NEW BOOKS

Organic Analysis Vol. 4. Editorial Hoard: John Mitchell, Jr., I. M. Kolthoff, E. S. Proskkauer, A. Weiss-berger. vii - j - J$9 pages. Intersci­ence Publishers, Inc., 250 Fifth Ave., New York 1, Ν. Υ. I960. $13.50. Reviewed by T. Higuchi, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.

This most recent addition reaches the same high standard of usefulness set by the earlier members of the series on organic analysis published by Intersci­ence. There are contributions in six different areas: I. "Determination of Organic Peroxides" by A. J. Martin, II . "Enyzyme Analytical Reactions" by John B. Neilands, III . "Gas Chroma­tography" by Stephen Dal Nogare and Leo W. Safranski, IV. "Application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectros­copy to Organic Analysis" by Harlan Foster, V. "Crystallographic Methods of Analysis: X-Ray Diffraction and Microscopy" by John Krc, Jr., and VI. "Application of Differential Thermal Analysis to High Polymers" by Bacon Ke. '

The volume represents to some ex­tent a departure from the earlier mem­bers of the series. Except for the very thorough and excellent contribution by Martin on organic peroxides, the book approaches the problem of organic an­alysis from the standpoint of technique rather than from that of sample.

Dr. Neilands' contribution on the use of enzymes in analytical reactions is quite stimulating and should arouse interest in this rising field. The author thoughtfully includes a table of com­mercial sources of a large number of these biochemical catalysts. He spe­cifically lists applications of enzymic methods for amino acids, ethanol, formic acid, urea, succinic acid, poly­phenols, aminophenols, peroxides, and glycosides.

Nearly one third of the volume is devoted to a very excellent review of gas chromatography by Dal Nogare and Safranski. In this rapidly expand­ing and increasingly important analyti­cal area even this relatively large space allotment hardly seems sufficient. The authors, nevertheless, manage to squeeze in a significant amount of prac­tical information of immediate value, particularly to those who have had only casual and field introduction to this technique. Throughout their treat­ment, greater emphasis has been placed on the theoretical and instrumentation aspects than on discussions of actual

applications. The chapter, neverthe­less, includes an excellent compilation of references to a large number of dif­ferent systems in the fields of 1.) foods, flavors, and odors, 2.) biochemical, medical, and health problems, 3.) ki­netics, mechanism, and catalysis, 4.) analytical and special studies, and 5.) determinations of physical constants and thermodynamic data, all given in tabular form. In a separate table, ref­erences are provided for separation studies on organic compounds classified according to their functionality.

As are the chapters on gas chroma­tography and organic peroxides, the section on NMR by Foster is a contri­bution from the Polychemical Depart­ment of du Pont. This relatively short (64 pages) treatment of an enormously complex field apparently is designed as an introductory and somewhat practi­cal text for the working organic chem­ist. The author places emphasis "on the method as a practical analytical tool and not as a branch of theoretical physics." Much of the discussion on application is based on his own experi­ence in the field.

It has always struck the reviewer that it takes an individual with a cer­tain temperament to become a compe­tent crystallographer. I t is fortunate for most organic and analytical chemists that experts such as Dr. Krc are avail­able for consultation. In some sixty-four pages the chapter covers crystal optics, crystal morphology, x-ray dif­fraction analysis, and fusion methods. The treatment is suited not particularly as introductory material but more as a reference.

The last offering in the volume prob­ably will find only a limited audience although it should be of some theoreti­cal interest to all polymer chemists. A considerable portion of the applied phase is based on the author's own work with polyethylenes and polypro-pylenes.

In summary, the book is recom­mended to all who wish to maintain a sound working library on latest tech­niques and methodology. A large amount of useful information has been compiled in this volume.

The Encylopedia of Spectroscopy. Edited by George L. Clark, xvi + 7S7 pages. Reinhold Publishing Corp.. 430 Park Ave., New York 22, N. Y., 1960, $25. Reviewed by M.

Margoshes, National Bureau of Standards, Washington 25, D. C.

The Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy covers virtually every aspect of the electromagnetic spectrum, from gamma-rays to radio-frequency radia­tion. In addition, mass, neutron, and beta-ray spectroscopy are included, as well as (surprisingly) differential ther­mal analysis. Much, though not all, of the volume is concerned with material of interest to analytical chemists.

