BOOK
REVIEWS
The Nuclear Properties of the Heavy Elements. Volumes 1-3
Em1 K. Hyde, Isado~ePerlman, and Glenn T. Seaborg, d l of the University of California, Berkeley. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1964. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. Volume 1, Systematics of Nuclear Structure and Radioactivity. xv 407 xvii pp. $15. Volume 2, Detailed Radioactivity Properties. xvi 698 1 pp. $25. Volume 3, 519 Fission Phenomena. xviii xxivpp. 618.
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Publication of this comprehensive, three-volume reference work on the nuclear properties of the heavy elements, i.e., lead through lamencium, represents a monumental achievement in the wnsolidation and evaluation of the available information an the nuclear properties of thex elements. The authors, who are well known for their own major contributions to the fund of knowledge of both the chemistry and the nuclesr properties of the heavy elements, have produced an account of the nuclesr properties of these elements which is authoritative and shows very careful writing, editing and proofreading. The three volumes contain a wealth of data in both tabular and graphical form. Complete references are given to the original literature, i.e., journal articles, books, teohnical reports, theses and unpublished sources. This new publication
is now the one to consult when in search of nuclear data on the heavy elements. Literature sources are cited for information not included because of space limits, tions. I t should be noted that the threevolume set does not replace existing treatises on the inorganic chemistry and radiochemistry of the heavy elements, a subject which is touched upon only briefly where appropriate in, far example, discussions of methods of preparation and separation of the various nuclear species. The publication is by no means merely a com~rehensivecomdation of data and review of published iiformation. It is an invaluable key to the literature on the heavy elements including, of course, the rather extensive Soviet literature. The three volumes contain other valuable types of information such a? desrriptions of current theories of the atomic nucleus and of methods of measuring, evaluating, correlating and interpreting nuclear data. In effect they constitute a presentation of the theoretical and experimental methodology of nuclear chemistry and nuclear physics as exemplified by the work on the heavy elements. The authors have succeeded in dividing the information on the heavy elements into the three volumes with only minor duplication of material, Volume 1 contains data and information of a systematic nature, i.e., material which can be correlated far the h e a v elements as a group by means of a property such as mass number. In Volume 2 are given the data,
Earl K. Hyde, Isadore Perlman, and Glenn T. Seaborg, The Nuclear Properties of the Heavy Elements. Volumes 1-3
R. S . Cahn, An Introduction to ChemicalNomenclature Helmut Kmuch and W m e r Kunz, Organic Name Reactions Bruce Campbell, Jr. and Ernest R. Kline, Semimicro Experiments in Organic Chemistry Hennan A. Szymnski, IR-Theory
and Practice of Infrared Spectroscopy
Joel H. Hildebrand, The Solubility of Nonelectrolytes Nicholas D. Cheronis and T.S. Ma, Organic Functional Group Analysis by Micro and Semimicro Methods A'orman B. Colthup, Lawmce H. Daly, and Stephen E. Wiberky, Introduction to Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Ralph Shrine?, Reynold C. Fuson, and David Y. Curtin, The Systematic Identification of Organic Compounds John Mandel, The Statistical Analysis of Experimental Data Ma~tinGardner, The Ambidextrous Universe B m o n R. Sundheim, editor, Fused Salts
with appropriate discussion, for the nuclesr properties of each isatape of each of the heavy elements. Volumes 1 and 2 comprise a unit with respeot to the numbering of the ten chapters and the 1107 pages. The author and subject indexes in Volume 1 are limited to that volume. Those in Volume 2 apply to both volnmes. In addition, Volume 2 contains a very useful isotope index giving page numbers in both volumes. Volume 3, which is limited to nuclesr fission phenomena, is self-contained with its own author and subject indexes. In the first two chapters of Volume 1 data are given for decay energies, nuclidic masses and nucleon separation energies and topics such as mass equations, nuclear instability and decay-energy cycles are discussed. The 133 page summary of the assumptions, development, predictions and applications of the shell model and the generalized shell model or unified model of the nucleus given in Chapter 3 should be of vallue to anyone concerned with current theories of the nucleus and the use of nuclear models in the interpretation of nuclesr data. Included in the detailed treatment of the kinetics of alpha decay in Chapter 4 are data for alpha energy groups, half-life, and energy of excited states for all heavy element alpha emitters. Tables of hindrance factors are also given. Applications, limitations and extension of the one-body model of alpha. decay