book reviews tion of data) are satisfactory. Unfortunately, there are a rather large number of errors which have slipped by the proofreading stage, ranging all the way from the trivial (Clehsch-Gordan is consistently mispelled), to the not-so-trivial (e.g. the characteristic time scale of the Auger cascade is given as 10 * 8 ; a factor of 'h is missing from the equation for the rootmean-square velocity; the discussion of the f-factor variation with temperature and its significance in chemistry, as well as the related Gol'danskii-Karyagin asymmetry, is rather less than satisfactory, etc.) However, these oversights are not crucial, and will be corrected by the perceptive reader who pursues the introductory material given by the author, in greater depth. Finally, the ultimate usefulness of this book to the readers of this Journal will have to be judged on the basis of the interests of the reader in terms of Bancroft's treatment of the topics included, and a comparison of this treatment with that in the extensive review literature available in this field. To anyone whose major interests lie in inorganic or geochemistry-either in teaching or researeh-a careful perusal of Prof. Bancroft's contribution can he enthusiastically recommended. Rdfe H. Herber Rutgers. The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick. NewJersey 08903
A66
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Journal of Chemical Education
General Chemistry. Readings from Scientific American
With introductions by James B. Ifft, University of Redlands, and John E. Hearst, University of California, Berkeley. W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, California, 1974. 434 pp. Figs. and tables. 22 X 29 cm. Cloth $12.00; paper $6.50. Here are 36 Scientific American-type reviews, most by authors whose names are immediately associated with their subjects. Several articles, especially those relating to the chemistry of life are repeats from other collections. Titles are organized under the themes: Chemistry, A Perspeetive In Time (21, Atoms and the Chemical Bond (3), Molecular Structure and Biological Specificity (4), Gases, Liquids, and Solids (3), Dynamics of Chemical Systems ( I ) , Instrumental Methods of Analysis (4), Organic Chemistry (41, and The Chemistry of Life (9). The preponderance of papers dealing with biochemical topics in a collection called "General" chemistry is interesting. It may he because of the predilections of the compilers, the kind of material available already screened by Scientific American editors, or because living systems offer the mast interesting contemporary chemical applications. Bihliographies and a good index make the hook useful. All that is lacking is time in the course for either professor or students to do this type of supplementary reading. WFK
