sure to write your name on the pamphlet as well as in the regular place in the front. of the book. HARRYB. GRAY Columbia University New York, New Y o ~ k
* A few minor oorrections: On p. 172, the proportionality constant between energy integrals and overlap integrals is considerably larger than two electron volts; p. 188, L = 7 should he a K state, since J is skipped over in sssigning letters to angular momentum values; p. 213, the increasein A, on anincrease by one unit in the oxidation number of the metal is usually between 20-110%, not 100-200%; p. 229, both d.t~,s and d,> orbitals can o-bond with the ligands in a square planar cnmplex (not just dXa-,=).
Selected Values of Thermodynamic Properties of Metals and Alloys
Ralph H u l t g ~ a , Raynond L. Ow, Philip D. Anderson, and Kenneth K. Kelley, all of the University of California, Berkeley. John Wiley and Sons, 963 pp. Inc., New Yark, 1963. xi Figs. and tables. 18.5 X 24.5 cm.
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Thermodynamic properties for the "metallic" elements and their binary alloys have been the interest of Professor Hultgren and his group far many years and this volume summsriaes much of their work to "select" values and evaluate the reliability of the available data. In general, each table for an element consists of a review of s t ~ c t u r ddata and phase diagrams, low temperature heat capacities and high temperature heat contents, and vapor pressures a t temperatures up to the normal boiling point. Although ~srenthesesare sometimes used to indir:rte eatrxpol:fiti.m, tlrta ir not s l w a y s dcme and rlw rr:drr ~ I ~ ~ ~ rrrnernlm ulcI tlut rlo buili~rgp i n t s of d m w n t ? :.I 3011U-.i00Oo1< have been reliably measured. For the various alloy systems the presentation includes a phase diagram, low temperature and high temperature heat contents. vaoor oressures and/or other a8 a. function of composition. Notable missing elements in this tahulation are boron, carbon, and silicon and, therefore, the metallic borides, carbides, and silicides of so much current interest have not been covered. Since this field is one in which there is much current sctivity, it is apparent that not every recent paper has been evaluated and a date on each table indicates when the printed tables were assembled in find form. In most cases the tables present an evaluatiun of all the data up to 1960 and in some cases, up to 1961 or 1962. There are, however, a significant number of tables which only bring the reader up to 1956 or 1858. For instance, the table on Zr is dated November, 1956. I n addition, the coverage of elements is essentially random. For example, there have
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Journol o f Chemical Educution
been at leaat three laboratories recently concerned with the vapor pressures of the platinum metals and some of these data (1961) are considered far Ir, Rh, and Ru but the review of P t (dated July, 1960) cites only the 1927 data of Langmuir. In summary, this book presents an extremely useful summary of reliable thermodynamic data. Since new data are being continually produced and there are so many binary alloys, tbe publication is somewhat incomplete and not quite current but there has been a personal, critical review of each set of data finally presented.
Professor Lynton has provided a useful reference work for persons who are interested in superconductivity hut who are not themselves involved in theoretical work on the subject. For this reviewer, oriented toward experimentd work, the book would have been immensely improved if more space had been devoted to experimental results. Half of the volume, a t least, could have been used in a systematic presentation of data, from which examples could have been drawn later for comparison with theory. The theoretical chapters tliemselves would be better if more serious effort had been made to discuss critically the contributions and limiJOHNL. MARGRATE tations of the various theories, espeeidy Rice Uniuersity the currently most useful BardeenHouston. Tezas Cooper-Schrieffer version. In conclusion, "Superconductivity" is recommended as s. handy summary and 8OUrCe of reference for the student who wishes to make s study of supereonductivity in general or of some particular asSuperconductivity pect of it. The newcomer who uses it E. A. Lpton, Rutgers University, New bv itself is not likely to learn much more Bmnawick, Xew Jersey. John Wiley than the language of the field. and Sons, Inc., New York, 1962. ix J. J. FRITZ 174 pp. Figs. and t,ables. 13 Tbe Pennsylvania State University X 18.5 cm. $4.50. University Park In the past twenty years, the topic of superconductivity has been given an amount of attention accorded few other fields of physics. Professor Lynton has indeed undertaken an ambitious task The Shock Tube in High-Temperature in trying to summarize in a thin volume Chemical Physics both its experimental and its theoretiod A. G. Gaydon, University of London, aspects. He has succeeded much better England, and I . R. Hurle, Cornell with the latter than with the former. Aeronautical Laboratory, Buffalo, New Lynton recommends his book as an York. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New introduction to the field of superconduc307 pp. Figs. and York, 1963. ix tivity or as a basio reference to its present tahles. 14.5 X 22 em. $15. state. A brief opening chapter discusses some of the basic experimental observaDuring the years since the war there tions. Almost all of the remainder of the has been a. rapid increase in the amount of book is devoted to summarizing the variresearch on the properties of high temous macroscopic and microscopic theories perature gases. This has been m d e of superconductivity, with selected expossible to a significant extent by the perimental results given by comparison. widespread development of shock tubes A closing chapter on Superconducting Dewhich thus became of special interest to vices mentions briefly a number of present chemists. Geydon and Hurle show a uses for superconductors, but elaborates practicing research worker how to go about only on their (relstivelg minor) use in producing and studying shock waves in computer circuits. his laboratory. This is in many ways a The concise summary of various theohow-to-do-it book with plenty of helpful ries, with the many references to the literahints about techniques and procedures ture, will certainly be useful to those who but with Less concern about the theoretical wish guidance in studying the past and background. For instance detailed expresent state of the theory. It is reasonamples are given for the calculations ably complete, although the important which relate the speed of a shock wave to early theoretical work of London, Gorthe properties of the hot gases behind it; ter, and Landau is given only very cura t the same time many of the formulas are sory treatment. This reviewer was surjust written down with little or no indicaprised to find out that the late F. London's bion of where they came from. full account of his theory, given in his The book may be divided into three book "Superfluids," is nowhere menparts. First there is a description of tioned, despite the f a d that it formed a shock waves in ideal and real gases with large part of the base for later work. Of particular application to shock tubes. greater concern, the author greatly overNext there is a thorough discussion of the states hia case where he implies that a. design and construction of shock tubes and reader new to the field could expect to of the techniques used for measuring follow the summaries of the various theshock speed, temperature, pressure and ories with understanding. To do so, density. Finally, several chapters are he would not only need a good knowledge devoted to the results of shock tube work of eleetrodynsmies and of modern theory grouped under relaxation processes, of metals, but must already know the spectra and chemical reections with definitions and physical meanings of special emphasis on detonations. terms used in these theories, few of which are explicitly defined in the book. (Continued on page A126)
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