are treated in considerable depth. In Chapter 5 methods of transmutation are outlined in sufficient detail to serve as a basis for selection of a method of preparation and for estimation of the yield for any particular nuclide. Data for crass sections and Q values for synthesis reactions are given for the more than 200 nuclear species which have been produced by artificial transmutation induced by neutrons, charged particles, and complex nuclei, i.e., those with atomic number greater than 2. Where fission competes with synthesis reactions, reference is made to material in Volume 3. The four appendixes in Volume 1 provide data, an electron binding energies, K and L X-ray energies, Auger electron energies and fluorescent yields. Some data for mercury, thallium and element 104 have been included in these appendixes. Chapter 6, in Volume 2, contains an account of natural radioactivity and of the early history of radioactivity. A discussion of the importance of the isotopes of lead in geochronology is extended to include rubidium, potassium and helium methods. Artificially produced families and colhteral series are described in Chapter 7. The remaining three chapters contain detailed information on the discovery, methods of production, halflife, radiation characteristics, decay schemes and level diagrsms for each heavy element isotope. The isotopes of elements lead through actinium are considered in Chzpter 10 as a special group with emphasis on those nuclides having less than 126 neutrons and being near the doubly-magic lead-208. Volume 3, authored by Professor Hyde, is essentially independent of Volumes 1 and 2. There is an occasiona.1 reference to material in Chapter 3 of Volume 1 in discussions of the application of nuclear Volume 42, Number 4, April 1965
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models to fission. Chapters 1 through 9, which constitute Part I of this volume, deal with fission phenomena a t low energy, i.e., spontaneous fission and fission induced by thermal neutrons. The phenomena associated with fission induced a t moderate energy, i.e., up to 50 Mev, and a t high energy, i.e., up to the several Gev range, are discussed in the remaining four chapters in Pert 11. Included in Part I1 are data. for the various ways of inducing fission by simple and complex charged particles, photom and mesons. Among the topics covered in Volume 3 are the history of the nuclear madela and theories of the fission reaction; orass sections; fission yields; ternary fission; distribution of charge; kinetic energy, velocity, range and angular distribution of fission fragments; velocity and angular distrihution of prompt neutrons; delayed neutrons; delayed neutron precurson and prompt gamma rays. A number of the experimental methods nsed in the study of, for example, fission fragments and fission neutrons are described in detail. As a reference work, this publication is certainly an important one for those actively engaged in research, teaching or graduate study in the fields of nuclear chemistry, nuclear physics and nuclear engineering. I n addition, one or mare of the volumes should he of value to others such its those concerned with nuclear geochemistry, with the utilization or potential utilization of the heavy elements because of their nuclear properties and with radiological health prahl e m associated with the heavy elements. HERBERTM. CLARK R m s e l a e r Polytechnic Institule
Troy, N m York
An Introduction to Chemical Nomenclature
R. S . Cahn, The Chemical Society, London. 2nd ed. Butterwort,hs, Washington, 1964. x 109 pp. Tables. 12.5 X 18.5cm. Paperbound, $2.50.
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This hook differs from the first edition (1959) only trivially in the original nine chapters, but i t includes a tenth chapter (13 pages) devoted to Exercises. Fifteen questions me proposed concerning the naming of hoth inorganic and organic compounds; answers are given. Dr. Cahn's experience equips him extraordinarily well to write authorits, tively in t,his field. He was Editor to The Chemical Society (London), in which ezpacity he devoted much time and study to the growing developments in nomenclature, and to erasing differences between British and American usage. Also, he is a distinguished member of the Commission on Nomenclature of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The chaoter titles reveal the scooe of
