kinetics, the author has made use of the notions of the uncompensated heat, De Donder'n affinity, and same of the apparstus of the Onsager-hIeixner-PrigogineDe Groot theory of irreversible thermw dynamics. With those notions, together with osreful definitions, based on the CITCE's tentative recommendations, he has given u s a very fine eapmitian of his chosen subjects. The whole monograph can he road with profit by most physical and cleotrochemi~ts; although certain portions, for example, the sections dealing with liquid junction potentials, have not been treated with thc inll generality available from the t.hct.modynamics of irreversible process. Also certain other parts dealing with such irreversible phenomena as coupled electrode reactions
are only provisional attempts. However, the sections concerned with definitiono, reversible phenomena, and electrodes, being models of lucidity and rigor, should be r e d by all physical and electroehemists. These sections contain just what the usual textbooks have left out or glossed over. DONALD G. MILLER Umvensirr OF CALIFORNIA RADIATION LABORATORY L r u ~ n ~ oC n *~ ~. r ~ o n n m
POLYMER SOLUTIONS
H. Tompm, European Research Associates, Brussels. Academic Press. Inc.. New York, 1956. xiv 3 2 5 p p . 14.5 X 22 cm. $8.50.
+
A CONSIDERABLE effort in the past twenty years has been expended by theoreticians in explaining the solution properties
of synthetic high pulymers. Dr. Tompa has reviewed these theories in a very comprehensive manner and compared them with the experimental results. The formulas of the thermodynamics of solutions and of the statistics of coiled molecules are derived from first principles. The book serves, therefore, as a basic handbook on the subject as well as a summary of the current theories. The author's style is lucid and he carefully esplains the physical bases of the theories considered. This hook is "required" reading for physical chemists working in the field of high polymers. I t is also recommended as outside reading for seniors or firsGyear graduate students to better appreciate some of the interesting to which thermodynamics hss been recently applied. GERALD OSTER P o ~ r r s c ~I~Nt c~ T I T OF~ B TR~O O X L ~ W
RROOULIV, N. Y.
ION EXCHANGE AND ITS APPLICATIONS Society of Chemioal i n d d y , London, 1955. The MaomiUan Company, New York, 1955. 173 pp. 77 figs. 22.5 X 2 8 cm. $7.50
THISis a collection of 21 papers given a t a. three-day conference a t London University. Among the authors, are the leading experts of ion exchange in Great Britain and four from cant,inental Europe. The diseussion~'that followed the papers are included. The papers are well organized, me written in goad English, and contain a wealth of information, both theoretical and praetied. Although it may he unfair t o the authors of many other excellent contributions, the reviewer yields to the temptation to montian a few papers that he found particularly enjoyable, informative, and stimulating. These are J. A. Kitchener's "Ion-eseheoge equilibria. and kinetics: A critique of the present status of the theory," F. H. Burstnll and R. A. Wells' "Studios on the recovery of gold from cyanide solutions by ion exchange," E. C. Potter and J. F. Maresby's "The m e of catian-exchange resin in the determination of copper and iron dissolved a t ve1.y low concentration in water," B. A. J. Listel.'~ "Ion exchange in the study of complex ions in solution," S. M. Partridge's "Separation of amino-acids, peptides, and pt.oteins," D. A. K. black'^ "Therapeut,ic application of exchange resins," and D. M. Brown's "The sew aration of nucleic acid degradation productn." This list also serves to indicat,e the wide range of topics eovewd in the book. The reviewer also applauds the statement of E. Glueckxuf ro~ardingthe difficulty in deriving a general elution equation: "Indeed, s universally applicable solution does not exist, and ii it were possible to produce it, it would he an elephantine aRair of unmanageable complexit,y." There is less repetition in the eontributions of thc various authors than one usually findr in a hook of this type. The chief criticisms of the hook are the lack of an index and the long i n t e n d (Continued on page 8 2 8 5 ) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
