book reviews ground as it pertains t o salt, about the only use this reviewer can envisage for the book in a college course would be information for a paper in a non-science oriented chemistry course. Donald B. Summers New Mexico State University Las Croces. New Mexico 88001
It is not a book which should be cansidered as a research tool. References are scanty. Many statements are made about mechanisms, byproducts, procedures, etc.. without references to the original work. Each chapter concludes with a bibliography as a guide to further reading. This work provides a broad introduction t o the polymer field for anyone with s hackground in basic organic chemistry. J . A. Moore Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York 12181
Organic Polymer Chemistry
K J Sounders, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Toronto. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1973. ix 473 pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 16cm. 518.00
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This hook treats the synthesis and, in same instances, the modification of polymers which find technological use. For the mast part, only polymers of commercial significance are considered. It is organized by the functional groups in the polymer and each commercial polymer containing that functionality is discussed as an individual subunit (1, Basic Concepts; 2, Polyolefins; 3, Polystyrene and styrene copolymers; 4, Poly(viny1 chloride) and related polymers; 5, Poly(viny1 acetate) and related polymers; 6, Acrylic polymers; 7, Fluoropolymers; 8, Polyethers; 9, Palyamides and related polymers; 10, Polyesters; 11, Cellulose and related polymers; 12, Phenol-formaldehyde polymers; 13. Aminapalymers; 14, Polyurethanes; 15, Silicones; 16, Epoxies; 17, Sulfur-containing polymers; 18, Palydienes; 19, Miscellaneous polymers). Thus, the chapter entitled "Polyethers" contains several suhheadings which include "Polyformaldehyde," "Polymers of Cyclic Ethers," "Polyethylene Oxide," etc. These provide an introduction to the preparation and polymerization of various monomers on the industrial level illustrated by chemical equations. Degradation and stabilization of the particular polymers is also discussed. Industrially useful copolymers (of the polymer under discussion) are mentioned, where applicable. The physical properties of the various polymers as well as their commercial use are also provided. The hook is well written, easy to read, concise, and contains sufficient equations so that most statements can be readily followed. It is a specific book, in that it deals solely with commercial polymers and generalization to other systems is not emphasized, hut may be inferred. It can be understood after two semesters of organic chemistry and it may find use by advanced undergraduate-beginning graduate students as preliminary reading matter before going on to more advanced books such as "Textbook of Polymer Science" by Billmeyer and "Organic Chemistry of Synthetic High Polymers" by Lenz. However, it does not contain any description of the physical chemistry of macromolecules and therefore, does not constitute a "complete package." In addition, specific criteria of performance (tensile strength, etc.) are given without a background or frame of reference. A596
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An Introduction l o Air Chemistry
Samuel S. Butcher and Robert J Charlson. Academic Press, New York, 1972. xiii 241 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. 510.95.
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This book is designed to he a textbook for a course in air chemistry. A strong emphasis is placed upon the relationship between analytical chemistry and metearology. It is also designed to be a reference work for persons such as meteorologists, laboratory chemists, and technicians working in the area of air pollution. The chapters in the book are (1)Introduction (the evolution and composition of the atmosphere and atmospheric chemical cycles); (2) Summary of Chemical Principles (principally a review of physical chemistry); (3) Sampling and Collection; (4) Treatment of Data; (5) Special Methods of Analysis (a discussion of gas chromatography, spectrometry, neutron activation analysis, mass spectrometry, remote sensing with lasers, and correlation spectrometry); (6) The Atmospheric Chemistry of Sulfur Compounds; (7) Nitrogen Compounds and Ozone; (8) Carbon Compounds; and (9) Aerosols. In general the book is well written. It contains a large number of timely references which are up to date. The quality of production is goad and it appears to be free of major errors. The illustratians are well done, though not elahorate, and are adequate in number. The extensive glossary of terms is a very useful feature. Although the authors have assumed only a background in general chemistry, same organic chemistry is presented. A more balanced text would have resulted from assuming a background in organic chemistry and including much mare discussion of reactions of organic compounds in the atmosphere. Important omissions from the hook are a detailed discussion of the principles of photochemistry and a discussion of some of the proposed mechanisms of photochemical smog formation, It is not possible to treat some of the more important aspects of air chemistry in a meaningful way without a basic understanding of photochemistry. Although the mechanisms of smog formation are still obscure, some of the main features of the process are known. and a detailed discussion of same of the proposed reaction sequences involved in the process should have been included.
