BOOK
REVIEWS
Physical Chemistry
Farrington Daniels and Robert A . Alberty, both of the University of Wisoonsin, Madison. 2nd Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Ino., New York, 1961. x 744 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $8.75.
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Although this hook is called a second edition, actually it represents the tenth member of the noble family of GetmanDaniels-Alberty textbooks, which now spans nearly half a century. This rich tradition makes the present volume all the more remarkable in that it is a. very red revision. Careful rewriting, imaginsr tive reorganination, and addition of up-tcdate material make it a truly new book. Notable changes include three new chapters on Kinetic Theory, Spectroscopy, and Statistical Mechanics. Other chapters have been retitled, much material has been redistributed, and the order of presentation has been marl-edly changed. For example, the solid state has been relocated near the end d the book, abandoning the usualdiscussioo of gases, liquids, and solids in sequence. Viscosity, diffusion, and conductance are treated in a. chapter entitled Irreversible Processes in Liquids. Surface tension is found in the chapter on Surface Chomistry. Other liquid properties such as dielectric conatant and molar refraction are covered in the chapter on Molecular Structure, along with optical rotation. This section on optical rotation seems rather weak and adds little to the standard treatment to be found in most organic chemistry textbooks.
In the portions of the book devoted to classical thermodynamics, the reader will note a change of symbolism from F to G for the Gibb's free energy, to avoid confusion with the European use of F for the Helmholte free energy. There is a. good use of chemical potential and the partial molal Gibb's free energy throughout the book. The all-important Clapeyron equation is better derived than formerly. Entropy is stressed more, and Trouton's rule is interpreted in terps of entropy of vaporization, and a comparison is made with entropies of fusion. The discussion of temperature is a bit unsatisfying in that it is never defined, hut rather given as a concept, with emphasis on its measurement, instead of connecting it with the energy content of the system. Both quantum and statistical mechanics have now properly become a definite part of undergraduate physical chemistry. Quantum mechanics is treated here at about the proper level with some enlargement of its former treatment to include more historical background and other topics. The important particle-in-a-box concept, necessary for the statistical treatment, is now included. The wave mechanics of the hydrogen atom and a d i s c w sion of orbitals is also new. There is an equally h e introduction to the importance and concepts of statistical mechanics. The Boltzmm distribution among states, the partition function and its various forms and their relationship to the thermodynamic functions are all adequately discussed.
Fawington Daniels and Robert A . Alberty, Physical Chemistry David Seligson, Editor, Standard Methods of Clinical Chemistry. Volume 3 V . V . Cherdyntsev, Abundance of Chemical Elements A. J . Swallow, Radiation Chemistry of Organic Compounds Carl Mahl; Anorganisches Grundpraktikum C. G. Cannon, Editor, Electronics for Spectroscopists Omer K. Whipple, Chemical Properties and Identification of Ions: An Intmduction to Semimiem Qualitative Analysis A . V . Tobolsky, Properties and Structure of Polymers A . I. Busev and N. G. Polianskii, The Use of Organic Reagents in Inorganic Analysis C. P . Stmart and A. Stolman, Editors, Toxicology: Mechanisms and Analytical Methods. Volume I F. Albert Cotton, Editor, Progress in Inorganic Chemistry. Volume 2
The chapter on Spectrosoopy is a welcome one. It surveys the various aspects of this field, including the microwave region and electron maghetic resonance. The examples and problems here will be found especially helpful. The most outstanding feature of the text as in the earlier edition, is the generous presentation of tables, complete with references. These serve not only to illustrate and confirm principles and equations, but to give the entire course a solid foundation in experimental-deductive logic, essential to the spirit of physical chemistry. The book is well-supplied with examples, references, and problems, some with answers. Illustrations are adequate, although a few more three-dimensional figures would add to the attractweness and clarity of the book, particularly in certain phase diagrams. There is a most useful appendix discussing various subjects from mathematical procedure to Eyring's ahsolute rate theory. All in all, this book is a stimulating, well-written textbook that will please both instructor and student. TOMR. TAOMSON Arizona State University Tempe
Standard Methods of Clinical Chemistry. Volume 3
Edited by Dauid Seliysn, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Academic Press, Inc., 230 pp. Figs. New York, 1961. x and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $6.50.
