Nuclear and radiochemistry (Friedlander, Gerhart; Kennedy, Joseph W

courses in the past. It is a fair question as to whether students would henefit more from the present "general" approach, or by following high school ...
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Additional problems, sets of review questions, and a few references, mainly to texts, have been added. In connection with laboratory experiments 3-16, inclusive and with Appendix I a total of 73 old prohlems have been retained and 55 new prohlems have been added, the additions ranging 2 to 7 in number per chapter. Some 83 review questions have been added in sets ranging from 2 to 10 per experiment. References to other textbooks have been added to half of the exoerimental sections and one appendix. 0 h y four journal references have been added. There are seven appendices versus five in the old edition. The two new ones are on The Single-Pan Balance and on Free Energy and Cell Potentials. Appendix V has seven tables of titles: Atomic and Formula Weights; Relative Density of Water versus Temperature; Partial Pressure of Water; Solubility Products; Acid Constants; Complex Constants; Standard Potentials. The fifth and seventh of these tables are appreciably expanded over the ones in the 1961 edition. Appendix VI deals with equipment and reagents, and Appendix VII gives answers to the problems in the book. A subject Index and a Periodic Table and the 1961 Table of Atomic Weights complete the volume. The experiments require approximately 40 three-hour laboratory periods, and a t the California Institute of Technology they form the basis of the first two t e r n of the generel chemistry course, while the lab work of the third term of the year is given up to qualitative and semiquantitative experiments. In the h t two terms emphasis is on the quantitative aspects and the physico-chemied principles of the experiments, and very little stress is placed on their quantitative chemical analytical aspects. The preliminary directions, Chapters 1-3 are very mueh a t the highschool level, whereas the principles, though now incorporated in many general chemistry courses and texts, are difficult far average students of general ohemistry. Students of decidedly above average proficiency, and wellariented, are the ones who would profit most from the approach that is used in this text. "General" chemistry now appears to be assembled largely from elementrtry physical chemistry, the physics and chemistry qf atomic and molecular trtrueture and items "bornwed" from analytical chemistry because, thanks to the efforts of generations of devoted experimenters and teachers, these experiments are m a n interesting and economical than any considerable number that have been devised for use with general inorganic chemistry courses in the past. I t is a fair question as to whether students would henefit more from the present "general" approach, or by following high school chemistry with well-organized courses in physical chemistrv. analvticd chemistw, . . and ohvsics. . . ~ o & v e r ,o r tllosr who .me nmmittcd to expcrimrntntion w t h rhc rontmt of a rolleg' "gmtral" rhrnlstry iuursc, t h hook merits careful attention N. H. FURMAN Princeton, New Jersey

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Journal of Chemical Mumtion

Behavior of Electrons in Atoms: Structure, Spectra, and Photochemistry of Atoms

Robin M . Hochstmsser, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. W. A. Benjamin, Iuc., New York, 1964. xii 162 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. Cloth, $3.95; paperbound, $1.95.

It may also be useful for a reference for high school teachers. The level seems generally to fall between that of the usual general chemistry course and the junior physical chemistry or atomic physics courses.

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This book is one of a General Chemistry Monograph Series under the editorship of Rumell Jahnsen. The series is stated to he an experiment in the teaching of chemistry to provide instructors with a choice of topics, each of which is written by an authority in the field in question. It is recognized by the editor that each volume deals broadly with its particular topic and is far more comprehensive than the coverage permitted in the standard one-volume text. The present volume deals with the basis for the electronic structure of atoms. Fundamental concepts of quantum theory are introduced, largely through their manifestation in spectra. The treatment is essentially nonmathematieal and the subject matter basically experimental. Chapter 1reviews the nature of electromagnetic radiation and the basis for experimental observation of spectra. Rydberg's modificrttion of Bdmer's formula and simple energy level diagrams are discussed. Chapter 2 discusses electron energies and the photoelectric effect, the Bohr postulates, the Ritz combination principle and electron-atom collision experiments. Chapter 3 treats the diffraction of waves and interference patterns, the meaning of angulsr momentum and an introduction to quantum mechanics. The wave representation of the electron and a qualitative disoussion of the wave mechanical treatment of the hydrogen atom and the concept of orbitals are given. Chapters 4 and 5 deal with the Pauli principle and the electronic structure of atoms; terms, symbols and states of atoms me discussed in considerable detail. The general f a tures of the spectra. of alkali metals and the alkaline earths a n presented. In Chapters 6 and 7 the author departs somewhat from whet had seemed to be his main theme to discuss the lifetime of excited states, and the kinetic theory of gases, particularly as it relates to collisional processes involving excited atoms. In Chapter 8 the behavior of atoms in magnetic fields is considered with a discussion of the normal and anomalous Zeeman effects. The final chapter briefly considers forces between atoms and some simple molecules. In general the hook is well-written and should be readily comprehensible to the better than average general chemistry student. The author presents useful introductory and s u m m y sections for each chapter. The number of problems and exercises at the ends of the chapters is relatively small. To this reviewer its greatest use would seem to be as a reference for the general chemistry student who wishes additional information hut who may not have the background to understand the material in standard Introduction to Atomic Physics textbooks.

