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Periodic Correlations Ronald Rich, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. W. A. Benjamin, Iac., New York, 1965. xiii + 159 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. Cloth- bound, $8; paperbound, $3.9.5. The descriptive chemistry of the ele- ments aud their compounds would be an unwieldy collection of facts if it were not for the similarities and trends in properties which can be discussed within the frame- work of the periodic table. Discovering these ~imilarit~ies and trends, however, onl5- leads to the greater challenge of explaining them in terms of more fundamental prop- erties of the atoms. This task is not as simple as we might lead the beginning student, to imagine, for often a variet,v of factors must be considered and there is always danger of mist,aking the combined effect of several facton for that of a single one. .4 careful examination of periodic correlations might he undertaken then in an upper undergraduate course in inorganic chemistry. For this reason, "Periodic Correlations" is an appropriate addition to the Benjamin series of monographs which may be used as textbooks for an advanced inorganic chemistry course. "Periodic Correll~tions" can he con- sidered in two parts. The first, comprising a little more than half of the book, deals with the fundamental electronic and st,ruatural propert,ies of the atoms; the second is concerned with propert,ies that, in the nards of the author, have more to do with ordinary test-tube chemistry. Discussion of the fundamental properties avoids repetition of observations that are commonly made in more elementary courses, and the topics which are selected for discussion receive more thorough treat- ment than is generally allotted in textbooks of inorganic chemistry. In the second part of the book acidity and basicity, redox potentials, color, and reactivity in precipi- tation and complexation are discussed. Here, again, the discussion goes beyond that allotted in most textbooks of inor- ganic chemistry, and provides an inkrest- ing approach to some descriptive a..peperts. The author's discussion of polariaatiou deserves mention, for it is unique in several respects. In discussing the polarizing strengths of cations, be proposes that the "exeeis polarizing strength" of the highly reducible rations found in the middle of the periodic table he measured in terms of the difference between their actual electron affinities and those of noble-gas type cab ions of the same charge and size. In addition, he presents 8. new relationship between molecular polarisability and boil- ing point which is more general ill applica- tion than earlier purely empirical ap- proaches. Some criticism of the publisher's pres- entation of the material might be made. The book contains several typographical errors, the most serious being in the defini- tion of orbital electronegztivity. The placement of figures in the hook may cause readers some momentary confusion. Far example, one series of figures is distributed over seven pages of interspersed material with bhe number and title of the figure appearing only after t,he final figure. In a useful table of redox pot,entiaLs there is an error in the spacings which must be counted to establish the oxidat,ion state to which the potential applies. In the same table, the types which have been used for stable and unstable states are difficult to distinguish. In general, "Periodic Correlations" i~ a. earefullv written book. I did find the reading difficult in places, but that may only reflect the complexity of the topic under discussion. I found many new and interesting ideas in this book, and I believe most other readers will too. ROBERT E. FROST University of ZUinois Urban0 Organosilicon Compounds. Volume 1 and Volume 2, Patis 1 and 2 Vhdimk Baknt, el al. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1965. Figs. and tables. 17 X 24.5 cm. Vol. 1, 616pp. Vol. 2, part 1, 699 pp; part 2, 544 pp. $70 specid price when ordering complete set; $25 for each separate book. Professor Baiant and his eight colleagues labored for a full decade to produce this remarkable work, the first fully comprehensive survey of organosili- con eompounds and their reactions to appear outside of the "Gmelin Hsnd- buch." Unlike Gmelin, this hook pre- sents a readable, coherent account of the behavior of all the known types of organo- silicon substances, as well as listing all of the reported pure eompounds (and a good many ones still unpublished) together with all the information about their prep- aration, snslyses, and physical prop- erties. Further unlike Gemlin, the in- formstion herein is complete through September 1961 and is reasonably thorough right up to the time of printing. Volume 1 by Baiant, V&elav Chva- lovskj., and JiPi Rethouskp, is devoted entirely to the chemistry of organosilicon compounds. I t starts with a. discussion of siliron and its bonding properties, the physical properties of organosilicon com- pounds, and the general reactions of eom- pounds containing silicon bonded to halogens, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc. It then takes up all of the methods for synthesizing organwilicon compounds, with s, critical analysis of each, and pro- ceeds t,o reactions of the carbon-functional substances and the behavior of the various types of carbon-silicon bonds. Througb- out the discuvsion polymers are con- sidered along with pure monomeric sub- stances. Volume 2, in two parts, by all nine authors (BaZant, Chvalovskp, Rathousk*, Josef Benes, Stanislav Jirinec, Jaroslav Joklik, Mirko Kadlec, Oldrich Kruchna, and Karel Setinek), consists of a register of all the known organosilicon compounds togebher with a, great many inorganic compounds of silicon which are important in this field of work. The compounds are arranged in the order of increasing cam- plexity of their empirical formulas. For each compound a st,ruetural formula is given, then the method or methods of preparation, followed,by the calculated analyses and molecular weights (more than a. fourth of these had to be recalculated due t,o errors or sloppiness an the part of original authors!) and exset physical constants where these are known. Ab- breviated references to the original litera- ture also are included. I t is quite possible (and much to be hoped) that the register could he kept up t,o date by future ex- tensions. I t should he emphasized that this entire threevolume work is not a translation of some previous book, hut that the original text as published simultaneously by the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and Academic Press has appeared in just one language a t the outset-English. Only in this way, the authors and publishers felt, could they enjoy wide enough ac- ceptance and usage to make the project worthwhile. This reviewer has expressed in public and in print his wish t,hat along with the welcome hut specialized hooks an silicone polymers and organosilicon reactions, someone would s t last publish a definitive book that would survey the entire field of organasilicon chemistry up to and into the 1960's. Here it is. In view of the nix and duration of the effort,, the reader will understand why the job could not have been done in this country. We have the energy and persistence of Professor Baiant to thank for its having been done at all. The work is essential to research people in the field of organosilicon chemistry, in the sense that without it they would needs. great many other books (even more expensive ones) and much more time to use them. Gmelins Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie. 8. Auflage, System Nummer 16, Phosphor. Teil C, Die Verbindungen der Phosphors Edited by E. H. E. Pietseh and the Gmelin Institute. Verlag Cbemie, GMBH, Weinheim/Bergst,rasse, 1965. xlvii + 642 pp. Figs. aud tables. 17.5 X 25.5 em. $148. This is the last volume of Gmelin's 8th edition devoted to phosphorus. It covers the compounds of phosphorus with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, the halogens, the ehalcogens, boron, carbon, and silicon. Only carbon compounds which contain no C-H honds are included; silicon com- pounds are also limited t,o those containing no C-H bonds. These compounds are distinguished by the ability of phosphorus to form poly- mers. Studies of the P-4-P and P-N-P honds reveal chain and ring structures in many compounds. This polymerizing property of phosphorus pro- vides a vast number of interesting com- pounds and offers au opportunity far further research. J. V. D. (Conlinued on page A854)