The arrangement of the subject is alphabetical, first by major topics, then by sub-headings. The major topics covered are Absorption Spectroscopy (Ultraviolet and Visible), 79 pp., Band Spectroscopy, 6 pp., Beta-Ray Spec­troscopy, 5 pp., Differential Thermal Analysis, 3 pp., Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometry, 5 pp., Emis­sion Spectroscopy-Light, 231 pp., Flame Photometry, 43 pp., Fluonmetry and Phosphorimetry, 4 pp., Gamma-Ray Spectrometry, 5 pp., Infrared Emission Spectroscopy, 4 pp., Infrared Spectrophotometry, 197 pp., Mass Spectrometry, 11 pp., Monochromators, 2 pp., Neutron Spectrometry, 4 pp., Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectra, 11 pp., Raman Spectrometry, 10 pp., Solar Spectroscopy, 9 pp., Vacuum Spectroscopy, 10 pp., X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Absorption Photometry, IS pp., X-Ray Characteristic Absorp­tion Spectrometry, 2 pp., X-Ray Dif­fraction or Crystal Spectra, 3 pp., and X-Ray Emission Spectrometry, 61 pp.

The coverage of individual topics within these major headings ranges from general discussions, best suited to the neophyte, to detailed information of most value to the expert. These in­dividual articles are, generally, authori­tative, and the only mistakes noted by this reviewer were typographic errors.

Discussions of basic theory, instru­mentation, and applications are in­cluded under most of the major head­ings. The depth of coverage of each of these aspects varies markedly. For example, the section Emission Spectros­copy includes six separate articles on aspects of the relation between atomic structure and atomic spectra, but the theory' of infrared absorption spectra is covered in only one three-page article. The relation between molecular struc­ture and absorption or emission of light in the ultraviolet and visible regions re­ceives no treatment except for the section on band spectra, which gives a quantum-mechanical treatment offering

VOL, 33, NO. 3, MARCH 1961 · 8 5 A

NEW BOOKS

little understanding of the spectra of such complex molecules as organic dyes.

An index, or a system of cross-ref­erences, would have made this work more useful, by guiding the reader to treatments of related subjects in sep­arate portions of the Encyclopedia. Unfortunately, only a table of contents is provided. Thus, for example, the table of contents would direct the reader to a major heading Vacuum Spectroscopy and a sub-heading (under Absorption Spectroscopy) Vacuum Ul­traviolet Region Instrumentation, but only a page-by-page search would turn up the information on vacuum ultra­violet spectrographs, or the discussion of the determination of non-metallic elements by their vacuum ultraviolet emission spectra, contained in articles on emission spectroscopy. The section Infrared Spectrophotometry includes articles entitled Imbedded-Window Method for Sampling and Solids in Potassium Bromide, as well as closely related discussions under other head­ings with no cross-references. Other examples could be cited of the lack of cross-referencing or coordination of re­lated discussions.

In spite of some faults, the Encyclo­pedia of Spectroscopy would probably be a worthwhile addition to general technical libraries.

Tables and Nomograms of Hydro-chemical Analysis. / . Yu. Sokolov. 89 pages. Consultants Bureau Enter­prises, Inc., 227 West 17th St., New York 11, Ν. Υ. I960. $9.50.

This is a handbook for those working with the results of hydrochemical anal­ysis. It is composed of tables and nomographs designed to simplify cal­culations concerned with weights, equiv­alents, and per cent-equivalents; and these are based on results expressed in the form widely used in hydrogeological practice—milligrams per liter (weight form) and milligram-equivalents per liter (equivalent form).

Theoretische Grundlagen der Gas-chromatographie. Géza Schay. viu + 267 pages. VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, Nieder-wallstrasse 39, Berlin W8. 1960. DM 29.80. Reviewed by I. Dvoret-zky, Houston Research Laboratory, Shell Oil Company, Deer Park, Texas.

In keeping with the highly applica-tional nature of research in gas chroma­tography, treatises on the subject have dealt with theoretical principles only insofar as the practical aspects have re­

quired. With this observation as a point of departure, author Schay, who considers himself a physical rather than an analytical chemist, has attempted to treat systematically and more broadly the theoretical, physical-chemical rela­tionships of gas chromatography. Si­multaneously, he has not confined his treatise to theoretical matters, but has chosen to present enough of the tech­nique and applications of gas chroma­tography to illustrate the connections between theory and practice. Indeed, he proposes the book should serve as a practical guide to gas chromatography, though in a lesser degree than related monographs. It appears that the au­thor has accomplished each of his stated purposes, with the result that the book is of even greater interest to analytical chemists than its title would suggest.

Beginning with a chapter which out­lines the essential aspects of chromatog­raphy in general and of gas chromatog­raphy in particular, the author empha­sizes a point which is the basis for a good deal of what follows—that the same features of the gas chroma­tographic process which account for its analytical utility render it especially suitable for the experimental study of underlying physical-chemical relation­ships and properties of matter. The book's two-fold concern over theory on the one hand and the relation between theory and practice on the other finds early expression. A case in point oc­curs on page 4. Speaking of the effect of the sorption-desorption process on the velocity of the gas stream, the au­thor notes that theoreticians of gas chromatography have almost without exception ignored this effect, on grounds that the concentrations of sorbable components in the gas phase are in practice so small. He continues: "We do not concur in this point of view, since on the one hand . . . theoretical contradictions develop, and on the other hand . . . only through consid­eration of velocity changes can flawless, quantitatively interprétable chroma-tograms be obtained."

