organic or biochemistry course. I t presumes too much knowledge to he a fitst encounter text for organic students. The authors are correct in saying that there are "undergraduates who recall absolutely nothing from their organic chemistry studies shortly after completing their coume." For many, the insight and exeitement needed t o firmly fix organic principles in mind will he provided by this book. Lwen L. Braun Idaho State Unlverrily Pocatello, Maho 83209
Review ot Elements ol Statistical Thermodynamics. Second Edition
Leonard K. Nosh, Harvard University. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, Massachusettes, 1974. 138 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. If one looks through any university level freshman chemistry text one will find that quantum chemistry is given extensive treatment, many books going into great detail on molecular orbital schemes for moderately complex molecules. As striking as the depth of coverage of quantum mechanics in introductory texts, is the almost complete laek of mention of statistieal thermadynamics. Mahan's "University Chemistry" (Addison-Wesley, 3rd Ed., 1974) is the only hook that comes immediately to mind that indicates the central role of statistical mechanics as a bridge between quantum mechanics and thermodynamics. I can think of no introductory text thst has a chapter an statistieal thermodynamics. For those who would like to remedy this neglect of statistical thermodynamics in introductory courses, Nash's little book is ideal as a supplementary text. I t is clearly written in a stimulating style (it is not easy to make eombinatorial arguments lively). This is a second edition, the changes from the first edition being a larger selection of problems and, most important, inclusion in the first chapter of illustrations of the limit theorems of probability theory (without invoking probability theory explicitly) upon which statistieal thermodynamics is ultimately based. The scope of the book is restricted to the treatment of independent particles covering partition functions for translation, rotation, vibration, and electronic excitation and the calculation of equilibrium constants and evaluation of thermodynamic functions for dilute gases (and the Einstein crystal). The only fault I find with this text is the laek of even an introductory discussion of interacting particles. While the mathematics required to treat interacting particles in depth would go beyond the introductory level, it is very important for students to understand what the problems are and the direction a more general treatment takes. Kauzmann's little books (''Kinetic Theory & I S 2 / Journal of Chemical Education
of Gases," 1966; "Thermodynamics and Statistics," 1967; companion volumes, W. A. Benjamin) cover much the same territory as does Nash's hook and in addition contain a very clear and simple introduction to the configuration integral and Mayer's cluster theory of imperfect gases. Kauzmann's books are intended for introductory physical chemistry courses and cover chemical thermodynamics as well as a n introduction t o statistical thermodynamics. Nash's book can serve equally well as a supplement in freshman or introductory physical chemistry courses. Unfortunately neither Kauzmann nor Nash mentions the most fundamental quantity in chemical equilibrium, the chemical potential. Speaking from experience, one can teach the elements of statistieal thermodynamics to motivated freshman, the mathematics required heing much simpler than thst required to introduce quantum mechanics. Nash's hook is perfect for those who care to try. Douglas Poland The Johns Hopkins University Baitimre. Maryland
Quantum Chemistry
D. A. Brown. Penmin Books Ltd.. England, 1972. 135 Figs. and tablds. 21 X 15 cm. This rrnsli paperback is a cmnponenr of the cherniilry part of the Penguin Library ut Phvsicai Sciencep. As winted out in ihr
editohal forward, the ;et of chemistry hooks in this series is planned to cover the normal content of an honors' degree program in British universities. The text is divided into five chapters (with titles Introduction, The New Quantum Theory, Many Particle Systems, Valence Theory, and Quantum Theory of chemical reactivity) and a useful Appendix. The material covered in the first four chapters is fairly standard. The fundamental principles and standard applications-free electron model, harmonic oscillator, rigid rotor, and hydrogen atom-are expounded in the first two chapters. Chapter 3 eaamines Slater orbitals, term states, perturbation theory, and the variation method. Chapter 4 an valence theory investigates the valence hond method and moleaular orbital theory applied to diatomic molecules, Hiickel theory applied to conjugated molecules, and the molecular orbital theory of ferroeene. In Chapter 4 the reader unacquainted with symmetry and group theory would need t o consult another text for results, and symbols of group theory are used, but group theory is not discussed. The author does not shy away from the evaluation of various integrals-e.g. the solutions for the electron repulsion integral for He (sec. 3.3.1) and the two center overlap S (2p,,3d,) (sec. 4.3.5) are presented. Chapter 5 is an attempt to apply quantum theory to chemical dynamics. The first section on absolute reaction rate theory is certainly appropriate a t this point but the (Continued on page AI96)
