stereochemical assignments of the major constitutional classefi of triterpenes (p-amluoane., "wane., iso-8-amvrane. , " . a-amvrsne. " tarsxastane, lanostme, and euphsne). In addition, a brief exposition of the basic principles and applications of conformational analysis of cyclohexane derivstivee and a discussion of themethod of moleculer rotation difterences are given. Finally, over 100 pages of addenda to Volume 3, written usith the collaboration of P. dcMayo, bring into account recent work hearing on the eanstit~ltionand canfignmtion of a large number of the scsquiterpenei and diterpenes. As with each of the preceding volumes, complete subject and author indexes are also provided. An especially valuable feature of this volume, as well as of the companion Volume 4, is the detailed practical emphasis plxed on correlations of structure with ultraviolet and infrared absorption data, molecular optical rotation differences, and mechenisticslly significant reaction pathways. For today's worker, in these respects, these books provide many interesting examples of unusual variety which can be cited as analogies in othor connections or else made thc bask of further research studies. For teacher and student dike, as a working introdnctian to the rationale of modern method? for the determination of struetnre and oonfigur&ion in natural products, the exposition of contemporary research in the field of triterpene chemistry represented in these twin volumes mohablv has no equal. No chemistry library serving the needs of organic chemists should he without this and the precrding volumes of "The Terpenes."
, .
ALBERT W. BURGGTIFILER U n m ~ a s ~ ror r K ~ s s ~ s L*vnmcn, K * N s * ~
NOWEAU TRAITP DE CHIMIE MINERALE. VOLUME 3 Edited by Paul Pascol, Membre de l'lnstitute, Professeur honoraire a la Sorbonne. 838 Masson et Cie, Paris, 1957. xii pp. 73 figs. 17 X 26 cm. Fr 69,000. Paper bound Fr. 6000.
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TXE three volumes of Pascal's new treatise published to date (See THIS JOURNAL, 35, 162 (1958)) indicate that it %-illbe an inorganic chemistry reference s8t of importance in its own right and not merely one which must rest upon merits of the earlier wwk. Although all three place a somewhat heavy emphasis on the early referenc~s, sn increasing amount of new material in tent and bibliography is noted in this third volume. Rubidium, cesium, and francium are covered in about 114 pages, and with the exception of a. short general commentary by the editor on elements of Group Ib, the remainder of the volume is devoted to material about copper, silver, and gold. L. Hackspill has written the msterial on rubidium and cesium, except for nine (Contlnwd 0% page A3.58)
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
pages on metal hydrides by A. Herold. There are about 11 pages on francium by M. Perey, and the sections on copper, silver, and gold were written by J. Issbey, R. Collongues, and P. Hagenmuller, respectively. No change has been made in formst, and the devices of the bibliographic form, such as a note a t the bottom of each page to show location of the bibliography ahead, are useful. I t is oommendable that there is no rigid adherence t o a limited list of periodicals as source material for the entire set, and it is noted that large numbers of titles not on the basic list are to be found in many of the bibliographies scattered throuehout the textual material. But
of each vohme. ROGER V. KRUMM FLORIDA G*INEBVILLE. FLORID* Umvrnamr
OF
FLAME PHOTOMETRY P. Burriel-Marti, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, and 1.Rornirez-Monoz, Senior Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry. University of Madrid. Elsevier Publishing Co., New Yark, 1957. Distributed by D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York. xxi 531 pp. 16 X 23 cm. $12.75.
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THIS book i8 divided into six parts. The first part consisting of 15 pages is devoted to an introduction to the origin and principles of flame photometry. The second part of 13 pages is entitled Analysis by Flame Photometry and repeats some of the material in the first part. The third part of instrumental systems (100 pages) gives a detailed account af the various parts of a flame photometers, commercial and non-commercial, that have been mentioned in the literature. The next part (70 pages) discusses the elements that can he determined, the sensitivity of these determinations, and the limitations of flame photometry both from the instrumental and chemical point of view. Parts 5 and 6 (200 pages) are devoted to the actual experimental methods and specfic applications of flame photometry. The authors of this book have compiled over 900 references in the bibliography. These references cover the literature through 1956 with an occasional reference to 1957. The text of the book is easentially a. very exhaustive but not alvays critical review of these published articles. The first four parts of the book are quite repetitious and pmt 5 is rather verbose. Part 6, on the other band, gives procedur~sfor the actual flame photometrio determination of components in a wide variety of materials. This section is probably the most complete compilation of procedures that has appeared in print. However, one exception was noted in that the method for the determination
(Continued a page AS60) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
