BOOK REVIEWS of lime." There is a, trifle over-emphasis on animal data compared to plant data, even though special prominence has been attempted for plants. However, these are mild criticisms and it is this reviewer's opinion that the compilation is good, representing a vast collection of useful data. Although designed especially for bioehemista the book will be more useful to workers in the general field of biological science. I t should prove eapeeinlly vsluable to advanced &dents and t,o teachers who continually need a t their fingert,ips sources of biochemical data. Roy I,. WHISTLER Purdue Uniwrsity I.&@tc, Indiana
Trcmroctionr of the Symposium on Electrode Processes
Edit,ed by Em& I'eager, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1961. xiv 374 pp. Figs. and tables. 22.5 X 28.5 cm. $20.
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This volume records the transactions of a symposium on electrode processes held in May, 1959, under the joint sponsorship of the Elrctrochemiral Soriety and the Air Forrc Office of Srientitir Kcsearrh. Sixteen papers eo-authored by 24 workers are present,ed together with hoth the oral and eommuniwt,ed discussion of some 35 part,ieipnnts. Threc broad areas arc represented: double layer phenomena and P T O C P ~ F - s (papers by Frumkin, Gierst, Grahame, and Parsons); metal and hydrogen drposition and disaolution (Horiuti,
Piontelli, Boekris, Kolatyrkin, Conway, and Breiter); and fast electrode reactions (Randles, Llapis, and Barker). In addition, single papers are presented on electrode reaction mechanisms (Vetter), electrochemical ultrasonic eflects (Yeager), and the theory of electron transfer processes (R. A. Marcus). Four of the papers (hy Frumkin, Piontrlli, Kolotyrkin, and Boekris) were not presented orally at, the symposium. -4 paper by Levich on eleetrorhemiral hydrodynamics was originally schrdulrd, but was neit,her presented nor availshle for publication. Under tho capable organization of the rhairman, Professor Delahay, the symposium was really an int,rrnntion:kl review of u,ork in the field of elertrade processes; only four of the papers wwr contributed from tha United Stat,es. T ~ Symposium P provided t,o those attttending an infrequent opportnnit,y far open discussion u 3 h overseas associates which nxs often provocative and always interesting. The oral discussion W E recorded a t t.ho Svmposium, and hoth the oral and rommunicntod diarussions have heen cnrefully edited t o provide enjoyable as well as s t ~ i m n l h n greading. The papers, however, nrr n heterogt-neous rollwt,ion which vary eonsidrrahly in value. As often happens with a program of invited speskers which muat ha prepared months in advane?, many of the chapters are essentially short reviews of papcrs publi~hed previously by the ant,hors and suffer from heing n e i t h ~ rconprehcnsivr nor critical. While this type of presentation is often preferred to stimulate discussion nmong those attending the Symposium, the u ~ i t t , e nrecord should provide a more meaningful int~rpret,at.ion,either as n comprehensive review or as a critical research cantribnt~ian. Happily, a, few of the chapters do fit the latter rlasiiitication. For example, the paper by Gierst on the influence of the douhk layer on the rate and mechmism of an rlectrode rmetion in an out,standing contrihutian aa is dtested hy the seven pagm of discussion whirh follow. Similarly, Graheme's paper on the senrrh for sperifir adsorption of cesium ions a t a mercury surface is a qualtity presentation typical of that school. The usefulness of this hook is limited much in thesame manner ns are the annual reports of the Cornit,& International Thermodynamique et CinCtique Electrarhemie. The various chapters lack eongruity, hut the discussions which aceampany every paper make thpir ~ c e ~useful ss to anyone interested in dcet,rodeproeesmx. The untimely delay in publication is partially compensated hy the outstanding editing of Dr. Ymger. The large size (8'12" X 11") is an unwieldy nnisanre which is to be discouraged. Cnfortunat,elv. the rice to value ratio must he
the prow~dingaof lympasia 0x1 selerted topirx is, for hptter or worse, n a n firmly estshlished. The value of thesc records obviously drpendn on the quality of the papers and the a M t y of thp editor. This reviemr is ronvincrd that the book format is not t,he h& medium for ilissemin~ting (Continued on page A.%?6)
BOOK REVIEWS such information. Seldom do such hooks contain authoritative and eomprrhensive reviews whose value exceeds appreciably t,he publication period. Almost never do t,hey reach the high standards and cnt,holic appeal of, far inst,ance, the Disenssioas oi the Famday Society. The book is appropriately dedirated to the late Professor D. C. G ~ a h s m e of Arnherat Collegc. Rarely has one man contributed so murh t o n single discipline a8 did Dr. Grehame to the theory of the electrical double layer a t the eleet,rodesolution interface. His friendly rountenanee is aorely missed hy electrorhemiats everywhere.
E. It. NIGHTINGALE, Jn. Esso Research, & Enginwring Co. Linden, 'Yew Jersey
Ultraviolet a n d Visible Absorption Spectra: Index for 1955-1959 Herberl M . Hershenson, United Airerait Corporation, Eorth Haven, Conneeticut. Academic Press, Inr., New York, 1961. xv 133 pp. 22 X 28.5 em. $8.
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Thia 16,000-entry supplement to the 1930-54 volume covers the puhliahed literature during 1955-59. Each reference gives the journal, volume, page, and in& cntes the spectral range reported. S o actual spectral data are included, but the searcher can probably get to t,he data more easily by mmns of this volume than by wading through C.4 indexes.
1V.F.K
Mechanical Behavior of Materials at Elevated Temperatures Edited by John E. Dorn, Univ~rsityof California, Berkeley. h1eCh.w-Hill Book Co., Inc., S e w York, 1961. xii 529 pp. Figs. and tshles. 16 X 24 cm. $14.50.
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I n the hook edited by Prafc~sorJ. E Dorn, fifteen chapters on the merhxairal behavior of crystalline materials and t,he influenre of temperature on material performance are presented by a dozen mithorities in the field. Thus, the format of this book is murh like that of others in the Univer~ityof California Engineering Extension Series. This particular book in tho serios has auficicnt continuity that it may find use as s t,extbaak for faurthor fift,h-ycar college courses in mwhanies or in rnerhanicnl, metallurgical, or perhap8 civil engineering. S o roverage of electronic imperfertions of cryst,als is given; thus the book ~vauld find more limited ,me as a reference in solid sbate courses in chemistry, physics, or electrical engineering curricula.. The introductory chapter by Professor (Continued on page A332)
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Journol o f Chemical Education
