BOOK REVIEWS tions, molecular symmetry, and selection rules. Chapter Four contains a fair bit of information on characteristic group frequencies, but the arrangement and format of the tables is not conducive to quick referenee. The introductory theoretical discussion of electronic transitions is made to appear more complicated, and probably unnecessarily so, by the use of Greek symbols fi and 6,for atomic and molecular orbital wave functions. Perhaps this is merely a subconscious attempt to compensate for the largely empirical nature of ultraviolet spectroscopy. An outstanding feature of Chapter Six is Table 6.2 (pp. 192-194), correlating the spectral characteristics-in NMR, IR, and UV-f some important functional groups. The book as a whole suffers somewhat from poorly drawn schematic diagrams, with respect to instrumentation as well as to theory. I t could be further improved by a more detailed index, dthough Table 6.3 (pp. 1950 on Information Sources within this volume is most usefrd. On the whole, thisvolume can be recommended as a textbook (or for self-teaching) for an introduotory course on molecular spectroscopy as applied to organic chemistry. WALTERJ. LEHMANN University of Massachusetts at Boston Hiickel Molecular Orbitals
E. Heilbronner and P . A . Slraub. Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 1966. 824 pp. Tables. 25 X 31 cm. Looseleaf ring binder. $18.
ing types of compounds: linear chains containing 2 to 22 atomic orbitals, single rings containing 3 to 22 atomic orbitals, all possible systems containing from 4 to 7 atomic orbitals, selected systems containing from 2 to 10 f u e d rings (all the rings contain 6 atoms), some branched aromatic systems, and some systems containing 5 and/or 7 membered rings either instead of or in addition to 6 membered rings. The book also contains a listing of the FORTRAN program used to obtain these results. The information given for each molecule includes the fallowing: energies, coefficients, bond orders and chasge densities, atom-atom polaririsabilities, bond-atom polarizsbilities, and bond-bond polariaabilities. I n all the calculations, d l the coulomb integrals have been assumed equal and sll resonance integrals between bonded atoms have been assumed equal. It should be noted that this "book" is not bound; rather the pages, all 824 of them, are contained in a loose-leaf ring binder which is very unhandy to use. The pages of the review copy had a miniinches, so it appears mum margin of 11/~ that one can have the "book" bound oneself if one so desires. DAVIDL. P o m m College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio
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Journol of Chemicol Education
The Analysis of Physical Measurements
Emerson M . Pugh, Csrnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, and George H. Winslow, Argonne Nstional Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois. Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts, 1966. ix 246 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23 cm. Paperbound. $4.75.
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The subject of "statistics" is dual in character. One side presents the mathematical concepts; the other uses those concepts as an aid in the interpretation of experiments. Snedecor's book, "Statistical Methods," and s. host of others thrtt followed dealt with the latter role in sgricoltnre and other areas of biology. Numemus texts on the mathemetical aspects of "statistics" are available. As new books appear dealing with the subject of statistics they are criticized for being (1) incomprehensible to nonmathemat,icians, if they deal with the m a t h e matics, or (2) "a. trivial cook hook," if they contain no mathematics but attempt to relate statistical mebhods to experimentetion. Consequently nearly every baok that appears contains in its preface or in its advertisements glowing accounts about how this text will serve the experimenter and satisfy the mathematician. The representation of the present book under review is no exception. The Preface contains this statement, "Our purpose is to emphasize objective, practical, and appropriate numerical caleulstians rather than present a. study of theory." Elsewhere it is stated that the authors consider the hook ss s. text and B useful guide for professional experimentalists. First impressions of this book lead one to believe that the authors have indeed finally achieved 8. balance between the methemiltical and practical snalysis. After 142 pages (out of 204) of the mathematical backeround of standard deviation and the nsml distributions one comes to s. section entitled Introduction of Ststistied Analysis. Here one hopesto find something that will make the book a "useful guide far the experimentalist!' Unfortunately nearly all one finds is more of the mathematics of the chi-square, "t," F, and the correlation coefficient. Same examples of experimental oroblems are included but these would
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experiments. Consequently, the title of the book, "The Analysis of Physics1 Measurements," i~ a misnomer. What the book really represen& is a review of the fundamentals of statistics, from a mathematical point of view. I n this regard it is a very good book. The authors have presented the mathemsties in a clear fashion that is easy t o follow. Any student with a. good background in mathematics through elementary calculus would find the text quite r e warding. I t would provide 8. solid basis for further explomtion of the mathematical basis far statistical methods. The book is printed in a readable format and is reasonably priced (although it is paper backed). If one were contemplating giving a course dealing with st,atistics to m y group of students, and such s. course were not available in the mathematics department, then this baok would be useful. It would also be
useful as a. supplement to s. course dealing with analysis of measurements (not neeessarily physical), but only as mathematical background because the authors have not concerned themselves with the role of experimentation in investigative science. The authors have failed to convey the concept of experimental error as the interaction of "treatment" with a random e l e ment in the population. Failure to perceive this principle is proba,bly the primary cause for physical scientists to be slow in accepting the use of probability statistics as they are practiced by biologists. Perhaps because of this the authors present a curious concept of "error." They relate "accuracy" to systematic errors and "precision" to "chance." It may he just semantics but this reviewer considers sccuracy and precision as synonymous and related to errors in the technicality of measurement and prefers the word reliability to relate to chance. The authors have not sufficiently exploited the role of randomization in experimentation to allow the stndent to differentiate between cmdom variation and "technical" errors in measurement. In fact, the subject of design is completely absent in this baok, and design, analysis, end interpretation in experimentation cannot be separated. To summarize: This book is an excellent presentation of some of the elementary mathematics of statistics. I t would serve a useful role as s. reference for a. beginning mathematical ststisties course or it could mrve as background material for a met,hods course in sbatistics for mathematically competent students. I t is in the words of the authors, "not so much utilitarian aa instructional." C. R. WEAVER Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Wooster
The Noble Gases
Isaac Asinum. Basic Books, Inc., New 171 pp. Tables. York, 1966. x 14.5 X 21.5 cm. $4.50.