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book reviews This book can be a valuable reference work for scientists actually involved in air pollution research. It will also serve well as a textbook for many courses in departments of meteorology, oceanography, and civil engineering. The chemical aspects of atmospheric science and air pollution are not presented in enough depth to make the book entirely satisfactory as the text for a course in air chemistry taught in a chemistry department. The cost ($10.951 generally will prevent the use of the book as one of the texts in an environmental chemistry course in combination with another text for the aquatic chemistry section of the course. Stanley E . Manahan University of Missouri Coiurnbia. Missouri 65201
Aromaticity
P. J Garratt, University College, London. McGraw Hill, New York, 1971. viii 184pp. Figs. and tables. 23 X 15 cm.
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This hook, designed in presentation and context for those who have had a t least a one-year exposure to organic chemistry, treats in highly readable fashion the complex problem of aromaticity and its more
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recent extensions (homoaromaticity, bicycloaromsticity, etc.). The volume begins with a brief historical discussion of the structure of benzene and the suhsequent stepwise solution of this problem as quantum mechanics, the Hiickel method, and the valence bond approach became available to the chemical community. Chapter 2 serves to compare and contrast the electronic constructs, physical properties, and chemical reactivity of cyclobutadiene, benzene, and cyclooctatetraene. The relevance of diamagnetic anisotropy, heat of combustion and hydrogenation data, electronic spectra, and fluxional properties are neatly interwoven in a systematic and attractive manner. Next is a discussion of the annulenes which is more extensive than any other segment of the book undoubtedly because of the author's personal involvement with this area of research. Chapter 4 reviews in a m a t exhaustive yet concise way the subject of monocyclic aromatic ions. The entire speetrum of charged stabilized species ranging from the commonplace eyclopentadienide anion to the elusive [24]annulene dianion is presented with frequent references to MO properties and chemical reactivity. This is followed by a presentation of 4n r electron monocyclic antiaromatie ions and the marked contrast with the stabilized systems is accentuated as a result. Suhsequently, the text gives attention to annulenones, fulvenes, and related structural types, heterocyclic systems, polycyclic molecules, homoammatic and hicycloaromatie entities, and the criteria for aromaticity.
Efforts t o generalize the presentation of aromaticity are not new, but this comprises the first effort to present the subject in textbook format. Whether the text will succeed in the classroom will depend critically upon the composition of the student body and to a significant extent on the professor-in-charge.' The hook is heavily descriptive and only a relatively few general references are provided a t the end of each chapter. Although this does allow for some follow up by the student, the ahsence of exhaustive references does have its disadvantages, particularly where the introduction of supplemental material may prove desirable. The text does not dwell a t all on such subjects as benzenoid aromatic substitution but rather is most concerned with denoting the features which distinguish stabilized from destahilized nonhenzenoid molecules and ions. The format is more in the nature of a review (and an excellent one) than a teaching manual, and i t ih as updated a treatment of the subject as can be found. One might argue, however, that the cost of the bwk is rather prohibitive given its emphasis and made of presentation. For those interested in the field, i t is a refreshing and desirable presentation of the subject. To the uninitiated student, this teat could serve as a n enlightening expose of the current status of aromaticity. Finally, to the instructor who utilizes the book for classroom instruction, it will mean that he will have to provide a significant amount of additional relevant subject matter as suits his taste. This (Continued on page A600)
