BOOK REVIEWS Methods of Quantum Chemistry
M. G. Veselou, Leningrad State University. Translated by Scripla Technics, Inc. Trans. ed. by S. Chmet, King's College, London. Academic Press, Inc., 181 pp. Figs. New York, 1965. xi and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $7.50.
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This book is a collection of five review papers translatedfrom the Russian. The first contribution, by Rebane, is entitled Semi-Empirical Methods in the Theory of Small Molecules. It is 12 pages long and contains 21 literature references, none beyond 1960. The second contribution, by Mestechkm, The Study of Electronic Structures of Molecules by the Molecular Orbital Method, 60 pagas long, has 64 references, none after 1962. The third contribution, by Tupitsyn and Adamov, Application of the MO Method to Tbeoreticd Study of the Reactivity of Molecules Containing Conjugated Bonds and Aromatic Molecules, 54 psges long, includes 112 references but none past 1963. The fourth paper, by Nikitin, Certain Problema of Interelectron and Non-Adisbstic Interaction in Long Molecules, 20 pages in length, has 9 references, none after 1961. The last paper, by Rebane, called A p plicat.ion of the Method of Finite Differences to Problems of Molecular Orbital Theory, 29 pages long, contains only 8 references, dl before 1960. There is a. combined author?subject index. Print, paper and binding are of fair quality. The translation is a good one, but a number of small errors do appear. I can state unequivocally that the person who prepared the index is an American TV addict. I see no justification for publication of this book. To be sure it is important for English-speaking quantum chemist8 to read papers written by Russian workers in their field, and these translations make that possible. But no one of these papers is of great importance, and all of these papers are now quite out of date. ROBERTG. PARR Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland Ionic Equilibria
J . E. Prue, The University, Reading, Great Britain. Topic 15, Volume 3 of "The International Encyclopedia of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Phyjios." Pergamon Press, New York, 1966. xiv 115 pp. Figs. and tablas. 18 X 27.5 cm. 85.50.
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Asid-Bare Equilibria
E. J . King, Barnard College, New York City. Topic 15, Volume 4 of '(The International Encyclopedia of Physical C h e k t r y and Chemical Physics." Pergamon Press, New York, 1965. xi 341 pp. Figs. and tablas. 18 X 27.5 cm. $17.50.
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These two volumes are part of a newly
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A162
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Journal o f Chemical Education
B O O K REVIEWS commenced eomnrehensive mdti-volume series "written primarily for the graduate student and research worker." The sobject matter has been grouped into 22 Topics, each with its own editor. The list of topics is highly diversified and includes Classical and Quantum Mechanics, Molecular Binding, Classical Thermodynamics, Solution Kinetics, Maemmolecules, and Equilibrium Pmperties of Electrolyte Solutions. The latter is Topic 15 and it is under the general editorship of Dr. R. A. Robinson. In the first six chapters of Professor King's volume we discussed, in considerable detail, the theoretical principles of the various customary methods used to experimentally determine acidity constants, e.g., conductance, electromotive force, pH, optical, and magnetic measurements. He also provides a. brief exposition of the use of distribution, solubility, rates of reaction, and free~ing point depression methods. For each method there is niven s. lucid discussion of the annlication
