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The identification of molecular spectra
B O O K REVIEWS. CHEMISTRY FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS, by Allen R. Greenleaf. 177 pages, illustrations, 14 X 21 cms. Boston, American Photographic Publishing Co., 1941. Price ~2.oo. In photography as in other lines of work, the curious worker eventually produces the best results. When curiosity has begun to be satisfied the work begins to take on new meaning. Not only are the results more appealing to others, but, of even greater importance, the worker has inwardly produced more than others can appreciate. Chemistry plays a necessary and fundamental part in photography. The curious minded photographer unless he is guided along certain paths, will have difficulty in learning much about the chemistry of photography and may easily be discouraged. Chemistry is a great subject. The portion of it of interest to the photographer must be selected with care. I t must be shaped properly, abstracted, and presented in a manner understandable to the photographer, in order that sufficient scope be had as well as sufficient detail to provide proper background. That is the purpose of this book. I t starts out by giving definitions of chemical terms in such a manner that the use of symbols and equations can be kept to a minimum in the rest of the book. The reader need have no fear that this kind of material will get the best of him. The greater part of the book is devoted to the various chemical processes of photography. There are discussed emulsions, reducing agents and developers, desensitizers, intensification and reduction, toning, various reactions, etc. Dark room equipment and practices, a description of weights and measures, a formulary and a subject index complete the book. I t provides a valuable addition of knowledge for the photographer, professional and amateur, that will undoubtedly nmke his work more pleasurable and better. I t is a source of information and a reference. R. H. O P P E R M A N N . THE
IDENTIFICATION OF M O L E C U L A R S P E C T R A , b y R. W . B. Pearse a n d A. G . G a y d o n . 22I pages, 20 X 28 cms. New- Y o r k , J o h n W i l e y & Sons, Inc., 19~I. Price $8.0o.
Pure spectroscopists as well as those w h o use spectroscopy as a tool for research such as in astrophysics, chemistry, a n d chemical technology will find here an invaluable b o o k of information a b o u t k n o w n b a n d spectra w h i c h m a y assist in their identification. T h e difficulties that arise in identification are recognized b y the authors a n d the data contained in the b o o k are arranged accordingly. T h e first part of the b o o k consists of a table of persistent band heads, the object of w h i c h is to provide a clue to the nature of the u n k n o w n band s y s t e m as quickly as possible so that it m a y be c o m p a r e d directly with the appropriate detailed list. For this p u r p o s e it contains, for all suitable b a n d systems of frequent occurrence, a selection of the outstanding heads, w h i c h are most conspicuous u n d e r various conditions of excitation, arranged in o r d e r of wave-length in air in International A n g s t r o m s from IO,OOO d o w n to 2,ooo to the
287
288
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
nearest o. IA. Bands of particular occurrence as impurities are marked, as are data for the head of a band degraded to longer (red), shorter (violet) wave-lengths or is the maximum of a headless band. The t a b l e also includes intensities, sources, appearance, and occurrence. The greater part of the book is devoted to individual band systems. In this section detailed lists of bands are given for each system separately and are arranged in alphabetical order of the chemical symbols of the molecules concerned. For each molecule a few general introductory remarks are made at the beginning if the spectrum is particularly important or complex, and then the various band systems are dealt with separately. The treatment for the systems varies somewhat according to the particular case, but the spectrum is usually dealt with under one or more of the headings of occurrence, appearance or transition. References are given to those papers which are most useful for the purpose of identification. Another section of the book contains a few brief notes on various minor points which arise in the identification of molecular spectra usually not dealt with in general textbooks. An appendix contains a table of the most persistent atomic lines for each element which is of assistance in checking the presence of atoms. And finally, a numberof plates are included showing many of the more frequently encountered band systems. R. H. OPPERMANN. FATIGUE OF WORKERS, by the Committee on Work in I n d u s t r y of the National Research Council. 165 pages, 16 X 24 cms. New York, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, I94I. Price $2.50. On November 13, 1937 a "Conference on a Scientific Study of Industrial L a b o r Conditions" was held in Washington under the auspices of the National Research Council. Following this conference and in accordance with a vote of the administrative committee of the National Research Council, a "Committee on Work in I n d u s t r y " was appointed by the President of the National Academy of Sciences. According to the statement made at the time of its appointment, the Committee was to "consider the scientific study of the physiological and psychological discomfort and disti'ess of workers in industry." This book is a report of the work of the Committee. The various investigations studied include the effects of heat and high altitude, some industrial causesof illness, the revelations of the researches carried on in the Western Electric Co. plant with regard to light intensity and worker efficiency leading to the important discovery of psychological reactions and effect of social environment, the interview method as a means of investigation in industry, seIf expression and labor unions, extra-time allowances, and a study of organization. The method used in presenting the findings of the Committee and the discussion of the results is such that understanding is easily had. In the back of the book there is a summary consisting of a series of brief statements on a few of the important conclusions reached in the course of the investigations which have been studied. The work is the result of a painstaking and weighted inquiryof those factors which have direct bearing on industrial relations and h u m a n efficiency in industry. The conclusions are simply and fearlessly laid down so that they may be readily applied. R. H. OPPERMANN.
