B O O K REVIEWS students as a lecture guide. It contains no problems but does have a select bibliography of related texts. Emmy University Atlanta, Geo~gicz D'Ans-Lax Taschenbuch fiir Chemiker und Physiker. Band 2, Organische Verbindungen
Edited by E l l a Laz and Claudia Synowielz. 3rd d. Springer-Verlrtg, Berlin, 1964 (available in the United States from Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 175 Fifth Ave.). viii 1177 pp. Tables. 14 X 20.5 om. DM 48, (approx. $12).
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The contents of this handbook are: Nomenclature and Ring Numbering, Chemical and Physical Data of Organic Compounds, Melting and Boiling Points in Ascendine Order. Thermochemical Data for 0&nic ~£s, Critical Data for Organic Compounds, and an Index. The chemical and physical data tables are complete witb literature references to Beilstein and also to recent journal articles. There is somewhat more data in these tables than in a comparable handbook published in the U. S. However, the
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posure to modern nuclear physics may require some additional help from one of the supplementary referenma to digest t,his brief summary. The characteristicc; and uses of both Deutscb) is a good publication. However, reactor and non-reactor neutron sources its relatively limited coverage works are covered in detail, and should give the against its becoming a suitable replacereader a good understanding of how cerment for the current American handbooks. tain normally stable elements can be made J. D. REIN~EIMEB radioactive so that they can be a n a l y t i d y College of Wooster detected and quantitatively determined. Woosle~,Ohio The subject of radiochemical separations is very briefly discussed, witb emphasis on the conditims under which postirradiation separations are required, and Guide to Activation Analysis then reference is given to sources for information concerning practical separation Edited by William 8. Lyon, Jr., Oak methods. Ridge Nationa1 Lsboratory. Published Radiation detectors, including modern under auspices of the division of tecbnisemiconductor detectors and the very cal information, U.S.A.E.C. D. Van useful scintillation detectors, are discussed Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, 1964. very briefly theoretically, but very exxix 186 pp. Figa. and tables. 16 tensively practically. The analytical useX 23.5 cm. $5.95. fulness of the signal produced by each type This book has a single purpose, to proof detector is stressed. Counting stavide a guide to the understanding of a tistics are briefly discussed. single powerful analytioal technique so that Although most of the book is devoted to it may be used in practical analyses. I t is the activation of elements by neutrons, a clearly and concisely written, so that brief chapter describes other methods of practicing chemists and advanced underactivation and analyses which have been graduate students can comprehend. I t achieved by their use. has a wealth of illustrative examples and Three appendices list references for the bibliographic references to provide clarity analytical determination of a specific during the initial reading of the subject element (arranged alphabetically) in many matter, and to provide a valuable source of different sample matrices, in metauurgical, proved analytical procedures during subsebiochemical (medical), and geochemical quent ~raeticalapplication of the method. applications. These appendices will be Basic nuclear properties are covered in (Continued on page 4 1 7 0 ) 13 pages. A reader with little recent ex-
American handbook. such as Lnnne or
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BOOK REVIEWS
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extremelv useful in solvine oractical analytic4 p r u t h n s Ly the ure of a c t i n tion m31y&. A final append~xdiscu;;es ramlistiw safety and l~ccns~ngreqolrements. I n summary, this is a very readable hook, and its style of presentation, with many practical examples, will appeal both to students desiring to studv the method. and to practicing chemists wko wish to usk the method t o solve some otherwise difficult analytical problems. The book was written by staff members of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and was published under the auspices of the United States Atomic Energy Cammission. University of" Arizona
Tucson
Handbook of Radioehemieal Exercises
An. N. Nesmeyanov, V . I. Baronm, K. B. Zaborenko, N. P. Rudel~ko,and Yu. A. Priselkar. Translated by E. Klouko. Trans. ed. by R. W. Cla~ke. Pergamon Press, New York, 1965. xii 448 pp. Figs. and tables. $12.
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According to the authors, this book, which is a translation of a Russian radiochemistry laboratory manual, "has been designed for students of advanced courses
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in chemical departments and for scientific workers beginning investigations involving radioactive isotopes." I n general the 89 experiments require tbe use of tracer amounts of radioactive material although for some the quantity approaches a, millicure. Several experiments utilize s weilk neutron source. For each experiment there is a brief introduction, a. statement of necessary equipment and materials, and aprocedure, The procedures are quite clearly written and should be adequate for a text used in a formal course. I n general one or two references are given with each experiment and in some cases there are also a few questions for the student to answer. The references are to publications prior to 1956 (mostly for the period 1945-1955) and are mainly t o books in Russian. A number of these are Russian translations of American books. There m e also s few references to papers in American journals. Emphasis on electroscopes, electrometers, cylindrical glass-wall Geiger counters and lack of msterial on scintillation counters, modern electronic instrumentation, pulse height analysis and spectrometry make the sections on nuclear radiation measurement outdated. Plutoniumberyllium sources are notably absent from the disoussion of neutron sources. I n general the trrtnslatian is goad, but there are a few places where the text is a little awkward and even unintentionally amusing. These occur chiefly where the names given to apparatus and equipment by the translator do not agree with those commonly used in the United States.
It would not be easy to use%bis book as the only text in a. laboratory course. The chapter on nuclear radiation measurement techniques, a very important chapter, would create problems. There are, however, some experiments in Chapters 3 (half-life determinations), 4 (separating radionuclides), and 5 (applications of tracers), particularly the less conventional ones involving work with naturally-occurring radioactive material, which are interesting and noteworthy. Serious students with an interest in experimental nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry should be encouraged to examine this book. It contains descriptions of a number of experimental methods and techniques which are vsriat~onsof those used in the United States. There are also variations in the choice of radionuclides and chemical systems. Students should be aware of these alternative procedures and should be encouraged to evaluate their relative advantages and disadvantages. I n addition, students might well find the book a source of ideas far projects utilizing naturally occurring radioactive material. Finally, for interested students the hook constitutes a revelation of the preferred methods and thestate of the art of working with radioactive material in Russia a t the time when the original Russian text was written.
HERBERT M. CLARK Rensselaer Pol?/technicInstitute Troy, New York (Continued vn page A1731
