about chemical resetion as the means of analysis, references are made to instrumental methods, especially nmr. I n the case of primary and secondary alcohol i t is shown how ac~lation followed by nmr analysis was used to determine the components of a mixtwe. This was not possible by nmr alone. The advocacy of a mix of chemical and instrumental techniques may induce the reader to do more thinking in this area. Two minor errors were noted, an unbalenced q u a t i o n on page 45, and an incomplete sentence on page 75. The book should make thoughtful and informative reading for both students and practicing chemists. C. A. STREULI Ammican Cyanemid Company Stamford, Connecticut
Organometallic Compounds of the Group IV Elements. Volume 1, The Bond to Carbon Edited by Alan G. MacDianid, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1968. Part 1, r v 603 pp.; Part 2, xiii 261 pp. Tables. 16 X 23.5 em.
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This new series promises to be a valuable addition to the ever-increasing number of books of the "advances" type. The editor structures the series in the introduotion by stating "Each volume will be devoted to a discussion of a group IV element-X bond, where X is s. specific element or group of elements." The initial volume, which deals with the group IV-carbon bond, has a n underlying theme as a result of this structuring. The reader can depend upon the scope of the material to be found in each section. Further, the chapters on the individual elements are organized in a consistent fashion, first presenting information on how the group IV-carbon bond is formed and then discussing the reactions of this bond. Limiting the scope of each volume has some small disadvantages. A certain amount of repetition is to be expected. For example, Volume 2 will treat the group IV-halogen band hut the reaction of this bond is extensively treated in the initial volume as a prime method for the formation of the group IV-carbon bond. Also, reaction types which show some addition to generality (e.g., EM-H EM-X) are not alkenes, and R-Mg-X sufficiently compared. However, on the whole, i t is felt that more is gained than lost by this strict organizetion. The first chapter is s general view of the important physical properties of the erorm IV elements and their com~ounds. It dcd. priucipdly with atomic ~ T I I ~ ~ I I C and tllr proprrriei of s r d l ~qmurnt.rnllic n d c c d e ~ . T h v curreut evidwcc for the existence and extent of (p d) r bonding is critically examined. Ebsworth's comments an what is well understood (or, mare properly, what isn't!) about these supposedly simple properties is a t times refreshing and often not too gentle. For example, in discussing the donor proper-
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Journd o f Chemical Education.
ties of some organometallic compounds based on heats of formation, he states "The assumption is of course unjustified; .. .but as usual the assumption serves as a basis of a. simple-minded discussion of the problem.'' The chapter by Eaborn is devoted to an extensive review of the current literature through 1967. Of the more than 2500 references, more than 607! are from 1960 or later. This accurately reflects the explosive growth of research in the organosilicon field. The approach is from s preparative point of view, with mechsr nistic information interspersed when availdde. The extensive section on the addition of silicon hydrides to alkenes is particularly noteworthy. This area. has developed very rapidly over the last fifteen years, making the need for such a review acute. The last three chapters on germanium, tin, and lead present a contrast on the basis of size alone. Combined, they are only about one half as large as the chapter or organosilicon compounds. This perhaps reflects that research in these areas lags far behind. Overall, the style of the several contributors was found to be consistent. This is quite often not true in compilations of this type. I t is felt that the initial volume of this series will be useful as reference material for graduate courses and will serve as an invaluable aid to those interested in research in this area. DANIELH. O'BRIEN Tezas A & M University College Station, Tezas
Plasma Spectroscopy Geoffrey 7. Maw, J. J. Thomson Physical Laboratory, Reading, England. American Elsevier Publishing Co., New 316 pp. Figs. and York, 1968. ix tables. 15 X 23 em. $21.50.
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I n the author's words this hook first "aims to provide a text suitable for use in the undergraduate course which gives an insight to those aspects of spectroscopy which are relevant in the analysis of luminous sources currently classed as plasmas!' Secondly, "it is hoped that it will also be of use to graduate students and to research workers requiring an introduction to those aspects of plasma diagnostics which need spectroscopic techniques!' I n this review the book is judged inview of these objectives. The book is obviously written primarily for physics students. However chemistry students are expected to benefit from i t as far as understanding of the principles of atomic spectroscopy. The book consists of eleven chapters including the introduction in which the above concerns are expressed. After a brief account of plasma I fundamentals in chapter two the interaction of matter with electromttgnetic radisi tion is introduced in chapter three with emphasis on the transition probabilities. The next four chapters cover atomic spectra and electronic spectra of diatomic molecules. The treatment, b a d on the wave equation and quantum mechanics, is rather brief. Helpful detaila such as energy levels and transition and correla-
tion diagrams are either few or omitted. Although an introductory course in qumturn mechanics is not essential for an adequate understanding of the subject, the haokeround in ouantum mechanics pr..vidcd i t . the tbook i i rwr stllticwtt ljy ltscli 31.4l h r h tenrhernrd r t m l u l have to seek other texts on quantum mechanics to fill the gap. With these difficiencies standard books on atomic spectroscopy and spectra of diatomic molecules would be a better choice for a course to fulfill the first objective. Bound-free and freefree transitions, which are important processes in plasma sources have not been given enough attention in standard spectroscopy texts. The author is commended far assigning each a separate chapter. In spite of the importance of processes associated with these transitions in plasma sources and the detailed treatment they deserve in a. specialized hook on plasma spectroscopy the treatment here is brief and in the fashion of a. review article. The last two chapters deal with the shapes and widths of spectral lines and with plasma diagnostics such as temperature and density measurements. I t is in these two chapters where a background in atomic spectroscopy and electronic spectra of diatomic molecules is applied towards plasma diagnostics. The contents of the last five chapters serve the second abjective. However the pure theoretical treatment leaves the experimentalist unsatw fied. Practical examples and illustrations backed by the instrumental aspects of spectroscopic techniques are omitted. I n generd the book is suitable as a text for one semester specialised course but requires an introductory course in quantum mechanics as a prerequisite. The lack of exercises and problems a t the end of each chapter could be an undesirable feature of this book as a text. In spite of the above limitations, the author is successful in his wide coverage of a vast topic in a brief book. The price of 521.50 for a book of 316 pages is unreasonable. ~
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ADLIS. KANA'AN Western Michigan Uniwrsity Kalamazoo, Michigan
Chimie Organique Donald J . Cram, University of Calfornia, Los Angeles, and George S. Hammond, California Institute of Teehnology, Pasadena. Translated by Philibert I'ficuyer, Universit6 Laval, Qu6bec. 2nd ed. Gauthier-Villars, Paris, 1968. (Available from Les Presses de 1'Uni1152 pp. versit6 Laval, Quebec.) vi Figs. and tables. 16 X 25 cm. $17.50.
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Here is Cram and Hammond en franc&. The familiarity of this classic (See THIS JOURNAL, 40, 668 [19631) and now the ready availability should combine to make investing in a copy an excellent way to learn scientifio French. Though manstrous and weakly bound, the book maintains the original beauty of composition and,c.ontrasting color. WFK
(Continued on page A760)
