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Transactions of the symposium on electrode processes
467
Book reviews
Transactions of the Symposium on Electrode Processes. Edited by ERNESTYEAGER. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1961, Pp. xiv + 374. 160/-. THIS book contains the proceedings of the Symposium on Electrode Processes, held in Philadelphia from 4th to 6th May, 1959, under the Chairmanship of Professor P. Delahay, who has contributed a Foreword. The contributions to this meeting were limited to sixteen papers, delivered by authors selected to provide authoritative coverage of theoretical electrochemical topics of current interest. This procedure was adopted to provide sufficient time for discussion and for the contribution of unpublished material. The success of this approach is indicated by the very large amount of recorded discussion and communications to the Editor which appear in this volume. In addition to the invited papers two general discussions, entitled Transient Methods for the Kinetic Study of the Electrodeposition of Metals and Adsorption at Electrodes, are reported in detail. The range of topics discussed is very wide, but in general they fall into three classes : double layer phenomena and correlation with electrode processes; metal deposition and dissolution; and fast electrode reactions. In addition three papers dealt with the mechanism of the hydrogen electrode reaction, the effects of partial and complete isotopic substitution of H by D in aqueous solution, the rates of electrochemical hydrogen and oxygen evolution and certain other effects, and the kinetics of hydrogen evolution and dissolution at activated platinum electrodes. Other papers of interest were concerned with the determination of electrode reaction mechanisms from electrode reaction orders, theory of electron transfer processes at electrodes, and acousto-electrochemical effects in electrode systems. Notable omissions were papers on the subjects of polarography and anodic films, but it is pointed out that this was a matter of deliberate policy in view of recent International meetings devoted to these fields. As might be expected from the list of distinguished contributors, the standard is very high, and Its contribution to this book is not for the reader without specialist knowledge in electrochemistry. the literature of the subject is, however, important and it will be a valuable work of reference. It is excellently produced in clear type, with good diagrams, and it is well bound. It is recommended to all those whosestudies touch upon the deeper knowledge of electrochemical processes. G.
F.
REyNOLDS
Monographies de Chimie Organique, Vol. IV. Microanalyse Organique fiGmentaim, R. &Y, and Determination des Masses Molkulabes et des Degrks de PolynGrisa~ion, P. PIGANIOL, H. JEAN, G. VALLET, and C. WIPPLER. Masson et Cie, Paris, 1961. Pp. vi + 428 with 124 figs. P. 72 NF (cloth), 82 NF (boards) 23 volume Traite de Chimie Organique which was completed in 1955 deals very briefly with several topics which now command greater attention. The present book is the fourth volume of a new complementary series which will deal more adequately with selected topics. In the initial monograph, a 226-page survey of methods for the detection and determination of the elements present in organic and organo-metallic compounds, Levy has combined material from 625 references to give an excellent review. It is extremely unfortunate that some of the value of this section is lost through what appears to be a delay in publication-the bibliography is complete only up to the end of 1956. Nevertheless the wide scope of the review and the manner in which the author has incorporated the essential details of the various methods and their modifications make it an asset to the research worker. The elements are treated systematically in the usual order, due reference being made to both conventional and to other rather more specialised methods such as the submicro determination of the elements and the determination of radioactive isotopes. The remainder of the book is concerned with the determination of molecular weights, with particular reference to polymeric materials, the rather unusual combination of monographs probably arising because this book is part of a series. All the cotiventional methods of determining the molecular weight distribution of high polymers are described although some are given in much greater detail than others. The general impression created by this section is that although the reviews are well written they are not up-to-date and far too much attention is paid to methods which now are only of historical interest. As an example of this tendency the section dealing with ebulliometry describes apparatus which is not only unsatisfactory for the measurement of the elevation of the boiling point produced by polymers but would in fact be. too insensitive to permit the determination of the molecular weight of simple organic compounds. Conversely there is no mention of any of the new ebulliometers which have been described recently. This section cannot therefore be recommended either to the student or to the research worker. A.D. CAMPBELL J. R. h'iAl@R THE
