lution, by L. L. Schaleger and F. A. Long, is disappointing mainly because it is too short. Though i t touches on a number of important points, i t frequently offers but a few sentences of general comment and then directs the reader to another article or hook. A Quantitative Treatment of Directive Effects in Aromatic Substitution, by L. M. Stock and H. C. Brown, is 120 pages long. Brown's extension of the Hammett p a relationship to electrophilic aromatic substitution and certain side chain reactions is presented, but nucleophilic and radical substitutions are ignored. A wealth of data. is neatly set forth in tables, but the discussion is tedious and tends to overstate the achievements of Brown and his coworkers. A. I. Shatenshtein's Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Reactions of Organic Compounds in Liquid Ammonia. is valuable because it summarizes a series of researches ~ublished mainly in Russia. Perhaps because of s. too literal translation, the chapter does not read easily. I t seems wordy. Planar and Non-Plenzr Aromatic Systems, by G. Ferguson and J. M. Robertson, is a beautifully organized presentation first of methods for detecting deviations from coplanarity, and then of information about s. host of specific systems or compounds. The Identification of Organic Free Radicals by Electron Spin Resonance, hy M. C. R. Symous, is a careful and thorough review of this timely subject. The Structure of Electronically Excited Organic Molenlles, by J. C. D. Brand and D. G. Williamson, is mainly JOSEPH W E ~ S concerned with the dozen or so stable arFRANCIS library qf Congress ganie molecules whose spectra. have been Washingtm, D. C. analyzed sufficiently to characterize a t least one electronicdly excited state. The chapter is written in the language of the spectroscopist, to which a good introduction is provided. Every college library should have this Advancer in Physical Organic Chemhook. Purrhase is also recommended to istry. Volume 1 individual chemists interested in the field. Edited by V . Gold, University of LnnI t is hoped that future volumes will msindon, England. Academic Press, Int:., tain s. standard such that the latter stato443 pp. Figs. New York, 1963. xv ment can be conscientiously repeated. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $13. JOSEPH F. BUNNETT This is the first volume of a new series Rmwn Unir~ersit!/ which aspires to become a recognized meProoidmee. Rhode Island dium for the publication of authoritative reviews in physical organic chemistry. This field includes two general areas: studies of reactivity and reaction mechaQuantitative Organic Analysis via nisms, and studies of physicill properties Functional Groups and molecular structure. Although two important hooks called "Physical Organio Sidney Siggia, Olin Mathieson Chemical Chemistry" are concerned mainly with the Corporation, New Haven, Connecticut. former area, Dr. Gold stresses t h a t his 3rd ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., series is intended to cover the whole 697 pp. Figs. New York, 1963. xii field. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $19. The first three of six chapters of the The third edition of this book has been present volume concern reactivity and lengthened to 697 pages and, therefore, mechanisms, and the last three deal should be reviewed as a new book and not with physical properties and structure. merely as a revision of the second edition. Though this reviewer's research is mainly 558 [1954]). (THISJOURNALS~, in the former area, he must acknowledge Dr. Siggia has a reputation for doing a that physical properties and structure have thorough job and this volume is no exwon the field insofar as this book is conceotion. Each chmter contains a brief cerned. historical summary, a discussion of each The fimt chapter, Entropies of Activachemical reaction used for the group, the tion and Mechanisms of Reactions in So-
following chspt,ers, all written by eminent experts in their respective field, deal with polymers, plastics, elastomers, coolants, lubricants, adhesives, coatings, dielectric fluids, fuels and shielding materials, coal, woad, and explosives. While all the discussions in the abovementioned chapters deal with damaging or deteriorating effects of radiation, the large field of radiation chemistry and radiation-induced beneficial transformation of matter is presented in the last chapter of the book on 10 pages. This is, of course, inadequate t o oover the subject matter. I n spite of this high degree of specialization and compartmentalization which makes frequent repetitions unavoidable, the book fulfils two very useful and necessary functions. In the first place it makes comparisons between the data easier by adopting throughout the book a uniform terminology and expressing the most important radiation unit, namely that of absorbed dose, in mdds as defined by the International Commission on Radiological Units as 100 ergs per gram of material. And secondly it makes much material accessible otherwise not available through the oonventiond scientific and technical publications up to 1962. For these reasons the book will serve as a comprehensive, reliable, and up-to-date reference handbook for all those who need in their work such a well-ordered compilation of data. And the non-specialists who may peruse the volume will get an ides of the great intricacies involved in selecting and protecting materids that are exposed to all kinds of nuclear radiation.
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Journal of Chemicol Education
working procedures presented in full detail, and suitable trace methods for low concentrations. It is pointed out properly that most methods given can be conducted on a mieroseale if desired. This volume will receive some criticism because reaction mechanisms and the like me minimized. However, the author indicates in both the preface and the introduction that this is a working hook and not a theoretical book. On the other hand, this volume has much to make its use a necessity in a laboratory doing organic analysis. All of the methods included have been tested in the author's laboratory and as a result minor variations from the literature are to be found. Any competent technician should be able to do the determinations. The chapter on the use of reaction rates to analyze mixtures is a good practical treatment with understandable examples and should became a, part of every undergraduate course in analytical chemistry. The chapter an Techniques and Reasoning is a lucid account of the steps in prohlemsolving. In a hook of this size minor errors are almost impossible to eliminate, so an occasional "burette" and "NaBsO2" for NaS& were not unexpected. The author states that he has selected the methods for utility in hrs l~boboratoryso some chemists will be surprised to find their contributions overlooked. The printing and binding are excellent. Most academic and industrial libraries will require this volume, hut the price will make it borderline for individuals.
K. G. STONE Michigan State Unzuemzl!~ East Lansing
The Structures and Reactions of Organic Compounds: An Introduction
M. F . Gundon and H. B. Hmhcst, both of Queen's University, Relfast, Ireland. Prentiee-Hall, Englewood 208 Cliffs, New Jersey, 1962. viii pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 23.5 em. 56.
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The authors have attempted to present in two hundred pages "the basic ingredients of a modern course in organic chemistry." The problems of choice of topics and how extensively to cover these topics have been handled in a reasonable way in this text. Much more treatment of mechanisms is included than is usual in a book of this type. All too often, however, brevity has been achieved by compression instead of by omission, with the result that some sections would be harder for the student to read than would be come-
,or cross reference, 'iechnied terms (such as ester and amine) which they have not yet defined. The literary style sometimes causes further difficulty, as on page 57: "The name aldehyde is derived from the words 'alcohol dehydrogenation,' as acetaldehyde, the first aldehyde to be die(Contintud on page A974)
