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Richard A. Nyquist and Ronald O. Kagel: infrared spectra of inorganic compounds (3800-45 cm−1)
SpectrochimicaActa, Vol. 29A, pp. 595 to 596. Pergamon Press 1973. Printed in Northern Ireland
BOOK REVIEW
RICEU~D
A.
NYQUIST
and
RONALD
0.
KAGEL:
Inbred
Spectra of Inorganic Compounda
(8SOO45 cm-l).
Academic Press, Inc., New York and London (1971). 495 pp. $20.00/59.36. Tms book is a collection of infrared spectra of about 890 inorganic compounds. There are four pages of text, a few referenaes, and several summary tables and figures. The original spectra are reproduceddirectly, four to a page. Each spectrum is in two parts on facing pages, with the 3800-400 cm-i portion on the left and the 600-45 cm-l portion on the right. Since the pages are large (8 x 11 in., or 21 x 27.5 cm), the spectra and captions are large enough to be readable and useful. The spectra were obtained in the laboratoriesof the Dow Chemical Co. on good instruments: Beckman IR-9 and IR-II, Perkin-Elmer 226, and Dow-Herscher spectrophotometers. The spectral slit width is not given. The samples are polyorystallinepowders run by the ‘split mull’ technique--i.e. as a Fluorolube mull above 1333 cm-l and as a Nujol mull below 1333 am-r. The break at 1333 cm-l is hardly noticeablein most cases. The spectra are linearin wavenumber (increasingfrom right to left) but the scale is not uniform. There are different scales for the six ranges 45-80, 80-150, 150-350, 350-600, 400-2000, and 2000-3800 cm-l. Once this is noted it is not bothersome. No other published collection of infrared spectra of inorgenic materials is so large or covers such a great range of wavenumbers. Its practical utility depends on the answersto three additional questions. 1. What is the quality of the spectra? On the whole, quite good. One can always find some failings in a collection of this size. For example a few samples seem to have been too thick in certain regions (see curves 332, 385, 388, 624). Much thinner Nujol mulls were used for 1333400 cm-i than for 600-45 cm-i, so there is a large discontinuitybetweenthe two sectionsof each spectrum. Sincethe region 600400 cm-l is overlapped, this is not really a problem in use. A few spectra contain false features in the form of sharp spikes which may be either upward or downward (e.g. curves 9, 10 and 102). These exe so sharp that they should not cause trouble, but it would have been helpful if they had been marked in some way. Some of the samples are stated to oontain impurities. (Examples are NaHF,, LQiOs, several titan&es, a number of zircon&es, PbSiO,, BeSnOs and BsN,.) The identity of the impurity is usually given, but again it would have been helpful if the impurity bands had been marked on each spectrum by some symbol. Sulfur (8,) is probably the most extreme ease. It was run in CSz solution between 3800 and 400 cm-r. In this range every band but one is due to CSz. The single Ss band is identified, but the CSz ones are not. 2. I8 it easy to $nd the spectrum
of a given compound?
Yes, in most cases. There are two ways of doing it. First, there is an alphabetical index which will usually be adequate. Like most indices, however, it will sometimes fail one because the user does not think like the person who prepsred it. The reviewer sought to find Pyrite (Fe&). It is not listed under “Pyrite” nor “Iron” nor “&hide”, but for some unfathomable reason is only under “Minerals”. The reviewer also had trouble finding boron carbide until he noticed by chance that “carbide” is erroneously alphabetized after “carbonate”. The second method is to use the numerical list of spectra by curve number. The authors have employed a logical, although somewhat complicated, scheme for arranging the spectra. This serves to bring all oompounds of the same type together. By using it one can quickly get to that part of 595
696
Book review
the list where the spectrum of a given material ought to be entered. If the user cannot find a compound in the alphabetical index, he should try this procedure before concluding that the spectrum is not in the book. In brief, then, it will usually be easy to find a given spectrum, but there will be a few exceptions. 3. Are the compounds a representative and wejul sampling of inorganic materials? Yes, if it is remembered that they are all solids. No gases or liquids are included. Some of the spectra are almost featureless and convey little information (for example those of B,C! and of some of the borides, silicides, nitrides, sulfides, diselenides and tellurides), but even this can be useful knowledge at times. The characteristic frequencies and intensities for many polyatomic ions are summarized in both a table and a ‘Colthup’ type figure. There is a similar figure for metal oxides. Another table gives literature values for all the assigned fundamental frequencies for many ions. Oddly, there are no references to any other collection of infrared spectra of inorganic materials, although some contain spectra not given here (especially of minerals). In summary, the reviewer recommends this book to anyone having a need for reference spectra of inorganic substances. The collection is large, representative, well done and presented in a convenient and useable manner. The unusually long wavenumber range is a valuable feature. The book will be a useful tool to practicing infrared spectroscopists, and nearly every active infrared laboratory should have a copy available. The price seems to be fair for what one gets.
