BOOK REVIEWS achievements of the Symposium, R. Robinson (U. K.). These loetures would be useful to every research chemist and every teacher of organic chemistry and bioehemintry. The lecturers by Stall and Todd are prime examples of concise, lucid, and meaning. fnl statements on broad and technical subjects. They would make excellent requirod rending for fitudents in elernentary organic chemistry courses. Much of the history and interrelationships of various areas within the broad field of organic chemistry are presented in a way uncommon to textbooks.
The three lectures on physical methods by Thompson, Djerassi, and Mathieson are more than reviews. They make available otherwise unreported work which will be of interest to all who utilize modern analytical tools such a s NMR, X-ray, spectrophotometric instruments, and rot a t o r ~ dismrsion. The 148 references repoited b p ~ h o m p s o nare alone worth the price of the book. As is common with British publie&ms, the binding and paper leave much to he desired. If one can overlook such disadvantages this volume should command a place of importance on the bookshelf.
WILLIAM B. Coax Montane Stete Cdlege Boreman
Carbon-14 Compounds
John R. Catch, The Radiochemical Centre, Amersham, Buckingharnshire, England. Butterworth, Inc. Washington, D. C. 1961. vii 128 pp. Figs and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $5.W
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This short, readable book contains an introduction, followed by seven chapters titled as follows: The Production of Carbon-14; Chemical Synthesis; Biological Methods of Labeling; Peculiar Features of Carbon-14 Compounds; Analysis; and Precautions in the Use of Carbon-14 Compounds. An appendix gives references to pertinent wark which appeared during the book's preparation. This reviewer has the impression that the author included material he happened to be interested in (or remember) a t the time of writing and did not give a great amount of thought to the choice of what he discussed. In fact, the Foreward implies that the writing was done "in desultory fashion." For example: (1) Three methods for the preparation of laheled 2-methyl-1,4-nsphthoquinone are given (pages 21 and 22), whereas no mention is made of the hieh-vield. eenrral ., " ,. .~ synthetic method developed by this reviewer for labeled fused-ring hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene, chrysene, and 1,2-benzanthraeene; (2) the credit for the synthesis of methanol-C" by reduction of carbon dioxide with LiALH, is given the English scientists Cox and Warm (page 2.3, whereas the rabher novel principle of tho method %-as ronceived and n-orked out in this Laboratory in 1947 by R. F. Nystrom and was used here successfully for many years; (3) although the addition of "carrier" is discussed (pages 17 and 81) as one of the advantages oi tracer chemistry " . . . as an effective safeguard against the risk of poor yields.. .," no mention whatsoever is made of the dangers inherent in the addition of "carrier," that is, nondilution of highly radioactive impurities; and, of course, the treatment-namely, the addition of "hold-back carrier" is not discussed; (4) the apparatus recommended for liquidliquid extraction (Fig. 3.9, page 38) appears to he a separatory funnel with a glass stirring rod whose propeller intersects the interface of the two liquids, despite the rather general acceptance of continuous liquid-liquid extractors for high-level carbon-14 wark; (5) in a book so small (128 pages) i t appears that a disproportionate amount of space (pages 72-78) is d o t e d nomenclature of carbon14 compounds; and (6) tho statement on page 68 concerning isotope effects, namely, "In synthetic and degradative work w ~ t hcarhon-14 they rarely appear," is incorrect. The hook is well mitten in an informal and conversational style, except for the middle paragraph of page 63, whose meaning still eludes this reviewer. Fortunately, Dr. Catch knows so much about his subject that even with the limitations just mentioned, the hook is quite informative and i s recommended for the beginning as well as the expcricnccd chemist in carbon-14 tracer work. Chapter 5 on Peculiar Features, Chapter 7 an ~
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Journol of Chemical Educafion
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BOOK REVIEWS Measurement and Chapter 8 on Precautions are particularly instructive, and contain some good sound advice for people who wish to work with carbon-14 compounds. CLAIRJ. COLLINS Oak Rzdge ~VahonalLabomlo7y Oak Rzdge, Tennessee
Semimicro Qualitative Analysis: Non-Hydrogen Sulfide System
A
Jacob Comog, formerly of the State University of Iowa, Iowa City. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1981. 1961 ed. v 253 pp. Figs. and tables. l i . 5 X 24 cm. Paperbound. $5.
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This new edition is more than a new edition. I t is an extensive revision. Like the 15 year old previous edition it avoids the use of hydrogen sulfide. However it does not entirely slight the metal sulfides. The group precipitates are: chloride Group, PbCL, AgCI, and Hg,CI.; Sulfate Group, PhSO,, BaSO4, and CaS04; Amphalyte Group, SbO,C--, SnOa--, ZnOz--, AIOz-, and CrOl--; Sulfide Group, HgS, Bi& FeS, CuS, CdS, CoS, and NiS; Phosphate Group, hln8(PO&, and Mg,(PO.)?. Strontium and titanium are omitted and NH,+, K, and Naf are tested far an the original. An option is provided in the anion analysis. The short option provides for KO.-, GOs; S-, C1-, SO4-, and CrO4-. The long option ~rovideafor COX-, CrOl-, Mn04-, SOa-, S-, SO4-, POI-, CI-, B r r , I-, NOI-, C2H80.-, and soluble silicates. The procedures provide for the use of solid unknowns. The first 54 pages deal with preliminary exercises. The last 92 pages are devoted to theory. The book is suitable for a one quarter or semester course in freshman qualitative analysis. Such s, course should serve as a goad foundation on which advanced courses in qualitative analysis snd inorganic chemistry can be based.
RAYWOODRIFF Montana Slate College Rozeman
Les Mithoder de l a Chimie Analytique: Analyre Quantitative Minhrole
Gaston Charlot, 1'Ecole de Physique et de Chimie industrielles de Paris. Masson et Cie., Paris, 1961. 4th ed. vii 1024 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 25 cm. Broehe, 100 KF, cartonne toile, 110 PiF.
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This book, a. fourth edition, represents s major revision of the earlier text. The English language texts most similar to this volume are Kolthoff and Sandell's "Textbook of Quantitative Analysis" and Wilson and Wilson's "Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry." Charlot's ex(Conlinued on page A422)
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Journal o f Chemical Education
