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Infrared and Raman spectroscopy
124
Book Reviews
tions of each of the TA methods described. This is augmented, for those who may wish to delve more thoroughly into the subject, by a comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography. Undergraduates will find the problems which are given at the end of each chapter, and for which worked solutions are provided, most useful. The book covers all of the main areas of TA, including TG, DTA, DSC, TMA and simultaneous (ancillary) techn’ iques. A whole chapter is rightfully devoted to the latter in recognition of the added dimension they bring to the interpretation of conventional TA data. For example, the immense advantages of the simultaneous use of MS, and other spectroscopic methods, are described, although briefly. A great many less well-known TA techniques are also discussed, including the recently developed photocalorimetry. Of great interest are the sections on new approaches to TA such as modulated DSC. It is a particular pleasure to see mention of one of the most exciting current areas of development in TA, the use reaction rate control which gives enhanced sensitivity and resolution in a number of TA methods. Peter Haines is widely known for his work in the field of thermomicroscopy and, not unexpectedly, this rapidly developing field is treated thoroughly. Because of the very wide range sources used, occasionally there are slight inconsistencies in the presentation of the data, e.g. in the labelling of a few of the graphs. A modem and detailed treatment of TA is long overdue and this volume is a much needed addition to the armoury of every analyst and laboratory involved in characterising materials and processes. P.A. Barnes
B.
Schrader (Ed.), Infrared and Raman SpecVCH, Weinheim, 1995 (ISBN 3-52726446-9). xx + 787 pp. Price DM 298.00. troscopy,
The publication in 1995 of a basic text about IR and Raman evidences the tremendous interest created now around the old vibrational techniques due to the recent developments in instrumentation, data treatment and applicability of these two techniques
in quantitative analysis, on-line control of analytical and industrial processes and basic biochemical studies. Edited, and well supervised by Professor Schrader of Essen University, who has himself written several chapters, the book is a collaborative text of a group of German and French professors, with great experience in vibrational spectroscopy, and also includes contributions from Bulgaria and Austria. This book is intended to provide the basic information to design and understand experimental methods and procedures on vibrational spectroscopy. It covers all these aspects in six sections, twelve character tables, ranged for the different groups, and a common list, alphabetically ordered, of the references cited in all the sections and the subject index. The first three sections of the book contain general information about the history, a general survey and the tools for vibrational spectroscopy, the fourth section being devoted to the spectra of inorganic and organic compounds and also to the spectra of gases, matrix-isolated molecules trapped in noble gases at low temperature, crystals and liquid crystals. This section contains a special chapter devoted to biomolecules and an additional one to systems with free carriers, like polymers, semiconductors, metals and superconductors, also including IR and Raman information about fullerenes. The fifth section, with a general title of Eualuation Procedures, includes a chapter about quantitative analysis and automatic quality control, and other about calculation of frequencies and intensity of vibrations of molecules and crystals. These chapters contain short descriptions of some topics of special interest, such as derivative spectroscopy, multicomponent analysis and chemometrics which, unfortunately,.are treated excessively briefly. The sixth section contains, under the title Special Techniques and Applications, eight chapters about applications of resonance Raman, near-infrared, vibrational optical activity, investigations of fast reactions and intermediates, high-performance techniques, and sample temperature determination by means low and high-temperature techniques. In summary, this book constitutes a very useful reference textbook which explains serious and rigorously the vibrational spectroscopic techniques and introduces some of the most exciting aspects of the
Book Reviews
modem fields of research in this area, which probably requires the second part of the book to be treated in more detail. Miguel de la Guardia