IDENTIFICATION OF M O L E C U L A R S P E C T R A , b y R. W . B. Pearse a n d A. G . G a y d o n . 22I pages, 20 X 28 cms. New- Y o r k , J o h n W i l e y & Sons, Inc., 19~I. Price $8.0o.
Pure spectroscopists as well as those w h o use spectroscopy as a tool for research such as in astrophysics, chemistry, a n d chemical technology will find here an invaluable b o o k of information a b o u t k n o w n b a n d spectra w h i c h m a y assist in their identification. T h e difficulties that arise in identification are recognized b y the authors a n d the data contained in the b o o k are arranged accordingly. T h e first part of the b o o k consists of a table of persistent band heads, the object of w h i c h is to provide a clue to the nature of the u n k n o w n band s y s t e m as quickly as possible so that it m a y be c o m p a r e d directly with the appropriate detailed list. For this p u r p o s e it contains, for all suitable b a n d systems of frequent occurrence, a selection of the outstanding heads, w h i c h are most conspicuous u n d e r various conditions of excitation, arranged in o r d e r of wave-length in air in International A n g s t r o m s from IO,OOO d o w n to 2,ooo to the
287
288
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
nearest o. IA. Bands of particular occurrence as impurities are marked, as are data for the head of a band degraded to longer (red), shorter (violet) wave-lengths or is the maximum of a headless band. The t a b l e also includes intensities, sources, appearance, and occurrence. The greater part of the book is devoted to individual band systems. In this section detailed lists of bands are given for each system separately and are arranged in alphabetical order of the chemical symbols of the molecules concerned. For each molecule a few general introductory remarks are made at the beginning if the spectrum is particularly important or complex, and then the various band systems are dealt with separately. The treatment for the systems varies somewhat according to the particular case, but the spectrum is usually dealt with under one or more of the headings of occurrence, appearance or transition. References are given to those papers which are most useful for the purpose of identification. Another section of the book contains a few brief notes on various minor points which arise in the identification of molecular spectra usually not dealt with in general textbooks. An appendix contains a table of the most persistent atomic lines for each element which is of assistance in checking the presence of atoms. And finally, a numberof plates are included showing many of the more frequently encountered band systems. R. H. OPPERMANN. FATIGUE OF WORKERS, by the Committee on Work in I n d u s t r y of the National Research Council. 165 pages, 16 X 24 cms. New York, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, I94I. Price $2.50. On November 13, 1937 a "Conference on a Scientific Study of Industrial L a b o r Conditions" was held in Washington under the auspices of the National Research Council. Following this conference and in accordance with a vote of the administrative committee of the National Research Council, a "Committee on Work in I n d u s t r y " was appointed by the President of the National Academy of Sciences. According to the statement made at the time of its appointment, the Committee was to "consider the scientific study of the physiological and psychological discomfort and disti'ess of workers in industry." This book is a report of the work of the Committee. The various investigations studied include the effects of heat and high altitude, some industrial causesof illness, the revelations of the researches carried on in the Western Electric Co. plant with regard to light intensity and worker efficiency leading to the important discovery of psychological reactions and effect of social environment, the interview method as a means of investigation in industry, seIf expression and labor unions, extra-time allowances, and a study of organization. The method used in presenting the findings of the Committee and the discussion of the results is such that understanding is easily had. In the back of the book there is a summary consisting of a series of brief statements on a few of the important conclusions reached in the course of the investigations which have been studied. The work is the result of a painstaking and weighted inquiryof those factors which have direct bearing on industrial relations and h u m a n efficiency in industry. The conclusions are simply and fearlessly laid down so that they may be readily applied. R. H. OPPERMANN.