book reviews Editor: W . F. KlEFFER Collage of Woorter
Woater, Ohio
John H. Hollowoq, Univelrity of Aberdeen. Methnen & Co. Ltd., London/ Barnes & Noble, Inc., New York, 1968. 213 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 viii X 22 cm. $6.75.
ingly short half-lives under normal conditions. A comparison is made of the dissociation energies of those species for which data is svailable. There is also a brief resume of the theoretical medictions made after the discovery of t h e xenon fluorides concerninc other. new noble-eas
This is the fifth book, devoted to the noble gases, which has been published since the discovery of the first chemical compoond of xenon in 1962. Nevertheless, the author bas managed to use an approach which differs from that used by his predecessors. The book is divided into three sections each complete in itself and yet each an integral part of the whole. Part 1 deals with the discovery and properties of the noble-gas elements. This section is brief; it, gives the reader enough information to understand the early history of the "inert" gas elements. For those whose appet.ites are whetted, there is an excellent list of references to original work. Stndents who find diffic u l t , ~getting accurate results with the equipment in today's laborat,ories would find it sobering to read M. W. Travers', "The Discovery of the Ilare Gases." Part 2 is concerned with species in which noble gases ace weakly bonded to one another or to other elements. These species artre ob%erved in discharge tubes or mass spectrometers and have exceed-
there are only weak intermolecular forces between the noble gas and the host molecule. The 45 pages which make up Part 2 of the book provide an excellent review of the pre-1962 "compo~mds"of the noble gases. Here, as in the other parts of the book, the author provides an exhaustive list of references. The third part of the book is devoted to the chemical compa~mds of the noble gases; that is, the compounds of krypton, xenon, and radon. The aot,hor has firsthand knowledge, having worked in this field both in Great Britain and a t the Argonne Nat,ional Laboratory where much of the early work was done. He has succeeded in providing comprehensive coverage of the preparation and chemical properties of the known compoonds of the noble gmes. The anthor is a n experimental chemist and the accent is on that aspect of the field, although there is a chapter summarizing the present thoughts on bonding in the noble-gas compoonds.
Noble-Gar Chemistry
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Attention is drawn to those experimental results which are doubtful or unconfirmed. As might be expected in a field which is so new and which is developing so rapidly, the book contains a few facts which were shown t o be incorrect subsequent to the submission of the manuscript, For exexample, on page 99 work is cited suggesting that the Xe/Fg reaction is catalyzed by the material of construction of the reaction vessel. This has now been shown to be incorrect. In addition same of the usual mistakes have crept in; thus, the reference to [82] a n page 112 for the stability of XeF2 and the one to [65] on page 126 for the stability of XeOzFl are in error. The reviewer has some more personal criticisms. I t is a pity that i t took from December 1967 to February 1969 for a relatively short book to find its way from manuscript form to the bookstores. Although the division into three selfcontained parts has advantages, i t is irritating to try and find some of the references in the middle of the book and more irritating once a reference is located to find that one is merely referred to another part of the book or another reference. An author index or alphabetized references would have been a welcome addition. For the stttdent or beginning researcher who is interested in the chemistry of the noble gases this is undoubtedly the best available book on the subject. Dr. Holloway writes well and has done a good job of digesting the material in several hundred papers and making i t easy for the rest of os to share this knowledge.
in this Issue
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John H. Holloway, Noble-Gas Chemistry . .623 H . Rassow, Construction and Use of Atomic and Moleclilar Models . . ,623 J . P . Candlin, K. A . Taylor, and D. T . Thompson, lleaetions of Transition . . ,624 Metal Complexes 3. H . Canlerjord and R. Colton, Halides of the Tran*it,ion Elements. 1.Ialides of the Second and Third Itow Transition Metals . . ,624 Leo A . Paguetle, Principles of Modern Heterocyclic Chemist,ry ..624 A. H . P. Leuer, Inorgauic Electronic Spectroscopy . . .A628 Alan Eernshaw, Introdoction to Magnetochemistry . . .A628 N . Iruing Sax, Uangerou~Properties of Industrial I\laterials . . .A628 William D. Ranmy, Inquiry Techniques for Teaching Science . . . A630 Richard J . M e d l and David Ridgwav, The CHEM Study Story . . . A631 W . H. Brock, editor, The Atomic Debates. Brodie and the Rejection of the Atomic Theory . . . A631 R. Stevens, editor, Dictionary of Organic Componnd~,Fourth Supplement, . . .A631 1968 G. A. Lindeboom, Herman Baerhaave: The Man and his Work . . . A632 G. Tromel and t,he Gmelin Instilute, editors, Gmelin-Durrer Metallurgy of Iron. Volume 2, Parts A and B . . . A632 E. H . E. Pietsch, A. Kotowski, and the Gnwlininstitute, editors, Gmelins Handbnch der Anorganischen Chemio. 8. Auflage, System Nummer 57, Nickel. Teil A 11, Lieferung2, Elektrochemisches rmd Chemisches Verhalten Nachweis m d Bostimmrung . . .A632 New Volumes in Conlinuing Series . . .A632
Construction and Use of Atomic and Molecular Models
H. Hassow. Pergamon Press, New 213 pp. Figs. and York, 1968. ix tables. 13.5 X 20.5 cm. Clothbound, 85.50; paperbound, $3.75.
