suddenly discovered a fertile field of exploration. I n the interests of making the study a. the problem solver know the answer hebrief one, the author has deliberately fore he starts. I n my experience students omitted most of the mathematics fonndations and experimental data. Hence, always find this to he puzzling. most of the hook is descriptive. While It is hard to see where this book would he appropriate as a. text. I n my opinion such a qualitative presentation is, in principle, not necessarily weak, i t would i t is too superficial to he of much use or appear that a greater use of principles real help to a serious student of biology. coupled with simple analogies might he RICHARD C. SCHOONMAKERpreferable in enlightening the novice as Oberlin College to the real nature of the study of the solid Oberlin, Ohio state. What has resulted, instead, is a potpouri of description that is fun to read hut probably not as instructive as i t might Properties of Solids and Their have been. Atomic Structures The chapters cover, almost as if they were truly separable topics, molecular H . J. M . Boloen, Uqiversity of Reading, solids, covalent solids, ionic solids, metals, England. McGraw-H111 Publishing Co., and semiconductors and defective solids. New York, 1967. viii 146 pp. There is an appendix devoted solely to Figs. and tables. 14 X 21.5 em. symmetry and crystal notation, far too Softbound. $3.95. briefly treated t,o be generally useful, and a list of further reading that is neither This small paperback may well serve sufficiently complete nor upto-date (for as an introduction to the subject for the publication date of the hook). I n second-year students, as the author notes addition, the Glossary (which is relrttively in his preface, or as an easy-to-read huge for a hook of this size) is very wesk; summary of solid state behavior. I t is, many of the definitions are either very of course, totally inadequate as text provincial, limited or actually inaccurate material for a college course or for in(e.g., the definitions for acid, alloy, madepth coverage needed by the reader to matic ring, atom, diffractia, element, broaden his knowledge of this fascinating mole, Raman spectrum, reducing agent, field. The book joins a rapidly expsnding and ualency, among others). The British list of others covering the various aspects pell ling and terminology may also confuse of solid state chemistry and physics, an occasions1 U S . student. written to meet the needs of academicians Lest the reader think that all is had, and industrial practitioners who have
book reviews
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A60
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journal o f Chemical Education
i t must he noted that the book daes pravide a stimulus to inquiry by r&ing many of the unanswered questions of the field. The semiquantitative discussion of binding energies in various types of solids, their comparison to thermal energies and the interpretation of this comparison in terms of properties are very well done and a t just the right level for the intended reader. I n addition, the treatment of the optical properties of solids is concise and sufficiently rigorous. The reader's interest will be captured while the groundwork is laid from which more sophisticated understanding can emerge. I n summing up, the book is spotty, but us* ful; i t contains inaccuracies of fact and currently-accepted interpretations, hut is easy to read and interest-catching. I have a. list of 17 major cavils, mostly dealing with theory; someone who is wellversed in modern concepts of chemical physics would be advised to buy the hook for the fun of locating these and possibly others. F o r the general reader, if he can spare the time and modest price, reading the hook will provide an interesting view of the field. I t csn be a profitable one, perhaps, if he daes so with some care to examine for accurscy and with a determination not to rely too greatly on all the theory.
J. JUSTER NORMAN Pasadena City College, Pasadena, California 91106 (Continued a page A68)
