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 a n unmanageable plethora of information. But that bulk is matched by s 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
mainly with the genesis of activation anslysis and s. philosophy sbont 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 B comprehensive description of the advantages 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 hndyslysis are only s. small fraction of the information that must be known bv a user of activation analvsis. bow to use the table toget any ideaof bond Although the book doe-. nor pnmorethe polarity. Instead he is referred to a more ~pecrfirapplmtions oi the mrrhad, r t docs complete description in Chapter 6; when provide practical background material he gets there he finds no mention of the thst iis usable by anyone in pursuing the concept in the entire chapter. Consultpracticality of activation analysis. ing the index, he finds a discussion in I n the early chapters, the author reChapter 11 of the Mulliken electronegaviews such baekeround ~ r i n c i ~ l eass the tivities, but be is not told why there are charnrteri~tinof 1119 atomic. nurlrus, rhe two electranegativity scales and what the merho& by whirl) marerials are nlade theoretical basis of the Peuling scale is. radioactive in nuclear particle sources, the Furthermore, he will find himself a t that properties of radioactive nuclides, and the point in the middle of a n unfortunate methods by which the isotope may be nondiscussion in which the authors consisdestructively analyzed or analyzed after its tently invert the meaning of the terms separation by a radiochemical method. heterolysis and homolysis. Every chapter This information, as well as specific prais packed full of information, but in gencedurals steps, can be used in activation eral a great deal of class time (or written analysis methods to answer a research handouts) would be required to explicate 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 activation analysis applications. The ides chapter has two sepsrste problem sets, of using geiger-mueller counters in quantione of which has the answers in the back. tative activation analysis is not of much I n no case are the problems actually 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 experimonter. 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 v i r t u d y 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. straightforwt~rd 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 cm. $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.
GEORGE W. LEDDICOTPE Nuclear and Biological Seiaees Division Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia SOS%
Recent Advancer in Gas Chromatography
Edited by Iming I. Domsky, AmourDial, Inc., Chicago, and John A. Perry, Instrumental Analytical 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 m e 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 Neumliller. 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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book reviews (1 D M = 31.5 cents) Subscription price, 110 DM: this reduced nrice exoires after
The appearance of a new edition of this incomparable treasury of chemical information always constitutes a real occasion in the international chemical world. The first editions were compiled singlehsndedly by Rsmpp, probably an unpsmlleled feat in modern chemical writing, and he was responsible for the first 5 editions and in part for the 6th. When he died in 1964, the task was assumed by E. Uhlein who saw the 6th edition through the press and began work on the 7th edition. Unfortunately he too died (1969) and the mantle of Rsmpp then fell on the capable shoulders of Neumiiller, who is now working on the remaining volumes of the 7th edition. I t is planned to issue 2 volumes each y e a and hence the target date for the completion is late 1974. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of this incomparable work were reviewed in THIS JOURNAL a t &ppropriatetimes, [e.g., 44, A666 (1967)l. This growth does not signify that the number of entries has merely been increased and the new entries merely intercalated. The entire text has been critically examined, many articles have been fittingly shortened; others have been lengthened and some have been practically eliminated while newcomers appear for the first time. References to theliterature are numerous. Several pages are devoted to "Hints regarding the use of the work." Thaugh the volumes are of a much more convenient size, each page actually contains more meterid. Many of the srticles have taken on the character of monographs. Biographical paragraphs are plentiful. An interesting feature is the supplying of English translations of many terms. The entire text bas been carefully screened and critically examined. RALPH E. OESPER University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
Preparlive Gar Chromatography
Edited by Albe~tZlatkis, University of Houston, and Victor P~elorius, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Wilev-Interscience. New York. 1971. 402 pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 viii X 15.5 em. $18.
done a good job of integrsting the various chapters. The last is a pmticularly good chapter, but all are worth the attention of those with difficult sepmrttion problems. There are many excellent figures and diagrams and much description of actual experiments. Literature references are extensive and the index is satisfactory. I t is interesting to note that there is alnlost no mention of industrial applications, probably because there are none, or their operators are keeping them really secret. No one appears ready to define words such as "large samples" and "preparative chromatography." For instance, headed "Large Samples," in a the example given involves use of a 40 ml sample. In otber sections, the word "large" turns out to mean many microliters. The importance of proper inlet design would have iustified a more detailed de-
bly there is too great a reliance on the over-simplified general theory that assumes concentrations are always in the same low ranges that apply in analytical gas chromatogrsphy. There appears to be hesitstion to face the "real world" situation of non-linear isotherms. Thus, in a number of places it is stated that samples should be introduced as a narrow and concentrated band, even though there are published data. that show otherwise. A survey of this book indicates that much of preparative gas ehromatography is still very qualitative. Definite column pecking procedures and column evaluation procedures have not yet been developed. Also, the potential of modern computer systems has not been fully taken advantage of to study the effects of nonlinear isotherms, heat and mass transfer effects in collection systems, and solute behavior within the column. Possibly this well-done book will provide the stimulus needed to get preparative gas chromatography up onto more than a. milliliter sample scale. The two omissions the reviewer feels worthy of mention are inadequate treatment of the effectof non-linear isothermeffects, and the absence of evaluation of the limitations of preparative gas chromatography, particulady as related to liquid chromatography, and also in comparison with otber separation methods. ARTHURROSE Applied Science Laboratories, Inc. State College, Pennsylvania 16801
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This book has x good chapter on general theory contributed by Pretorius and de Clerk, and nine other practical chapters by Hupe, Pecsar, Busch, Kaiser, Veraele, Merritt, VandenHeuvel and Kuron, and Barker. The subjects dealt with are Preparative Column Technology including Inlet and Oublet systems, Programming and Automatic Control, Temperature and Flow Programming, Applications (Organic Chemistry, Flavor Research, Biochemical and Biomedical Research) and Continuous Techniques. The editors have
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Journal of Chemical Education
Organische Chemie im Probierglas
Hermann Rdmpp (deceased), Franckh'sche Verlrsgshandlung, Stuttgart, West Germany, 11th edition, 1970. 210 pp. 33 line drawings of asemblies. 13 X 19 cm. 12.80 D M (1 DM = 326). Though the author died in 1964, this valuable book, first issued in 1940, has been regularly reprinted with slight modifications up to the present; the total sales are now about 75,000 a. figure that emphasiees the popularity and importance of
the work. It is not intended to serve as a oonventional textbook but rather.
aims and methods of organic chemistry without going through the formal program ordinarily presented to chemistry students. This book will also annealstronelv spectacular demonstration experiments. The title "Organic Chemistry in the Test Tube" is not precisely correct; besides this simple piece of equipment the t~uthormakes use of other simple devices but never sophisticated assemblies. The author usually describes the parent compound, its preparation and properties, and then does the same for one or more of the commercially important derivatives. T y p ical compounds that are handled in this manner include motor fuels, dyes, insecticides, aspirin, soaps, perfumes, artificial fibers, etc. The reader is told to try certain compounds to determine whether the reactions are specific or general, and to find the limit of sensitivity of tests. In all cases enough theoretical background is given to tie observation and theory together. Hsd the book been put out in normal size type it would have been twice as big; i t contains an enormous amount of useful information and a t a very low price. RALPHE. OESPER Uniuersity of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