F.W. Fifield and P.J. Haines, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Blackie, Glasgow, 1995 (ISBN O7514-0052-1, paperback). xvi + 424 pp. Price & 24.99. Sustaining the health of the global environment is an increasingly important issue for the general public and research scientists alike. This requires a greater understanding of the complex biogeochemical processes that govern the functioning of the environment and this in turn requires high quality environmental analytical data. The need to monitor compliance with legislative demands provides an additional requirement for such data. This monograph is written at the level of an introductory undergraduate course in analytical chemistry with some emphasis on environmental applications. The first two chapters deal with data treatment (accuracy, precision, distributions, regression) and basic chemical principles (bonding, equilibria, kinetics) and are clearly written and easy to follow. The next eight chapters cover the basic principles of all of the major analytical techniques with an emphasis on instrumentation and theory. The content is similar to that found in many introductory analytical chemistry texts. Chapter 12 provides a departure from the norm and considers biological indicators of environmental quality. This is the best integrated of all the chapters from the environmental as opposed to the analytical viewpoint. The remaining seven chapters attempt to build on the instrumental chapters by discussing particular environmental analytical issues (speciation, atmospheric analysis, trace element analysis, radiation, contaminated land, water and trace organic analysis). These subject areas are well chosen but the environmental data included is limited. A more complete discussion of the environmental significance of this material, including, for example, case studies, would have been welcome. Overall the material is well presented at an appro-
12.5
priate level and is a useful analytical chemistry text with an environmental flavour. From the perspective of an environmental scientist a more integrated text that incorporated more environmental examples and included topics such as sampling and sample treatment would have been desirable. P.J. Worsfold
Louis D. Quin and John G. Verkade (Eds.), Phosphorus-31 NMR Spectral Properties in Compound Characterization and Structural Analysis, VCH, New York, 1995 (ISBN l-56081-637-6). xv + 455 pp. Price DM. 260.00/E 104.00. Phosphorus NMR is a widespread tool for structural characterization, making any compendium of “P NMR properties invaluable. Rather than following the approach of a recent CRC Handbook and adopting a comprehensive listing of 3’P NMR data, the editors chose to be eclectic, inviting experts to contribute an account of the use of 31P NMR in their own area of expertise. A wide range of phosphorus chemistry is covered from low coordinate species to nucleic acids as well as chemical shift theory and some analytical aspects. While the book does attempt to give an insight into how 31P NMR parameters are used, all too often the accounts are little more than a listing of 3’P chemical shifts and coupling constants. Indeed for many chapters the contribution becomes a vehicle for describing the particular phosphorus chemistry. A further weakness is that because of space contraints each of the 33 topics is covered in less than 15 pages with roughly 30 references. I cannot help feeling that those familiar with the chemistry will already be aware of the data and prefer a simple tabulation while I can see little incentive for an outsider to peruse the text. Having said this, the book does represent a useful listing of 3’P physical parameters and consequently is worthy of a place in a reference library. N.J. Clayden
Jiang Gu and Gerhard W. Hacker, Modern Mefhods in Analytical Morphology, Plenum Press, New York, 1995 (ISBN O-306-44838-6). Price US $ 125.00.
Book Reviews
tions of each of the TA methods described. This is augmented, for those who may wish to delve more thoroughly into the subject, by a comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography. Undergraduates will find the problems which are given at the end of each chapter, and for which worked solutions are provided, most useful. The book covers all of the main areas of TA, including TG, DTA, DSC, TMA and simultaneous (ancillary) techn’ iques. A whole chapter is rightfully devoted to the latter in recognition of the added dimension they bring to the interpretation of conventional TA data. For example, the immense advantages of the simultaneous use of MS, and other spectroscopic methods, are described, although briefly. A great many less well-known TA techniques are also discussed, including the recently developed photocalorimetry. Of great interest are the sections on new approaches to TA such as modulated DSC. It is a particular pleasure to see mention of one of the most exciting current areas of development in TA, the use reaction rate control which gives enhanced sensitivity and resolution in a number of TA methods. Peter Haines is widely known for his work in the field of thermomicroscopy and, not unexpectedly, this rapidly developing field is treated thoroughly. Because of the very wide range sources used, occasionally there are slight inconsistencies in the presentation of the data, e.g. in the labelling of a few of the graphs. A modem and detailed treatment of TA is long overdue and this volume is a much needed addition to the armoury of every analyst and laboratory involved in characterising materials and processes. P.A. Barnes
B.
