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JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
also reduces the sulfur content of steel so effectively as does addition of manganese. Mare than 14pounds areused to produceone ton of steel, and mast of this added manganese ends up in the slag. Proceduren to recover it are now being intensively evaluated. This is of particular importance to the United States which in 1952 produced only 106,000 metric tons, hut imported 2,140,000 metric tans from India, Africa, Central and South America, Turkey, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Electroplating with manganese is not a familiar art, even though electrowinning of manganese is common practice. Bright coatings can he electrodeposited from aqueous solutions onto steel, aluminum, copper, and zinc. While such coatings impart corrosion resistance because of rapid oxidation a t room tempernture, they soon hecome covered with an unattractive, dark brown film. Manganese a t room temperature is hard and brittle and cannot be worked readily. Alloys of electrolytic manganese with copper, on the other hand, can he worked hot and then quenched without damage. Similar capper alloys with additions of nickel, still maintaining very high manganese contents, can be forged and rolled. Such alloys have not as yet found commercial applieat,ionn. Earh chapter is provided with a very complete bibliography. There are both a table of contents and a n index. The latter seems skimpy in that the alloys listed in the table of contents are not repeated individually in the index. Also, the word "alloys" is misplaced under manganese. I t is surprising t o find in a book published ten years after the close of the Manhattan Project a reference on page 121 to the nonexistant element, "nmsurium." There is nearly as much known about technetium (atomic number 43) as ahout manganese! The aim of the series, "to provide a readable work of reference on the background and the metallurgical, chemical and physical data" of several rarer metals, is being competently realized. These books will find acceptance in e v e q technical lihmry. L h U R E N C E S. FOSTER B ~ M O NM TA . BBACH~B~TTB
DEGRADATION OF MNM. POLYMERS
H. H. G. Jellinek, Senior Lecturer in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Adelaide, South Australia. Academic Press,Inc., New York, 195% x 329 pp. 123 figs. 51 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $8.50.
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THEforming of vinyl polymers from simple molecules is n more dramatic occupation than the reverse procedure of hreaking down these fabulously useful materials. However, the degradation of polymer molecules is a n important problem, having both theoretioal and practical interest for the chemist, physicist, and engineer. From the theoretical point of view, a n understanding of degradation kinetics and mechanism improves our knowledge of the basic nature of the original polymer. I t is of practical importance to know the limitations of various polymers in environments in which their use ma." be eontemolated. or oerhaos how to alter the nraoerties of certain
of economic importance in certain cases. "Degradation of Vinyl Polymers" begins with a review of the formal mathematical theories of degradation; this serves as background for the later treatment of the available data. The three principal chapters of the book then deal with degradation of polymers in bulk (in vamzo), in solution and under oxidative conditions, and under the application of mechanical and ultrasonic forces. I n few caqes is there a completely developed picture of the degradation, and the author frequently gives clear statements of what remains to he done, along with suggested methods of attack on the problem. I t is apparent that experimental work in thi.8
field must be designed with unusual care to yield data. capable of significant interpretation. Helpful advice is given by the author for those who would undertake work of this kind. Historical background is well developed, and the author is discriminating in his selection of the most pertinent references for discussion in those areas where the literature is vast. Diagrams of apparatus and graphical presentation of data add greatly to the relative e a e , profit, and pleasure with which this book can be read. Thisreviewer wasparticul.zrlypleased withthe treatment of the question recently posed as to whether polymerizs.tion and degradation may, in certain c a e s a t Least, he facets of a single equilibrium process. Typographical errors, though frequent, are not troublesome.
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MODERN PHYSICS FOR THE ENGINEER
Edited by Louis N. Ridenour, Vice-president, International Telemeter Corporation. McGraw-Hill Book Ca., Inc.. New York. 1954. xi= 499 pp. Many figs. 16 X 23.3 cm. $7.50.
