Gmelins handbuch der anorganischen chemie, 8 Auflage, System

College. Park. Gmelins Handbuch der Anorganischen. Chemie, 8. Auflage, Syslem-Nummer. 28, Calcium. Part B, Section 3. Edited by the Gmelin Institute u...
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ing experts and their articles have been written clemly and accurately. The list of references appended to each is both extensive and representative. In this connection, the volume ie oriented more to the teacher who wishes to keep abreast of many fields than it is to even the most sophisticated student. Even for the graduate student, s considerably wide background must he presumed for full a p preeiation of the various topics. I t is expected that this volume, as is true of its predecessor, will find its use as ready reference, first as an upto-date survey of a particular field, and, second as a beginning point for a. more extensive literature search. I t is therefore with considerable pleasure that this reviewer noted that theory as well as experimental subjects has been treated extensively. The range and breadth of topics from X-ray to i n f m red, atomic and molecular spectra, and "pure" theory to such specifics a s protein spectra, is refreshing a t a time when reseemher, teecher and student alike, finds himself almost overwhelmed by the vast volume of published data. A volume such a s this fulfills a great need by providing the earnest reader with s. single series by which he may conveniently keep up to date with the burgeoning fields of spectroscopy. Small discomfitures could he found, such as the difficulty in locating a specific tonic or the lack of uniformitv in referencing (the 20 page hihiiography compiled by Vedder and Hornig is probably the most useful to the overall purpose of the series). But such discomfitures are minor compared to the timeliness, authoritativeness, and extensiveness of the work. We look forward to a promised third volume which will "complete a survey of other established fields (of spectroscopy), and. . .include a few of the very recent developments."

Scientists: Their Psychological World Most of the hook deals with solid compwmds, hut thrir behavior in r x t r r is u d l covered. Thr more important s u h e t ~ t ~ ~ t ~ sBernice T. Eidusn, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Bssic are treated under the headirrps d iorrnaBooks, Inc., New York, 1962. 266 pp. tian, physical properties and chemical Tables. 15.5 X 21 em. $6.50. properties. Special points are not neglected. Among these the following illusDr. Eiduson presents an extensive and trations are given: luminescence of intensive study of forty distinguished reselected com~ounds: , ohotoconductivitv search scientists (including two Nobel of gypsum; detection and determination Prize winners) who have positions at far of calcium isotopes. west academic institutions and whose The Contents pages are arranged in fields of study include physics, earth parallel columns, one in German and the sciences, chemistry, and biological other in English. An added convenience sciences. The scientists are diverse with is the placing of English titles on the respect to age, sacio-economic background, margins of the text. The literature was and parental occupation. carefully covered to the close of 1949, and The methods employed by the author used to give thoroughdocumentation to the primarily involved interview and promaterial. Some sections were supported jective tests. The results and interpretaby referencea as late as 1959. The tables tions are organized into five main sections, of information far outnumber the 133 and within each section, Dr. Eiduson figures. The organization, scope and attempted to determine what findings, if character of this book make it an invaluany, were common to the members of the able addition to this most important group and what interesting finding may he reference work, p?rticularly as s, quick unique to a particular scientist. source of informttt~onand ss a lead to the The persaal histo~y. Four charimportant primary sources. acteristics are especially emphasized. First, JOHN W. C ~ M as children, the scientists somewhat lacked close relationships, especially with College of Woosler respect to their fathers. Second, a t some Wooster, Ohio period in the child's life, he experienced idation. This yielded, according to Dr. Eiduson, a. looking inward for resources and amusement. Third, the superior intellectud ability of the scientist was Gmelinr Handbuch der Anorganirchen observed at an early age. Fourth, the Chemie, 8. Auflage, System-Nummer scientists did not indicate that one factor, 52, Chromium. Part A, Section 1 such as a stimulating teacher or a chemistry set, was influential in developEdited by the Gmelin Institute under ing their scientific interest. the direction of E. H. E. Pietsch. VerAdult persmality stmture. The lag Chemie, GMRH, Weinheim, Bergemotional life of the scientists is heavily 418 no. Fies. strasse. 1962. xx invested in intellectual pursuits. In conand tables. 18 X ' 25.5 &. Cldih junction with this tendency, the men have hound, $79. developed habits of adjustment which do Most of this hook (284 pages) deals with not permit extreme emotional iinvolveELUS R. LIPPINCOW the history, occurrence and technology of ment outside of their work. Anxieties that chromium. After a short (5 pages) section U&mity of Maryland do exist are not general, hut related to on the history, the part on occurrence is College Park specilic m a s of interest. In addition, the given under the followingheads: extraterscientists %re highly sensitive, especially restrial occurrence, geochemistry, ecoto fine eensory discriminations and to nomic denosits.. and minerels. The techGmelins Handbuch der Anorganischen their own motivations. n o l o p part dents with ore drrseing, rre:ttChemia, 8. Auflage, System-Nummer Styles of thinking. Dr. Eiduson'a group mmt of ilromit*, produvtion of chromium. 28, Calcium. Part B, Section 3 is most homogeneous in this area. The manufscture of inorganic chromium commen tend to recombine concepts and Edited by the Gmelin Institute under pounds, manufscture of inorganic chroobtain what is important from their the direction of E. H. E. Pielseh. Vermium dyes, and industrial hazards. This environment in a highly selective manner. lag Chemie, GMBH, Weinheim, Bergis followed hv a ten-nase . - section on toxThe theoreticians, referred to ss the 912 pp. Figs. strasse, 1961. lxii icity. aristocrats of science hy the scientists, are and tables. 18 X 25.5 cm. Cloth Only the beginning of the discussion of not different from the experimentalists in bound. $142. the element, chromium, itself is included terms of perceptusl-cognitive processes. in this current volume. This includes The selfimage as members of the scientific This volume is Part B, Section 3, of the nine pages on the formation and preparacommunity. The scientists identify with revised Gmelin treatment of calcium. tion of the element, and 125 pages on its great discoverers. One reason for the 35. A614 (1958). It See THIS JOURNAL, physical properties. The latter include, persistence of this view is that each disconcludes the discussion of calcium comamong others, the crystaIlagraphic, mecovery, no matter how small, contributes pounds begun in Section 2, and treats chanical, thermal, optical, spectral and to scientific development. A second those substances composed of calcium and magnetic properties. reason is that great discoveries, in retrothe following: sulfur, selenium, tellurium, As with other recent volumes of this spect, appear simple and each ecientist boron, silicon, phosphorus, arsenic, and work, the Contents are given in parallel feels the great discovery is within his bismuth, and their oxygen-containing German and English columns, and English comnounds. Those treated most extenWmP. titles are used in the margins of the text. Dr. Eiduson indicates that the men of Likewise, the literature search has been her study find "happiness in pursuit!' thorough only to the end of 1949, but the Their strong drive toward their work, reviewer noticed that special portions were suggestive of compulsiveness, is exhibited cussed, as are many compounds of calcium supported by references as lste as 1959. with organic suhstances. A section on by their ability to find research time detection and determination devotes 76 JOEN W. CEITTWM despite the demands of teaching and/or pages to cslcium and 78 pages to strontium administrative duties. Similarly, the College o f Wooster and barium. scientists of Dr. Eiduson's study expressed Woosk, Ohio

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