BOOKREVIEWS
1014
most appreciated if studied in conjunction with a more theoretical treatment of enzyme chemistry or of metabolism. Under these circumstances the text would be recommended to students or to interested investigators trained in areas peripheral to biochemistry.
Vol. 81
Nuclear Reactor Experiments. By the staff of Argonne Xational Laboratory, Operated by the University of Chicago for the United States Atomic Energy Commission. J. BARTON HOAG,Editor and Contributor. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 126 Alexander Street, Princetpn N. J. 1958. xv 480 pp. 16 x 23.5 ctn. Price, DIVISIONOF BIOCHEMISTRY $6.75. OF CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT \VILI,IAM J. R U T ~ C R The international reactor school a t Argonne National OF ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY Laboratory has been in existence for several years and s1: URBANA, ILLINOIS graduates are now putting their training to practical use in setting up atomic energy programs in dozens of countries. “Nuclear Reactor Experiments” shows clearly the high Correlation between Physical Constants and Chemical level of the equipment used in their training--a first class Structure. Graphical Statistical Methods of Identificahigh-flux research reactor with all its complex facilities. tion of Mineral and Fatty Oils, Glass, Silicones, and CataI t is stated that the purpose of the course, lasting 7 months, Professor of Chemical is “to give the rough knowledge neAded of the whole !elysts. BY H. I. WATERMAN, Technology, Technical University, Delft (The h’ether- actor field t o enable work in teams. Obviously this aim lands), in collaboration with C. BOELHOUWER and J. implies a skimming over many subjects in cursory fashion. CORKELISSEN,Research Associates, Delft, Technical One may argue with this objective of a reactor training University D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc , 120 Alex- course, but the experiments here described show that the 120 pp. l i X ander Street, Princeton, N. J. 1958 v participants get a t least brief acquaintance with a wealth 24.5 cm. Price, $5.25 of neutron physics and reactor techniques. The material covered includes radiation detqTtors, 11;:aSThe authors show how they have used simple graphic urements of diffusion lengths and neutron age,” exmethods t o correlate physical properties of a complex or- ponential” experiments, measurement of neutron cross secganic or inorganic material with the elementary composi- tions, operational characteristics of a reactor, heat transfer, tion or chemical structure of the material. Specific ex- metallurgical treatment of fuel, corrosion and radiation efamples are given for mineral oils and related hydrocarbon fects on materials, “hot” laboratory techniques, and chemimixtures, fatty acids, glasses and silicones, and coal. cal processing. The book is actually a laboratory manual Physical properties studied by the authors include den- only, describing specific experiments, and includillg a sinall sity, refractive index, molecular weight, surface tension, account of the physical facts behind each technique. The kinematic viscosity, magneto-optical rotation and the description of each experiment is detailed, complete with Faraday effect. Chemical structure is in terms of ring precise instructions for various manipulations, and repronumber per average molecule (naphthenic, aromatic or paraf- duction of neat “data sheets” for calculation of results. finic), percentage of carbon in ring structure (naphthenic, The material other than description of experiments is aromatic or parafinic), or degree of branching in saturated not of sufficient value to render the book useful as a text or molecules. reference. Furthermore the experiments are built around Each graph takes the form of a family of curves showing the particular equipment in use a t Argonne. Similar facilithe relationship between two physical properties for each ties are available a t other reactors, but much of the manual of several elementary compositions or chemical structures. is so closely linked with Argonne that it would not be apThe formula log v = ( A / P ) R ( A , B , X = constants) plicable a t other reactors. Other than its obvious value for for the temperature dependence of kinematic viscosity is students a t the Argonne school, it would seem most useful shown t o be useful for investigating such materials as min- as a guide to those setting up training centers with other eral oils, silicones and glasses. reactors. They could not easily procure all the coniplex In the final chapter, triangular graphs are used t o instrumentation of the Argonne school-this reviewer well study the effects of catalysts in kinetic studies of the hydro- knows the time scale involved, having designed some of the genation and the chlorination of organic compounds. Argonne experiments a decade ago-but the book would be The entire book appeared in Anal. Chem. Acta, 18, No. 5 an excellent guide to the techniques now in use a t a modern (1958). reactor laboratory. COLOR PRIYTA N D PROCESSING PHYSICSDEPARTMEXT EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY GRANTLVERXIMONT BROOKHAVEX DONALD J. HUGHES KATIONAL LABORATORY ROCHESTER 4, NEW YORK UPTON,LOSG ISLAND,r\T. Y .
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