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This book details the construction of the commonly discussed structures of introductory chemist.ry from inexpensive materials, e.g., plastic spheres. Although the author gives no preface which would cite his intended audience, the bookshould be a u~~eful addition to thelibraries of secondary school science departments, for their teachers and interested students. Teachers of introdoctory college chemistry may find the latter portion of the book dealing with crystal models and their quantitative relationships applicable to their class demonstrations. The kinds of models constructed may be classified as: ball-and-stick, space-tilling, orbital, and crystal models of unit cells and lattices. After a clarification of the scientific meaning of "model" and a survey of principles of the atomic model of matter
Volume 46, Number 9, September 1969
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up to t,he laws of conservation, definite and multiple proportions, the author builds ball and stick models of simple molecule5-CCL, HlOs and CO1-and expands these models in a later longer chapter to the classes of organic compounds. Almost all of these structures covered in some 50 pages shoold be well known to the chemistry teacher and the drawings are to he found in most textbooks, except, perhaps, for some "threedimensional" diagrams of geometric and stereoisomeru. A brief chapter deals with atomic orbital molecular models involving s and p orbitals and structures such as H1O and NHa. Not inclnded here but which would he of use to many presentations of modern chemistry are the more complex structrlrd representations of hybridiaation, multiple bonding, and electron delocalization, as in the ozone molecule. The most attractive part of the book is that dealing with aocrrate molecular and crystal models, where space-filling and sphere-and-dowel (a ball and stick variety) models are developed. Examples are HsO, P,, Ss, polyatomic ions, e.g., NO8-, complex ions, e.g., Cr(NHs),Cb'., and the unit cell and lattice representations of cubic close packing, body centered cubic, NaCl, CsCI, CaF,, graphite, diamond, and ice structures. Although the book is profusely illustrated, diagrams of "sliced" models of cubic close packing and body centered cubic would have been helpful here in "seeing" eighths, halves, etc. Following the crystal models is a final chapter of some quantitative applications of $he crystal models useful to the teacher 'who wishes to make B convincing presentation of crystal pstterns. Calcnlations of metal ntomio radii, alkali halide internuelectr distances, ionic radii, and radius ratios of ionio structures are explored with comparisons of calculated and otherwise reported values. The Appendix has tables of atomic, Van der Waal, ionic radii, and unit cell dimensions for ccp, bco, diamond, MX, MIX, and MX. crystals. Also in the Appendix is a listing of sources that snpply construction materialu, and a reference listing of standard texts on structural chemistry. Constrmtion details in the text descriptions and in the diagrams appear plentiful for successful results.
