ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Spektralanalyse von Mineralien und Gesteinen. Horst Moenke, χ + SS2 pages. Akademische Verlagsgesellschajt, Geest & Portiz K.-G., Leipzig CI, Sternwartenstrasse 8, Germany. 1962. DM S3.
NEW BOOKS indicate what one may expect to ob serve. The book ends with outlines of pro cedures for study by means of infrared and emission spectroscopy of nine prob lems concerning structure and identi fication.
Reviewed by Armin W. Helz, U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. An introduction is given to emission and infrared absorption spectrochemical analysis of minerals and rocks. Ex perienced spectrochemists who have not worked previously with such materials will find this a very useful reference, al though the book is expressly written for beginners. The information is applica ble to geologic materials, ores, soils, water residues, and plant ash. The sub jects of emission spectrochemical analy sis and infrared absorption are treated in separate sections and there are in cluded corresponding extensive litera ture references, totaling 661. It is in tended that the book 511 a gap in Ger man literature on the spectral analysis of the above designated materials. The first section, emission spectro chemical analysis, is not nearly as com prehensive as Ahrens and Taylor's "Spectrochemical Analysis," yet con tains a surprising amount of esoteric information such as lhat on graphite versus carbon electrodes, fractional dis tillation, principles of quantitative measurements, choice of electrode size, etc. There are 37 sections on analytical problems concerning individual ele ments or groups of elements. These, with the associated references, are of special value for indicating the pro cedures to be used and results to be expected. Compared to emission spectrochemi cal analysis, infrared absorption has been little utilized. The author stresses the potential value of infrared data to mineral and chemical group identifica tion. After a brief introduction to the rudiments of infrared analysis, a concise discussion of sample preparation is given. There follows a description of various identifiable chemical groups. This section with the numerous refer ences is arranged similarly to that on individual elements in the first part of the book and also is especially useful for starting work on relevant applica tions or for indicating the possibilities of infrared analysis. Numerous char acteristic absorption bands are noted along with many sketches of infrared spectra. The latter are useful only to • Circle No. 146 on Reader::' Service Card
Modern
Polarographic
Methods.
Helmut Schmidt and Mark von Stackelberg. Translated from the German by R. E. W. Maddison. ν + 99 pages. Academic Press, 111 Fifth Ave., New York 3, Ν. Υ. 1963. $5.50. Reviewed by Allen J. Bard, De partment of Chemistry, The Univer sity of Texas, Austin, Texas. The authors briefly and clearly dis cuss the application of modern polaro graphic methods to analytical deter minations. The fundamental prin ciples, instrumentation, and apparatus, the sensitivity and resolvability, and the relative advantages and disadvan tages of each method are described. The book treats the following polaro graphic methods: differential and derivative d.c. polarography, polarography with linearly increasing poten tial (oscillographic polarography), both single-sweep and multi-sweep methods, polarography with superimposed a.c, both sinusoidal (a.c. polarography) and square wave (square wave polarog raphy), pulse polarography, polarog raphy with controlled sinusoidally varying current (oscillographic polarog raphy according to Heyrovsky and Forejt), and finally radio frequency polarography. Although the book presumes a good knowledge of the principles and tech niques of conventional d.c. polarog raphy, instrumentation is discussed using a block diagram approach, re quiring only a slight knowledge of elec tronics. To keep the treatment short and at the level of the practicing ana lytical chemist, the mathematical de velopment of each method is omitted, although the final equations are usually given. Similarly, topics such as the ap plication of the methods to the deter mination of rate constants of electrode and chemical reactions, and to the elucidation of mechanisms of electrode reactions are not included. The trans lation, although always clear, is not particularly smooth, and leads to some surprising statements, such as "The stimulus to develop true oscillographic
polarography . . . gave rise to re action-kinetic problems" (where actu ally the converse is meant). In general, however, the book is highly recommended. The discussions are very clear, numerous references to the literature are given, and the book is well indexed. Although an analytical chemist might want more specific ex amples of analyses performed using these techniques, he will certainly find this little book a good place to start learning about modern polarographic methods.
Methods of Forensic Science.
Vol.