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IT WILL be unfortunate if chemists are inclined to pass this volume by because of its title. I t was chosen by the editar on the assumption that today's physics is tomorrow's engineering. Many chemical educators who have been looking for authoritative reviews of theoretical topics in the areas of physics mast closely related to the subject matter of conventional chemistry courses will be rewarded by the discovery of this volume. The section under the title The Laws o f Nature includes particulsrly interesting chapters on the solid state (Seitz), nuclear structure (Fowler), and elementary particles (Panofsky). The second section, headed Man's Physical Environment, includes easy-reading chapters on astrophysics (Greenstein), geophysics (Griggs) and oceanography (Revelle). The chapter on semiconductor electronics (Bardeen) from the third portion of the volume, entitled Information and its Communication, will also he a. fortunate discovery for those wanting a short, acourate survey of this important suhject that even has raptured the fancy of the popular press. Earh of the 18 ohapters carries a limited hibliography. The volume as a whole is adequately indexed. I t is well illustrated with pertinent plates and dingrnnm, but relxtively few tables of data. WILLIAM F. KIEFFER
DIELECTRIC BMAVIOR AND STRUCTURE
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Charles Phelpa Smyth, Professor of Chemistry, Princeton University. MeGmw-Hill Bwk Co., Inc.. New York, 1955. x 441 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 2 4 cm. $9.
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THEREis a suhstanti~lmodern literature on dielectrics, but most of it is written by physicists for physicists. For about 25 years, chemists have depended on Debye's c l a s s i d Baker lectures (1929) and on Smyth's American Chemical Society monograph (1931), supplemented by occasional review papers. The new volume will therefore be universally welcomed by chemists, because i t presents an up-to-date survey of the correlation hetween electrical properties and molecular structure, written by one of the foremost research chemists in the field, who simultaneously is a master of exposition. The hook begins with two ohapters on fundamental theory. It is naturally a matter of personal preference; this reviewer feels that it would have been sounder pedagogy to begin with the Onsager theory and then show that the Clausius-Mosotti equation is a special limiting case of the more general theory, rather than to present the material in its chronological historical sequence.
The theoretioal introduction is follom.ed by thrco chapters on esperimental results and their interpretation, for gases, liquids, and solids. This section includes recent work on solutions of electrolytes, radar-range dispersion, ferroelectrics, electrets, and polymers-all subjects which have been opened to research since 1930. Chapter VI is a compact review of measuring methods and includes a n excellent bibliography. Chapter VII is a practical account of what to do with data. once the measurements have been made. Chapters VIII to XI11 (pp. 228402) contain a, systematic treatment of therelationships between dipole moments and molecular structure for typical examples of all the chemical compounds which have ever been investigated. The b w k closes with a. useful chapter on electronic and atomic
For example, t,he dielectric constant is roproscnted by K in an equation on page 39 with a reference to a later section (page 368) in which the same equation is discussed in detail, but using r instead. There is no list of symbols. The omission is defended by the following statement: " . . .since the symbols are those used by specialists, a list of symbols would serve no useful purpose, the same symbols being used with different meanings by actual workers in the different fields." Such defects as these are not sorious and will not delay a mature reader, but they are liable to delay a. student This book, like others of the series, seems most useful to those who seek a comprehensive presentation of physical chemistry from which they can make their own selection. I t should also be useful to students who are already acquainted with the subject and who wish to explore its background further.
of information RAYMOND M. FUOSS
YALEUh-rvznsmu NEWHAVPN.CONNECTICUT
EXPERIMENTS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AN ADVANCED TREATISE ON PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. VOLUME 5: MOLECULAR SPECTRA AND STRUCTURE. DIELECTRICS AND DIPOLE MOMENTS 1. I.. Portington, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of landon. Longmans, Green and Co., New Yot.k, 1954. x 565 pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 25.5 cm. $15.50.
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Louis F. Fieser, Sheldon Emery Profea40r of Organic Chemistry, Harvard University. Third edition. D. C. Heath and Company, Boston, 1955. xii 368 pp. Many figs. and tables. 18 X 23.5 cm. $5.25.
