BOOK REVIEWS the size of other rerent texts of comparable purpose with which I am familiar (e.g., those by Hill, Ilnvidson, and Eyring, el al.). The small size is only made possible hy severe limit,~tionson the topics covered, since, wit,[, only a. few exceptions, the topics whirh are induded are discussed a t adequnt,e lengt,h, considering the purpose of the hook. The hook is divided into three parts. Part I discusses t,he principles of stntistical mechanics, inrluding ensemble theory, a trief introduction t,o probahilit,y theory, and t,he relat,ionship of statistical merhanies to t,hermodynnmirs. Part I1 treats the ideal gm, hot,h classical and quantnl. Part 111 briefly treat,s several specid topim, among whirh are dense gases, crysti~ls, rhemird equilibria, and flurtustions. Purts I i ~ n dI1 are n good workmsnlike jut) but Part 111 is less satisfactory. Though some of the topics are given :t rermnnahle int,mdurtory treatment, t,he t,rentnlent of others appears to be ton hief to be vet.,\, useful. Reladive to t,he f n d that statist,ied meehmics is inherently a mathem&ical subject,, Andrcws makes only modest. demands on t,he reader's background in mat,hemat,irs and physics. Due emphasis is placed on t,tmse points where sbudents are most likely t,o eneuunter difficulty. An example is the lurid discussion of t,he ditl'erence between Ferrni-1)irnr and Bose-
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Chemicol Educofion
Einstein statistics, m d the conditions under which these may be approximated hy Boltzmann statistics. Much af the argument in the book is phrased in the quanta1 language of states and energy levels: although no specifically qumt,al calrulations are called for, the student, who has not previously been elposed t o quantum meclrsnias will have to take a lot on faith. The problems appear t o have been well prepared. While not, mathematiesllv dillirult. thev usuallv call for rarefh thought.' ~ol;tions m d hints are gwen a t the end of the book. Because of the restricted range of npplieations, I would deem this book suitable for use in a m d e m undergraduate physical chemistry course or n sho1.1 introductory course in s t a t i s t i d mechanics, but not for s thorough graduate eoune in the subject,, even one whirh does not go into the important. and interesting problems of systems of st,n>ngly interarting particles. It. might rtlm be useful to graduate students reviewing for comprehensive examinations. The hook has been well pndured, and I have not notired any t,ypographir:sl errors. The only exception I take to any of the author's statements is to the one in t,he Preface which calls professional stnt,istirnl mechanicians "a singulnt.lg quzrrelsome hunch." I quarrel with the word "singularly."
Solubility and pH Calculations
James S. Butler, Tyro Laboratories, Waltham, Massachusetts. AddisanWesley Publishing Co., Inc., Reading, hlassaehusetts. viii 104 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. Paperbound, $1.75; hard cover, $2.05.
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The goal of this short monograph is provided by the subtitle, "The Mathematics of the Simplest Ionic Equilihrin." The author has correctly observed that, much of the dilficolt,y in equilibrium eslrulstions is due tu reakness of skills in idgehraic mnnipulation. I n the pmress uf treating the cases of simple salts, a d s , hnses, and buffers he presents practical but rather rigorous approaches t o t h e solution of basic types of problems whirh lhegin with a knowledge of equilihrium mnstxnts andlor eaneentrat,ions of speriea. The first chapter give8 strategic advice and reviews some elementary rnxthematirs. Of s p e d intorest i u the wid-hase chapters is the emphasis on logarithmic equilihrium diagrams, x device long fnrniliar to researchers hut only rerently heginning t o appear in testhooks in this country. There is also x good intraduction to ihe mathematirs of buffer capwity, alt,hough this may be beyond the interests of most students using this book. Frwn the nlgebrsie a t a d p o i n t the hook is useful and beyond repr~mrh. Yet one should comment on the chemistry content, for books such ns this are primarily for budding chemists rather than for arithme(Conlin~urlon pop? :l978)
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BOOK REVIEWS ticians. In order to maintain the promise of the subtitle, the author has found it necessary to eschew troublesome complications, and in this oversimplification much of the chemical reality is lost. On page 15: "If the charges on the ions are not equal, the solubility is still determined by the eolubility product alone. . " On page 24: "When silver acetate is dissolved in water, the principal species are silver ions and acetate ions." (A fair amount of undissociated silver acetate is present.) On page 27: "Thus, the methods we have described give the minimum possible solubility. Usually the actual solubility is greater." On page 55: "Metal hydroxides are either nearly ceompletely dissociated or they form complex
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acidity and eomplexing on solubility are treated briefly and only qualitatively. The effect of ionic strength and the determination of activity coefficients are discussed, but the resulting ideas are little used in the rest of the text. Overall, there is very little indication of why a chemist might want to make t,he types of calculations shown. This is not to suggest that this hook should be longer and more comprehensive, for the same author has done a. masterful job of wide scope in his larger hook, "Ionic Equilibrium," and there is a place for the limited treatment with stress on simple calculations. So long as prospective users realize that the author does a. very good job on some very limited aspects, they will find the study of the book rewarding. There are many problems discussed in detail in the text, and a large number of problems are a t the ends of chapters, with answers in the appendix. I n dosing I shall report on the "pet peeve" cheek: This is one of very few books which properly discredit the term "hydrolysis" and the name "ammonium hydroxide."
R. W. RAHETTE Carleton College Northfield, Minnesota Fosl Reoclions in Solution
E. F . Caldin, University of Leeds, England. John Wiley and Sans, Inc., New York, 1964. x 306 pp. Figs. and tables. 15 X 23 cm. 87.50.
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Many chemists have studied the rates of reactions. Nevertheles~, the interpretation of the extensive results in terms of reaction mechanisms is frequently difficult and often ambiguous. Thus kineticists have always been concerned with extending the range of the measurement.3, particularly to include faster reactions. These reactions are interesting both for their own sake and hecause they may help to provide an understanding of slower reaetiom. Caldin's short hook is a summary of various methods which have been used in the study of reactions which take place in
(Catinued a page A974)
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Chemical Education
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