book reviews

%move chess problems. The wide range of material contributed

by 20 authors in 18 chapters makes a really critical review a iormidahle task for one person. These chapters are (1) Molecular force fields and vnlency, J. W. Linnett; (2) The hyper Rsman effect, D. A. Long; (3) Vibrational assignments in small molecules, W. H. Fletcher; (4) Inter- ferometry: Experimental techniques and applications to inorganic stlmctures, G. W. Chantry; (5) Single crystal and high- temperature gas-phase Itaman spectros- copy, I. R. Beabtie; (6) High resolution Raman spectroscopy of gases, H. G. M. Edwards; (7) Intermoleculnr force effects

in the Raman spectra of gases, C. G. Gray and H. L. Welsh; (8) Itaman spectra of alkali halides, 11. S. Krishnan; (9) Atomic interactions in molecdar, covalent, ionic and metallic crystals, S. Mieushima and I. Ichishima; (10) Structural aspects of the I\lnssbauer effect, J . F. Duncan; (11) Non-staichiometry in fluorite structures, I,. E. J. 12oberts; (12) Some aspects of solvation, H. J. V. Tyrrell; (13) Vibm- tionalspectroscopicstudies of complexes in solution, D. N. Waters; (14) Vibrst,ional studies of the Jehn-Teller effect, J . A. Creighton, (15) Spectroscopic properties of the diatomic oxides of t,he trmsitian ele- ments, R. F. Barrow; (16) Vibrational studies of metal-metal banding, hI. J. Ware; (17) Infrared and Raman spectra of organometallic and related compounds, J. R. Hall; and (18) Structural aspects of sulphur-fluorine chemistry, H. L. Roberts.

Since many of these topics have been reviewed recently elsewhere, the question arises as who really should buy this book. Firstly, I would recommend it to anyone interested in the application of vibrational and especially of laser R s m m spectroscopy in inorganic chemistry. The English have led the world in this latter area, in no small measure because of the work of Woodward and his students. Chapters 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, and 17 are %I1 especially authoritative and up-to-date reviews of laser Raman studies on diRerent inorganic systems. Secondly, all of the chapters are well- written, and this book is a veritable trea- sure-trove of material for problems to be assigned by anyone teaching an advanced course in structural inorganic chemistry.

Thc editors are to be commended for hsving seen that an excellent production jab was done by the publisher. For such a commemorative volume, it is remarkably iree of typographical errors. Finally, the royalties go to a good cause, the establish- ment of s. prize in Woodward's name a t Jesus College.

R. STWART TOBIAS Purdue University

Lafaptte, Indiana 47907

Qualitative Concepts from Quantum Chemistry

Russell S. Drago, University of Illinois. Bogden and Quigley, Ino., Publishers, Tarrytown-on-Hudson, New York, 1971. viii + 126pp. Figs. and tahles. 28 X 21.5 em. $3.50, softbound.

At a, time when i t has become quite fashionable to write a. supplement for tl&e general chemistry course, Russell Drago has entered the scene with his "Qualita- tive Concepts From Quantum Chemistry." I t is this reviewer's opinion that this small book will be quite well received.

The material which Drago has chosen is well presented and clearly written. The chapter titles gives a quick over-view of the material presented. They include (1) Preliminary Considerations, (2) Quan- tum Mechanics, (3) Chemical Periodicity, (4) Correlations of Periodic Arrangement with Chemical Reactivity, (5) Bonding, and (6) Properties of Compounds Related to Structure. The design of the book is very appealing with wide margins for additional notes. One of the very strong points about the book in the inclusion oi twenty tests (with answers) far the student to check his mastery of the material. These lest3 are located within each chapter immediately iollowing the presentation of new material. In addition a group of exer- cises (again with answers) are provided a t the end of each chapter as a further cheek-point for the student.

The mathematical level of the book is not high but mathematics has not been avoided ss so often is the case. Drago poinb out in the Preface, "I shall lead yuu through this jungle of mathematics." As the author goes on to say, "This approach may even show the need and provide the motivation for serious students to

A606 / Journal of Chemical Education

book reviews strengthen their mathematical back- ground."