II. Frank Lundquist, editor, xii + 659 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York 16, Ν. Υ. 1963. $10. Reviewed by Dr. Irving Sunshine, Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office, Cleveland, Ohio. Individual specialists have contrib uted chapters on the identification of 1) paper, 2) inks, and 3) typewriters. Others have written on the determina tion of 1) blood groups in blood stains, 2) metals, 3) bone age, and 4) time of death. Two other chapters are con cerned with applications of gas chro matography in forensic science and as pects of blood grouping in cases of disputed paternity. The format is uneven. Several con tributors present their personal experi ence and method in detail, with no re view or evaluation of other work in their field. Other chapters are reviews of the literature with little or no evalu ation of the methods listed and fewreferences to the technique used by the author. Seldom is the editor's an nounced purpose "each chapter . . . will include a short review of the sub ject followed by a detailed description —based on personal experience—of the procedure recommended . . . " real ized. Much of the presented material is very valuable to the uninitiated. Us ing this material one is easily oriented to the extent techniques can be ap plied to particular forensic problems. However, there may be some question as to the value a given chapter has for an expert in the given field. The potential value of this series will be enhanced as the editor's "purpose" quoted above is realized. VOL. 36, NO. 3, MARCH 1964
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NEW BOOKS Electron P r o b e M i c r o a n a l y s i s .
L. S.
Birks. ix + 253 pages. Interscience Publishers, 250 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. 196S. $9.25. Reviewed by P. D. Xemany, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Schenec tady, Ν. Υ. The very first electron microprobe, built in 1949, created widespread in terest because of the many important and intriguing applications for which it was uniquely suited. In the next
E?f.·:
Another
llroirin·-Morse
ten years many of these applications were demonstrated to an ever-increas ing audience, using only the dozen or so instruments that existed. The elec tron probe was developed by combina tion of the then brand new techniques and instrumentation of electron micros copy and x-ray emission spectrography. The author was a leader in the team at the Naval Research Lab oratory that had a large share in the development of x-ray emission spectrography; he went on to build and use
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71 out of the 200 Largest Industries use Browne-Morse Laboratory Furniture and Equipment, extensively Browne-Morse keeps a t o p the needs o f the modern l a b o r a t o r y by w o r k i n g w i t h , and building f o r , America's largest industrial laboratories as well as those in the educational, medical and scientific fields. Take advantage
one of the early electron probes. This book, the first in this field, is the seventeenth in the Interscience series on chemical analysis, and is simi lar in style and format to the author's earlier book on x-ray spectrochemical analysis. I t is addressed to those who will use the electron probe as an in strument to further their research. In 176 pages, and 11 chapters, the background and future development of the electron probe; theory and prac tice of the optical, x-ray, and electron beam systems; sample preparation; methods of obtaining and interpreting data; and a wide selection of applica tions are all described with the clarity and pertinence possible only by one who has first hand experience with the instrument. Seven appendixes (70 pages) present, in tables, the informa tion required for converting the data obtained from the microprobe to ana lytical results. Literature references are confined, for the most part, to rather general publications; the index is brief. The choice of topics discussed (since all cannot be treated) and the relative emphasis placed on some, reflect the author's own experience. The section on electron optics, including lens de sign, aberrations, and adjustments is excellent and quite detailed, as are the sections on x-ray optics and the calcu lation of composition from intensities. Most other topics of importance are clearly and adequately described. However, some of the difficulties of operation and of interpretation are but briefly mentioned, and the ultimate in performance of some components is described rather than the norm. The book admirably fulfills its goal of serving to acquaint the user of the probe with the concepts and principles involved and some sections, particu larly the tables, will be referred to fre quently. I t should be read by all who use the probe, or utilize data obtained by it. It is recommended reading for all who are interested in fine detail in the objects they study, for the probe adds a new dimension to the micro scope, the capability of analyzing what can be seen.
of this important design experience that offers new ideas in l a b efficiency and convenience.
Whether you have a lab layout or design prob lem, are planning a neiv center or are just interested in what's new, write Browne-Morse Company, Laboratory Division, Muskegon, Michigan — Dept. J.
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Handbuch der analytischen Chemie. Band IV a alpha. Elemente der vierten Hauptgruppe I: Kohlenstoff, SMicum. H. Grassmann, edi tor, xiv + 220 pages. SpringerVerlag, I. Abeteilung VI, 1 Berlin 31 (Wilmersdorf), Heidelberger Platz 3, Berlin-West, Germany. 1963. Paperbound DM 57; Clothbound DM 61.
Reviewed by H. J. Stolten, Central Research Laboratory, General Aniline