book reviews treatment here should be developed further. The link between the equilibrium constant for a given reaction and the partition functions of the species involved is used, but a partition function is never defined. The other topics in this chapter are reactions of conjugated molecules and reaetions of transition metal complexes. The useful Appendix includes properties of the commonly encountered polynomials: Hermite, Legendre, associated Legendre Laguerre, and associated Lagueme. At the end of each chapter there are a few well chosen problems-ranging in number from 3 t o 8. The text makes reference t o primarily three classic texts: Pauling and Wilson, "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics;" Eyring, Walter, and Kimball, "Quantum Chemistry;" and Glasstone, Laidler, and Eyring, "The Theory of Rate Processes." Since the publication dates of these books are, respectively, 1935, 1944, and 1941, it would not be inappropriate to reference some more recently published texts. Overall the text is clearly and carefully written-only a few errors of a minor ebaracter were uncovered. The book appears suitable for consideration a t the undergraduate level for use as a supplementary text in a physical chemistry course or an inorganic chemistry course. Daniel Zeroka Lehigh University BefhWem. Pennsyivania 18015
A196 / Journal of Chemical Education
Auiomatlc Chemical Anafysls
affiliated with the Laboratow of the Government Chemist in London; American and European commercial instrumentation are covered about equally. The organization is good. The first chspter is a general introduction, which includes economic, error, and development criteria. For example, this reviewer was surprised to learn that discrete (segmented) methods have a faster measurement rate (100-300Ihr) than do continuous (flowing stream) devices (20-80fhr). After the preliminary generalizations come ten chapters devoted to specific techniques. There are two chapters on spectroscopic and colorimetric methods, and one chapter each covering electrochemistry, thermal methods, radio ehemistry-x-ray, and the role of computers. Separation methods are exhaustively covered in four chapters. All of the usual types of chromatography, plus solvent-extraction, distillation, filtration, and amino-acid analyzers are covered very nicely. This work will he required reading far anyone doing research in automated analysis. I t is the reviewer's opinion that mechanization of methods can be an excellent undergraduate research project, especially far those students who are fascinated with mechanical or electrical gadgets (they also gain a new respect for chemical kinetics in the orocess). The text could also serve as ~
James K. Foreman and Peter B. Stochwell, The Laboratory of the Government Chemist, London. Ellis Horwood Limited, Chichester,.England, 1975. xi 346 pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 15.5 cm. $36.50.
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This is an excellent and timely book. The authors eorreetlv observe that automatic methods were virtually unknown 25 years ago, and yet most analytical laborataries today use one or more mechanized pracedwes. The authors acknowledge the differentiation between automatic and meehanized methods set forth by the IUPAC Commission on Analytical Nomenclature. (The IUPAC definition of "automated" requires feedback control of one or more operations.) The majority of the methods described in this monograph are actually mechanized, rather than automated. However, the present state-of-the-art is such that there are few truly automated systems; the authors are well aware of this, hut they maintain that mechanization precedes the process of automation. They are to be commended for pointing out a serious nomenclature problem. The book is quite comprehensive and contains excellent historical reviews. The illustrations are profuse (over 170 total) and well done; most are from the original papers. One could duplicate or adapt many of the methods described using only this teat, without recourse to the original literature. Specifications, guidelines, and caveats abound throughout. The authors are both ~
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graduate courses. Our copy is being passed about in our lab (Continued on page A2001
