BOOK REV1 EWS the last decade. The section on biochemi* try ia descriptively based on tissue and function in the human organism, and fails to bring out an effective unified picture of the chemistry of metabolism. There is no mention of DNA and RNA in relation to the chemistry of heredity and to protein synthesis. The seetiondoes, however contain much eeneral information which is of practical utiiity for the nurse. The level of the subject would be adequate for high school use, but the factual inaccuracies and outmoded approsch of this book render it of doubtful .rs~lla
DEREKHORMN The Ohio State University Columbuz, Ohio Foundations of Thermodynamier
peter F ~ syraCuse ~ ~ university, , Syracuse, N~~ York, University press,N~~ york, 1963, + 94 pp. Figures. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. 52.50. "This book is concerned primarily with the physical principles of thermodynamics. Mathematical deductions (thermodynamical relations and different forma of the equilibrium conditions) and detailed calculations will not be included here. Aoolications are discussed only for the purpose of illustrating physical principles; the chapter on applications is by no means in-
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A296 / Journal of Chemical Education
tended to be a complete and balanced treatment. It is hooed that the discussions of nhvsical nrihcinles mav heln to improve 'tde und&tadding of the&dynamics. This book may be used as a. supplementary text in thermodynamics courses for an exposition of the physical principles, leaving the mathematical elaborations and applications to he covered by other standard textbooks." The author's hope as expressed in the preceding quotation from the preface of his book is not likely to be realized. Confusion in terminology makes the author's presentation far more complex than it should b e p a r t l y hecauae he has to spend so much time explaining away difficultiesthat would not auoesr if be had been careful in his choice dl'words at the outset. F~~example, on page 13 he uses the notation A& and AW, thus implying that heat work are DroDertiesf, n, svn+,em. " ~~~~~-~ Most of the time'the context seems to indicate that he knows better; but on page 20 the following words are puzzling: "increase at heat of the first system!' NO system has heat in it, any more than it has work in it. The wont source of confueion in the hook is the author's iailure to distinguish between a given spontaneous change and the infinite number of methods by which it may be carried out: one the reversible process and all the others irreversible orocesses. Sometimes he uses the term i'spontaneous process" to mean "spantaneous change"; a t other times it means "irreversible process." This failure, which
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hampers the discussion of entropy throughout the hook. is most clearlv aooarent in the discussion of the ~ a n i e l ceiinear i the end an page 65. The confusion may be cleared away by recognieing that the word "process" means the mehod by which a given spontaneous change is carried out. One of these methods is the reversible process; all other methods are irreversible processes. The reaction of Zu with CuSO, a t 25' and ai = 1, discussed on page 65, is a spontaneous change (or spatuneom w a e t i a ) eharsrterized by a definite negative vdue of AF. This chmacteristio negative value of AF is the same no matter by what method the reaction is actually carried out. But for any given spontaneous reaction a t constant pressure and temperature the total entropy change may vary from eero to a maximum of - AF/T depending upon the method by which that spontaneous reaction is carried Out. W. P. LUDER Northeastern University Boston, Mmsaehusetls The Encyclopedia of Engineering Materials and Processes
~ d by X, ~ R,~clause, ~ d al. ~ ~ N~~ york, 1963, hold Publishing cow,, + 787 pp. pigs, and 18,5 26 cm, s25, Thia book was not written for the materiala or processing expert but rather for the person who is aware or needs to be (Continwd on page A298)
i
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BOOK REVIEWS aware of the accelerating developments in these areas and wishes to keep himself informed. Even the expert, however, will nccasiondly find a use for the book since it would be an unusual person that could rlnim competence in all of the topics that nla listed. Coverage is reasonably complete of most miltcrinls and procemes with emphasis heine placed on those which are of major engineering significance. The text consists of some three hundred articles, arranped alphabetic,zlly, with each article of an average length oi some twenty five hmdred words and written by experts in the pertiruler field. Descriptions of metallic and non-metallic materials and t,he methods of processing these such as casting, farming, shaping m d finishing make up the hulk of the hook. From a materials standpoint, the t r e a e ment is largely descriptive with tables of p h ~ i e a properties l interleaved to give an ~ndleationof the range of properties to be evpected of a given e l m of materials. The availsble forms of the material and how they are fabrieatedis usually indioated along with typical engineering applications for the material. No attempt is made to go into mechanisms of behavior or reasons why certain materials have a given set of properties. The various processes that are described are given in sufficient detail so that those with no prior knuwledge can obtain an overdl view of what is heing accomplished. Those more familiar with certain processes will probrthly bo critical of the abbreviated way in which some of these have been treated. The success of many processes lies in an ability to control certain critical parameters and in some eases these have only been indicated in a cursory fashion. The t,reatment of the many typea and kinds of plastic materials is particularly good. Much of the mnterid that appears in trade publications and in advertising matter has been condensed and reduced t o more usahle~forrn~hy t.he authors of these articles. Designers, process engineers and those interested in production methods will find much of interest in this volume bnt the treatment of many topics is too superficial and transient in nature t o be of much use to the more academic-minded chemist, ph,micist, or engineer.
M. J . SINNOT University qf Michiyan Ann h b o r Encyclopedia of X-Rays and Gamma Rays
Edited by George L. Clark, University of Illinois, Urbana. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1963. xxvii 1149 pp. Figs. and tables. 18.5 X 26 em. 835.
+
This large volume lome 300 ditlerent variety of subjects X-ray generators to
consists of articles by authors on a vast from the design of the physiological ef-
(Continued on page A300)
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Journol of Chemical Educofion