Book reviews
Transactions of the Symposium on Electrode Processes. Edited by ERNESTYEAGER. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1961, Pp. xiv + 374. 160/-. THIS book contains the proceedings of the Symposium on Electrode Processes, held in Philadelphia from 4th to 6th May, 1959, under the Chairmanship of Professor P. Delahay, who has contributed a Foreword. The contributions to this meeting were limited to sixteen papers, delivered by authors selected to provide authoritative coverage of theoretical electrochemical topics of current interest. This procedure was adopted to provide sufficient time for discussion and for the contribution of unpublished material. The success of this approach is indicated by the very large amount of recorded discussion and communications to the Editor which appear in this volume. In addition to the invited papers two general discussions, entitled Transient Methods for the Kinetic Study of the Electrodeposition of Metals and Adsorption at Electrodes, are reported in detail. The range of topics discussed is very wide, but in general they fall into three classes : double layer phenomena and correlation with electrode processes; metal deposition and dissolution; and fast electrode reactions. In addition three papers dealt with the mechanism of the hydrogen electrode reaction, the effects of partial and complete isotopic substitution of H by D in aqueous solution, the rates of electrochemical hydrogen and oxygen evolution and certain other effects, and the kinetics of hydrogen evolution and dissolution at activated platinum electrodes. Other papers of interest were concerned with the determination of electrode reaction mechanisms from electrode reaction orders, theory of electron transfer processes at electrodes, and acousto-electrochemical effects in electrode systems. Notable omissions were papers on the subjects of polarography and anodic films, but it is pointed out that this was a matter of deliberate policy in view of recent International meetings devoted to these fields. As might be expected from the list of distinguished contributors, the standard is very high, and Its contribution to this book is not for the reader without specialist knowledge in electrochemistry. the literature of the subject is, however, important and it will be a valuable work of reference. It is excellently produced in clear type, with good diagrams, and it is well bound. It is recommended to all those whosestudies touch upon the deeper knowledge of electrochemical processes. G.
F.
REyNOLDS
Monographies de Chimie Organique, Vol. IV. Microanalyse Organique fiGmentaim, R. &Y, and Determination des Masses Molkulabes et des Degrks de PolynGrisa~ion, P. PIGANIOL, H. JEAN, G. VALLET, and C. WIPPLER. Masson et Cie, Paris, 1961. Pp. vi + 428 with 124 figs. P. 72 NF (cloth), 82 NF (boards) 23 volume Traite de Chimie Organique which was completed in 1955 deals very briefly with several topics which now command greater attention. The present book is the fourth volume of a new complementary series which will deal more adequately with selected topics. In the initial monograph, a 226-page survey of methods for the detection and determination of the elements present in organic and organo-metallic compounds, Levy has combined material from 625 references to give an excellent review. It is extremely unfortunate that some of the value of this section is lost through what appears to be a delay in publication-the bibliography is complete only up to the end of 1956. Nevertheless the wide scope of the review and the manner in which the author has incorporated the essential details of the various methods and their modifications make it an asset to the research worker. The elements are treated systematically in the usual order, due reference being made to both conventional and to other rather more specialised methods such as the submicro determination of the elements and the determination of radioactive isotopes. The remainder of the book is concerned with the determination of molecular weights, with particular reference to polymeric materials, the rather unusual combination of monographs probably arising because this book is part of a series. All the cotiventional methods of determining the molecular weight distribution of high polymers are described although some are given in much greater detail than others. The general impression created by this section is that although the reviews are well written they are not up-to-date and far too much attention is paid to methods which now are only of historical interest. As an example of this tendency the section dealing with ebulliometry describes apparatus which is not only unsatisfactory for the measurement of the elevation of the boiling point produced by polymers but would in fact be. too insensitive to permit the determination of the molecular weight of simple organic compounds. Conversely there is no mention of any of the new ebulliometers which have been described recently. This section cannot therefore be recommended either to the student or to the research worker. A.D. CAMPBELL J. R. h'iAl@R THE