book reviews Special Topics In Electrochemistry Edited by Peter A. Rock, University of California, Davis. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1977. vii 244 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23 cm. $39.50.
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The materiel presented in this hook is "based far the most part on papers presented a t the Symposium entitled 'Teaching of Electrochemistry' which was held on August 31, 1976 a t the 172nd ACS Meeting in San Francisco, CA." The editor describes the book as an attempt to provide a description of the areas of current research in electrochemistry which are not covered in existing chemistry textbooks for the senior and firstyear graduate students and for chemistry teachers interested in electrochemistry. The first two chapters, "Advanced Electrochemical Energy Systems" by L. R. McCoy and "Photovoltaic Phenomena in Electrochemical Cells" hy H. Gerisher, discuss the role of electrochemistry in two important areas dealing with the energy shortage. The next chapter, "Electrochemical Synthesis2'by C. K. Mann and M. R. Asirvatham, describes practical bench-top and production syntheses of organic and inorganic compounds with attention given to experimental methodology. The editor discusses the problem of liquid junction in electrochemical reactions in the fourth chapter, "Electrochemical Cells without Liquid Junction" and "Species-Selective Electrochemical Sensors" in the next chapter. The latter chapter provides a concise treatment of this rapidly expanding area of electrochemical research. J. Keizer discusses "Mechanisms of Electrochemical Oscillations" in Chapter 6. In thenext chapter W. J. Moore presents the interesting topic "Electrochemistry of Nerves." Contrasting theories on nerve excitation, conduction, and recovery and the difficulties associated with obtaining experimental results are described. The final three chapters are by R. A. Marcus: "Theory and Applications of Electron Transfers a t Electrodes and In Solution," "On theTheory of Overvoltage for Electrode Processes Possessing Electron Transfer Mechanism. I.," and "Eleitrostatic Free Energy and Other Properties of States Having Non-Equilibrium Polarization. 11. Electrode Systems." The first of these chapters reviews recent theor e t i d developments in electrochemistry and also discusses the correlation of recent ex~ e r i m e n t awork l with the major theoretical contributions of the author. The latter two chapters are reproductions of the original Office of Naval Research reports which are the basis for much of the current theory on electrode processes. These three chapters constitute a thorough reference for introduction to this area of electrochemical research. This hook certainly achieves the editor's attempt to "bridge the gaps" between current electrochemical research and the coverage of existing teuthooks. The student and the teacher will find much t o stimulate interest in electrochemical research in this hook. I believe that this hook would be a very worthwhile library addition as a reference A422 / Journal of Chemical Education
text for use in instruction in electrochemistry. oartieularlv a t the eraduate level. The c o.~ .v b a s typed ;or ccame&eady publication in a clear and easy t o read fashion. There are few typographical errors throughout the book. I recommend consideration of this hookas a reference text for use in graduate courses in electrochemistry and for personal purchase for those workine in or interested in electrochemistry.
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Fred M. Hawkridge V i w a Commonwealth University Richmond, VA 23284
Reactivity of Solids Edited by John Wood and Oliuer Lindpuist, Chalmers University of Teehnology, Sweden, Clos Helgesson, Arhman Development AB, Sweden, and NilsGosto Vannerberg, Chalmer University of Technology, Sweden. Plenum Press, New Yark and London, 1977. xx 810 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 25.5 cm. $59.50.
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This volume comprises the proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium on the Reactivity of Solids, which was held a t Chalmers University of Technology, Goteborg, Sweden, June 14-19,1976.As such, it is one of a series that have been published after each of the quadrennial symposia. The organization of the book parallels that of the svmoosium. An introductorv lecture. , , "New Crystallugmphir Derelopmrnts Aps S h l s , " by plicahlr in Studin: of R r a ~ t : o rin ,\ M~ngnCl~, discusses the use of dertron microscopy and X-ray techniques. The remainder of the book is divided into six sections, each headed by a plenary lecture and followed by a number of related papers, including subsequent discussions. In the olenarv lecture. "Reactions a t Surfares nnilnterfaces. ~ a i - ~ e tInteractions al ~~
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exposed to gases. A total of 32 contributions dealing with reactions a t surfaces are included in this section. The second section begins with the plenary lecture by H. Schmalzried, "Influence of S t ~ c t u Defeds d on the Reactivity of Solids," and includes 33 other contrihutions on the subject. Reactions in organic solids are surveyed by Herbert Morawetz in "Polymerization and Other Organic Reactions in the Crystalline State;" five additional contributions complete the third section. The current state of understanding of reactivity in glasses is discussed in the plentary lecture by W. Vogel; seven contributions follow in the fourth section. Section 5 is entitled "New Developments in Experimental Techniques far the Study of Reactivity of Bulk Solids and Surfaces of Solids." The plenary lecture is by E. G. Derouane, and 14 other papers made up the section. The final section, "Solid State Reactions in Technology", includes 19 contributed papers in addition to the plenary lecture bv R. L. Coble on "The Status of ~, Kndrrstanding Dlfiuiim Conrrollrd S A d State jintermy. Hot Preusing and Crrrp." An author index and subject indrx nrr ~nrluded ~~~~~
