V. L. S m y i n k a n d D. Jenkins. John Wiley & Sons., New York, 1980. xiii 463 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 23 cm.
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Anernative Fuels, Chemical Energy Resources E. M. Goodger, John Wiley 8 Sons, New 238 pp. Flgs. and taYork, 1980. xvii bles. 16% X 24 cm.
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The suhtitle of the book "Chemical EnergyResourcesn describes the contents of this monograph more aptly than the main title "Alternative Fuels." The author himself describes the book precisely in the preface hy the statement "This present work attempts t o explore briefly the candidate alternative chemical fuels, in terms of their natures, availahility, production, properties, combustion performance, emission characteristics, handling problems, and tentatively, possible future costs." Apparently, the monograph is meant for the readers with considerable hackmound in chemibtry, part~cularlythermwh~m~stry and thrrmdynam~cs.The book might serveasa resourcr book for students in chemical engi. neering and related curricula. The book consists of nine chapters and four appendices. Introductory Chapter 1 is essentially a continuation of preface. Chapter 2 is a survey of chemical energy resources. Reserves are given in terms of EJ (exa joules = 10'8) units, aunit with which some readers may have same problems. The figure with respect t o Uranium reserve is off by orders of magnitude from the figure quoted in 1976 U.S. Mineral Yearbook (US. Dept. of Interior). The projection with respect to nuclear enerw consumption (Fig. 2.1) has no basis. In fact, recent growth rate will yield an entirely different projection. Chapter 3 primarily deals with the structures, formulas, and thermochemistry of hydracarhon fuels. There are a few minor errors; for example, henezene ring is no longer represented by two sets of nonequivalent bonds. Chapter 4 surveys alternative chemical fuels including synfuels, alcohols, hydrogen- and nitrogenbased propellants. Chapter 5 discusses the stoichiometry and thermodynamics of a variety of combustible fuels. Chapter 5 also has a small section on fuel cells describing the electrode processes employing Hz or HC as oxidizable fuels, and points out the freedom from Carnot's cycle. The author is silent about thespectacular advances made in fuel cell technology during the past decade. Chapter 6 discusses the relation between the physical and physico-chemicalparameters of a variety of combustible fuels, and the parameters determining the ignition and combustion. Chapter 8 is a detailed analytical discussion of combustion performances of a variety of fuels and of engine configurations. Chapter 8 discusses the storage, handling, and transporting problems of the chemical ~
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fuels.
Chapter 9 iu a mixed bag. The foregoing bricf review o i c h a p t w should indicate that the text abuundr ill rdundanl-y, and u d s the most painstaking readers will manage to read the entire monograph. Buddhadev Sen Louisiana State Universily Baton Rouge. LA 70803 A382
Journal of Chemical Education
This hook takes a workmanlike approach to the application of the principles of mcdern chemistry to that most important compound, water, from a laboratory chemist's point of view as well as for those interested in natural waters, pollution, and water treatment. A competent student with a superior secondary school education could comprehend the book directly, since i t contains a short review of essentials and two excellent introductory chapters on kinetics and thermodynamics. However, most student readers will likely have had a background of first-year general ~ h ~ m i n at r ythe c ~ d l e por univcwity level. %n keeping with the intention ofthe authors rhat t h he ~ a "fl~st-levrl"trcatnoent of water ehemistrv. A number of different purposes can be served by the book. It would be a suitable text f o adoption ~ in a term or sessional course specializing on the chemistry of water, given as part of an environmental science program. Or, i t could be employed as a reference and supplemental source within the framework of a more extensive course on oceanography or aquatic science. Thirdly, i t could he used id a physical chemistry or analytical chemistry course as means of applying chemical principles to an important example of the real world by assignment of reading, examples and problems. Finally, i t should find aplace in the departmental and some personal lihraries of biologists and geologists for reference in handling the complex aqueous chemistry of such topics as the carbonate or