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FRO^^ inside the front cover whieh in bold type tell8 you &at to do "in case of accidents," to infiido the hack cover whieh eontains tables of atomic weights, acid and hase constants, and THE volume continues the well known series. The first data, on buffer solutions, this lnhoratory text is "top-notch." 286 p a g u are on molecular spectra, continuing the subject of Previous editions have enjoyed wide popularity among academic the preceding volume on physieoohemical optics. Most of the organic chemists. In the opinion ot the reviewer the third edition other 279 pages are on the properties of dielectrics. There are will be even more widely popular. The text is profusely illua77 pages on the measurement of dielectric constants, 177 trated with photographs, line drawing*, and graphs. Sixteen page8 on dipole moments, snd 12 pages on hypereleetrics. The color photographs showing various pieces of apparatus and various operations are included in the first eight pages following the index has 13 pages. This series is generally comprehensive rather than critical. table of contents. Most of those are reproduced in black and In the present volume, however, the author notes that some of white a t the appropriate point in the text. There artre also numerthe sections on molecular spectra. are based on lectures given over ous plates showing ultmviolet and infrared absorption spectra a period of years, and that he has firathand howledge of certain at various compounds. The format of the t e r t is, in the opinion of the reviewer, the subjects in the latter part of the volume. A more unified and critical treatment and a mare selective citation of references best of any similar hook on the market and is far superior to the previou~edition. The type is relatively large and bold with make these sections more valuable than most in this series. This volume refers freely to previous ones in the series. Al- adequate spacing to facilitate reading. The margins are t.wo t,hongh suoh references prevent this volume from standing by inches wide. Section headings and succinct notes are shown in itself, i t is easier to read, for the discussion is not encumbered bold-face type in the margins. The paper is of a good quality with details of ohvsies and chemistrv that manv readers will and the binding is very good. Dr. Fieser suggests that theattraative cover can he preserved if treated with three coats of clear plastic lacquer. This edition maintains the high standards set by previous the wave equation, on mat,riix trmsformstians, and on group edition8 with regard to the experiments included and the discussion of special labomtory techniques. A section on use theory. The treatment leads up to, but does not usually include, tho of the literature discusses recently published rcforences such as topics of current research interest. Even when current topics "Elsevier's Encyclopedia of Orgmir Chemistry" and Velluz's are included, the viewpoint is that of years or decades ago, with "Substances Naturelles de Synthi~e." There are also seotions on salventa and reagents, of which the section on reagents more recent ideas presented as modifications. There are many loose statements and minor errors in some sec- deserves special commendation. The 320 reagents included are tions. For example, on page 34, "The average restoring force arranged alphabetically and are also indexed according to type'/.kz may be regarded as measuring the strength of the bond. e. g., slkylating agents, eomplering agents, etc. Tho list necesThe table following gives sarily could not be oomplete but does contain many reagents Some values calculated are: . the wave number for the bond and k, but not '/rkz. Also, whieh have found application in only one specialized field. the units of k are given in the tab10 as dynes, which would be The citstion usually includes the molecular weight, physical cancorrect for '/&z and those of '/&a (a is the maximum value of z) stants, name of supplier or reference to a method of preparation further on in the t e r t as ergs. (Units are treated carelessly when the reagent is not commeroislly availahle, and leading refthroughout. The volt is used interchangeably, without apology erences to literature pertaining to reactions and use8 of the reor explanation, as a unit either of energy or of potential, as has been agent. There are many literature references, more than 200 the practice in lahoratory jergon. Wave number and frequency as recent as 1953. are distinguished in the symbols, but not always in the text.) On page 35, r in the first equation is not the r of the referenced figure, whereas r in the next line of the same equation is. Symbols and terminology are not consistent throughout the semimicro experiments; more synthetic reactions sequences with hook, but apparently depend an the usage of the authors cited. alternative routes and procedures, which permits the student to.
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