BOOK REVIEWS The material in this buak will serve hotlr experts and nun-experts. For the experts, there are presented tahles of carefully selected data and up-trrdate rcfcrences t o the literature on these substmces. The non-experts will find excellent background material leading t u a better undrrstanding of the detailed facts presented, appropriatc cxplanat,iuns, and h~lpR11lists of delinit,ions of symhds, terms, and sbhreviations. Each chaptcr 0s pruvided with a list of pertinent refernnces t o the literitture. The editor and authnra ere t o he complimented on having produced an excellent work.
FEEDERICK D. ROSSINI University o j N d r e Dame Notre Dame, Indiana
Investigations in Chemistry; A Text for t h e General Chemistry Laboratory
Jay E. Taulor and Georqe L. Bush, both of Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, and John R . Demfdh, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Burgess Puhlishing Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1961. iv 241 pp. Figs. and tables. 21.5 X2i.5 em. Pzperbuund. 54.25.
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The authurs of this book aimed: 1, "to stress much more strongly underlying scientific principles," 2, "to emphssim the investigative approach to chemistry," and 3, "to develop certain hesic disciplines": a, "a sharpening of ohservatory powers," b, "s mastery of basic techniques," and c, "an acqnaintsnce with and respect iar the chemicals and equipment in the laboratory." I t appears t o this reviewer t h a t they were particularly successful in achieving 2 and 3a with some success in the others. The five sections
of the manual provide a good sampling of the topics of general chemistry as did their earlier hook "Chemistry in the Lab* ratory." Section I, "Basic Techniques and Investigations," includes convention$ work on techniques, changes in matter, oxygen, acids and hases, and the metal activity series. Section 11, "Quantitative Techniques and Investigations," afi'ers unusual, simple equipment for gas law work, a good npproach t o evaluation of and testing of possible improvements in experimental procedures fur s Cu-S compound formula. determination, and determining a n equivalent weight by hydrogen reduction of a n oxide. hlore cunvcntir,nsl experiments on combining weights, water of hydration, titration, density, and gravimetric dotnrmination of sulfate are also inelutlcd. Iletails of volumetric work are too sketchily descrihrd t o develop good technique. Section 111. "Advanced T o ~ i c s and ,
gative approach," e.g., n stlldy of halogens that demands partieularlv careful ohservstion and interpretation, an invosbigation of the gaseous productti of nitric acid reacting with m ~ t a l s ,n study of the suluhility p n d u c t equilibrium of KHC& a study of seven functional groups in organic compounds, preparation nf salts, ruld a n opewended study of sulfur. Section IV gives general suggcst,iuns for s special project and Section V is on qualitative analysis. A regulsr cation scheme for 26 ions is oH~red. The final experiment is to develop n "on-hydrogen sulfide cation scheme. Throughout the manual the need of careful and comolete records is stressed. given for data recording is inadequrrtt t o insure neat, efficient records; some rrf the directians seem t o imply making preliminary notations of data to he reorgmiaed and put in the permanent record l a t ~ r ; some report sheets ohscurn the distinction that should be made hetween ubsrrvstians and their interpretation. A teacher who is not inhibited by past practices and s c c e p t ~ dusages surely will be stimulated by this book t o extend its investigative n p p n m h t o areas of chemistry i t d o e not cover. Its utility is .enhanced 1,). an instructor's manual.
\I'ARREX A. MCMULLEN Greenui!le CoIIege Greenville, Illinoi8
Atomic Spectra
H. G. Kahn, Oxford University, England. Academic Press, Inc., Ken, York, 1062. m i 436 pp. Figs. n r d tables. 15.5 X 23 em. 513.
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This book is designed as an up-twlste introduction t o the nature and interpretatian of atomic spectra. I t is nut primarily an expusition of mzthelnatical theory, but rather a discussion of the types of spectre, observed, giving enough
(Continued on page A920)
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Journal o f Chemical Education
BOOK REVIEWS of the theoretical background for a n understanding of the results. After a brief introduction, the author proceeds t o a seventy-page review of theoretical methods, including classical and quantum mechanics and radiation theory. I t is not int,onded t o be complete, but t o serve as a. basis far thc discussions in tho rest of t,he book. The longest chapter (140 pages) deals with simple spectra, defined as those involving no more than one electron (outside of a filled sub-shell) with nonaero orbital angulsr momentum. This section treats tho spectra of the appropriate elements by groups, and includes discussion of such topics as fine structure, the Zeeman
rrnd Stark effects, and different coupling ~chemes. A rather hrief chapter on the periodic table and X-ray spectra is followed by a seventy page chapter on complex spectra, i.e. those not classified as simple. The final two chapters deal with hyperfine structure and the shapes of spectral lines. This hook may be compared with two earlier ones: Q . Hersberg's "Atomic Spoctra and Atomic Structure" (written in 1536, and republished with some revision in 1!144 by Ilover, New York) and H. E . White's "Introduction t o Atomic Spectra" (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1034). The fact is that most nf the fundamental ideas of atomic spectroscopy were already worked out in 1934, and progress since thnt bime has bcon mainly in application and refinement
of these ideas. Thus the topics covered in the three books are almost ident,ieal, and only s. few newer developments such as magnetic resonance and effects of nuclear quadrupole moments receive mentian in this work. The treatment is somewhat more detailed than that oi Herzberg. References t o the literature are numerous, though not exhaustive; roughly half of them are t o work published after 1936, so the book can serve wcll as a guide t o h r t h e r study in its field. Thcrc seem t o be few errors in bhc hook. One which might cause confusion is in the first equation on page 9, which gives the reciprocal of the correct value. Readers unaccustomed t o working with atomic spectra might wish for more detailed oxplanation of a f c a of the illustrations and tables; for cxample, the use oi the table of multiplet intcnsit,y ratios in the appcndix could have hepa explained. As a, whole, however, the honk is clearly written and is easy t o read and understand. The author aften presents both the quantum mechanical theory and the semiclassicd model tu help give a physical underst,anding of each topic. I n summary, this book offers litble now t o s. reader looking only for a brief survey of the field, but i t will be helpful t o those who wish t o go more d ~ e p l yint,o the subject.
S. J. STRICKIZR Rice liniuersitl, Houston, Gras
Reigel's Industrial Chemistry
Edited by James -4. Kent. West Virginia University, hlorgnntown. Reinhold Publishing Corp.. S e w York, 1962. aii $163 pp. Figs. ;and tables. 16 X 24 cm. 320.
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This latest edit,ion of a text which first appeared in 1512X has all the appeal which a completely revised text should have. The material has been brought up t o date in view of the tremendous changes whirh have occurred in the chemical f i ~ l d . Extensive use of cdlahurators, who are specialists in t,heir particular field, helps insure the coverage of this wide range of interests. Current reference mnterial also contributes to it8 value. iYow m a t ~ r i a lappearing in this edition includes such items as missile propellants and the nuclear industry. The nunlher of items covered necessitates the giving of only essential information in connection with each topic. Omissions from earlier editions include such industries as glass, cement, and the ceramic industry. Problems have also heen eliminated a i t h no great lrms of usefulness. The economic aspects have been included in abbreviated form for most of the industries. This text is a welcome revision in view of the fast changing industry. I t should he used for a full year course in order t o justify the cost t o the user. GEORGEM.MACRWART
Michiqan College o j Alining and Teehnolog~, Hoaghton
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Journal o f Chemical Educafion
