polarographic methods of organic analysis (24 pages). The bulk of the latter ohapter is a tabulation of polarographic reducible groups in which there is considerable duplication, e.g., under reducible carbon-oxygen bonds there is listed ketone carbonyl, carbon-carbon double hond conjugated ketone carbonyl, ketone carbonyl on a benzene ring, ketone carbanyl on a. hetercyclic ring, etc. However, such redundancy of examples may he helpful to the reader. Following a. brief chapter (5 pages) on direct methods of organic polarograpbic analysis, there is a long chapter (60 pages) on indirect methods covering the transformation of polarographically non-active organio compounds into active ones by chemical reactions, the use of polarographically active reagents to measure nonactive functional groups, and amperometric titration of organic compounds. This chapter may well be the most useful one in the volume, especidly to those interested in the development of methods of analysis. After a brief chapter of 13 pages on the use of separation techniques preliminary to polwagraphic measurement, chapters follow on the application of polarography to (1) the areas of pharmacy, biochemistry, agrioultural and food chemistry, plastics, textiles, etc. (42 pages), ( 2 ) preparative electrochemistry and optimization of synthetic and isolation procedures (5 pages), and (3) measurement of reaction rates and equilibria (13 pages). The final chapter (9 pages) reviews the correlation of half-wave potential with organic structure and the detection of reaction intermediates. The hook is concluded with s useful hibliography on organic polrrrographie analysis (7 pages), and author and detailed subject indices. The volume will be a useful review and source of ideas to those active in the field of organic polarographic analysis. The reviewer believes that, while the novice in polarography will find the hook helpful, he will also find the going rather difficult in many places due to the complicated nature of many of the illustrative examples used and to the accompanying lack of formulas and eouations to illustrate the behavior of compounds whose structure would not be immediately obvious to the average chemist, e.g., the first paragraph on page 55 on oscillographic curves and the fmal paragraph on that page on the reduction of 3-phenyl sydnone. However, with a. little perseverance, even the uninitiated in polarography will be able to profit by the study of this volume. One commendable feature of the book is the attention given to poasihle sources of error; in t h e e numerous discussions the author's long experience in polarography is evident. Similarly, the understandable stress on Czech work will be helpful to an English-reading audience. The book is physically attractive with generally informative figures. The typographical errors are usually obvious, except in a few cases where persons inexperienced in polarography may have difficulties. Although the English is occasionally awkward, this should cause no confusion. In some cases the use of
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more commonly accepted English terms would be helpful, e.g., the use of "pilot ion method" or "internal standard method" in connection with the procedure identified on page 76 as "quotient of two waves." There are a few statements which the reviewer would like to debate, e.g, the superiority of photographic recording polarographs, the inaccuracy of coulometric methods, and the need for indirect measurement of solution re8i8t%ncee However, the reviewer feels that the author ia within his rights in stressing what he considers optimum appmaches. I t is regrettable that a discussion was not included of the potentialities of solid electrodes in organic analysis, which the work of the past decade has indicated to be of great promise, especially in respect to the study and utilization of organic electrochemicaloxidation processes.
PHILIPJ. ELVING Uniuwsity of Michigan Ann Arbor Speclroscopy and Molecular Structure
GwaM W . King, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Ino., New York, 1964. 482 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 x xiv 23.5 em. $10.75.
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There are a number of books recently available which are concerned with the general subject of molecular spectroscopy. The book by King which is reviewed here is in this category and this reviewer compared it to two others, these being Barrow's "Molecular Spectroscopy" and Bauman's "Absorption Spectroscopy." Barrow's textbook has fewer pages than King's and therefore provides a. less extensive presentation. Barnan's text has more pages but touches on the practical aspects of spectroscopy more than King's or Barrow's text. This reviewer has attempted to read completely all three of these texts. If one were to be chosen for a course it is this reviewer's opinion that only the months of work with students would allow him to decide which of these three would be satisfactory. It is in the classroom that the true value of a book to a teacher and students can he found and not having this battle experience this reviewer is reluctant to rate one book over the other. I am impressed with King's present= tion very much and if a. selection had to be made far a course I would use his textbook the first time through. The presentation appears more theoretical than Bmrow's or Bauman's text although all cover the same hasio topics. One minor objection I have always had to textbooks in spectroscopy has been the fact that some figures from Hemberg's classical texts are always used. I believe by now we have sufficient new data or that it is possible to draw new figures rather than seeing in each textbook the same examples. Thus in King's textbook I was very pleased to see the fine phatographs of Ramm spectra by Dr. Stoicheff. He has also redrawn many of the figures that must appear in a text of this type, with excellent improvement of information.
All three textbooks have questions for student use. All are intended for the introduction to quantum mechanics and the many examples he presents makes this an excellent suggestion. Except for the loss of a few topics in modern inorganic chemistry I would like to see the material in this text presented a t the senior level in place of the usual senior inorganic and/or physical chemistry. I recommend this hook highly for any physical chemist or others who would be interested in molecular spectroscopy.
A. SZYMANSKI HERMAN Canisius College Buffalo, New York Electronic Spectra and Quantum Chemistry
C. Sandorfy, Universit.5 de Montrkal, Canada. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs. New Jersev. 1964. xiii 385 pp. Pigs. and .(ables. 16 X 23.5 om. $14.95.
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"Electronic Spectra and Quantum Chemistry," by C. Sandorfy is the English version of the text originally published in French as "Les Spectres Electroniques en Chemie Thbrique!' I t is a well-written, non-redundant addition to a growing library of books for chemists on quantum mechanics and spectroscopy. The main emphasis is the introduction to various methods for calculating approximate electronic energy levels, transition frequencies, and a.bsmption intensities for rehtively large molecules. The author's stated intention is to develop a. working knowledge of electronic spectroscopy for those with little or no background in quantum chemistry. This is a difficult god and the author has proeeeded carefully and thoughtfully to achieve it. The level of presentation is suitable far a senior or graduate course in electronic spectre. or theory of the chemical band. After s. rather brief introduction to the elements of quantum mechanics, the basic concepts of the molecular orbital and valence hand methods are presented. Of particular interest is the extensive, u p todate treatment of the valence hond method which, in the author's words, "is bound to have a new upsurge when new refinements are introduced into it." The remainder of the text is devoted to more refined techniques such as antisymmetrized molecular orbitah, configuration interaction, the method of the self consistent field, and the semiempirical method of Pariser and Parr. One of the mast valuable features of the book is the extensive use of carefully selected examples and illustrative calcula.tions throughout. For this reason it may be highly recommended for self study. There is a separate chapter on symmetry and selection rules which develops the relevant concepts from the theory of representations of point gmups. Also tbere is a unique chapter on free electron methods which introduces useful empirical techniques applicable to large (Cmttinwd on page A960)
