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Environmental Chemistry. Vol. 1. Specialist Periodical Reports
Jourml of ~olec~~r~~~uc~ure, 32f1976) 209-215 o Elsevier ScientificPublishing Company,Amsterdam -
Printedin The Netherlands
Book reviews
Atoms, Molecules and Lasers, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1974, pp. 710, price $38.00. This book records the proceedings of the eleventh research course held by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics at Trieste in 1973. Part I, Atoms and Lasers, includes articles which deal with laser theory, radio-frequency spectroscopy and the theory of atomic structure and transition probabilities. An article by J. Bauche on nuclear effects in atomic spectra, describes two atomic phenomena, hyperfine structure and isotope shift, the study of which has, for many years, been extremely useful for the knowledge of nucleii and atomic structure. In ‘Astrophysical applications of atomic physics’ M. J. Seaton discusses the information which can be deduced from the radiation emitted by stellar atmospheres, the solar corona and gaseous nebulae. Part II comprises three articles dealing with molecules. The first describes the foundation of the theory of diatomic molecules and the others discuss perturbations in the spectra, and multiplet structure of the spectra of diatomic molecules. Finally, Part III, deals with collisions: electron-molecule collisions, heavy particle collisions, photoionization and the atomic collision theory. W. J. T.
Environmental
Chemistry.
Vol. 1. Specialist Periodical Reports,
by C.
Eglington (Senior Reporter), The Chemical Society, 1975, pp. xii -t 199, price $7.00. This report deals with the organic chemistry of the environment pubhshed up to mid 1973. However, as it is the first of a series dealing with the environment this first volume covers a great amount of background material. The report contalns a classic definition of environmental chemistry as the ‘Lassessment of the distribution and interaction of elements and compounds in the environment, their modes of transport and their effect on biological and other systems”. It is also stated that the report is written for chemists and non-chemists involved in environmental studies. This report is certainly readabIe and it is hoped that the others will be equally presentable. However, the report does emphasize aquatic environments, a point which is not apparent in the title. The Preface should be read as it sets the background for this particular volume very well indeed. The choice of Chapter 1 dealing with Stable Isotope Studies and Biological Element Cycling is very apt, dealing as it does with the biological cycle of carbon, sulphur, nitrogen, and
hydrogen. In dealing with oxygen it is pointed out that although the effects of the biological cycling of oxygen are many and far-reaching and . . . the greatest attention has been paid to investigations of the isotopic distribution of “0 in nature, no data on the isotopic composition of organically bound oxygen in natural products appear to exist. Other chapters deal with the organic chemistry of en~o~en~ titrations - the en~o~~n~ organic chemistry of rivers and lakes, (in both water and the sediment), the enviromnental organic chemistry of bogs, marshes and swamps, of oceans, fjords and anoxic basins. The remaining chapters deal with the effect of the aqueous environment on particular organic materials, namely hydrocarbons DDT, PCB’s, and 2-4-Dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid. D. D. Crystals with the Fluorite Structure - Electronic, Vibrational and Defect Properties, edited by W, Hayes, Clamndon Press, Oxford, 1974, pp. x i- 448, price 619.59. This book is one in the ~te~atio~~ Series of Mono~aphs on Physics and comprises seven review articles: W, Hayes is a co-author to three chapters, A.. M. Stoneham to two, while the other contributors are, in the order of the chapters, J, W. Hodby, A. B. Lidiard, C. H. Anderson, J. M. Baker and D. L. Staebler. The first two chapters deal with intrinsic electronic and vibrational properties of crystals with the fluorite structure; there is a chapter on the thermodynamic and motional properties of defects and the remaining four chapters are concerned with details of the electronic and vibrational properties of eolour centres and defects involving imp~ties, p~ic~~ly those from the rare earth series. The coverage of the pub~shed literature is excellent and the balance between theory and expe~ent is sensible, The book as a whole represents an ~~rest~g exercise, whereby a range of techniques is discussed in relation to a range of materials. This allows trends and comparisons to be made which would not be possible in a shorter review, especially if t-hiswere written by a single author. The uniformity of the chapters is good and Dr. P&yes, as editor, is to be complimented on this achievement. There is often a “model” material in a group of mate&& with a given crystal structure. For such a model material it is possible to envisage various types of defects, theoretical models, investigate them and always, it seems, achieve success. Sometimes the original thoughts about a particular defect may be incorrect, but after a while, some ingenuity and the application of a specialized technique such as ENDOR, the mystery is solved. For the fluorite structure, the model material is undoubtedly fluorite itself. Strontium and barium fluorides, followed by others including cadmium fluoride, uranium oxide etc., contend for equality in the initial chapters, but it becomes increasingly clear that the degree of knowledge for calcium fluoride is much greater. It is now some ten years since Xfirst became interested in calcium fluoride and was greatly impressed both by what was known at that time and the vast number of remaining unanswered questions. Reading this volume,
Printedin The Netherlands
Book reviews
Atoms, Molecules and Lasers, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1974, pp. 710, price $38.00. This book records the proceedings of the eleventh research course held by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics at Trieste in 1973. Part I, Atoms and Lasers, includes articles which deal with laser theory, radio-frequency spectroscopy and the theory of atomic structure and transition probabilities. An article by J. Bauche on nuclear effects in atomic spectra, describes two atomic phenomena, hyperfine structure and isotope shift, the study of which has, for many years, been extremely useful for the knowledge of nucleii and atomic structure. In ‘Astrophysical applications of atomic physics’ M. J. Seaton discusses the information which can be deduced from the radiation emitted by stellar atmospheres, the solar corona and gaseous nebulae. Part II comprises three articles dealing with molecules. The first describes the foundation of the theory of diatomic molecules and the others discuss perturbations in the spectra, and multiplet structure of the spectra of diatomic molecules. Finally, Part III, deals with collisions: electron-molecule collisions, heavy particle collisions, photoionization and the atomic collision theory. W. J. T.
