EXCITED STATES IN CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY
confuse the incautious reader. Two of the most noticeable are: first, on page 65, the author's attribution of inexactness to the Franck-Condon Principle, which in reality arises from his use of the limited classical form; and second, on page 69, the confusion of antisymmetry of a n electronic wavefunction under nuclear interchange with the Pauli requirement of antisymmetrical total electronic wavefunctions, leading the author to the startling conolusion that excitation of the =-electrons of ethylene necessarily involves a triplet state. Numerous small inaecuraoies, such as the obvious mathematical errors on pages 11, 43, 44, and 49, and errors in reference, all point to a hasty manuscript preparation. Chapter 6 on energy transfer seems rather confusing, which is unfortunate for this important topic. A careful re-editing of the book would he worth while. Meanwhile we can accept the author's effort as a journalistic account of a very lively and rapidly developing subject, and certainly an aooount which will stimulate much new interest, even if his thesis that excited states mey participate in chemical resctions remains unproved.
C. Reid. Academic Press Inc., New York, 1957. ir 215 pp. 59 figs. 14.5 X 22 cm. $7.30.
MICHAEL KASHA F ~ o n m ASTATE U N I Y B B B I T I T n ~ ~ n n ~ sFmnron as~,
classroom and which are extremely helpful for an instructor who plans to teach a course in chemical Literature for the first time. The chapter on government publications has been reorganized. The c h a p ter on patents contributed by Julian F. Smith discusses a signifioant portion of the field. The eleventh chapter which includes suggestions for a thorough search in the chemical literature is invaluable. Recognition of newer modes for making records such ax photoreproductions, punched cards, and film are all described. T h e general arrangement of the material which divides i t into primary, secondary, and tertiary sources is the same as in the earlier editions for the most part. Here is a book throunh which an individual may di?rowr t h r world of k n o r l r d ~in~ rhvmi~try:tnd find that it is bn interrsring place in which to live.
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A NEW and introductory book on molecular electronic spectroscopy and photochemistry is always welcome, ~ i n o e available texts are so scarce. Bawen's well-known book, "The Chemical Aspects of Light," Oxford, 1946, although qualitative and unreferenced, has been beginning reading for many a student. Besides the formal quantum mechanical texts, and the treatises of Pringsheim and FBrster, no hooks in these fields have appeared for many years. Unfortunately, Terenin's "The Photochemistry of Dyes," Akad. Ncluk USSR, 1947, and Levshin's "Photoluminescence of Solids and Liquids," Gos. Izdat., Moscow, 1951, are virtually unavailable and unknown to the English speaking world. This new book by Reid, consequently, being a rather small work, may he considered in the above perspective. There is much interesting reading in the book, and the last three chapters on Luminescent Reactions, Vision, and the Effects of High Energy Radiation will give a good orientation to the uninitiated. The first half of the book is mainly on molecular spectroscopic theory. I t was obviously the author's intention t o make quantum mechanical idea8 accessible to workers, in chemistry and biology, generally unfamiliar with the field. This reviewer does not believe t h a t the author
or not very useful to one already versed in the subject. I n contrast, the presentation of Group Theory given as an appendix is highly readable and may help some readers get acquainted with this very useful subject, since the formal present* tians are generally forbidding for the average chemi~t. Particularly unfortunate in s. book of this kind is the occurrence of numerous misunderstandings, which will certainly VOLUME 35, NO. 11, NOVEMBER, 1958
(This review was prepared during the period of a research contract behueen the Physics Branch, O f i e qf Naoal Research, and the Florida State Uniwrsity.)
MAN-MADE FIBRES
R. W. Moncrieff. Third edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1957. x 661 pp. 215 figs. 14.5 X 22 cm. $9.75.