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The current volume in tbis series maintains the high standards established by the previous ones. The organization, style, and typography make far thoroughness, clarity, and ease of reading and the methods described h w e been checked for accuracy and precision as well as for their significance as standard, or reference, procedures. Although the book is obviously of greatest use to practicing clinical chemists it should he of interest to instructors of courses whioh include even a modicum of clinical chemistry. The example typified by the statement of the editor in the Preface should be of value in any course of analytical methods: "A current temptation exists, far the less skilled chemists, to rely on specialized instruments, 'test kits' prepared reagents, and sometimes secret commercial formulations because these can be bought easily. Very few good chemists perform analyses with solutione made outside their own laboratories. Sometimes, the secret to successful analyses lies in the skillful preparation of reagents. The methods in this volume clearly and carefully instruct the reader on preparation of standards and reagents!' As usual, each method includes the historical background, the principles involved, the details of the procurement, preparation and/or standardieation of all necessary reagents, step-by-step p r o m
Volume 38, Number 12, December 1961 / 639
dures with explanatory notes regarding precautions needed to attain high precision and accuracy, all csleulations, and concise discussions of the physiological, clinioal, and, where appropriate, forensic or genetic significance of the results. All methods have been ohecked in one or two independent Inboratwies; the modificstions suggested by the checkers are included. An extensive list of general and specific references is given s t the end of eseh chapter and complete subject and author indices a t the end of the volume. Severel novel pieces of equipment are described, the most noteworthy being a. "chloridimet,er." More emphasis is placed in this volume on methods of use in toxicology or forensic medicine. The chapters in which these methods are described also include rather thorough disoussions of the phi~rmaoology and toxicology of the drugs or toxic agents. Methods are given for the determination of: alcohol in biological materials, aldolase, arsenic in biological materials, ascorbic acid in blood and urine, harbiturates, catechol amines, chloride, cholinetterase in red cells and plasma, creatine and creatinine in blood and urine, fibrinogen, gastric acidity, hemoglobins, hydrocortisone in plasma, lactic acid, mercury in urine, phosphohexosc isomerase, salieylates, sulfonamides, and trsnsaminsse. Three of these require specid or expensive equipment, such as that required for boundary electrophoresis.
Abundance of Chemical Elements
V. V. Che~dptseu,S. M. Kirov State University, Alma-Ata, U.S.S.R. Tranalated by Walter Nickiporuk, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena. Universitv of Chiraeo Press. Chicaeo. - , Illinois, 1961. x 304 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $10.
