specific topics. I dug into the work with eager anticipation; but the question only deepened-to whom is this book addressed? My own introductory chemistry course is taught by a n individualized study method, and i t is clear to me that this is not a text a student could approach on his or her own. The problem in using the text is in part sheer bulk; because of their multitude of topics and frequent use of extensive tables Howald and Manch sometimes present the student with an unmanageable plethora of information. But that bulk is matched by a bewildering brevity a t crucial points. I n the critical first five chapters this alternation is almost maddening. For example, in Chapter 3 eleetronegrttivity is referred to as "an important consideration in compound formation.. ." and a camplete table of Pauling electronegativities is riven. Yet the student is not told clearlv how to use the table toget any ideaof bond polarity. Instead he is referred to a more complete description in Chapter 6; when he gets there he finds no mention of the concept in the entire chapter. Consulting the index, he finds a discussion in Chapter 11 of the Mulliken electronegativities, but be is not told why there are two electranegativity scales and what the theoretied basis of the Peuling scale is. Furthermore, he will find himself a t that point in the middle of a n unfortunate discussion in which the authors consistently invert the meaning of the terms heterolvsis and homolvsis. Everv c h a ~ t e r
mainly with the genesis of activation analysis and s. philosophy about its use in a variety of scientific disciplines. The method of activation analysis has been used extensively in the biological sciences, earth sciences, physical sciences, and in industry. I t is also being developed as a tool for medical and environmental sciences research. ~-~~ The book is rt comprehensive dmcription of the advnntagm and disadvantages of a sensitive and a specific analysis method for research problek. I t provides general information about the application areas of activation analysis and cites literature sources for further study by the reader as i t is needed. The book's survey chapter presents the principles involved in activation andysis methodology. It also strongly suggests that the proper techniques for activation hndysis are only s. small fraction of the information that must be known bv a user of activation analvsis. Although the book doe^ nor p n m o t e t h c ~pecrfirapplications oi the mrrhad, r t docs provide practical background material thst iis usable by anyone in pursuing the practicality of activation analysis. I n the early chapters, the author reviews such background principles as the characteristics of the atomic nucleus, the methods by which materials are made radioactive in nuclear particle sources, the properties of radioactive nuclides, and the methods by which the isotope may be nondestructively analyzed or analyzed d t e r its separation by a radiochemical method. This information, as well as meeific macedurals steps, c& be used in' activation analysis methods to answer a research problem. the text. However, a detailed examination of a Related to the author's lack of clarity is book like this reveals a few things that are the paucity of worked examples throughof less importance than others: For exout the book to guide the student in his ample, too much information is given on use of the information. Even the problem the use of geiger-mueller counters in seotions are of little help here. Each chapter has two sepsrete problem sets, activation analysis applications. The ides of using geiger-mueller counters in quantione of which has the answers in the back. I n no case are the problems actually tative activation analysis is not of much interest when gamma-ray spectrometry is worked out in the beck, and frequently the answered problem set is significantly much more readily available to an experimenter. simpler than the unauswered set. In summary, the text is excellent both in In general, i t o m besaid that this bookis clearly and carefully written. It does conception and in general coverage (though present a prodigal introduction to a relai t avoids "relevant" topics such as pollutively new analytical technology that can tion and nylon except in the Preface), but be understood by people who are not i t is virtudly unusable. The average or familiar with the technology. The author poorer student will find it unreadable without a. great deal of help. The brighter has found a way to express the technique in s. straightforward and somewhat leistudent will find its problems unenlightensurely manner. A person without a ing, and will be frustrated by its unsuitability for independent use. A less amnuclear and analytical chemistry background can aptly follow his presentabitious, more lucid text would he helpful tion of the activation analysis methods. for any and all introductory students. The author knows the current literature of JACK E . LEONARD the subject well and treats it fairly. I n Slate Unioewity of New Yark most instances, his current terminology Purchase. New York 10677 and understanding of the procedures used in activation analysis and his familiarity with the general ideas of adapting an analytical method Like activation analysis to many subject disciplines is most effective. Principles of Activation Analysis The mast singular thing that the author has done is to present s. work which is a Paul Kmger, Stanford University, Stanworthwhile effort to fulfill the needs of ford, California. Wiley-Interscience, many different researchers to understand 522 pp. Figs. New York, 1971. xi rtnd appreciate the usefulness of applying and tables. 16 X 23.5 om. $25. specific and sensitive malytical methodologies to many of the resemch problems In "Principles of Activation Analysis," that are now upon us. However, any Kruger presents a textbook which deals
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researoher who is less familiar with activation analysis, will have to thoroughly review the literature cited to find the procedures he needs to use to complete the assay of his sample materials.
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia 303%
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Recent Advancer in Gas Chromalography
Edited by Iming I. Domsky, AmourDial, Inc., Chicago, and John A. Perry, Instrumental Analyticsl Chemistry, Chicago. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New 414 pp. Figs. and York, 1971. xi tables. 18.5 X 26 cm. $19.50.
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This hook contains 17 individual pspers collected from lectures given in 1968 and 1969 under the sponsorship of the Chicago Gas Chromatography Discussion Group. I t is cold type set but easily read and has good figures. The editors have provided both subject and author indexes. The individual pspers are very uneven in many respects. They range in length from 6 to 66 pages with an average of 23. Some topics are elementary (Column Technology) and others are advanced and highly specific (Dependence of Electron Capture on Pulse Interval). The largest number of them are essentially reviews. However, the Critical Review on Detectors is only 12 pages long, covers only the F I D and ECD, and has only three references. Other pspers would certainly not qualify as "recent advances" and in fact two are on liquid chromatography (gel permeation). Five contain significant original work, but most deal with gas chromatogrsphy on a practical level including specific fields such ss lipid analysis, food packaging, pesticides, derivative formation, and studies of human metabolites. At least three of the papers have been published in journals invirtually identical form. The best papers me those of a review nature including the one on Flaw Patterns in GC by Hawkes, Glass as a GC Support by Filbert, and Lipid Analysis by Metcalf. For the reasons previously given and the relatively high cost of this book it is difficult to recommend it foi purchase by colleges and universities. This reviewer would have preferred if the best individual pspers had been published in journals rather than collected into a book.
JAMES M. MILLER Drew University Madison, New Jersey
RSmpps Chemie-Lexikon
Completely revised and enlarged 7th edition, compiled and edited by Otto Albrecht Neumuller. Miilheim an der Ruhr. Published by Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, West Germany, Volume 1, A-C, Spring, 1972. 734 pp. 34 page supplement. 240 illustrations in text. 18 X 24.5 em. 126 D M
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(Continued on page A700)
Volume 49, Number 12, December 1972
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A699