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in the 810 pages of the volume. The book is not intended as a text and would not be suitable for that purpose. I t does, however, provide a n up-to-date (1976) survey of a variety of aspects of solid-state reactivity. Most of the experimental methods currently used in investigations of solids are illustrated in one or more of the contrihutions. Overall, the book presents a good picture of the "state-of-the-art" and cites a number of areas where further investigation is needed. It is especially appropriate as a reference volume for libraries of institutions and individuals involved in solid-state resemh. Charles W . Owens Univwsity ot New hmpshire Ourham, N.H. 03824
used in many-body theory and quantum field theory will be of value t o those interested in the Green's function and graph theoretic methods and those interested in relativistic theories. Each chapter containsa brief introduction to the topics to be dlscuased and examples ns well as exercises are prowded to help the student develop gradual constructive solutions to problems, thereby correcting the deficiency of the more formal exposition normally encountered in the textbooks. While not addressed t o chemists per se Miedal's comoilation of trade secrets. mathematical tricks and real.world mcthoddoa)' f u r m a welcome and timely addition to the scient:tic community intcrcstcd in quantum mechanical techniques. Don R. Mclaughlin
me University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131
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Oualitatlve Methods In Ouanbm Chemistry A. B. Migdol, I. V. Kurchatov Atomic Energy Institute and Akademia Nauk, translated by A. J. Leggett, University of Sussex. W. A. Benjamin, Incorporated, Reading, Massachusetts, 1977. xxiii 437 pp. 17 X 24 cm. $21.50.
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Physics meth~dologyin science overlaps with chemical methodulogy nhen solutionr to prohlema are suught by analogy and by approximation. The use of models and simplification become necessary when closed solutions cannot be obtained and provide not only useful qualitative and semiquantitative information-but help pave the way for imoroved theories. Since much useful information in chemistry can ire ubtaincd hy assuming the validity of simplified f u r m ~uf quantum mechanics muchattention haialw been given t o numerical analysis aided by digital computation. Still the need for qualitative approaches in chemistry will continue t o persist. This is due in part to limited computation technology and on a deeper level t o a lack of basic understanding of the real essence of chemical structure and reactivit."~ --, Migdal's book, written for physicists, presents basically the physics methodology for obtaining qualitative and semi-quantitative solutions to quantum mechanics problems. Chemists with interests in the areascovered will find the book quite useful. The first chapter entitled "Dimensional and 'Model' Approximations" forms an introduction to the remaining chapters by treating in separate sections purely mathematical estimating techniques (such as the method of steepest descents), model and dimensional approximations in atomic physics (such as the Thomas-Fermi method), and approximation techniques used when the radiation field is considered (such as quantum electrodynamics). Of the remaining five chapters the most familiar to the majority of chemists will he chapters two and three dealing with perturbation theories and the quasielassicsl approximation. Material related t o spectroscopy and scattering theory will be useful to those interested in these fields although the treatment is definitely physical rather than chemical. Further topics in scattering theory are developed in chapter four by investigating the analytic properties of the scattering amplitude. The last two chapters on methods
papers a t the jubilee meeting of the Colloid Symposium held in San Juan, Puerto Rim. The first symposium was held in 1923, making this the oldest specialized chemical meeting series of the U.S.A. Three skipped years during the Depression and World War I1 caused t h ~ 50th s one to be delayed till 1976. Almost 500 people, close to a quarter of them from abroad, attended and over 250 papers were presented. The first volume of this series contains the plenary and invited lectures which have also a .~.o e a r e din J . Colloid Interface Sei.. Val. 58. The 148 eunrributcd papers rtprrdured f n m typeirrrpt nrr to bc found in Vul II through V here under rwieu. Papers dealing w t h aerosols, emulsions, and surfactants are collected in Vol. 11; those on adsorption, catalysis, solid surfaces, wetting, surface tension and water in Vol. 111;those on hydrosols and rheology in Vol. IV, and general papers as well as those on biocolloids.. oolvmers. mo. , n ~ l d y r sand . memtmncs in Vul. V I t /s vivus fmm thew headmg that n hrond range of topics, techniques, and points of view are rrpreitnted. As mtrnl fur such wlurnes, the rengc of depth, orlgmnhry, and clarity 181the cmtrit,utioni is a h hers hrond. The series has bein produced very promptly, within six months of the meeting, making the material available to those unable to attend the meeting and t o those who attended but could not, of course, listen to all the presentations which were given in several concurrent sessions! However, this led to trade-offs as the papers are reproduced with a minimum of editing and refereeing, if any, (Continued on page A424)
Collold and Interface Sclence Edited by Milton Kerker, Clarkson College of Technology. Academic Press, New York, 1976. Volume 2, xx 481 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $21. Volume 3, ax 548 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $22.50. Volume 4, xviii 587 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $22. Volume 5, xvi 507 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $22. These four volumes record the contributed
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Volume 55, Number 11, November 1978 1 A423