Schrader (Ed.), Infrared and Raman SpecVCH, Weinheim, 1995 (ISBN 3-52726446-9). xx + 787 pp. Price DM 298.00. troscopy,
The publication in 1995 of a basic text about IR and Raman evidences the tremendous interest created now around the old vibrational techniques due to the recent developments in instrumentation, data treatment and applicability of these two techniques
in quantitative analysis, on-line control of analytical and industrial processes and basic biochemical studies. Edited, and well supervised by Professor Schrader of Essen University, who has himself written several chapters, the book is a collaborative text of a group of German and French professors, with great experience in vibrational spectroscopy, and also includes contributions from Bulgaria and Austria. This book is intended to provide the basic information to design and understand experimental methods and procedures on vibrational spectroscopy. It covers all these aspects in six sections, twelve character tables, ranged for the different groups, and a common list, alphabetically ordered, of the references cited in all the sections and the subject index. The first three sections of the book contain general information about the history, a general survey and the tools for vibrational spectroscopy, the fourth section being devoted to the spectra of inorganic and organic compounds and also to the spectra of gases, matrix-isolated molecules trapped in noble gases at low temperature, crystals and liquid crystals. This section contains a special chapter devoted to biomolecules and an additional one to systems with free carriers, like polymers, semiconductors, metals and superconductors, also including IR and Raman information about fullerenes. The fifth section, with a general title of Eualuation Procedures, includes a chapter about quantitative analysis and automatic quality control, and other about calculation of frequencies and intensity of vibrations of molecules and crystals. These chapters contain short descriptions of some topics of special interest, such as derivative spectroscopy, multicomponent analysis and chemometrics which, unfortunately,.are treated excessively briefly. The sixth section contains, under the title Special Techniques and Applications, eight chapters about applications of resonance Raman, near-infrared, vibrational optical activity, investigations of fast reactions and intermediates, high-performance techniques, and sample temperature determination by means low and high-temperature techniques. In summary, this book constitutes a very useful reference textbook which explains serious and rigorously the vibrational spectroscopic techniques and introduces some of the most exciting aspects of the
Book Reviews
modem fields of research in this area, which probably requires the second part of the book to be treated in more detail. Miguel de la Guardia
F.W. Fifield and P.J. Haines, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Blackie, Glasgow, 1995 (ISBN O7514-0052-1, paperback). xvi + 424 pp. Price & 24.99. Sustaining the health of the global environment is an increasingly important issue for the general public and research scientists alike. This requires a greater understanding of the complex biogeochemical processes that govern the functioning of the environment and this in turn requires high quality environmental analytical data. The need to monitor compliance with legislative demands provides an additional requirement for such data. This monograph is written at the level of an introductory undergraduate course in analytical chemistry with some emphasis on environmental applications. The first two chapters deal with data treatment (accuracy, precision, distributions, regression) and basic chemical principles (bonding, equilibria, kinetics) and are clearly written and easy to follow. The next eight chapters cover the basic principles of all of the major analytical techniques with an emphasis on instrumentation and theory. The content is similar to that found in many introductory analytical chemistry texts. Chapter 12 provides a departure from the norm and considers biological indicators of environmental quality. This is the best integrated of all the chapters from the environmental as opposed to the analytical viewpoint. The remaining seven chapters attempt to build on the instrumental chapters by discussing particular environmental analytical issues (speciation, atmospheric analysis, trace element analysis, radiation, contaminated land, water and trace organic analysis). These subject areas are well chosen but the environmental data included is limited. A more complete discussion of the environmental significance of this material, including, for example, case studies, would have been welcome. Overall the material is well presented at an appro-
12.5
priate level and is a useful analytical chemistry text with an environmental flavour. From the perspective of an environmental scientist a more integrated text that incorporated more environmental examples and included topics such as sampling and sample treatment would have been desirable. P.J. Worsfold
Louis D. Quin and John G. Verkade (Eds.), Phosphorus-31 NMR Spectral Properties in Compound Characterization and Structural Analysis, VCH, New York, 1995 (ISBN l-56081-637-6). xv + 455 pp. Price DM. 260.00/E 104.00. Phosphorus NMR is a widespread tool for structural characterization, making any compendium of “P NMR properties invaluable. Rather than following the approach of a recent CRC Handbook and adopting a comprehensive listing of 3’P NMR data, the editors chose to be eclectic, inviting experts to contribute an account of the use of 31P NMR in their own area of expertise. A wide range of phosphorus chemistry is covered from low coordinate species to nucleic acids as well as chemical shift theory and some analytical aspects. While the book does attempt to give an insight into how 31P NMR parameters are used, all too often the accounts are little more than a listing of 3’P chemical shifts and coupling constants. Indeed for many chapters the contribution becomes a vehicle for describing the particular phosphorus chemistry. A further weakness is that because of space contraints each of the 33 topics is covered in less than 15 pages with roughly 30 references. I cannot help feeling that those familiar with the chemistry will already be aware of the data and prefer a simple tabulation while I can see little incentive for an outsider to peruse the text. Having said this, the book does represent a useful listing of 3’P physical parameters and consequently is worthy of a place in a reference library. N.J. Clayden
Jiang Gu and Gerhard W. Hacker, Modern Mefhods in Analytical Morphology, Plenum Press, New York, 1995 (ISBN O-306-44838-6). Price US $ 125.00.