BOOK REVIEWS Steroid Chromatography
Robert N e h q Cibe, Ltd., Basel, Switeerland. 2nd ed. American Elsevier Publishine Co.. New York. 1964. xiii 389 ~igs.and tabies. 14.5 X 22 cm. $11.
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This book is the second English edition of Neher's book "Chromatographie von Sterinen, Steroiden und Verwandten Verbindungen" originally published in 1958. It is much more than a normal second edition, however, since the number of references cited has more than doubled and the new methods of gas and thinlayer chromatography are considered for the first time. This hook, like the original, is accented toward practical aspects and has as its goal "to help its users reach the rieht conclusion with any of the techniquesdescribed." Four types of chromatography, column, paper, thin-layer, and gas are discussed insofar as they can be used for steroid separations. Each is, in turn, considered with respect to whether an adsorption or a partition system is involved. For eseb of these techniques, the methods of procedure, the available mrtterials and equipment, and the numerous "tricks of the trade" are fully discussed. This is followed by a series of specific examples chosen so that they cover the steroid field. A total of about one thousand references are cited including seventy-five which appeared after the book was finished and
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are given with titles. The literature coverage is through 1962 and part of 1963. The author has used his own wide practical experience in presenting his discussions and choosing his examples. The result is a considerable feeling of confidence on the part of the reader. Althouzh the book is written for and about
graphic work. Although theoretical aspects are not stressed, theory is included when it can be practically applied to give better separations. For example, the theory of partition is briefly considered and various attempts to relate structure and mobility are reviewed. Amole references are d v m to mare theoretical treatises. An important characteristic of this book is the attempt to compare the various techniques with one another and to sugrest which would be best far a eiven task.
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R values are given for many important steroids. These tables alone make the book worth while for steroid chemists. The book is highly readable and the translation is smooth indeed. There me few obvious errors. One might wish that the author had devoted more space to the preparative and quantitative aspects of the various methods although he has given ample references to the original litemture. In addition, an appendix giving addresses of various suppliers would have been useful. These, however, are sins of omission and certainly do not detract from s. first class monograph. JAMES M. BOBBITT University of Cmwtic2ll Stas
Neutron Irradiation and Analysis
Activation
D a i s Taykv, Plessy Co., Ltd., England. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, 1964. ix 185 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 x 22.5 em. $8.75. I t is interesting to note that this book, m d the more extensive "Radioactivation Analysis" by H. J . M. Bowen and D. Gibbons (Oxford University Press, 1963), are both British contributions, and that they were the only books available on the subject of activation analysis until "Guide to Activation Analysis" by William S. Lyon, Jr., was published in late 1964 (D. Van Nostrand Co.). Basic information
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sus thin-layer chromatography and the criteria suggested for the application of gas chromatography are cases in point. The weak points as well as the strong points of each technique are carefully described. Much useful information has been presented in the various tables scattered throughout the book. Thus, the various solvent system and spray reagents are given in a nicely condensed farm and a. number of Rr values or similarly derived
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BOOK REVIEWS h a previously been found in chapters of books on radiochemistry, and advanced information. iucludine annlications, has been published in proceedings of conferences and symposia as well as in individual papers in journals. Dr. Taylor has produced a very readable book with a good balance of theory, instrumentation and practical applications. It presents an introduction t o neutron activation analysis by devoting a chapter to a discussion of the types and mechanisms of the interaction of neutrons with matter. This discussion is liberally illustrated with practical examples of both favorable and unfavorable neutron interactions, giving the reader a, feeling for both the power and the limitations of the method. Systems far the detection of radiation induced by the absorption of neutrons are discussed very briefly. The reader who is not familiar with radiation detection devices, and who wishes to learn more of the fundltmeutak of their operation, is referred to a short discussion in the A p pendix and to appropriate chapters in boaks on radiochemistry. Likewise, in the ohapter on principles, the equation for the activity produced when an element is bombarded with neutrons is given without explanation or development; the reader is referred to other sources. The chapter on applications is the strongest of the book, with radioactivation analysis procedures disgmmed in a flowchart, followed by many interesting a p
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plications. Examples are taken from a variety of fields, such as biochemistry and geochemistry, with the majority from metallurgy. Very brief chapters are devoted to the automation of activation analysis methods for industrial applications, and to the analysis of industrial process streams. The book concludes with a discussion of current and future uaes of the method in geological prospecting, and with a few paragraphs onsatellite instrumentation. There are four Appendices. The first is a glossary of terms used in radioactivs, tion analysis, the second is a brief diecnssion of the fundamentals of radioactivity, the third consists of four tables of values useful in radioactivation calculittions, and the fourth is a brief discussion of the technique of making absolute activity measurements with the gamma-my 8pectrometer. This book provides an overview of the subject of activation analysis with continual reference to practical deteminations, so that the reader is kept aware of the utility of the method. For the reader who intends to use the method, this book is not as helpful as the one by Bowen and Gibbons mentioned a t the beginning of this review, for that much larger hook contains a complete discuesion of sample preparation techniques snd step-by-step procedures for chemically separating the activated species prior to counting them. The Taylor book will be easily comprehended by reasonably good students. N. WISE EDWARD Uniuwsilg of A r i z a a Tucson
Numerical Problems Physical Chemistry
in
Advanced
J. H. Wolfenden, Dartmouth College, Henover, New Hampshire, R . E. Richards, and E. E. Richards, both of Oxford University. 2nd ed. Oxford, a t the Clarendon Press, 1964. xvi 258 pp. Tables. 15 X 22.5 cm.
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$4.80. This second edition contains 144 problems which attempt to bridge the gap between the fundamental principles of physical chemistry and the laboratory experience of the student. Many of the problems of the first edition (1938) have been discarded or rewritten and fifty new problems added. The problems are arranged in the following groups: fundamental constants, atomic and molecular weights; gaseous equilibria; heterogeneous equilibria; equilibria in solution; thermodynamic properties; electrical conductivity and miscellaneous electrochemistry; kinetics and photochemistry; spectroscopy and molecular structure; erystsl structure; rsdiochemistry; miscellaneous. For each example, the necessary data is supplied as well as references to the original papers which the student is expected to study. In addition, explanatory notes which usually suggest a line of atb c k are appended to every problem. The answen along with helpful comments are given at the back of the book.
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