University of Washington Seattle

Nuclear and Radiochemistry

Gerhart Friedhnder, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, Joseph W. Kennedy, Washington University, St. Louis, and Julian Malcolm M i l k Columbia University. 2nd ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New 585 pp. Figs. and York, 1964. xi tables. 18 X 24.5 em. $10.75.

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This book fills a great need far rtn up-todate, comprehensive textbook for senior and graduate level courses in nuclear chemistry and rildiochemistry. Its style is ilpproximittely the same as that of the f i s t edition, which was the standard textbook in its field for many years. By selection of chapters, one may eaaily emphasize nuclear studies or the use of radioactivity in chemical investigations. For example, courses treating the latter would cover, in addition to a core of ahout nine chapters for both types of courses, the chapter on Tracers in Chemical Applications. This chapter includes the principles of the tracer method, several well-chosen examples of tracer applications, and a diaeussion of adivation-analysis techniques. Nearly every section of the book has been revised. A few obsolete sections have been omitted and many ather sections added or expanded, resulting in an increase in volume of shout one-fourth. Two new chapters have been added: Nuclear Models includes discussions of nucleon interactions, the shell, collective, and unified models, and brief mention of pairing oorrelations; Nuclear Processes as Chemical Probes treats the Mo8shauer effect, positronium "chemistry," and chemical effects on angular correlations. One topic not brought up to date is the prediction of spins of odd-odd nuclides. Nordheim's rules are given instead of the mueh more accurate Brennan-Bemstein rules, which are also useful in predicting odd-odd isomerism. Several topics are treated in more mathematical detail than in the first edition, for example, the opticd and campaundnucleus models of nuclear reactions. The discussion of nuclear-spectroscopy teehniaues., includine the use of NaI and semiconductor de&ctors, pulse-height analysis, and coincidence techniques, has been greatly improved. The choices of subjects to be treated and the emphasis to be placed on them represent the only significant source of controversy ahout the book. Unfortunately, there is no discussion of nuclear-structnre studies via reactions such as (d,p), (p,p'), etc. which can often complement and strengthen results of decay-scheme experiments. More details

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B O O K REVIEWS on the properties of nuclear vibrational states, which are currently the subject of intense investigation, should have been given. The chapter an statistics, although rigorous, is somewhat disorganized and contains little information on tests for goodness-of-fit. There is no discussion of least-squares fitting techniques, although they are widely used for resolution of complex decay curves. Calculations of nuclear energetics are done in terms of atomic mass units instead of the more convenient mass excesses. The book is remarkably free of errors, the most serious of which concern delayedneutron emitters. The authors incorrectly state that there itre six delayed-neutron emitters (rather then roughly six half-life groupings) among the fission products. The bet%decaying parent nuclide is erroneously aalled the delayed-neutron emiller instead of precursor. Furthermore, the authors imply that the ground states of the daughter nuclides are unstable with respect to neutron emission. The problem sets are excellent, with most requiring considerable judgment, and are intended as s n integral part of m y course which uses the book. The appendices contain an abundance of useful data on masses, decay properties, and cross sections for thermal-neutron reactions. In spite of minor deficiencies, "Nuclear

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and Radiochemistry" is a welcome improvement over everything in its field.

Reproduced, in translation, are the text and the experimental sections far approximately 175 papers by Nesmeyanov, GLENE. GORDON derived from the original literature. Massachusetts Instilule of Teehnalagy Ninety-eight papers treat "organometallic Cambridge chemistry"; 33 treat "elemento-organic compounds"; and 38 treat "investigatiom in organic chemistry." Selected Wnrks in Organic Chemistry Despite the risk of heing judged unscientific, I submit that this antho1og.v is A. N. Nesmeyanov, U.S.S.R. Academy fun to read. First, one is faced with a of Sciences. Translated by Auraham progression of history: papers were subB i n a and Z. S. Cole. Macmillan Cu. mitted from the F i a t Government Uni(a Pergamon Press book), New York, versity, Moscow (1929); Institute of 1963. xvi 1172 pp. Figs. and taPlant Protection of the Peoples Health bles. 18 X 24.5 em. $30.00. Commissary (1929); Moscow State UniIf m y example of the catholic nature of vemity (1933), Laboratory of Organic business is needed in the present age, the Chemistry, NIIUIF (1934); Institute of fact of an anthology of Russian chemOrgano-Element Compounds, USSR Acadistry, translated into English by a n Engemy of Sciences (1957). lish h m , printed in Israel, and distributed Second, one realizes the inadequacy that to us by an American firm, can be cited. most of us possess relative to our field, in Pursuit of the text leaves a t least one that we rely on the abstractors for CA to reader with the impression that chemistry serve as our window to Russian chemistry. is somewhst more provincial. The clarity and nature of the experimental The volume in question is an abridged sections of this collection m&e one feel (sie) form of the complete works of A. N. that we are receiving a distorted view of Nesmeyanov, covering the permd from Russian chemistry through abstracts. 1929 t o 1959. The original Russian verThird, aside from the historical pmgress sion, published on the 60th anniversary of of one man, there is a view of the progress the author, required four volumes. I n of an idea-ne can follow the struggle of sifting these to produce the present Engscience and doctrine related to resonance lish text, most reviews and those artlcles dealine with the administration of scienre

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Finally, and perhaps mast important, nately been deleted.

(Continued a page A58)