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BOOKREVIEWS
A . h. Sniales, Microbiological Techniques fnr Inorganic Ions by E. E. Snell, Instrumentation and Interactions of Beta Particles with Matter by E. H. Muller, Trace Element Sensitivity (comparison of Methods) by W. W. Meinke, and Separation, Concentration, and Contamination by R. E. Thiers. Each of the chapters contains a general exposition of the principles and general applicability of the particular field and, in most cases, includes material of specific interest in trace analysis. A number of participants refer to the not too sharply defined “trace level” in terms which reflect the advances in analytical methods. “A trace,” which signifies a n amount just within the limit of detection, naturally will undergo changes in meaning as the sensitivity of the method improves. Currently, quantities below a microgram are conto g./ml. sidered as traces. I n favorable cases, of certain elements may be determined by neutron-activation analysis, 10-8-10-9 g./ml. by sensitive color reactious. -4 thorough analysis of a sample 4.5 X can be obtained using X-ray micrography. Millimicrogram quantities of many simple substances can be determined to 1% by means of coulonletry. The meaning of “trace level” might be sufficiently altered by the time tlie next trace analysis symposium convenes so t h a t only suhmilliniicrogram quantities would qualify. I n a work of this kind, readers are bound t o be somewhat disappointed in chapters dealing with areas familiar t o them. T h e nature of the symposium required each of the speakers t o review much material t h a t was obtainable previously. I t is safe to say, however, t h a t very few readers will be sufficiently familiar with all of the fields discussed so as not to derive benefit from this book. This reviewer can reconimend i t not only to those interested in the trace constituents of matter but t o all who are interested in analytical chernistry. T h e book should provide a useful frame of reference for a stimulating course in analytical chemistry or analytical seminar.
Vol. ti0
pendent treatment, the advantage of this inotlification is not apparent. The really significant feature of the new treatise is the stated purpose of the edition-to use the modern tlieories of inorganic chemistry to organize and classify the details of the chemistry of the elements and their compounds. Otherwise the objective remains the same as the first treatise-to present a readable account of inorganic chemistry acco~npanied by a selected bibliography and t o avoid the mere compilation of data. These aims have not been uniformly achieved in \ ‘ o ! u l l l t , 111. The brief authoritative chapter on francium by its discoverer, Marguerite Perey, contains forty referencrs (fourteen of them the author’s own work) which range from Mendeleeff t o 1956. It is a pity t h a t the chapter on rubidium and cesium could not have been included in a vo!urne with potassium. (The seven pages devoted to the hydrides deal mostly with sodium and potassium hydrides.) The gradation in properties of the elements in this group is largely dependent on the progressive increase in ionic radius. The opportunity t o apply this unifying principle is ]tist. There is essentially no discussion of the structural features of the compounds. The nomenclature employed iu thc chapter and indeed throughout the volume is unsgsteinat ic and inconsistent. The archaic term protoxide is used for M20, the formulas M204 and M 0 1 are used, and the conipounds are called tetroxides or peroxides. The latter n a m is also used for MzO2, but more frequently the term liosicics is employed. X o explanation is offered for tlic compounds M z O which ~ are named trioxides. In spite of this, the author succeeds in giving L~II iiiteresting account. A wealth of detail is presented on methods of isolation of the elements from natural sources. Throughout the volume one is continually imyressecl b!, the great appreciation of the authors for the historical development of the chemistry of these elements. In some instances they appear t o be rather overwhelmed by it. Frequently the earlier work u p t o the beginning of the, twentieth century is given in great detail while more reccilt DEPARTMEST OF CHEXISTRY contributions are given scant treatment. This is most UNIVERSITYOF ARIZOSA HENRY FREISEK noticeable in the chapter on copper where in nnt a few cascc Twcsox, ARIZ. the researches of the last twenty years are dismissed in thc text with “see also.” Rarely does one find acritical cvaluation in controversial issues such as the existence of cuproiis hydroxide, cuprous fluoride or the polymoz-phisni of gold. There appears to be an occasional reluctance to apply the Nouveau Trait6 de Chimie Minbrale. Volume 111. Groupe moilern ideas of ionic and molecular structure. T h u b , , Ia : Rubidium-Cbsium-Francium. Groupe Ib : Gbnerali- while it is stated at the beginning of the section on ti-itbs-Cuivre-Argent-Or. PACLPASCAL,Membre de l ’ h - valent gold that Au3+ most likely always tetraco(jrdiiiatcr!, stitut, Professeur Honoraire AlaSorbonne. Masson et Cie., there is n o attempt tu rationalize such forniulas as SOC1. 120, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6”. France. 1957. AuC13, RAuCI, etc., on this basis. Tile orgmizatiun [if 838 pp. 17.5 X 26 cni. Price, Broch6 6.900 fr., the subject matter tends to some measure to discourage the xii iCartonne toile, 6.900 fr. use of correlative principles. Sulfides and salts of osyaciils This is the third publication in a nineteen volume series. of sulfur are described in one section, selenides and salts o f Volumes I and X have already appeared, and the series is oxyacids of selenium in another. This kind of arrangenieiit expected t o be completed by 1960. The contributors to makes it relatively e;ts>- t u find svhatever information is ktvailable on a particular compound. It is perhaps a C U I I Volume 111 are R. Hackspill (rubidium and cesium), M. cession t o the tendency to provide :I coinplete refcreiice Perep (francium), J. Isabay (copper), K. Collongues (silver) hook, but it does make comp;ti-isoiis of siiililar c o n ~ p o ~ ~ ~ ~ l s and P. Hagenmuller (gold). P. Pascal provides a brief rather awkward. gcnerd discussion of the elements of Group Ib. The treatise has a spccial tippeal f o the Frciicii ie.i