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Isaac Asimov has written a dramatic and wideranging account of the discovery, properties, and applications of the noble gases. Although the book is directed toward the interested layman or novice, it can be read with pleasure and profit by anyone who desires a quick survey of the most important aspects of noble gas chemistry. The emphasis throughout is on understanding the properties and various phenomena associated with the gases; thus the discussion of the ionization potentials of the gases is accompanied by a simplified, though meaningful, explanation of the experimental technique and theoretical significance of the phenomenon. Chapter 1 covers the early period of investigation of gases, Cwendish's discovery of a small bubble of pa3 (armn) which does not react with oxygen in-an electrical discharge, Lockyer's discovery of helium in the sun, and Hillebrand's near discovery of helium in uraninite. Chapters 2 and 3 give a detailed account of Rayleigh's discovery of t,he discrepancy in the density of nitrogen, and Ramsay's isolation and charactwim-
tion of argon and the other stable rare gases. The author brings out the importance of precise measurements of properties of highly purified substances obtained from various sources and of the exhaustive elimination of errors in experimental work. He reveals some of the motives of scientific investigation, and the difficulties and frustrations facing a scientist on the verge of a momentous discovery. There are several places in this section where the narrative deviates from historical fact. Fortnnately these errors do not distort the meaning of the scientific accomplishment, but they are annoying ta the i n d i v i d d who is familiar with the historical details. These errors could have been easily spotted and corrected by a more rigorous editing procedure. The relation between the atomic p r o p erties of the noble gases and their nuclear and electronic structure is discussed in Chapter 4. The next chapter deals with the formation, sbundance, and distribution of the various isotopw of the gases in the universe and on earth. Chapter 6 presents various practical applications of the gases, while Chapter 7 is devoted entirely ta an exploration of helium, its p r o p erties, and associated low temperature phenomena. Chapter 8 contains an excellent discussion of the relation between the chemical reactivity of various elements and electronic structure, ianimtion energy, bond strength, and electronegativity. The
ments is covered. The directions are given in excellent style and hence followed easily by those with even a comparatively small knowledge of the German language. Sources of daneer (ex~losion~. toxic vsoors.
are clearly marked by a, conspicuous sign. Many of the experiments are designed for lecture purposes and involve relatively intricate set-ups. Others, because they involve organic reactions, require samewhat lengthy reaction times, and so should be started ahead of the lecture proper or may continue during the lecture, though this practice is not advised in general b e cause attention may be distracted from the lecture itself by the bubbling liquid, etc. Others require the use of a. hood and so need to be conducted in the lahorat,ory. St,illother procedures can he carried out by the students themselves, though in all eases it is urged that competent experienced supervision be constantly available in all organic teaching laboratories. The number of experiments is greater than csn he inclttded in the normal course and so the instructor has considerable elbow room in his choice of those to be performed by himself a t the leoture table or by the students in the laboratory. The amounts of the starting materials specified are small, so that in no case do the procedures pretend to he methods of preparing products on a scale comparable to that of the manuals where the emphasis is on yields. The book is designed for teachers and 'chemistry of the rare gas compounds: and courses where stress is laid on the The book contains numerous tables, a. physical and chemical properties. Each list of notable dates related to the narrative experiment inchtdes not only the procedure and a comprehensive index; it is highly and a sketch of the apparatus but also a. recommended to the student, scholar, or succinct but intelligible account of the scientist who wishes to obtains. short,, but chemistry involved. The find section is balanced appmisal of the historical, sciendevoted to the preparation and properties tific, and practical significance of the noble of plastics, resins, etc. gaTes. I n view of the present price of text,books, this volume represents a great bargain. JOHN E. FREY I t would make a goad text for those Northern Michigan University anxious to improve their ability to read Ma~quelte German. Correspondence relative to orders may be addressed ta the publisher a t Lindenstrasse 54 a, 108 Berlin or to Deutsehe Buch -Export und -Import Chemische Schulverruche: Eine GmbH, Leninstrasse 16, Leipsig, East Anleitung fiir den Lehrer. Teil 3, Germany. Organirche Chemie
RALPEE. OESPER University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
Helmut Stapf. Revised by Albert Hradetsky. Volk und Wissen Volkseigener Verlag, East Berlin, 1962. Reprinted 1966. 335 pp. Figures. 16 X 23 cm. About $2.50.
with the general considerations regarding demonstration experiments and the reader is accordingly advised to consdt it in connection with the present discussion. While the preceding vohmes dealt with the metals and nonmetals respectively, the volume under review here is devoted to organic chemistry. I n all, 478 experiments are described. Some are qualitative, 8. few are quantit* tive, many are preparative, others illustrate the reactions of organic compounds. I n short, the entire range of elementary organic laboratory demonst,ration experi-
Handbook of Industrial Toxicology
E. R. Plunkctt, Industrial Health Services, Barberton, Ohio. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 1966. viii 440pp. 15 X 22.5 cm. S16.50.
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The "Handbook of Industrial Toxicology," by E. R. Plunkett, M.D., appears t o be quite a complete listing of the common and not so common industrial chemicals. The practicing industrial physician should find the concise statements under taxicology in the areas of Absolption, Pathology, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnostic Tests, Treatment, and Disa.bility very helpful in making a. quick appraisal in an emergency situation. (Continued on page A556) Volume 44, Number 6, June 1967
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