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THEfirst two edition8 were issued under the title "Artificial Fibres.'' Since manmade fibers, in many instances, possess properties widely different from the natural fibers and the horizons of the textile industry have been extended by the ntilimtion of man-made fibers, the new title "Man-made Fibres" is preferred. The new edition contains more than 200 additional pages to catalogue new developments in man-made fibers and allied processing even though some Less important suhjects have been curtailed or omitted. Any treatise on man-made fibers cannot accurately reflect the current status because of the great amount of research and development heing done in the development of synthetic polymers for fihers and the reluctance of the fiber producers to release information until the find process and therefore the properties of the optimum fiber have been attained. The book is valuable from the standpoint t h a t it catalogues the progress of t h e industry. Five sections have been used t o discuss, (1) the structure and properties of fibers, (2) regenerated and modified cellulosic and alginie fibers, (3) regenerated protein fibers, (4) synthetic fibers, and ( 5 ) . processing. The treatment of the vanous fibers and processes is of such a. nature that students may use the text for reference or supplemental reading. In many instances, teachers of textile ehem-
istry will he required to refer to the books in the bibliography occurring a t the end of hook in order t o delve deeper into theory. It would appear that the author haa given undue attention t o trade marks (names of fibers) in the index and also by chapters, rather than discussing all of the polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, etc., in respective chapters. The list of commercial man-made fibers is s. helpful reference for the industry and for students. The chapter on processing has been greatly amplified to show that the physical and morphological properties of man-made fibers may be altered in many ways t o extend their versatility. The new edition should supplant the old edition, especially in the. libraries of textile schools and colleges, an& in those institutions offering courses in home economics and clothing. J. B. QUIG LOWELL T E O B N O ~ O ~ I O AINBT~TUTD S Lowam. M * s a * o ~ a s ~ ~ ~ s
E. L. Wheeler, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles. Interseience Publishers, Inc., New York,
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1958. xxii 478 pp. 232 figs. 48 tables. 16 X 23.5 om. $9.75.
THE.author states that his reason for the hook is based on the hope that it will broaden the usefulness of other glassblowers whose ambition leads them to be the research chemist's co-u.orker. Glassblowing techniques are described in the first 190 pages which include good, short descriptions of the fnndamentsl operations in glass working. In addition these pages also discuss briefly the history of glass and properties of the major types of glass available in this country in tubing form. Most directions are given in terms of "Pyrex brand chemical resistant glass No. 7740." Construction details for a variety of practice pieces are described which should make it possible for a laboratory worker to build a number of useful items of laboratory equipment. Included in this are such items as condensers, Dewar flasks. elass turbines. exoansion bellows, optical windows, and many others. A chapter is devoted to the grinding of glass and a chapter to glsss-metal seals. The remainder of the book and somewhet more than half of the text is given over t o a variety of laboratory techniques which strict,ly speaking cannot be called glassblowing. No doubt these ail1 be of real assistance t o the laboratory worker who does not enjoy the ministrations of trained assistants or an unlimited budget. In this section the largest space is given to a description of frsetional distillation. A veriety of equipment designs are briefly described and illustrated with operating and testing procedures given. For the most part no construction methods are included. A lengthy chspter is devoted to high vacuum tcehniques. The author has been particularly helpful in collecting together methods for coating glass surfaces with various substances including metals. These techniques can he quite
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useful in the laboratory yet me not well known to many chemists. In a book on glassblowing a section on metal working seems out of place. The author argues that he intends the book to be a handbook for the glassblower in the small laboratory who has to handle a great many different skills. This book, however, will hardly serve as the only reference tool such a. person uses and this reviewer questions the relevance of the metal working section. The book is well put together and on the whole carefully edited. The formula on page 23 is dimensionally incorrect. Some warning of eleetrooution hazard ought to be included with the hot wire glasscutter on page 58 which combines a water faucet and 110 a. c. I t is true that the circuit diagram contains an isolation transformer but this should be made more specific and grounded for safety's sake. Even better would be the use of a wash bottle or other ungrounded source of water. LAURENCE E. STRONG EAR^.^ COLLEGE R r c n ~ o n o I. N D I * ~ *
UNIT PROCESSES IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS Edited hy P. H.Groggins, Chemical E n g i neer and Consultant. Fifth edition. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1070 pp. Many figs. and 1958. x tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $17.50.
lar unit process. The authors are from industry, research organizations, and universities, so that several viewpoints will give a. well-rounded chapter. Some changes have been made as changes in the organic process industries show new emphasis is needed. Two chapters from the fourth edition have been dropped: diaaotisation and coupling, and the Friedel-Crafts reaction. This does not imply that these reactions are no longer important, but that advances in them have been slight and the material given in the fourth edition continues to be authoritative. The previous ohapter or sulfanation has been enlarged to sulfonation and sulfation to cover reactions of importance for synthetic detergents. The former ohapter an hydroformylation and the 0x0 reaction has been broadened to hydrocarbon synthesis and bydroformylation with considerable material on the Fisoher-Tropsch synthesis. The diverse materials and reactions for plastics and elastomers have caused the chapter on polymerization to be split into twosections, (1)principles of polymer chemistry, and (2) polymeri~ationpractice. The H t h edition of "Unit Processes in Oresnic Svnthesis" continues abreast
book. Umvsnsmv
OF
KENNETH A. KOBE TEXU
A ~ ~ T ITex*s N.
