This text is designed for ssingle semester
BOOK REVIEWS
The phenomenon Conway is discussing is
imporbant and there is no question that
there is a quasi-capacitance associated
with it, but it is certain to lead to eon-
fusion to t r y t o make "pseudocapacit,nnce"
do double duty.
This book contains chapters on Pot,en-
tial Differences a t Interfaces, The Ionic
Double Layer, Determination of Reactant,
Adsorption, Adsorption of Neutral Mole-
cules, Electrochemical Kinetics, Adsorbed
Intermediates, Applications to Selected
Problems, The Gas-Metal Interface, and
a n appendix on Basic Types of Organic
Electrode Processes. The style is pithy
but readable and the breadth and level of
erudition is remarkable. For just these
reasons, however, the book would be un-
suitable for a. beginning course in electro-
chemistry and i t would be hard work for
advanced students. As a reference work
and, especially, as a n introduction to the
literature, it will be i n d i ~ p e ~ a b l e .
FREDANSON
California Inslilule of Technology
Pasadena
Fundamentals of Classical
Thermodynamics
Gordon J. Van Wylen and Richard E.
Sonntag, both of the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor. John Wiley
and Sons, Inc., New York, 1965.
xxiii + 634 pp. Figs. and tables.
15.5 X 23.5 em. $8.95.
A472 / Journd o f Chemical Educotion
or full-year course in introductory ther-
modynamics. After a threechapter in-
troduction into the definition of temper-
at,ure and the properties of pure sub-
stances, chapters four t,hrough eight follow
the basic first and second law analyses.
The main advantages to this book lie
in chapters nine through fourteen where
the authors present numerous appliea-
tions. Some of the unique contents for
this mechanical engineering text are the
inclusion of chapters dealing with min-
tores, chemical reactions, and phase
equilibrium.
The authors and their colleagues have
undertaken the tayk of unifying the teaeh-
ing of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics,
and heat and mass transfer of whieh this
text serves as the first in a series. As this
book deals with classical thermodynamics,
the area of undergraduate thermal sciences
is to be supplemented with an additional
text in statistical thermodynamics.
One of the more unusual aspects of
this book is the symbols which were
adopted. As specific and partial mold
quantities can provide some confusion to
the beginning student, the problem is
minimized by simple and consistent sym-
bols throughout the book.
Although the text is new, much of the
introductory material and applications
dealing with cycles and fluid flow are
adapted from one of the authors earlier
texts, "Thermodynamics." Subse-
quently, an ample number of problems
with varying diflicidty have been included
with each chapter. Also, the appendix
problems.
The sequence of topics is conventional;
however, no major criticisms can be
given to t,he order of the mat,erial pre-
sented. Also an adequate numher uf
illustrations is presented for clarity.
The authors are to be commended for
their style whieh will he quite readable to
the beginning student. I n this regard,
however, the mare advanced student d l
probably not use the book as a reference.
Although a large number of texts on
introductory thermodynamics are in print,
this book will be of interest due to its
varied applications.
Deparlment o j Mechanical Engineering
University aj' Tems
Solid-State Chemistry of Binary Metal
Hydrides
George G . Libourit*, Kenneeott Copper
Corp., Lexington, Massachusetts. N-.
A. Benjamin, Inc., New York, 1963.
xi + 139 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5
X 23.5 em. $7.50.
This book of 131) pages appears in the
series of monographs on physical inor-
ganic chemistry. The book intends "to
introduce the subject of metal hydrides to
(Continued on page A474)