My only objection to the book is the number of typogri~phical errors that heve not been corrected. These would not be serious for a more advanced test hut for a freshmen supplement they can he rather misleading. A few of the more serious errors are: p. 13, the use of A E , the energy change should refer to the difference in energy between two orbitals, AEi.j; p. 81, should have Ne' not NSP; p. 91, the label of .Ir should be y not z; p. 96, should be 0 P not 0'-; p. 98, the bonding and antibonding orbitals, m,, and a,,* me mislabeled; p. 104, throughout the text the axis perpendicular to the page hss been died the y-axis, thus for the s system in hensene should use p , and not p, orbitsls. For the most m r t these me insienificsnt rrrdrs thnt hwc, v r c p into the I I I : I ! . I I - ~ I . I ~ ~ , l , ~ t they mny Ilr 1r.1ublc qml- f >r fw-h- men.

My overall opinion of the book is very favorable. I can recommend this as a fine supplement and hope that in a future printing these and some other less serious errors would be corrected.

WILLIAM A. DESKIN Cornell College

Alount Vernon, Iowa 62314

The Avenue of Years

A memoir of Sir James Irvine, principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St. Andrews 1921-52 by his wife Mabel V. Irvine, William Blackwood, Edinburgh and London, 1970 v. + 268 pp. Photographs. 21.5 X 14 em. 36 shillings ( = 84.32 approx.).

For the most part chemists do not marry chemists but the lack of chemical knowledge has not apparently prevented any favorable influences on t,he hnsband's career by his non-scientific wife. This biography by the widow of her eminent husband indicates elea~.ly that her support was a big fact,or in his success and that his happy marriage and congenial homelife made it possible for him to do his job in x more excellent fashion. She loved him dearly and renpect,ed him for his chemical knowledge and administrative abilities but her wise advice helped him bhrough m m y awkward situations. The chemical and scientific world sorely needs more books like bbis one in which we are taken hehind tlw . r ~ ~ . e , and guwh 1 lm the wife .<r r h ~ t a.r m ~ y Iwrn whnt ..ur uf 111:111 1111.

chemist redly was. The young Scotch chemist James Irvine

(1877-19.52) trained initially a t St. An- drews by Purdie was sent on a scholarship t,o Germany to obtain his doctorate and at Leipsic, where he studied under Wisli- Genus, he met sn Irish girl Mabel Williams, a music student. Their friendship ripened into true affection and after a long engage- ment, they were married in 1905 and went to St. Andrews t,o live, where Dr. Irvine was already making a name for himself in sugar chemistry. He was a born teacher,

both in and out of the laboratory, and in 1914 was made professor when Purdie re- tired. During World War I his laboratory and his expertise plus his imaginative chemical abilities played an important part in the chemical warfare waged by Britain agaimt the Germans who sop- posedly had a mastery in that field. In 1921 lrvine wa8 appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor of St. Andrews. His teaching career was a t an end but instead he found himself enmeshed in all sorts of adrninist,rative duties, committees, ete., that sapped his strength. He had to be away from home frequently, samet,imes for lengt,hy periods but invariably wrote letters that were a great solace to his wife, who was left behind with their three chil- dren. He made no fewer than eighteen trips to the United States and Canada, attending conferences, delivering lectures, receiving honorary degrees. He was knighted in 1925, and the home of Sir James snd Lady Irvine a t St,. Andrews SRW many of the world's eminent persons as their guests.

In her biographical study, Lady Irvine gives valnsble insights into t,he raising of their children, her clever handling of her over-worked husband, t,heir happy vaca- tion times together. To be the wife of a public figure is not the ebsiest task in the world. She began to compose these chapters after her husband's death; she outlived him by 15 y e a r and her eyesight gradually precluded her from carrying it on beyond the date of the death of their youngest. child and only son during World War 11.

This hook would make a fine present for every chemist to give to his wife and perhaps to be read aloud together. It is not a formal biography but a true me- morial to a great chemist and educator by a loving wife, who had the gift of putting at, least part of her thoughts on paper in an interesting manner.

RALPH E . OESPER Univarsitu of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

Dm5 Wellreich der Chemie

Friedrich Klage. Frankfurter Socie- tits-Druckerei, Frankfurt am Main, 1970. 346 pp. Photographs (many colored), tables, diagrams. 14 X 22 cm. D M 20 (= approx. $6).

This remarkable book, whose title in translation reads "The world-empire of chemistry" has the subtitle: "A science in the service of humanity." The author, a university trained chemist and experi- enced writer, states in his Foreword, "The objective of this book is not to teach chemistry but rather to awaken the desire to learn chemistry." Though written primarily far young people and laymen, and employing a minimwn of chemical formulas, eqnations, etc., i t is nonetheless

(Continued on page A608)

Volume 49, 1 \lumber 10, October 1972 / A607