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Introduction to X-Ray Spectrometric Analysis by Eugene P. Berlin, RCA Laboratories This new t e x t , suitable for selfinstruction or university courses and workshops, provides detailed descrip tions and explanations of X-ray spec t r o m e t r i c principles, i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n , and techniques, approx. 4 7 5 p p . , il lus., 1978, $ 2 8 . 5 0
Applied Atomic Spectroscopy edited by E. L. Grove, I IT Research I nstitute Experts in the field provide chemists w i t h a basic understanding of the fundamental principles and latest de velopments in atomic spectroscopy, including emission and atomic ab sorption. T w o - v o l u m e set in Modern Analytical Chemistry. Volume 1 : approx. 3 3 0 pp., il I us., 1978, $39.50 Volume 2: approx. 315 p p . , illus., 1978, $ 3 9 . 5 0 T w o - v o l u m e set: $ 7 5 . 0 0
Laser and Coherence Spectroscopy edited by Jeffrey I. Steinfeld, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Active researchers in the field of chemical physics examine coherent absorption and scattering phenomena in the spectroscopy of atoms and molecules, approx. 515 p p . , illus., 1978, $ 4 5 . 0 0
Contemporary Topics in Analytical and Clinical Chemistry edited by David M. Hercules, Univer sity of Pittsburgh; Gary M. Hieftje, Indiana University; Lloyd R. Snyder, Technicon Instruments C o r p o r a t i o n ; and Merle A. Evenson, University of Wisconsin
niques is difficult because of the long half-life and low specific activity of 129 l2 and because this isotope occurs together with other isotopes of iodine with short half-lives. Since the new detector is insensitive to other iso topes of iodine, the N R L scientists conclude t h a t the monitor can be used even in the presence of a large excess of other iodine radioisotopes.
Alcohol That Stimulates Plant Growth While to the casual observer the re cent Arab oil embargo and the discov ery of the growth stimulating natural alcohol might seem to have little con nection, the two events are linked in a remarkable story. T h e embargo led to a general increase in the price of all forms of energy, especially of natural gas, the source of hydrogen used for the production of nitrogen fertilizers. As a result a team of scientists led by Stanley K. Ries of Michigan State University thought perhaps the nitro gen-rich forages like alfalfa leaves could be substituted for chemical fer tilizers in an emergency. In the first part of their investiga tion, chopped alfalfa hay was placed below and to the side of the crop seeds. T h e results of the experiment were better than expected, since the increase in growth of the plants was actually greater than t h a t produced by equivalent amounts of nitrogen fer tilizer. After a series of further experi ments, they were able to purify a crys talline substance from the chloroform extract of alfalfa hay. When the sub stance was applied to the plants as a
foliar spray, the growth of the plants proved indeed t h a t this substance was responsible for the growth stimulating effect. Dr. Ries then turned to analytical chemist, Charles C. Sweeley, also of Michigan State University, for the identification of the compound. T h e crystalline substance was identified by mass spectrometry as triacontanol, a straight-chain 30 carbon saturated alcohol, CH 3 (CH 2 )28CH 2 OH. W h e n the crystals were dissolved in hexane, the mass spectrum was identical to t h a t of a sample of triacontanol syn thesized by Analabs, North Haven, Conn. In addition, the gas chromato graphic retention times were similar to those of an authentic sample, and the melting points of the crystals, the authentic material, and a mixture of both were similar to t h a t reported for triacontanol. Triacontanol, which was first isolated and identified in 1933 by the English scientist A. C. Chibnall, is the principal component of wax de rived from alfalfa leaves. Further experiments showed t h a t application of synthetic triacontanol in concentrations as low as 10 μgίL· of nutrient solution resulted in an in crease of the yields of most crops in cluding navy beans, asparagus, sweet corn, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, rad ishes, and tomatoes. In addition, the compound does not appear to be a pollution hazard since it already oc curs naturally in fairly high concentra tions. Despite this success, Dr. Ries re mains cautious because he still does not know "much at all about how this alcohol biochemically causes the plants to grow and yield more". He
Volume 1 Presents chemists w i t h the latest de velopments in the f i e l d , and deline ates the relationship of analytical chemistry t o other areas, such as air and water p o l l u t i o n , oceanography, earth sciences, and various aspects of biomedical science and technology. 3 4 2 pp., 1977, $ 2 5 . 0 0
Visit the Plenum Booth i±1406 at the Pittsburgh Conference P L E N U M P U B L I S H I N G CORPORA T I O N , 227 West 17th Street, New Y o r k , N.Y. 10011 Prices subject to change w i t h o u t notice. Prices slightly higher outside the U.S.
Charles C. Sweeley is shown at the controls of a mass spectrometer sample identification run
CIRCLE 173 ON READER SERVICE CARD 2 3 8 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 50, NO. 2, FEBRUARY
1978
during a
