treatment in oarts of the book
relations, and on other advanced or specialized topics. W. F. LUDER N o ~ ~ a s * s ~ zUn~nl v z n s m ~ BOBTON, MABBACROBETTB
TECHNIQUE OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. VOLUME
0
IV: DISTILLATION Edited by Arnold Weissberger, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, New York. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1951. xxvii 668 p p . 294 figs. 98 tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $14.
+
THISbook is a comprehensive, not to say encyclopedic, coverage of distillation theory and procedures. Following an extensive discussion of distillation theory, the main subdivisions are: "Ordinary fractional distillation," "Extractive and azwtropic distillation," "Distillation of liquefied gases and low-boiling liquids," "Distillation under moderate vacuum," "Distillation In most seotione under high vacuum," and "Sublimation." there is a. separate discussion of apparatus and procedure. Both lilrge-seale commercial distillation and small-scale laboratory operations are described, in most of the book the emphasis being on precise laboratory work. The sections of the work have been prepared by a number of authorities yet they have produced s. unified whole. Descriptive material is excellent, and sometimes deceptively simple sppesring-an account of elementary apparatus, which one is tempted to call the s m e old stuff, being followed by a plunge into thwretical consideration of the most advanced sort. References are cited in great detail, the summaries being well digested and given m sufficient detail so that in many cases reference to the original article will not be needed. To evwone who wants to understand distillation thoroughly, paxticnlarly the research worker wishing to salve a difficult separation problem, and the chemical engineer, the hook should be invaluable. CHARLES D. LOWRY
EVANBTON. ILL~NOIS
0
LABELLED ATOMS
Raymond Ghscock. Sigma Books, Ltd., London, 1951. 227 pp. 59 figs. 9 tables. 13 X 19 cm. $1.25.
an elementary background & both chemistry and physics before starting on the book. In the event that he has forgotten many of the details of his background, however, he will still profit by the reding, as the author has explained almost everything with very great care and clmity. A historical approach has been used throughout. Thus one is introduced to the techniques under circumstances of minimum complexity. The author begins hi^ work with a. discussion of the structure of the atom and the nature of radioactivity. Radioactive decay series and the nature of isotopes are explained. The use of tracer isotooes in salvine simole chemical orohlems. such ns in testing the Arrhenius theory of ionization, is taken up hefore proceeding to the more extensive biochemical applications. .4 oloar distinction is shown between problems whieh are sometimes
-
.
handled by tracer isotope techniques hut which could also be solved by chemical methods, and problems which could not be solved by any method were it not for the trao&s. A different type of distinction is made between experiments which are important because they demonstrate the value of a technique and those that me important because of the conclusions. Some space is devoted to the produotion of artificial radioactive and stable isotopes and to their incorporation into the desired compounds. The use of inactive carriers when the labeled suhstance i~ present in minute quantities is explained. The hwk contains excellent line diagrams some of which are used to augment descriptions which are perfectly clear even before one looks at the diagrams. Good generalizations, made wherever possible, help the reader to organize the varied topics which are included. Most of the experiments described are in the fields of medicine and nutrition, hut a few applications in inorganic and anrtlytical chemistry are included as well as some in plant physiology and the value of fertilizers. The early construction of the Geiger counter is described and illustrated, along with several recent types of counters designed for special purposes. The Nier mass spectrometer is similarly described and illustrated although, surprisingly, the earlier spectrometers have not been included. The sensitivity of the m a s spectrometer is compared with that of the counter. Although bearing the publication date of 1951 the hook evidently went to press before the author learned of the discovery of the man-made elements of atomic numbers 97 and 98, berkelium and californium. He stops his periodic table with curium of atomic number 96. This ominsion in no way detracts from a book whieh is s. delightful summary of an important teohnique. The conclusions from biochemical exneriments in which the terhninne . h ~ ~sW I Iuti!ir+dnrr w l l iunlrlwized 1~11,of course, ~ n l y:IS C O ~ plrt~.lya*v:tn l w h w i l . a m311 wl!rue. ~~~
.