phosphate equilibria, or complexation of aqueous metal ions. Following the review, introductory kinetics and thermodynamics, the treatment of the chemistry of water falls under four main divisions, each with its theory and applications: acid-base; eomplerntion, precipitationdissolution; and oxidation-reduction. However, within each division are some highly specialized and applied topics such as corrosion or iron chemistry under oxidation-reduction, or phosphate chemistry under the acid-base division. The book is strongly didactic in structure, beginning with explanatory theory and illustrative data, followed ~-hv -,numerous worked examoles. and nmhl~ms. nearlv all with answers suoulied. , . . . . . r . The use of symhols and terms, and techniques for representing equilibrium systems w e up-to-date and much of the thermadynamic treatment of the aqueous chemistry is incorporated in the diagrammatic farm of PC-pH and p e p H plots. A good deal of the content of the book is what might be termed "concentration algebra" for better or worse, but the authors do introduce activity treatment and discuss the effects of ionic strength as well as temperature and pressure. Appendices contain useful scientific data and unit conversion, and a t the end of each chapter is a short but valuable bibliography. There are useful individual references throughout and there is an author index as well as a subject index. "Water Chemistry" is not quite unique. The treatise with which it invites comparison is "Aquatic Chemistry" by Stumm and Morgan, of proven worth. There is patently much overlap between these two books both ~~
in substance and in treatment. Is there sufficient difference to warrant the publishing and acquisition of the former? John Wiley and Sons think so, for they published both. A subjectivejudgment would be that the level of "Water Chemistry" is less difficult, being more gently and thoroughly developed, and so would be suited to university undergraduates and technologists, whereas "Aqueaus Chemistry" is applied to more advanced topics and would be ideally aimed a t graduate students and experienced scientists. W. G. Breck Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada Synthetic Oils a n d Additives for Lubricants (Advances Since 1977) W. Ranney, Noyes Data Corporation, Park Ridge. NJ, 1980. vii 408 pp. Figs. and tables. 24.3 X 15.8 cm. $48.00.
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Thir useful, interesting, and inrtruruve puhlicathm should br consulted not mlv hy rxprru in the fwid but alw I,\ all vhemi~ts hrrau.w of its prrsrntdtion OI n fascinnt~ng rhwn~calart making use U I a uidp w r w y of andwrriol chrmicais and i s n t h r t ~ r methods. The hook reviews some 260 U S . Patents ganted during the pericd from January 1978 through July 1979 thus updating the material aonearine since "Lubricant AdditivesR'eient 6evelopments3' was published in 1918. Essentially all of the material presented has been taken directly from the original patents verbatim. Although the only original material in the bwk is the short discussion of the state of the art presented a t the beginning of each chapter, i t is the arrangement of the patent material under the appropriate chapter heading and the good selection of material from the patent disclasures and examples that make the book valuable. The chapter headings, which represent a good summary of the contents of the hook together with the number of pages devoted to each chapter (in parentheses), are as follows: Dispersants and Detergents (921, Viscosity Index Improvers and Other Additives (711, Load-Carrying Additives (62), Oxidation and Corrosion Inhihitors (43), Metalworking Lubricants (30). Solid Luhricant Compasitions (lo), Grease Compositions (2.51, and Specialty Lubricants and Related Processes (62). The latter chapter serves as a "catchall" section and includes information on lubricants for fibers and textiles, lubricants for phonograph records, discs and tapes, lubricants for bearings, oil-well drilling, nuclear reactor applications, molten glass processing, automatic transmissions, and crankcases. In addition, the last chapter gives examples of penetrating oils, rustproof lubricants, the hydrotreating of oils and olefin polymers and the conversion of sulfonic acids to the corresponding hydrocarbons. Material reproduced from the patents include the names of authors and companies involved and, as an added diimension to the hook, details on the testing methods em-
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place to begin. The book has indices of the companies, inventors, and patent numbers mentioned. (Continued an page A3841