FOIL A. MILLER Dewrt9nent of Chemistry, Univensity of P&burgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
BOOK REVIEW
RICEU~D
A.
NYQUIST
and
RONALD
0.
KAGEL:
Inbred
Spectra of Inorganic Compounda
(8SOO45 cm-l).
Academic Press, Inc., New York and London (1971). 495 pp. $20.00/59.36. Tms book is a collection of infrared spectra of about 890 inorganic compounds. There are four pages of text, a few referenaes, and several summary tables and figures. The original spectra are reproduceddirectly, four to a page. Each spectrum is in two parts on facing pages, with the 3800-400 cm-i portion on the left and the 600-45 cm-l portion on the right. Since the pages are large (8 x 11 in., or 21 x 27.5 cm), the spectra and captions are large enough to be readable and useful. The spectra were obtained in the laboratoriesof the Dow Chemical Co. on good instruments: Beckman IR-9 and IR-II, Perkin-Elmer 226, and Dow-Herscher spectrophotometers. The spectral slit width is not given. The samples are polyorystallinepowders run by the ‘split mull’ technique--i.e. as a Fluorolube mull above 1333 cm-l and as a Nujol mull below 1333 am-r. The break at 1333 cm-l is hardly noticeablein most cases. The spectra are linearin wavenumber (increasingfrom right to left) but the scale is not uniform. There are different scales for the six ranges 45-80, 80-150, 150-350, 350-600, 400-2000, and 2000-3800 cm-l. Once this is noted it is not bothersome. No other published collection of infrared spectra of inorgenic materials is so large or covers such a great range of wavenumbers. Its practical utility depends on the answersto three additional questions. 1. What is the quality of the spectra? On the whole, quite good. One can always find some failings in a collection of this size. For example a few samples seem to have been too thick in certain regions (see curves 332, 385, 388, 624). Much thinner Nujol mulls were used for 1333400 cm-i than for 600-45 cm-i, so there is a large discontinuitybetweenthe two sectionsof each spectrum. Sincethe region 600400 cm-l is overlapped, this is not really a problem in use. A few spectra contain false features in the form of sharp spikes which may be either upward or downward (e.g. curves 9, 10 and 102). These exe so sharp that they should not cause trouble, but it would have been helpful if they had been marked in some way. Some of the samples are stated to oontain impurities. (Examples are NaHF,, LQiOs, several titan&es, a number of zircon&es, PbSiO,, BeSnOs and BsN,.) The identity of the impurity is usually given, but again it would have been helpful if the impurity bands had been marked on each spectrum by some symbol. Sulfur (8,) is probably the most extreme ease. It was run in CSz solution between 3800 and 400 cm-r. In this range every band but one is due to CSz. The single Ss band is identified, but the CSz ones are not. 2. I8 it easy to $nd the spectrum
of a given compound?
Yes, in most cases. There are two ways of doing it. First, there is an alphabetical index which will usually be adequate. Like most indices, however, it will sometimes fail one because the user does not think like the person who prepsred it. The reviewer sought to find Pyrite (Fe&). It is not listed under “Pyrite” nor “Iron” nor “&hide”, but for some unfathomable reason is only under “Minerals”. The reviewer also had trouble finding boron carbide until he noticed by chance that “carbide” is erroneously alphabetized after “carbonate”. The second method is to use the numerical list of spectra by curve number. The authors have employed a logical, although somewhat complicated, scheme for arranging the spectra. This serves to bring all oompounds of the same type together. By using it one can quickly get to that part of 595
696
Book review
the list where the spectrum of a given material ought to be entered. If the user cannot find a compound in the alphabetical index, he should try this procedure before concluding that the spectrum is not in the book. In brief, then, it will usually be easy to find a given spectrum, but there will be a few exceptions. 3. Are the compounds a representative and wejul sampling of inorganic materials? Yes, if it is remembered that they are all solids. No gases or liquids are included. Some of the spectra are almost featureless and convey little information (for example those of B,C! and of some of the borides, silicides, nitrides, sulfides, diselenides and tellurides), but even this can be useful knowledge at times. The characteristic frequencies and intensities for many polyatomic ions are summarized in both a table and a ‘Colthup’ type figure. There is a similar figure for metal oxides. Another table gives literature values for all the assigned fundamental frequencies for many ions. Oddly, there are no references to any other collection of infrared spectra of inorganic materials, although some contain spectra not given here (especially of minerals). In summary, the reviewer recommends this book to anyone having a need for reference spectra of inorganic substances. The collection is large, representative, well done and presented in a convenient and useable manner. The unusually long wavenumber range is a valuable feature. The book will be a useful tool to practicing infrared spectroscopists, and nearly every active infrared laboratory should have a copy available. The price seems to be fair for what one gets.
FOIL A. MILLER Dewrt9nent of Chemistry, Univensity of P&burgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.