Succeeding chapters offer thorough­going, mathematical treatments of ab­sorption equilibrium, the adsorption equilibrium of gases and vapors on solid surfaces, the theory of frontal gas chromatography (accorded, because of its theoretical significance, a consider­ably more extended treatment than its analytical importance would justify), and the theory of development chroma­tography. Two concluding chapters on the technique of gas chromatography and on applicational possibilities and examples not only link the theoretical with the practical, but offer a descrip­tive treatment of gas chromatographic

practice which should be very useful to the worker seeking experimental guid­ance. It must be emphasized, however, that the book as a whole is at least as weighted in favor of the theoretical as its predecessors have been in the direc­tion of the practical. A brief but effec­tive historical survey toward the end of the first chapter should be equally in­teresting to the physical and the ana­lytical chemist.

With regard to literary organization and physical format, the book is at­tractively executed.

1960 Compilation of ASTM Stand­ards on Petroleum Products & Lubricants—D-2. xxvi + 1130 pages. American Society for Testing Mate­rials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia 3, Pa. 1960. Vols. I and II, $9.50 each.

This 37th annual edition of the com­pilation is being published in two vol­umes for the first time, with Volume II scheduled for appearance in the early months of 1961. The standards, pre­pared by ASTM Committee D-2 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants, total 168, of which 31 are new, revised, or changed in status.

Volume I contains most standards on petroleum including crude petro­leum, butadiene, motor and aviation fuels, naphthas, diesel fuels, lubricating oils, industrial oils, cutting oils, turbine oils, greases, waxes, spray oils, and other related materials.

Volume II contains a number of standards prepared by other ASTM committees, covering areas of interest to the petroleum industry. These cover such things as solvents, gaseous fuels, bituminous road and paving materials, industrial aromatic hydrocarbons, gen­eral methods of test, absorption spec­trometry, and others.

Government Publications

The following are available from the Office of Technical Sendees, II. S. De­partment of Commerce, Washington 25, D. C.

Rapid Determination of Citric Acid in Biological Fluids, UR-579, Aug. I960, 7 pages, 50 cents.

Materials Testing (1950-1960) . SB-411. I960. 10 cents.

This is a selective bibliography list­ing 240 U. S. Government research re­ports, translations, and other docu­ments on general and nondestructive testing of wood, metal, plastic, glass, and other materials.

8 6 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

. . . second of a series NEW BOOKS

l ^ j i .

Circle No. 1D9 on Readers' service card

A Nobel Prize in Czechoslovakia-Yaroslav Geyrovskiy. Brabenets, Irzhi. Nauka i Zhizn' (USSR). 60-81680. 4 pages. Aug. 1960. 50 cents.

Determination of Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, and Calcium in Perhy-drol by the Method of Flame Spec-trography; Spectrographic Deter­mination of Traces of Impurities in Solutions by the Method of Sparking on Metal Electrodes; (and) New Method for the Dissolv­ing of Aluminum Silicates. W. Kemula, W. Brachaczek, and others. 60-21^57. 23 pages. Chemia Anali-tyczna (Poland). 1960. 75 cents.

Fiscal Year 1960: Army Research Task Summary. Vol. 2—Chemistry. PB 171001. Office of the Chief of Research and Development, Depart­ment of the Army. 392 pages. 1960. $3.75. '

This is one of six volumes which re­view army research and development projects in major scientific fields that were current in June 1960. I t lists agencies, contractors, principal inves­tigators, and gives a brief description of the purpose, scope, and status of the projects.

Instrumentation and Controls Di­vision Semiannual Progress Report for Period Ending July 3 1 , 1953, ORNL-169/,, May 1954, 33 pages, φ cents.

Master Analytical Manual, TID-7015 (Suppl. 2), May I960, 612 pages, $6.75.

Achievements of Analytical Chemis­try in China, D. I. Ryabchikov, Zhurnal Analitcheskoy Khimii, 60-31277, June 1960, 3 pages, 50 cents.

Neutron Cross Section Evaluation Group Newsletter No. 2, BNL 634 (T-197), 1960, 50 cents.

Analysis of Yttrium Metal and Yttrium Oxide (No. 3 of a series), APEX-571, July 1960, 15 pages, 50 cents.

X-Ray Spectrographic Determination of Potassium, Uranium, and Tho­rium in Pyrochemical Samples, HW-65801, June 1960, 23 pages, 75 cents.

impurity Analysis of Americium So­lutions, RFP-194, Sept. 1960, 28 pages, 50 cents.

8 8 A · ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

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