Electrochemical Methods, Fundamentals and Applications Allen J. Bard and Larry R. Faulkner, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY, 1980. xviii 718 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 23.5 cm. $29.95.
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This book is intended to serve as both a course text a t the senior-graduat,e level and as a reference hook for those who wish to evaluate electrochemical methods as research tools. It should find wide use for both Dur-
current flow and mass transfer a t a microelectrode is of central importance. The first four chapters, which provide background for the rest of the text, assume the usual undergraduate physical chemistry background. Following a concise survey of electrode processes, there are brief treatments of the thermodynamics of electrochemical cells, electrode kinetics, mass transfer processes, and the nature and significance of current-potential curves. Chapters 5-12 comprise the heart of this text, and they are concerned mainly with developing in detail the equations that describe mass transport controlled electrode reactions under the conditions of the standard experiments. Both perturbation methods and steady-state methods are treated, with the farmer receiving greater attention. Methods based on current steps, potential steps, potential sweeps, impedance measurements a t stationary electrodes and forced convection a t rotated disk electrodes and rotated ring-disk electrodes are emphasized, whereas polarographic techniques, the electricaldouhle layer and the influence andde-. tedion of adsorption are treated in less detail. The effects of coupled chemicalsteps on the
various techniques are discussed in a single chapter and a number of diverse methods including coulometry, amperametric titrations, and thin layer electrochemistry are grouped under the general heading of bulk eleetralysis. Chapters 13 and 14 present concise surveys of the essentials of analog electronic instrumentation and recent developments in surface analysis spectroscopy, speetrophotometry and semiconductor electrodes that constitute a vigorous segment of current electrochemical research. This is aclear, well organized and authoritative presentation of electrochemical methods which effectively ties the theory of each method to applications through examples drawn from current papers. I t is much closer in style, content, and scope to "Double Layer and Electrode Kinetics" by Delahay and "Transient Techniques in Electrochemistry" by MacDonald than to "Modern Electrochemistry" by Bockris and Reddy, with topics such as electrocatalysis and' electrosorptian receiving relatively little attention. In addition to being an excellent reference hook for research workers concerned with the study of electrode processes a t microelectrodes, this hook deserves serious consideration as a text for senior-graduate level courses in electrochemical methods. Among the features which contribute to its effectiveness as a course text are the introductory chapters, the supplementary material on mathematical methods and the problem sets in each chapter. One should recognize that this hook presents a vast quantity of material and that many students will lack part of the necessary background. T o use this book effectively in the usual one-semester course, it will be necessary to select the material to he covered with care. D. A. Aikens
Engines, Energy and Entropy: A Thermodynamics Primer John B Fenn, W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, CA, 1982, vii 293 pp. Figs and tables. 16.5 X 23.5 cm. HB $17.95, PB $9.95.
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Teachers twine t o teach the meanine. not
something for almost everyone, from summarizing cartoons and memorable two-liners to illuminating historical asides, perceptive philasaphical insights, balanced remarks regarding moral and ecological issues in power production, and interesting engineering applications of the First and Second Laws of thermodynamics. The book is an enviable blend of literary, technical, and pedagogical bon mots-a noteworthy union of C. P. Snow's two cultures. I t should help, in Adlai Stevenson's phrase, "to humanize scientists and to simonize humanists"-if, indeed, i t does not shellac them. One of many attractive features of the book is. its enlightening, intuition-expanding problems. They are cleverly designed: usually arithmetically simple but often conceptually sophisticated, a t about the level of a conventional junior-level physical chemistry course and, thus, well beyond the reach of most ratio-deaf nonscientists. Some of the problems and several necessarily extended, all-steps-included derivations aside, "Engines, Energy, and Entropy" is a generally gentle, clear, often whimsical, always astute account of the central concepts of general thermadpamics (temperature, heat and work interactions, energy, heat en-
Rensselaer Polytechnic institute Tray, NY 12181
(Continued on page A26)
Reviewed in this Issue 7 Allen J. Bardand Larry R. Faulkner, Electrochemical Methods, Fundamentals and Applications John B. Fenn, Engines, Energy and Entropy: A Thermodynamics Primer Maraaret-Ann Armour. Lois M. Browne, and Gordon L. We~r,Hazardous Chemicals, ~Gormationand ~isposalGuide Titles of Interest
Volume 60
Reviewer D. A. Aikens
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Henry A. Bent Malcolm M. Renfrew
A25 A26
Number 1
January 1983
A25
