BOOK REVIEWS The chapter on quantum mechanics was written by Henry Margenau and is intended to supplement the corresponding chapter in the first volume. This chapter is devoted to manipulations involving angular momentum operators and to transformation theory. S. S. Schweber wrote the three chapters on advanced quantum machanics which may he of oonsiderable interest to physicists. However, few chemists will be able to read these without extensive previous preparation. Although this volume contains many well-written chapters by a group of distinguished contributors, it can be highly
recommended onlv to those scientists who have a particular interest in one or more of the specialized topics presented.
not counting those devoted to special areas such as atomic structure or quantum chemistry. A new book on the subject will be of particular interest to chemists DONALD R. WHITMAN only if it offers a unique perspective on Case Institute o j Technology chemical problems. While this book has Cleveland, Ohio many good features, it will not be an essential purchase for most chemists. The hook is divided into two parts, the lnlroduction lo the Quantum Theory first covering general theory and the David Park, Williams College, Williamssecond treating applications to selected tam, Massachusetts. McGrew-Hill topics. The preface says that the table Book Co., Inc., New York, 1964. xv of contents will indicate where each chap547 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 ter on applications could he introduced X 24 cm. $10.75. during the study of theory, but this information seems to have been omitted. A quick look through the library card The book is written as a. text for physics catalogue of this reviewer's institution students on about the senior level, with revealed some thirty or forty books on a fair degree of m a t h e m a t i d preparation. the principles of quantum mechanics, A large number of derivations and proofs of equations are left as exercises for the student, this is good for use in a course but it rather decreases its value as a reference book. Several areas are treated in a. way which makes this book interesting far chemists. For example, the last two chapters are devoted to thermodynamics and quantum statistics, and they provide a useful summary of statistical thermodynamics. Another chapter gives a good introduction to solid state theory by covering in detail the one dimensional case of electrons in a periodic potential. The hydrogen molecule-ion is treated in the L. C. A. 0. approximation, and the discussion is carried as far as the Hellmann-Feynman theorem eonrerning the forces on the nuclei in a molecule. The references given throughout the book are fairly numerous and up to date. On the other hand, this book has several disadvantages from the chemist's point of view. The most serious of these is the lack of any discussion of the methods for trertting systems of more than two electrons or molecules other than &+. The treatment of vibration and rotation of diatomic molecules is very brief, and there is nothing about polyatomic molecules. There are other books on quantum mechanics which discuss these important
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1935). park's book would i;e useful for it; intended purpose, as a. text for an introductory course in quantum mechanics, but the chemist desiring a book with emphasis on topics of ehemicalinterest will be better OK with s. book like Pauling and Wilson.
Uniuersilg of Colorado Boulder Radioactivation Analysis
H . J. M. B m a and D. Gibbons, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, England. Oxford, a t the Clarendon Preus, 1963. 295 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 24 cm. $8. This is the first book that approaches the status of a text in its field. It is factually indicated on the jacket that the book "describes the theoretical and practical details of the techniques, and reviews re(Continued on page -4966)
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BOOK REVIEWS cent applications in chemistry, biochemistry, geochemistry. . . . A noteworthy feature is the inclusion of detailed methods of analysis of 85 chemical elements." I t is a logical treatment, including the necessary physics of the activation process and measurement of radiation, as well as separation chemistry. This book will probably be found the most pedagogically useful of the recent publications. Taylor, in "Neutron Irradiation and Activation Analysis," leans toward the physicist and the engineer. Physics is emphasized also in the Oak Ridge "compendium" ("Guide to Activation Analysis," W. S. Lyon,
D. Van Nostrand, 1964 ed.,), which is a n excellent reference book, with its large bibliogmphy and tabular presentations of sensitivity values and applications. I n Cali's 135-page chapter in "Trace Analysis of Semiconductor IMaterials," he assumes some prior knowledge of nuclear physics and radiochemistry. With respect to details of the structure and content of the book, the bibliography of over 700 references is incomplete but generally adequate. A serious flaw is the lack of mention of the excellent series of monographs on the radiachemistry of the elements and radiochemical techniques, issued by the US. National Research Council (their nos. NAS-NS-3001 el sep.). The tabular material, though useful and
informative, is a m n g e d in various systems, i.e., alphabetically by element name, by symbol, or by atomic number, causing some inconvenience. In Table 2.1, the relative values of the sensitivities by radiochemistry and by gamma spectrometry are somewhat misleading, largely because the irradiation times are not consistent. The problem of self-shielding is properly aasigned some importance. I t should also be noted-inee aqueous samples are recommended-that "enhancement" of activration can take place by moderation of neutron energies in hydrogenous materials. I n view of the inherent lack of high precision in production and measurement of radioactive species, the recommendation of gravimetric aliqnota (p. 110) is not justified; volumetric techniques are almost always adequate. Information about radiation hazards, regulations covering disposal of samples, eto., must be obtained from other publications. As a whole, this is a good, well-halanced treatment of the subject, giving the novice sufficient information for the usual applications of activation analysis. I t is indeed a. welcome addition to the literature of the field.
Oak Ridge Nalional Labomtory Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Edited by M. J. Wells. Report of the conference organized by the Hydrocarbon Research Group of the Institute of Petmleum and held in London, March 1962. Published by the Institute of 305 Petroleum, London, 1962. viii pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $10.
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The Conference an Spectroscopy arranged by the Hydrocarbon Research Group of the Institute of Petroleum covers current research in many fields of spectros copy. Some of those included are atomic absorption, X-ray fluorescence, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron resonance, free radical spectroscopy, infrared in m m y forms, the use of computers in spectroscopy, solvent effects and the spectroscopy of excited states. As would be expected in a collection of this sort, the treatments are not of a uniform degree of difficulty. This can be illustrated by the two papers on electron resonance. The first bv D. J.
ment is, in general, very clear and points up the information obtained by electron resonance from hemoglobin, myoglobin, and some other similar molecules. The following paper by D. H. Whiffin on Eleotron Snin Resonance of Free Radirdr assumes s, much hieher decree ~e - ~ of~cornnetenre ~ . . . r - - on the part of the reader and is much more difficult to follow. This is, in part, caused by the arrangement of the papers in which Ingram was to lay the groundwork and Whiffin to continue with the topic, but the difference is too great for any one unacquainted with electron spin resonance to make the jump. As a reference source of current research ~~~~~
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