organization of each ohapter is best understood by a consideration of the chapter on niobium and tantalum. The known halides and oxyhalides of hoth metals are tabulated. Methods of preparation, physical properties, and structural information are d l presented in tabular form and discussed. No attempt is made to review exhaustively the simple adducts formed by the compounds (i.e., MX5.D, where D = donor group). Halides and oxyhalides of one oxidation state are placed together. The several oxidation states are taken up in order of decreasing oxidation number. The halometallrttes, e.g., compounds of NhF?, NbFa-, N h C k , NhCla2-, etc, and oxohlometallates, e.g., compounds of NbOClF, NbOCL-, NbOP-, etc., make up the second half of the chapter, again in order of decreasing oxidation number. Referencing starts anew with each chapter and includes the literature through 1966. An addenda adds new information up to March 1968. The 298 references to the niobium and tantalum chapter is placed immediately followingthe text of the chapter. An example of the completeness of information included may be estimated from reviewing the text on ZrF,. A table list,v 13 methods of preparation, with reference numbers. The thermodynamic properties of the eompormd are tabdated in two tables. The two polymorphs are compared with respect to preparation and structural relationship. The projection of the ZrF, struct~rrealong the c-axis is shown in a clear figure. A few errors are noted, some of which are the result of carelessness, others just oversight. For example the authors state the "direct chlorination of oxides has been well investigated for the transition metals of Groups IV to VII, inclusive." HANSB. JONASSEN Such is simply not so. Also from Table Tulane University 2.2 one learns that ZrOn can he converted N m Orleans. Louisiana 70118 to ZrCI. at elevated temperature, according to ref. 9. On page 103 of ref. 9 the dear statement read8 "chlorine alone does not Halides of the Transition Elernenlr. attack ZrO* appreciably a t any observed Halides of the Second and Third Row temperature." Transition Metals The thorough coverage and clear presentation of information combine to J . H. Canterford and R. Collon, Univermakc this hook a. valuable addition to the sity of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria. research library. I t is required reading John Wiley & Sons h e . , New York, for anvone startine out in the field. It is a 1968. xxx 409 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $15.95. G s o n ~ l rMARTINS Newton Junior College This volume is a carefully-planned and Newtaville, dlassachuselts well-executed monograph on the title S. Y. TYREE,JR. subject. k., a worker in the field this College of William and M a y reviewer can testify that the authors Williamsburg, V i r ~ i n i a25185 have covered the literature very well. In fact oxyhdides and halometsllllste and Reaclions of TmnsitionMetal Complexes oxohalometdlllate comnlexes are included J . P. Candlin, K . A. Taylor, and D. T . Thompson, Imperial Chemical IndusPrinciples of Modern tries, Ltd., Petrochemical and Polymer Helerocyclic Chemistry reviews. General preparative techniques Laboratory, The Heath, Runcorn, CheLeo A. Pquette, Ohio State University, and physical properties of the fluorides shire (England), American Elsevier Columbus. W. A. Benjamin, Inc., are the subjects of Chapter 1. The other Publishing Ca., New York (1968). xvi 401 pp. Figs. New York, 1968. xiv halides are discussed together in Chapter 483 pp. $30. and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $11.95. 2. Chapter 3 considers "closter comWritten by three research scientists who pounds." Each suoceeding chapter re Certainly the author has done the right have been active in the field of transition capitdates in detail the present state of thing; he bas described heterocyclic ring metalorganic complexes practically since knowledge for a pair of metals, zirconium systems from a. mechanistic approach, and its beginning, this hook is a comprehensive and hafnium, niobium and tantalum, review of this field. The compilation of . . . . , silver and gold. Group 111 t,he result is simply magnifiertnt. The literature references is practically commetal compounds are not included. The (Continued a page A628)
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plete through the early part of 1967. The first of the three parts of this book considers the mechanisms of three of the important types of reactions of these complexes: substitution, combination, and Red-Ox. This area is covered in about 200 pages in a. manner which is all-inclusive. Its lack of selectivity makes this nmt therefore not as mod as some of the well-known text b o o k in this area. The second part reviews in about 200 pages the various reactions with organic and inorganic reagents such as hydrocarbons, organic halogens, CO, CN-, ORas well as H f , H-, Rap (As, Sh) and mole cules such as Hz,X., SOzand others. The third and shortest section (20 pages) deals with reactions by which stable and unstable new organic systems can he made and it includes metalloeene, carhenes, r-bonded heterocycles and many others. This book was written for research scient,ists in this area and presupposes an excellent chemistry background. This, depending upon one's point of view, may he an advantage or disadvantage but it makes it possible to leave out much of the theories and principles usually found in books of this type. It also produces a book full of a wealth of information and facts even for a reader with some familiaritv.. in this field. Maximum benefit from rhc comprehcn~ivrdimw-ions mn only he resiirod nftrr scvcrnl ronrcntrntd rcsdings. Even though this reviewer must mention the high price ($30) as a shortcoming this is a book which should be readily available to all working in this area. The format of the book is pleasing, typographical errors seem to be absent, and the reaction schemes, formulas, and structures are clearly presented.
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Journal of Chemical Education