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I n the words of the author, "This book is neither a textbook nor rt work of reference. M y aim was to give an account of the vast and wried material on the abundance of the chemical elements. 111 this objective I was guided by fundamental ideas on the stability of atomic nuclei and on their formation in a neutron environment." In spite of the author's comments, this book should find utility in an academic library both as an upper division undergraduate and graduate text for special topics courses in chemistry and as a handy reference work. The material discussed lies in a. verv interestine intergeochemistry, and chemistry. The book wss first published in Moscow in I956 and has been revised by the author through the fimt half of 1958 for the American edition. The original Russian text has been very capably t,ranslilted into English by Welter Niehiporuk of Cal Tech. The quality of the translation, the printing, and the general appearance
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literature up to the beginning of 1959. Its best features are the "Summary and Conclusion" which exist a t the end of each chapter and the "Conclusions" st the end of the book. For many, these portions will provide ideas for future work. I t is no exaggeration t o say that every serious worker in the field of radintion chemistry will profit by personal ownership of a copy of this volume. The choice and order of subject matter (general introduction, experimental methods, water and aqueous systems, aliphatics, aromatics, polymers, dyestuffs, substances of biological interest, and significance for other fields) are excellent so that t,he hook is an important reference workparticulilrly to obscure references. Unfortunate features do, however, limit its usefulness andreadability. The presentation is essentislly noncritical. For many purposes coverage is more important t,han criticality. Kevertheless, style and flavor of presentation are s, cause of trial snd inconvenience for the informed reader and may be very misleading for the novice. Hardly ever, if a t d l , in the text is there a reference to the name of a contributor. Thus, all ideas, all "facts" appear equally weightedwithout regard not only to the reliability of the author of a. psrtioular statement hut also t+ the objective of the work from u-hich a particular "statement of fact" is drawn. The difficulty is compounded by the method of presentation of references, which appear in code in the text and as a hibliographical unit in the rear of the book. Doubtless, such arrangement does lower costs for the puhlisher but the total effect is to make the book, as a book, almost unreadable. Anyone who pays $15 for s 380-page book has the right to demand greater ranvenienee as well as a. book which will not be destroyed by ~bnormilland repeated turning from text to bibliography to text and hack again. Of eouke, a text like this has some fundamental faults, including stafements which are not good and, in some cases, utterly wrong. A statement of the "first Isw of radiation chemistry" is pompous and certainly incorrect for one area. of the subject. The principal fault, perhaps, is that the text assumes simplicity of correlation between radiation chemibtry and other branches of reaction kinetics, there appears to be no awareness that WILLIAM D. EHMANN many of the fundamental notions of Uniuersit?/of Kentucky mechanism are presently being subjected Lezinoton to critical revaluation by those interested in matters of theory. I n the beginning of this review, I said that many will receive ideas for future work from a reading of the "Conclusions." The quali~adi&ionChemirlry of Organic fying statement must also be made that Compounds many such ideas may not he good and may direct the unwary research worker A. J. Swallow, Imperial College of into areas of triviality. Science and Technology, London, England. Pergamon Press, Ine., New York, MILTONBURTON 1960. ix 380 pp. Figs. and tables. Unive~sitgof Nolre Dame 15 X 2Zcm. $15. Notre Dame, Indiana of this book are in this reviewer's opinion, far superior t o many similar trsnslations of Russian works which have appeared recently. The translator has greatly enhanced the value of this book as a reference source by annotating comments, criticisms, and references to recent experimental data up to tho end of 1960 in the form of footnotes. In some cases. these footnotes exceed one-third the length of a. minted nape . . and it is unfortunate that this material could not have been incorporated into the teat itself, through additional consultations with the author. I t is somewhat disconcerting to st,udy a table of data supporting a point made by the author and then discover a footnote refering to recent work (in some cases only the literature citation, but not the specific data, is given) which might invalidate the sut,hor's conclusion. The updating by means of footnotes is also not entirely uniform. Far example, reference is made hv the translator in a. footnote of page 52 to the recent discovery of enrichment of xenon isotoves in chondritic meteorites. However, the author's statements on page 216, ". . . xenon isolated from atony meteorites does not show an excess content of Xe'28." and, "The present isotopic composition of xenon, which is the same for theearth and meteorites, . . ." stand in the text withno annotation. The hook is divided into three major chapters: I, The abundance of the chemical elements in the earth's crust and the cosmic systems; 11, The elementary theory of stability of atomic nuclei; 111, Regularities in the abundance of isotopes and the problem of t,he formation of atomic nuclei. Many of the author's own investigztions on the occurrence and distribution of the elements are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the ahundanees in theearth'scrust, and the role of radioactive decay in the establishment of the present elemental abundances is discussed a t length. This volume is unique in that it ia devoted to a survey of elemental abnndances from the viewpoint of the stahility of the atomic nuclei, using new data in many fields t,hat previously *.ere obtained only by an extensive literature search. As one of the few books avaihble in this important new interdisciplinary field, it should find utility in the library of the advanced student and the researcher, as well.
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(Continued on. page A916)
