BOOK REVIEWS Each of the five principal divisions of the book begins with a. review and continues with a number of papers on specific current developments. Each contrihtltion is followed by a discussion. The divisions deal in turn with the formation, mechanical properties, electric properties, and magnetic properties of thin films, concluding with chemical interactions a t surfares. While this last part is the only one of strictly chemical interest, any scientist will find fascinating bits of information and especially memorable pictures scattered throughout the collection. Among those t h t seemed most impressive are the island structures of gold deposited onto cleaved salt, the jerky motion of a dislocation, the ordering of a. CuAu alloy, the direct measure of the free path of the photoelectron in potassium. the review of adsomtion., and the perfect order with occasional vacancies of the individual atoms in a platinum crystal as shown by the field emission micrographs. One might ask whether learned journals would not he a better place to publish these results after careful refereeing and editing. Much can be said, however, for bringing together within easy reach an up-to-date collection of thoughts and results of an outstanding group in s. rapidly developing and fascinating redm. But again, a look a t the price tag makes
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A824
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Journal of Chemical Education
one wonder within whose easy reach it has really been brought!
KAROL J. M r s m s University of Southern California Los Angeles, Calif.
Phyrico-Chemical Measurements at High Temperatures
Edited by J. O'M. Bockris, University of Pennsylvania, J. L. White, General Atomic Research Laboratory, San Diego, and J. D. Maekenzie, General Electric Research Lrtborstory, Schenect d y . (Butterworths Scientific Puhlications) Academic Press Inc., New 394 pp. Figs. York, 1959. viii and tables. 16.5 X 25.5 cm. $13.50.
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One needs only to witness the number of symposia and conferences, the wealth of publications, and the number of orgsnizations performing research or development work in the field to realize that high temperature chemistry is vitally important and rapidly growing. In a L tempting to provide a hook covering some of the principles and techniques in the field, the editors have secured chapters from outstanding authorities in the field, and they have suoceeded admirably in synthesizing the contributions into a coherent work. The book is primarily concerned with experimental techniques and measurements in the temperature range lOO& 2000'C. There is very little discussion
of theory or of the interpretation of the results of the measurements. The various chapters attack the basic experimental problems of high temperature chemistry: choosing the proper materials for the apparatus; securing the high temperature; measuring i t ; and making the physical chemical measurements a t high temperature. There are fifteen chapters grouped into three parts of one, three, and eleven ehapters, respectively and seven appendixes. 1. J. O'M. Bockris discusses some general aspects of physical chemistry rpsearch a t high temperatures in the first chapter. The next three chapters are concerned with the general problems of high temperature research. 2. J. L. Margrave discusses temperature measurement. 3. I
