book reviews %move chess problems. The wide range of material contributed by 20 authors in 18 chapters makes a really critical review a iormidahle task for one person. These chapters are (1)Molecular force fields and vnlency, J. W. Linnett; (2) The hyper Rsman effect, D. A. Long; (3) Vibrational assignments in small molecules, W. H. Fletcher; (4) Interferometry: Experimental techniques and applications to inorganic stlmctures, G. W. Chantry; (5) Single crystal and hightemperature gas-phase Itaman spectroscopy, I. R. Beabtie; (6) High resolution Raman spectroscopy of gases, H. G. M. Edwards; (7) Intermoleculnr force effects
in the Raman spectra of gases, C. G. Gray and H. L. Welsh; (8) Itaman spectra of alkali halides, 11. S. Krishnan; (9) Atomic interactions in molecdar, covalent, ionic and metallic crystals, S. Mieushima and I. Ichishima; (10) Structural aspects of the I\lnssbauer effect, J . F. Duncan; (11) Non-staichiometry in fluorite structures, I,. E . J. 12oberts; (12) Some aspects of solvation, H. J. V. Tyrrell; (13) Vibmtionalspectroscopicstudiesof complexes in solution, D. N. Waters; (14) Vibrst,ional studies of the Jehn-Teller effect, J . A. Creighton, (15) Spectroscopic properties of the diatomic oxides of t,he trmsitian elements, R. F. Barrow; (16) Vibrational studies of metal-metal banding, hI. J. Ware; (17) Infrared and Raman spectra of organometallic and related compounds, J. R. Hall; and (18) Structural aspects of sulphur-fluorine chemistry, H. L. Roberts.
Since many of these topics have been reviewed recently elsewhere, the question arises as who really should buy this book. Firstly, I would recommend it to anyone interested in the application of vibrational and especially of laser R s m m spectroscopy in inorganic chemistry. The English have led the world in this latter area, in no small measure because of the work of Woodward and his students. Chapters 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, and 17 are %I1especially authoritative and up-to-date reviews of laser Raman studies on diRerent inorganic systems. Secondly, all of the chapters are wellwritten, and this book is a veritable treasure-trove of material for problems to be assigned by anyone teaching an advanced course in structural inorganic chemistry. Thc editors are to be commended for hsving seen that an excellent production jab was done by the publisher. For such a commemorative volume, it is remarkably iree of typographical errors. Finally, the royalties go to a good cause, the establishment of s. prize in Woodward's name a t Jesus College. R. STWART TOBIAS Purdue University Lafaptte, Indiana 47907
Qualitative Concepts from Quantum Chemistry
Russell S. Drago, University of Illinois. Bogden and Quigley, Ino., Publishers, Tarrytown-on-Hudson, New York, 126pp. Figs. and tahles. 1971. viii 28 X 21.5 em. $3.50, softbound.
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At a, time when i t has become quite fashionable to write a. supplement for tl&e general chemistry course, Russell Drago has entered the scene with his "Qualitative Concepts From Quantum Chemistry." I t is this reviewer's opinion that this small book will be quite well received. The material which Drago has chosen is well presented and clearly written. The chapter titles gives a quick over-view of the material presented. They include (1) Preliminary Considerations, (2) Quantum Mechanics, (3) Chemical Periodicity, (4) Correlations of Periodic Arrangement with Chemical Reactivity, (5) Bonding, and (6) Properties of Compounds Related to Structure. The design of the book is very appealing with wide margins for additional notes. One of the very strong points about the book in the inclusion oi twenty tests (with answers) far the student to check his mastery of the material. These lest3 are located within each chapter immediately iollowing the presentation of new material. In addition a group of exercises (again with answers) are provided a t the end of each chapter as a further cheek-point for the student. The mathematical level of the book is not high but mathematics has not been avoided ss so often is the case. Drago poinb out in the Preface, "I shall lead yuu through this jungle of mathematics." As the author goes on to say, "This approach may even show the need and provide the motivation for serious students to
A606 / Journal of Chemical Education
both in and out of the laboratory, and in 1914 was made professor when Purdie retired. During World War I his laboratory and his expertise plus his imaginative strengthen their mathematical backchemical abilities played an important ground." part in the chemical warfare waged by M y only objection to the book is the Britain agaimt the Germans who sopnumber of typogri~phicalerrors that heve posedly had a mastery in that field. In not been corrected. These would not be 1921 lrvine wa8 appointed Principal and serious for a more advanced test hut for a Vice-Chancellor of St. Andrews. His freshmen supplement they can he rather teaching career was a t an end but instead misleading. A few of the more serious he found himself enmeshed in all sorts of errors are: p. 13, the use of A E , the adrninist,rative duties, committees, ete., energy change should refer to the difference that sapped his strength. He had to be in energy between two orbitals, AEi.j; away from home frequently, samet,imes p. 81, should have Ne' not NSP;p. 91, the for lengt,hy periods but invariably wrote label of .Ir should be y not z; p. 96, should letters that were a great solace to his wife, be 0 P not 0'-; p. 98, the bonding and who was left behind with their three chilantibonding orbitals, m,, and a,,* me dren. He made no fewer than eighteen mislabeled; p. 104, throughout the text the trips to the United States and Canada, axis perpendicular to the page hss been attending conferences, delivering lectures, died the y-axis, thus for the s system in receiving honorary degrees. He was hensene should use p , and not p, orbitsls. knighted in 1925, and the home of Sir For the most m r t these m e insienificsnt snd Lady Irvine a t St,. Andrews rrrdrs thnt hwc, v r c p into the I I I : I ! . I I - ~ I . I ~James ~, SRW many of the world's eminent persons l , ~ t they m n y Ilr 1r.1ublc qml- f >r fw-has their guests. men. In her biographical study, Lady Irvine M y overall opinion of the book is very gives valnsble insights into t,he raising of favorable. I can recommend this as a their children, her clever handling of her fine supplement and hope that in a future over-worked husband, t,heir happy vacaprinting these and some other less serious tion times together. To be the wife of a errors would be corrected. public figure is not the ebsiest task in the world. She began to compose these WILLIAMA. DESKIN chapters after her husband's death; she Cornell College outlived him by 15 y e a r and her eyesight Alount Vernon, Iowa 62314 gradually precluded her from carrying it on beyond the date of the death of their youngest. child and only son during World War 11. The Avenue of Years This hook would make a fine present for every chemist t o give to his wife and A memoir of Sir James Irvine, principal perhaps to be read aloud together. It is and Vice-Chancellor of the University not a formal biography but a true meof St. Andrews 1921-52 by his wife morial to a great chemist and educator by a Mabel V. Irvine, William Blackwood, loving wife, who had the gift of putting at, Edinburgh and London, 1970 v. least part of her thoughts on paper in an 268 pp. Photographs. 21.5 X 14 interesting manner. em. 36 shillings ( = 84.32 approx.).
book reviews
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For the most part chemists do not marry chemists but the lack of chemical knowledge has not apparently prevented any favorable influences on t,he hnsband's career by his non-scientific wife. This biography by the widow of her eminent husband indicates elea~.lythat her support was a big fact,or in his success and that his happy marriage and congenial homelife made it possible for him to do his job in x more excellent fashion. She loved him dearly and renpect,ed him for his chemical knowledge and administrative abilities but her wise advice helped him bhrough m m y awkward situations. The chemical and scientific world sorely needs more books like bbis one in which we are taken hehind tlw . r ~ ~ . eand , guwh 1 lm the wife .