Environmental
Chemistry.
Vol. 1. Specialist Periodical Reports,
by C.
Eglington (Senior Reporter), The Chemical Society, 1975, pp. xii -t 199, price $7.00. This report deals with the organic chemistry of the environment pubhshed up to mid 1973. However, as it is the first of a series dealing with the environment this first volume covers a great amount of background material. The report contalns a classic definition of environmental chemistry as the ‘Lassessment of the distribution and interaction of elements and compounds in the environment, their modes of transport and their effect on biological and other systems”. It is also stated that the report is written for chemists and non-chemists involved in environmental studies. This report is certainly readabIe and it is hoped that the others will be equally presentable. However, the report does emphasize aquatic environments, a point which is not apparent in the title. The Preface should be read as it sets the background for this particular volume very well indeed. The choice of Chapter 1 dealing with Stable Isotope Studies and Biological Element Cycling is very apt, dealing as it does with the biological cycle of carbon, sulphur, nitrogen, and
hydrogen. In dealing with oxygen it is pointed out that although the effects of the biological cycling of oxygen are many and far-reaching and . . . the greatest attention has been paid to investigations of the isotopic distribution of “0 in nature, no data on the isotopic composition of organically bound oxygen in natural products appear to exist. Other chapters deal with the organic chemistry of en~o~en~ titrations - the en~o~~n~ organic chemistry of rivers and lakes, (in both water and the sediment), the enviromnental organic chemistry of bogs, marshes and swamps, of oceans, fjords and anoxic basins. The remaining chapters deal with the effect of the aqueous environment on particular organic materials, namely hydrocarbons DDT, PCB’s, and 2-4-Dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid. D. D. Crystals with the Fluorite Structure - Electronic, Vibrational and Defect Properties, edited by W, Hayes, Clamndon Press, Oxford, 1974, pp. x i- 448, price 619.59. This book is one in the ~te~atio~~ Series of Mono~aphs on Physics and comprises seven review articles: W, Hayes is a co-author to three chapters, A.. M. Stoneham to two, while the other contributors are, in the order of the chapters, J, W. Hodby, A. B. Lidiard, C. H. Anderson, J. M. Baker and D. L. Staebler. The first two chapters deal with intrinsic electronic and vibrational properties of crystals with the fluorite structure; there is a chapter on the thermodynamic and motional properties of defects and the remaining four chapters are concerned with details of the electronic and vibrational properties of eolour centres and defects involving imp~ties, p~ic~~ly those from the rare earth series. The coverage of the pub~shed literature is excellent and the balance between theory and expe~ent is sensible, The book as a whole represents an ~~rest~g exercise, whereby a range of techniques is discussed in relation to a range of materials. This allows trends and comparisons to be made which would not be possible in a shorter review, especially if t-hiswere written by a single author. The uniformity of the chapters is good and Dr. P&yes, as editor, is to be complimented on this achievement. There is often a “model” material in a group of mate&& with a given crystal structure. For such a model material it is possible to envisage various types of defects, theoretical models, investigate them and always, it seems, achieve success. Sometimes the original thoughts about a particular defect may be incorrect, but after a while, some ingenuity and the application of a specialized technique such as ENDOR, the mystery is solved. For the fluorite structure, the model material is undoubtedly fluorite itself. Strontium and barium fluorides, followed by others including cadmium fluoride, uranium oxide etc., contend for equality in the initial chapters, but it becomes increasingly clear that the degree of knowledge for calcium fluoride is much greater. It is now some ten years since Xfirst became interested in calcium fluoride and was greatly impressed both by what was known at that time and the vast number of remaining unanswered questions. Reading this volume,