~~
CATHARINE BERGEN
CLASSICALMECHANICS
0
H. C. Corben, Associate Professor of Physics, Carnegie Institute of Technology, and Philip Stehle, Assooiate Professor of Physics, University of Pittsburgh. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1950. xvii 388 p p . 22 figs. 14.5 X 22 cm. $6.50.
+
THEclassical theory of mechanics has received more attention than any other branch of physics and its fundamental position with rapect to all other physical theoriefi has long since been taken for granted. Even though its principles have undergone radical revision through relativity and quantum theory, a thorough understanding of its basic ideas is still an essential preparation for all serious research in modern pure and applied physics and chemistry. What is the justification for the appearanoe of a new work in this well-worn field? The authors of the volume under review aim to stress once more the basic assumptions of clarsical mechanics and in addition to point out elewly its limitations. They are prineipslly interested in the subject as s. background to quantum mechanics and their'choice of presentation and subject matter is governed accordingly. A rapid review of the bpies treated will document the statement just made. These inolude I.agrsng.4 equations, scattering problems, linear vector spaces with applications to small oscillations and the kinematics of rigid bodies, transformation theory of mechanics, and the Hamiltonian equntian~,as well as an introduction to the special theory of relativity. The degree of at,tainment required of the student who would study this material with profit is that represented by strong intermediate courses in mechanics and electricity of university grade, or preferably a good introduction to theoretical physics on t h elementary ~ graduate level. The rather sparing use of figures will remind some readers of the celebrated boast of Lagrange in his "Meohmique AnaIvtinne" .- .--..
Since the book contains no discussion of the mechanics of con-
JANUARY, 1952 tinuaus media it will not provide an adequate preparation for students who desire to acquire competenoc in mechanics for use in such important modern fields as acoustics and elasticity. Even for those readers planning to go on to quantum mechanics some elementary considerations of quantum theory would have made the volume muoh more helpful. However, in the rather severely limited realm to which thev Lave restricted their attention, the authors have produced a su6stsntial and valuable work. R. B. LINDSAY
0
RADIOCHEMICAL STUDIES: THE FISSION PRODUCTS. BOOKS 1.2, AND 3
Edited by Charles D. Coryell, Department of Chemistry, Maasachusetts Institute of Technolagy, and Nathan Sugarman, Institute for Nuclear Studies and Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago. Division N , Plutonium Project Record, Volume 9, National Nuclear Energy Series. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1951. 1m 2086 pp. 687 figs. 275 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $18.50per set.
+
TBESEthree books provide a scirntific and technical rccord of research carried out on the nation's wartime Plutonium Project from May, 1942 to June, 1946 by members of the fission-product groups s t Chicago, Oak Ridge, Ames, Berkeley, Bloomington, Hanford;and Los Alamas. The task of the fission-product radiochemistry groups included the isolation and chararterieation of mare than 100 new nuclear species formed in uranium and plutonium fission, extending over that section of the chemist's periodic table from zinc (2 = 30) through gadolinium (2 = 64). When one recogni~esthat the chemical behavior of many of these elements, such as ~irconium,niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, and the rare-earth elements, had not been investigated evtensively prior to 1942 and that the separation of these elements in a state of purity was often difficult to achieve, one begins to realize the magnitude of the task. Moreover, these new nuclear specie8 had to be isolated in tracer amounts from highly radioactive and chemically complex mixtures and subjected to rxdiochemical purification involving separation factors as large as a billion, sometimes by remote-control processes and often within times of the order of seconds or a. few minutes in contrast with separation times of the order of an hour often encountered in conventional analvtical se~aration methods. ~ i 336 e research papers making up the three volumes cover not only bhe mdiochemktry of the fission products, as the title of the volumes indicates, but also details of instrumentation and specialilieed techniques, as well as information on the physies and technology of the fission products and nuclear chain reactions. The topics covered are perhaps best indicated by listing the subdivisions of the volumes: Part I, Countine, Techniques; Part 11, Chemical Studies at Tracer Levels; Part 111, Remote-Cont,rol Techniques; Part IV, Studies of the Fission Process; Part V, Radiaact,ivity of the Fission