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ALMOST25 years have elapsed between the first and 6fth editions of "Unit Proces ses in Organic Synthesis." During this time the organic chemical industries have expanded enormously; many new industries have grown up based on new or hitherto unusual reactions. Likewise, "Unit Processes" has grown to keep pace with the expanding industries. It has been translated into five foreign languages and used world-wide. This popularity is due to the fact that theory and industrial practice sre combined in ~ a c hchapter so that the reader first understands the basic theory of the unit process, then learns how it is carried out industrially, what equipment is used, and other valuable information conoerning both the process and the products. Such informetion based on experience is invaluable to workers in countries just building their organic process industries. The fifth edition keeps up with the trend in the organic industries to apply more theory to the process and to make use of thermodynamics and kinetics wherever possible to predict equilibrium yield and the rate at which the product is formed. The first three chapters are new ones on ( I ) applications of thermodynamics in unit processes, (2) chemical kinetics, (3) chemical process kinetics. Within each ohapter on a unit process material is given on the thermodynamics and the kinetics of the particular reaetion. Thus, a much more fundamental viewpoint has been adopted in this edition. As before, each ohapter is written by one or more experts in the field of the particu-
FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY
L Jean Bogert, Formerly Iostrudor in Medidne, University of Chicago. Eighth edition. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadel615 pp. 168 figs. phia, 1958. rviii 15 X 21 cm. $5.50.
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PROFESSOR Bogert's newest edition of his popular general chemistry textbook will be weleomed by its many users. While this new edition includes some of the more recent chemicd developments, it is rather seriously lacking in the most recent fundamental concepts. No college or nrofessiond school cbemistrv student
of bonding and structure in the more complex molecules are not presented. Theories on solubility and ionization are inadequately discussed. In view of the universal occurrence of coordination compounds in such places as blood, vitamins, chlorophyll, ete., it is surprising to find no mention of them. The book is very interestingly written. It should be a pleasure for students using it to read each ohapter, but it is not geared to oollege-level thinking. Even though the courses in which it may be used are terminal there is still too shallow a presentation of basic chemicsl principles. It compares mare favorably with current high school chemistry textbooks. SISTER MARY MARTINETTE. B.V.M. Mnmenmr* C o m ~ a ~ cxrc*ao, ~ L L I N O , ~
ELECTRONIC THEORIES OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY John William Boker, University of Leeds. Oxford University Ress, New York, 1958. vii 224 pp. 14.5 X 22 om. $4.80.
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THE purpme of this book, as stated in the preface, is to introduce a student who has completed a first course in organic chemistry to the field of reaction mecha nisms. To accomplish this end, "broad fundamental principles are applied to familiar organic molecules." A list of the ohapter titles indicates the material selected: The Nature of Chemical Binding Forces and of Chemical Reaction, Classical Structural Formulae: The Inductive Effect, Physical Interpretation of Covalency, The Conjugative Effect, Xuoleophilio Substitution Reactions at Saturated Carbon, Olefin-Forming Elimination Reactions, Additions to Unsaturated Compounds, Tautomerism, Esterificetion and Hydrolysis, Aromatic Substitution in Benzene and Its Simple Derivatives, and Saturated Remrmgements. The author has done an excellent job of presenting the material xhieh he has selected. The major points are not buried in a mass of detail. A student will achieve a framework of principles w-hieh he can fill out by reading more advanced texts and reference works. This text is not a reference work; in many parts the arguments are summarized but details are omitted. There are no references to. specific points raised, but general references at the end of each chapter. These are almost exclusively British, the most recent being 1953. The place of this book is not as a text for a full-fledged mechanisms course. I t may well be a valuable supplement for an undergraduate student who has become interested in theories and mechanisms. JOHN D. REINHEIMER
CHAIN REACTIONS,AN INTRODUCTION
F. S. Dainton, Rofessor of Physical Chemistry, University of Leeds. Methuen & Co., London, and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1957. 183 pp. 1 3 X 19 cm. $2.90. THISbook is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Metbuen Monographs on Chemical Subjects. It is concise, clear, and destined to he a classic in a field of recognized importance in contemporary chemistry. Its success in treatine a somewhat formidable nhase of in the subject matter of ohain processes and a writer of gret~tclarity, with a subject in need of up-to-date tterttment in the English language. The careful attention devoted to the general principles of homogenous reactions in the first chapter provides a firm basis for the subsequent chapters dealing with experimental methods for elucidating ohain mechctnisms, the chemical nature of the elementary processes involved in an JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
