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NEW BOOKS A p p l i e d Xuclear P h y s i c s . Second edition. By ERNEJT C. POLLAED A N I ) WILLIAM I,. DavtuSON. 352 pp. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1951.Price: $5.00. Since the appearance of the first edition of this book in 1942,the field of nuclear physics baa advanced so rapidly t h a t extensive revision and additions have been necessary t o bring t h e present edition down t o date a t t h e close of 1950. The writers fully realize t h a t the application of nuclear energy has not yet reached i t s goal and t h a t great progress is in prospect both in theoretical and in applied nuclear science. With the liniitations of “security” and of rapid change clearly i n mind, the authors have rendered a real scrviee in producing a work which will be most useful t o the increasing host of those engaged i n nuclcar research or technology, particularly t o those newly entering the field. T h e chapter on methods of accelerating atomic particles describes the various types of accelerators with clear diagrams and descriptions. T h e methoda for detecting :ind studying particles in flight are well presented. D a t a oil rreutrori cross-sectioirs are eonspicuously lacking. A chapter is devoted t o the reactor program of the Atomic liiiergy Commission, in which plans for four new types s r e given. T h e final chapter, devoted to nuclear theory and cosmic rays, describes the present status of this subject in a clear and comprehensive manner especially acceptable to those who have not followed the slow and intricate development of this field over the past twenty years. T h e last fifty pages contain a number of appendices. The first is a list of soinc of the most important discoveries of the past fifty years. T h e table of atomic species, while extensive, is not claimed t o be complete. A list of nineteen commonly used r:tdioisotopes gives half-lives and electron and gamma-ray energies. A notable feature is t h a t , with two exceptions (K-131and C-14),all have odd isotopic numbers, which mean8 t h a t if the atomic number is even, the neutron number is odd and vice versa. Appendix 8 presents elementary pile theory in some detail (12 pp.). S e u t r o n d ction is discussed briefly. T h e final appendix (Appendix 11) contains some ingenious laboratory experiments. T h e publishers are t o be commended for the moderate price of a book of this length and quality.
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The Identi$cation of Molecular Spectra. Second edition, revised. By It. W . B. PEARSE AND A . G . GAYDOS. viii 276 pp. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1950.Price: $8.50. T h e subject matter for this revised compilation of data on molecular spectra may be best described by the introductory material on the protective paper wrapper: “The ldenti$cation of Molecular Spectra contains photographs of band systems, tables of wavelengths, suggestions for using the tables, and general information about band spectra-all designed t o help the scientist make accurate identifications of molecular spectra in the wavelength region from 10,ooO A. t o Zoo0 A. Thefirst part lists the strongest heads of the better-known band systems of each molecule, in order of wavelength, together with information about their origin, intensity in various sources, and appearance. By comparing the strongest band in the unknown baud system with this list the scientist will be able tentatively t o identify the system. He call then refer t o the s e w n $ p a r t , which includes individual lists of b a d heads for each system of each molecule, plus pertinent notes about the system . . . until positive identilication is made.” There is no doubt t h a t experimental spectroscopists will welcome the publication of this revised edition. I t includes emission arid absorption data on about forty molecules not previously included in the first edition, as well as corrections in identifications (for example, the IlgBr: and HgCI.: emission bands are now ascribed t o HgBr and HgCl, respectively). Kxtension of tlie data raises the total ~iumberof pages for the “Table of Persistent Bi111d Heads” from 31 to 36 ],ages, while the more detailed “Tables of Ldividual Band Systems” arc cxlended from 160 pages t o 2 8 pages. The section on “Practical
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Hii1t.s” has undergone a few mitior revisions, including the addition of a very brief discussion of the Tesla discharge source. One of the most appealing features of the book-the plates covering portions of the spectra of numerous molecules-has been extended from 39 t o 65 reproductions of spectra in the new edition. Xew molecular spectrograms are given for NaH, MgH, ZnH, P H , MnH, NiH, N:, NS, PO, 1’2, O:, 0 4 , NO*, SiF, TiO, CO, and CHIO. h molecular level diagram for Na is a new feature of the present edition. I t should be pointed out that the conversion table for wave lengths in air t o wave lengths in unciio refers t o standard air only (i.e., air a t 15”C., 760 mm. pressure, and containing :L normal proportion of 0.03 per cent of carhon dioxide). The need of continuing revisions of this compendium of information on molecular speetr:i is emphasized by recent publication of data on HgIn (Phys. Rev. 1, 89 (1951)) for which no data are available in the new edition. The authors are t o be highly complimented in bringing it as up t o date as to November, 1049. J . R A N DRICSALLY,JR. Cheniicul Kiricticu. U y I h . r i i J . 1.arnLm. 408 pp. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, lnc., 1950. Price: $5.50. In the preface the author elates: “The object of this book is the presentation, within a re:ison:ibly small compass, of the more important facts and theories relating t o the rates with which chemical reactions occur.” Whether the author has achieved his goal or has merely presented :i limited portion of the subject of chemical kinetics is a matter of opinion :md depends to :i 1:irge rxtent on what the reader considers important. I n general, the cxperimcnt:il :iq)ects of tlic subject :ire treated as incidental to the theoretical. The theoretical trentniciit is essentially i i simplified version of what is contained in the more elabor:ite work, Theory of fialc I’roccssca, b y Glasstone, Laidler and Eyring. I n fact, the present t)ook on Chemical Kinctics might he used :IS an introduction to the study of this older hook. The subject matter in this book is divided roughly into two parts. Chapters 1 t o 6 and Cluipter 13 de:d primarily with elementnry reartiotis, i.e., reactions xhich can be thought of a s proceeding f r o m the initi:iI t o the tin:tl state in one step. Chapters 7 t o 12 discuss complex reactions which are thc result of various combinations of elementary reactions. The discussion of the experiinrnt:il tneasurement of rates is confined t o the first 55 pages vhich constitute C1i:ipters 1 : i r i d 2, entitled “SIeasurement of Reaction Rates” and “ E x perimental Methods.” Tlic student will find little here beyond what he has already read in i i n :iverage physical chemistry text. One is left with the impression that the only rate laws one needs to determine are the simple ones which consist of :L single term which pcrniits c:ixy integration of t h e differentin1 equation. There is no attempt t o show the student how to cariy out the study of a renction which follows R more complex rate law such :is w c find i n tlic iorni:ttion of hydrogen hromide, the reduction of hydrogen peroxide hy iodidr, o r :iny other law which must he expressed by two or more terms or by a complex fi.:irtioii. In the opinion of this reviewer this is a i l unfortunate omission, since only ii relalivrly sni:LIl iiumher of rc:ictioiis follow rate laws :is simple R S those discussed in these r1i:Lpters. Prrhnps the :iutlior did not consider such reactions iniportnnt, since most mntel i d of th:rt type is iiot included :i:iywhere in the book. There is no mention a t all of the rxtensive writings on kiiwtics 11y .-\bel or Bray and only the most meager reference t o the \ \ o i , k of such people as I A \Ier, .-\.It. Olson, Skrabal, atid others who have studied many systems of varying dcgrees of complexity in solution. I n fact, it niay bk said that the aut h o r hiis relied 1w:ivily o t i t h e h t : i for gnseous systems, thus severely limiting the SCCIJJC of the book. The theoi,etical treatment is based entirely on the “alJsolute reaction rate theory.” On pages 5 9 4 2 the author presents the “collision theory,” which he declares is unsatisf:ictory and pmceeds t o denounce frequently throughout the rest of the book. This strong preference for one point of view has led him to make some statements which do not stand up well under close srrutiiiy. Thus, on page 61 in discussing the “collision theory” he