Products; Part VI, Radiochemistry of the Fission-Product Elements; Part VII, Special Studies of Gaseous Fission Products; and Part VIII, Radiochemicd Studies of Other Activities. The editors have written an introduction to each of these parts in order to correlate the papers and acquaint the reader with the terminology and methodology required for an understanding of the papers in each subdivision. Each paper is preceded by an abstract. The volumes are completed by four appendixes: A, FissionProduct Decay Chains; H, Fission Yieldsj C, Nuolides Farmcd in Thermal Fission; and D, Author Index. An adequate subject index is included. The numcrous figures have been well executed and most of the papers are u d l supported by tahlrs of data. The volumes have been lithoprinted and are attractive in format and sturdily bound. There is inevitable overlapping of subject matter among some of thr? papers, and some conflict of results reported in different papers. However, the editors have carefully t~ddedfootnotes as
well as references to the postwar liternture so as to assist the reader in ohtaining the best evsluntion of the work reported. Cross references have been liberally used. Thus, the over-all result is to give the reader not only the benefit of the more recent results and their interpret,ation, hut also a. historical survey of the progress of this research during the years of World War 11. These, volumes should definitely be of eonsider~hlevalue to nuclear chemists and nuclear physicists, analytical chemists, chemical engineers, and reactor technologists, and to all who are interested in one of the more fascinating aspects of the nation's ~.tomicenergy program. Especially valuable to radiochemists are the numerous detailed methods for the separation of tracer amounts of radionuclides. Although most of these methods relate to separations from reactorslug solutions and fission-product mixtures, the method8 should he helpful to the radiochemist in working out his own separation problems. The editors undertook a monumental task in compiling these volumes and deserve the gratitude of their fellow scientists for the excellence of their product. This reviewer e m well imagine their sighs of relief when their work was completed and the sincerity of their thankfulness which seemingly prompted the date of the volume editors' preface' Thanksgiving, 1950. C*IIPORNI* LOBA N ~ E L E CA~IFORNIA B,
CLIFFORD S. GARNER
U N ~ V E R ~ I TOP Y
0
CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Carl R. Noller, Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1951. ix 885 pp. 97 figs. 28 tables. 16 X 24em. $7.
+
As READERS OF THISJOURNAL will recogniee, C. R. Noller has heon foremost in advocating application of the molecular orbital theory to the teaching of organic ohemistry. Exposition of this theory and s. sane use of mechanisms are outstanding features of his text. The fundamental ideas on mechanisms are given in a sepsrak chapter after alcohols and dkyl halides %rediscussed. Thereafter, mechanisms are presented in fine print. The order of presentation in this t,ext is neither traditional nor does it follow the presently popular concurrent treatment of aliphatic and aromatic chemistry. After about 400 pages on aliphatic compounds, 250 pages on aromatics and heterocyclics follow and then 200 pages on polyfimctional aliphatic oompounds. However, amino acids and csrbohydratrs are discussed in the ' first section but the polyfunctional compounds suah ss acetoacetic ester are eiven a less oraminent ~osition(near the end) than has hem customary witi moat textbook authors. ~ut'oxidakion, antioxidants, and orqmio peroxides, and silicon and phmphom8 rompounda have been treated at nome length, indicating the wowing importance of these topirs in current thinking. Recent results on meohanisms in peroxide formation is not reviewed, however. The author must have dug deep to find so many interesting details on industrial processes and the economic aspects of chemi ~ t r since y those are not easy to find. There are excellent neetions on soaps, eellulo~eproducts, ruhbor, and other topice. It is goad to see statistics on production for years later than 1940 again. While the most important name reactions appear, the names thrmselws are given secondary consideration, a step in the right direction. Since the names are indexed, this causes no undue difficultyinlocating them. Short. paragraphs on prominent organic chemists appearing as footnotes present side lights which should provoke students to seek a wider historied background. The men's namee are indexed at theend of the hook. The hook as a whole is remsrkahly free of errors of fact and mi8print.s are few. In appendexea. the Greek alphithet and a guide to pronunciation taken from the News Edition, 12, 202 (19341, are given. Inside the bsek cover is an old short form of the periodic table. I can find little to criticise adversel" in this text; I do not like the onier of prepentation hut that is a matter of taste and the
