The book seeme to be ideally suited for eraduate course of use as a textbook in a ~, thermodynanicr for phyrirul rhemwrry studeuts or for self-ytdy I,J persons seriously interested irr the furdamenrnl aspects of the subject. ~
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E. M. LOEBL Polytechnic Institute of Bmoklyn Bmoklyn, New Y w k
Volency and Molecular Structure
E. Cartmell and G. W . A. Fowles, both of the University of Southzmpton, England. 2nd ed. Academic Press, 294 pp. Ine., New York, 1961. xii Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 om. $7.
This need is not often recognized in American textbooks, where material is normally either stated dogmatically, developed fully, or not mentioned a t all. Prospective authors might be well advised to study the approach taken in this book, to see if it cannot be applied in other areas, so that students may gain an intuitive erasn of the direction of m.. swrrh rogrthtr with e m w ind~mtio~r as to t r ~ ~ t n l r nCRIl t s he whew more IIIOTOUY~ found. The book is likely to he of use in Senior "Advanced Topics" or "Seminar" courses, and as a book to keep near at hand for seniors, graduate students, and teachers.
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crystal field theory, valeneebond theory of metals, miorowave spectroscopy, EPR and NMR spectroscopy, mscromolecules, and optical rotatory dispersion are not mentioned or are very inadequately treated. The second edition (1961) differs from the first (1957) in only minor ways. Despite its general failure to incorporate adequately the developments of the last two decades the book will be a valuable referenee work for tboae desiring a, clear, sound, easily read introduction to the foundations of a variety of topics and will be particularly useful to graduate students and workers in the field of physical cbemistry. It is a remarkable achievement for 0 . T. BENFEY a single author and represents a unity of Earlham College viewpoint unattainable in compilations Richmond,Indiana of chapters written by different authors. Printing and binding are excellent, it is remarkably free from errors and the price is reasonable for a text of 1333 pages. ~~~
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The authors are to be commended for bringing this useful summary of valence Physical Chemistry theories and applieations upto-date, within five years of its original publication (of. review of 1956 edition, ~ a l Js O U R N A ~ E. A. Moelwy12-Hughes, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England. 2nd 34, 52 119571). ed. Pergamon Press, New Yark, 1961. Part I on Quantum Theory and Atomic 1333 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X vii Structure is essentidly unchanged. Part 25 cm. $17.50. I1 dealing with the Quantum Theory of Valeucy bas been rearranged to put The author has provided an unusually greater emphasis on molecular orbital detailed and comprehensive treatment of treatment, this approach now heing physical chemistry written with skill and developed before the valence bond method, care. Experimental and theoretical founThe word resonance is now relegated to the dations are considered side by side and end of the valence bond discussion, mathematities is used extensively. The mainly to emphasize the misconceptions subjects are largely developed in a eonengendered by the term, whereas in the ventional manner as is fitting in a text. first edition the mechaniod resonance Some exeellent problems are included with analogy was used as a device for introeach ehapter. ducing this approach. The change is The book begins with ehapters on welcome. kinetic-molecular theory, quantum meSome recent data have been included in chanics, thermodynamics and st&tisticel Part I1 such as Kolos and Roothaan's mechanics and these theoretical methods (1960) computer solution of a fifty-term are used freely in the remainder of the function for the energy and bond length of book. There fallows a discussion of the hydrogen molecule: atomic structure, two chapters on maleeular structure based largely on specD(~v) R(H) troscopy, and a series of chapters an the Experimental 4.7466 074116 states of matter--gaseous, crystalline, Calculated 4.7467 0.74127 metallie, liquid, dissolved, ionie, and The forty-page expansion of this edition interfacial. The book closes with chaptern over the first occurs largely in Part 111, on homogeneous and heterogeneous equiThe Application of the Principles of libria and on kinetics of gaseous, heteroChemical Bonding. The major innovageneous, photoehemiod, and solution tion is the extensive treatment of ligand reactions. Much material not ordinarily field theory and its more important available in textbooks, such as a chapter achievements in the chemistry of coon intermolecular energy, is included. A multitude of useful tables and graphs ordination compounds. The very useful increase the value of the book as a refgeneralizations of Gillespie and Nyholm erence work. (1957) regarding the geometrical dietribution of electron paim and the relative Although intended for a text in British significance of lone pair and bonding pair universities it does not seem likely to be repulsions are used extensively. Part I11 very useful as such in the U.S.A., since has also been made more useful by numthere is too much material and the level is erous tabulations of available hybrid too advanced far our undergraduate orbitals, geometries resulting from them courses. It might be more useful for and examples. courses a t the graduate level but those The book is "mainly intended for tend to be broken up and covered one first-year honors students" of the British topic a t a time, and this would rarely be a first choice aa a text for s. course in any University system. It does not fit easily into the American pattern, heing too particulm topic. advanced for introductory college inOn the debit side it must be noted that organic courses hut not mathematically coverage of the literature beyond 1940 rigorous enough for graduate school uee. is very sketchy and one eould scarcely It attempts to give the student a "feel" count on the referenees even for an introfor the rightness of a solution when it duction to the recent literature. Tables cannot be solved fully, so that "the reader of data are often ouhf-date. Many subjects such as molecular structure and may accept the results without feeling chemical binding, moleoular orbital theory, that the procedure is quite arbitrary."
MAXT. ROQERLI Michigan State Univewity E. Lansing
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378
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Journal of Chemicol Education
A Practical Course in Polymer Chemistry
S. H . Pinner, Borough Polytechnic, London, England. Pergamon Press, 156 pp. he., New York, 1961. xv Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $4.50.
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This slim volume provides carefully detailed instructions far 41 introductory laboratory experiments involving the synthesis and analysis of polymers. These experiments were specifically designed to furnish praetieal experience required of candidates for the graduateship examinstion given by the British Plastics Institute. Nevertheless, those beginning palymer work in industry or in universities should find this book a useful source of procedures. The experiments fall under three broad beadings: .monomer preparation and the modification and degradation of polymers (12 experiments), polymerization reactions (21 experiments), and polymer evaluation (8experiments). The polymeri~ationsection includes examples of bulk, solution, suspension, and emulsion polymerization, copolymerieetion, redax and ionic polymerization, and polycondensation. Most of the samples prepared are tested to ascertain the quality of the nroduet. r - ~ The instructions are concisely presented in the following format: purpose, r e aetion, special equipment, materials, and total time required,,procedure, and report. The Introduction meludes a list of the general equipment required. There are 22 line drawings, most of which illustrate details of experimental setups. Two appendices furnish praotieal snggestions concerning osmotic pressure and viscosity measurements for more advanced workers. These draw upon the author's eonsiderable experienoe, and will be of value to those in industrial and academic laboratories. The reviewer's only disappointment was to find osmotic pressure treated in terms of the Flory-Huggins ~~~~~~~