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Organic, Numbering; Organic, Building a. Name; Organic, Skeletal Types; Organic, Some Special Cases; Physicochemical Symbols; Exercises. The presentation is readable and the reeammendatians are cmefully considered. Although Cahn's treatment relates to British terminology, he frequently points out t,he differences from American practice. The differences are few and generally trivial. One wonders, however, who told the author that Americans prefer acetylamino over ace6 amido (p. 50), since C . A. does recommend the amido names (acetamido, henzamido, etc.). Some differences from U S . style, not mentioned by the author, are these: 1. sulphur instead of sulfur; 2. halogena (pp. 48, 49) instead of halo; 3. use of commas in hicyclo names instead of periods, which are used by Ring Index and by IUPAC, as hicyelo[3,2,l]actane instead of hicyclo[3.2.l]octane; 4. a hyphen to set off a complex substitutive prefix, &? 3-2'-hydroxyethylpentane-1,5-diol (p. 58). In the U.S. this would become 3-(2-hydroxyethyl>l,5-pentsnediol. The last name was listed as the correct one far CH(CH.CHXOH)~,as part of a discussion to show that the principle of "treating like things alike" is sometimes not feasible. I agree that this principle is not infrtllihle but suggest that this example would not need t,o be excluded if only the nomenclature Izwmakers would extend existing rules regarding conjunctive nomenclature (p. 77) to include acyclic structures. Then, just as 2CloHICHICHIOH is 2-naphthaleneethenol, so CH(CH.CHSOH)~would he methanetriethanol. In this way, all three C H r CH20H groups would he treated dike. Cahn mentions (pp. 37, 86) that it is Chemical Society practice to use hyphen3 "in composite class names, e.g., oxosteroids." In this category, however, he includes also keto-acids, chloro-ketones and amino-acids without mentioning that in the US. the hyphen is not nsed in such terms. When applied to ketone and acid, or to such other related t,erms as ester, ether, alcohol, sulfide, sulfone, snlfoxide, acetal, or glycoside, which are always written in complete names as separate words, it is onreitsonable to propose that absence of part of the first x,ord of these two-word nsmes justifies combining the residual parts. Thus, chloroacetic acid and ehlarosuecinie acid are h0t.h "chloro acids" and it would he irrational to refer to them as "ehlora-acids." Cahn emphasizes (p. 42) that in creating a name "the first thing to do is to seek out the functional groups: OH, NHz, C02H, S03H, ete.," and from them to select the principal one. "That group, and that alone, is written as suffix, the others become prefixes. The principal functional group sets the whole pattern of nomenclature and numbering, and it is vital to fix that group before anything else is done." This is indeed the heart of chemical nomencleture. This being so, many readers may find it diseoneert,ing to find that the author considers it permissible to ignore it with some amines and amides, ns 1-zminophenanthrene (p. 47) or NN'-diacetyl-o-phenylenedi&mine (p. 101). For these, however, he
does also list the dternstive nsmes phenanthren-1-amine and ~Vj\r'-u-phenylenehisacetamide, wibh the correct principal functions appearing a t the end of the names. Needless deviations from incorporating a. principal function at the end of a name should not be encouraged. As Cahn points out (p. 3 ) : "Tsmpering with it [general principles of nomenclature] merely makes life harder for the reader and far the searcher in indexer. I t is rarely good to call a spade a shovel, with or without a prefix." The hook chin= to he only an "Introduction." I t is that, hut it is more. I t is a thought-provoking presentation that is certain to he heloful to all ohemisbs on the subject of nomenclature regardless of their prior knowledge in this area. D. HVRD CHARLES Northwestern Unive~sll?~ Evanston, Illinois
Organic Name Reactions: A Conlribution to the Terminology of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, a n d Theoretical Organic Chemistry
Helmut K~aueh and Werner Kunz, with a foreword by Friedrich Richter. Translated from the 2nd rev. German ed. by John A{. Harkin. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1964. xxiii 620 pp. Figures. 16 X 23.5 rm. $16.
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At first glance, this hook appears to he exitctly what ibs publishers claim"an encyclopedic collection of all the mare important organic name reactions and their mechanisms as they are aecepted today.'' Upon investigation, however, the hook appears to be either too eneyelapedic or not exhaustive eno~rgh to make an outstanding contribution to the chemical literilture. Besides named reactions (both personal names and type names), the hook includes named hiological cycles, sueh ss the Calvin phatosym thetic cycle, named rules, such as the Fries double-bond mle, and named effects, sueh as the Baker-Nathan (hyperconjugatian) effect. The hook goes far out in a t least one case t o orovide a rule (Wood-
sist of several volumes and he far too unwieldy for the chemist's reference shelf. I t is thus not too difficult to find significant omissions, especially in the fields of natural products synthesis and biochemistry, which t,he authors purport to cover. This reference work cantsins 522 entries, including a. brief description of the reaction, cycle, rule or effect, its area of applicability, reaction mechanism and a selection of historical, general, m d recent references. An addendum evidently not in the German edition contains more references up through 1963. The inclusion of mechanisms is hoth a. service and a disadvantage. This feature may add to the information about the
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