book reviews the chemistry of planetary atmospheres; t h e synthesis of life-related molecules; the composition, stability, and degradation of mac~omoleeulesand polymers; solid and liquid rocket propellants; and problems of spacecraft sterilization. The book relates the role of chemistry in these areas of space research with only moderate and uneven success. Nevertheless, the sufficiently perseverant reader is rewarded occasionally by the unusually keen insight the authors have in their areas of research. The monographs on the synthesis of liferelated substances and rocket propulsion are well done, hut these subjects are treated thoroughly elsewhere. Many of the other monographs are fully documented reviews of chemical research that may possibly have mare limited appeal and only an implied or briefly stated relationship t o space. Overall, the objectives are realistic, hut this reviewer believes this book is of limited value to any hut the most persistent and patient reader. Richald M. Lawrence Ball Slate University Moncie, Indiana 47306
Chapter 3 (The Non-transition Elements), p. 36, complieotiom for compilations might confuse the student. The choice of symbols on p. 58 is poor. In NB,, N is a noble gas and B is F or 0. On the next page F and O are represented by X. Six crystal structures are shown in Figure 1.2 without identification in the caption or in the tent. The figure is only decorative. Such a short book could be improved by omission of material in standard texts. In attempting to cover so much, one and two sentence paragraphs are not uncommon. The book is worthwhile as a reference text. The level compares well with that of standard texts. The cost should limit the market t o students as a supplementary text. It should he in even a modest chemistry library. Bodie Douglas University of Pilfsburgh Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260
Basic Physical Chemistry tor the Life Sciences
Virginia R. Williams and Hulen B. Williams, Louisiana State University. W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, Calif. 1973. xviii 524 pp. Figs. and Tables. 24.5 X 17 cm. $14.95.
+
Inorganic Thermodynamics
S. J, Ashcroft, University of Exeter, and G. Beech, Wolverhampton Polytechnic. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., Ltd. 25-28 Buckingham Gate, London SWlE 6LQ, 1973. viii + 178 pp. Figs. and Tables. 15 X 23.5cm. $15.95. This short book is intended as a companion to standard inorganic texthcoks. The chapter titles correspond closely to those.of a conventional inorganic text, but the emphasis here is on the energetics of inorganic compounds and reactions. As a supplementary text, Chapter 1, Types of Bonding, could be omitted. In 13 pages, the chapter discusses ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonding, solvation of ions, and soft and hard acids and bases. Chapter 2, Thermodynamics and Experimental Methods (12 pages), is good. SI units are used exclusively. Since the student's main text is likely to use other units, a section on units and conversion factors would be helpful. The brief treatment of bonding theories in Chapter 4 (Transition Elements) is appropriate since it provides a basis for much of the discussion of energetics which follows. Chapter 5, Metal-Carbon Bonds, treats metal carbonyls as well as alkyl and aryl compounds. The coverage is limited by the paucity of quantitative data. This also limits the treatment of inorganic polymers (Chapter 6 ) , but the discussion is very gwd in just 15 pages. Aqueous Solutions and Nonaqueous Solvents is the concluding chapter. This is appropriate since it touches much of inorganic chemistry. The enthalpy diagrams which are used throughout are very useful. Most of the figures are of this type or other energy plots, There are appropriate references to the original literature and, in most chapters, suggestions for further reading. The text is reasonably free of errors. In A404
/
Journal of Chemical Education
This second edition differs from its 1967 predecessor chiefly by additions (See this Journal, 45, A562 (1968)). The longest (46 pp.) and most useful addition in this second edition is the chapter "Electromagnetic Radiation and Matter." It deals with the Beer-Lamhert law and infrared and visible-ultraviolet spectroscopy, including linear dichroism. It devotes only a n annotated bibliography to X-ray diffraction. An added section on the methods of W. W. Cleland for analyzing enzyme kinetics does not fulfill its potential because i t is not complete or clear enough to permit the student to work the related problems a t the end of the chapter. Consideration of pH-dependent equilihria makes the treatment of the hydrolysis of ATP even more comprehensive than in the first edition. Other new material on quantitative calculations of equilibria is of limited value. The only examples involve gaseous inorganic reactions, and one example (3.1) is seriously flawed by errors. A few other troublesome errors appear elsewhere. The discussion of intermolecular forces has been expanded and improved. There is a new section an potentials and fluxes for ion movement through membranes. On the average, eight problems per chapter have been added, and among them are some of the more instructive problems in the book. These and other additions should make this edition significantly more useful than its predecessor. Terry S. Carlton Oberlh College Oberlio, Ohio 44074
Wave Mechanics-The
First Fifty Years
W. C. Price, S. S. Chissick, and T. Rouensdale, (Editors) all a t University of London King's College. John Wiley and
Sons, New York, 1973. 435 pp. 24 cm. $37.50
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16
This book is a collection of essays occassioned by the 50th anniversary of Louis de Broglie's proposals on the wave nature of matter. As is usually the case with Festschrifts of this kind the essays range over a variety of topics, and interest is bound t o vary with the reader. Some of the articles are historical. Perhaps most interesting ere the comments by Professor de Broglie himself. After many y e a n of standard textbook accounts of quantum mechanical "history" it is intriguing to read about his own wrestlings with the realities of the matter-wave versus the probability interpretation of wave functions. The more technical articles range from easily understood reviews t o more detailed and erudite papers. Topics covered range over various ways of viewing the chemical bond, hydrogen bonding, spin, the influence of wave mechanics on inorganic and organic chemistry, collision processes, quantum biochemistry, photoelectron spectroscopy, and scattering. The last is a reprint of some of the textual material used hy the Open University in England to introduce students in the foundation science course to quantum and wave concepts. The price of this volume is prohibitive for individual purchase, hut students and professionals alike should enjoy perusing some of the essays contained in it if it is available in the library. Jeff C . Davis. Jr. U ~ i v e r s i01 t ~South Florida
