tional groups and subgroups which makes the hook so uniquely valuable for quickly scanning many examples of a, class of compounds to see the gradual (or marked) change whioh occurs in the ir absorption with change in structure. Of course, in addition to this study use, the book would be essential as a. basic compilation of spectra, for the smaller library which cannot afford a comprehensive collection such as Sadtler. In my opinion, an hour or two of browsing in the "Aldrich Library" gives a better impression of trends and variations in absorption bands for various types of compounds than many hours with exeellent texts of the Bellamy or Nakanishi type. Obviously, the best procedure is to use the Aldrich volume along with such descriptive or theoretical books. However, the well-known ir texts just do not contain enough spectra, and they are too scattered in Sadtler's invaluable collection, to show the student-reader exactly how absorption bands change with the introduction of suhstituents a t a number of different locations dawn a chain or on s. ring. There is a molecular formula index for all compounds (misnamed Empirical Formula. Index) to increase the utility of the volume. I have found it helpful to ignore the index when I am looking for a. specific compound which is probably among the 8000. The search is still relatively quick because the compounds are listed in order of increasing molecular weight and then complexity within each class. The bonus is a few more moments of seeing a series of Dnvm J ~ R D . A N spectra of the general type of the comSUNY-Polsdam pound I am looking for, and thus a bit of flew York review in the continuing fight against memory-entropy.
of how eleotromagnetic radiation is absorbed by molecules in these spectroscopic methods are superior. Particuldy good is the section on the origin of nmr chemical shifts. The find chapter is a survey of various reaction types, often including mechanisms. The reader is frequently referred to the various texts in the series that describe particnlar subjects more extensively. Both Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 provide a t their conclusions numerous and a p propriate problems for student practice. Here also in both chapters are lists of references (books not of this series), only one of which, however, if footnoted within the text. Throughout the boak the author makes extensive reference t o other books of t,his series, some of them not yet published. This is a questionable and potentially misleading practice; this perticular hook was referenced (attributed t o another author) in other volume.? of this series six years prior to its publication! The first two chapters have definite value for supplementnl purposes. Chapter 3 serves best as an introduction to other books of the series Before selecting this hook along with others of the series to compose a core of textbooks for a year course in organic chemistry, one should examine d l t o avoid selecting any one that appreciably duplictltes others. This is most important if one considers that the price per page of this series (paperback) is approrimatelv three times that of the most popular cloth-bound organic texts.
The Aldrich Library of Infrared Spectra
Charles J . Pouehert, Aldrich Chemical Co., Ino. Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc., 1203 pp. Milwaukee, 1971. xxiii 31 X 24.5 em. $44.50.
+
When I first saw an advertisement for this hook, my reaction was, "Who needs another boak on or about or with ir spectra?" So I didn't order i t for our library or even want to look a t it. Now that I have seen "The Aldrich Library.. .," I have to answer thst initid question, in some embarrassment, "Every library which treats organic chemistry-college, university, or industry-needs it. And a t $44.50, it is the greatest bargain in chemical publications today; most individuals involved in organic would do well to forego a. few other hooks to have their own individual copies." The basis for that radical revernal is simply examination of the "Library." I t contains 8000 spectra (625 to 4000 om-' range, 95% from a Beckman IR-8 grating instrument) on some 1100 9'/4 X 12 in. pages. But far more important than the number of spectra or the convenience of handling the big book is its arrangement. The spectra are printed eight to a page in 50 functional types ranging from NonAromatic Hydrocarbons through Organometsllic and Arsenic Compounds with each major type sub-classified in as many as 15 categories. I t is this ordering in func-
many students in this country would welcome its self-teaching a5peets. Nevertheless it can be used for student assignments.
8. J. BERNARD A. FIEKERS, College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Mass. 01610
Inorganic Titrimetrie Analysis. Contemporary Methods
Walter Wagnw, University of Detroit, and Clarence J . Hull, Indiana State University, T e n e Haute. Marcel Dek22.5 ker, Inc., New York, 1971. xii pp. Tables. 24 X 16.5 cm. 513.50.
+
In the space of only 225 pages this little book attempts t o act as a "rapid and convenient guide" to the select,ion of x titrimetric method suitable for the occasional determination of an element ~ ~ i rel* n g tively ordinary equipment. Itsstated aim is t o circumvent the purported difficulties of obtaining this information from the extant literature. Titrimetric methods for seventy nine elements and their compounds are included, arranged according t o the Main Groups of the Periodic Table. A standardized format is used for each element. This hegins with s. Synoptic Survey consisting of a few sentences of text under subheadings of Classical lMethods a.hd Contemporsry Methods. Methods published prior to 19.50 are relegated to the Classical category. There is then an Outline of Recommended Contemporay Methods for the element in question, which in most ca5es occupies only a page or two. Thc treatment concludes with a. few (generally less than ten) literature references, most of which are to journal papers published FRANK L. LAMBERT since 1960. Occidental College I n keeping with the restricted aim "to Los Angeles, California 90041 ~ r o v i d esufficient information for readers to decide whether agiven method of anelysis might suit their needs . . .," only the skeletal principles of the selected titriProblem Solving for Chemistry metric methods are described. In most eases, in order to employ the methods, the Edward I . Peters, W e ~ Valley t College, reader will need to consult the cited literaSaratoga, Calif. W. B. Saunders Co., ture for experimental details. Although Philadelphia, 1971. ix 320pp. Figs. space was too limited for comprehensive, and tables. I,? X 2 2 3 em. Softhomd, 84.7.7. critical comparisons of the methods, in many caqes one does find statements about This paperback is auto-tutorial. I t is such important matters as interferences, complementary t o 'Chemical Principles" suitable sample size, accuracy, ete. The by Masterson and Slowinski. Thus it cnn selected methods emphasize physicosave the professor timein teachinguChemichemical techniques of end-point deteccal Principles" or other suitable texts due tion, such as potent,iometry, amperometry, to its auto-tutorial chmxter. spectrophotometry, etc. Coulometric tiI t contains 17 chapters, 7 appendices, 7 trntion methods are included. I n the case page answer section with answers to about of metal ions, the newer complexometric 2.70 problems, an index of about 27.7 items titrations employing ethylenedisminetetraand an the inside covers a periodic table acetate (EDTA), and analogous complexand a table of atomic weights. ing titrsnts, are well represented. Its method is thst of dimensional analyIn same cmes the authors seem t o havc sis. Examples are developed carefully, been carried away a bit by their enthusiprogressively, and almost micru?copicelly asm for "contemporary" as distinct from throughout the chapters. In each chapter their definition of "cla4cd" techniques this part is followed by problems. (pre-19.50). For instance on p. 40, in conThe suhiect matter is about that usuail~ nection with the titration of +2 mercury with thioeyanate ion, a recommended method employs high frequency (oscillametric) end point detection. This recal topics. quires more highly specialized instrumenThe text is commends,ble for the exper(Continued on page A48B) tise that went into it. One wonders how
+
Volume
49,
Number
9,
September
1972
/
A491
