It is not a book which should be cansid-
book reviews ered as a research tool. References are
scanty. Many statements are made about
mechanisms, byproducts, procedures, etc..
ground as it pertains t o salt, about the without references to the original work.
only use this reviewer can envisage for the Each chapter concludes with a bibliogra-
book in a college course would be informa- phy as a guide to further reading. This
tion for a paper in a non-science oriented work provides a broad introduction t o the
chemistry course. polymer field for anyone with s hack-
ground in basic organic chemistry.
Donald B. Summers
New Mexico State University J . A. Moore
Las Croces. New Mexico 88001 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York 12181
Organic Polymer Chemistry
K J Sounders, Ryerson Polytechnical An Introduction l o Air Chemistry
Institute, Toronto. John Wiley & Sons,
+
Inc., New York, 1973. ix 473 pp. Figs. Samuel S. Butcher and Robert J Charl-
and tables. 24 X 16cm. 518.00 son. Academic Press, New York, 1972.
xiii+ 241 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X
This hook treats the synthesis and, in 23.5 cm. 510.95.
same instances, the modification of poly-
mers which find technological use. For the This book is designed to he a textbook
mast part, only polymers of commercial for a course in air chemistry. A strong em-
significance are considered. It is organized phasis is placed upon the relationship be-
by the functional groups in the polymer tween analytical chemistry and metearol-
and each commercial polymer containing ogy. It is also designed to be a reference
that functionality is discussed as an indi- work for persons such as meteorologists,
vidual subunit (1, Basic Concepts; 2, Poly- laboratory chemists, and technicians
olefins; 3, Polystyrene and styrene copoly- working in the area of air pollution.
mers; 4, Poly(viny1 chloride) and related The chapters in the book are (1)Intro-
polymers; 5, Poly(viny1 acetate) and relat- duction (the evolution and composition of
ed polymers; 6, Acrylic polymers; 7, the atmosphere and atmospheric chemical
Fluoropolymers; 8, Polyethers; 9, Palyam- cycles); (2) Summary of Chemical Princi-
ides and related polymers; 10, Polyesters; ples (principally a review of physical
11, Cellulose and related polymers; 12, chemistry); (3) Sampling and Collection;
Phenol-formaldehyde polymers; 13. (4) Treatment of Data; (5) Special Meth-
Aminapalymers; 14, Polyurethanes; 15, ods of Analysis (a discussion of gas chro-
Silicones; 16, Epoxies; 17, Sulfur-contain- matography, spectrometry, neutron acti-
ing polymers; 18, Palydienes; 19, Miscella- vation analysis, mass spectrometry, re-
neous polymers). Thus, the chapter enti- mote sensing with lasers, and correlation
tled "Polyethers" contains several suh- spectrometry); (6) The Atmospheric
headings which include "Polyformal- Chemistry of Sulfur Compounds; (7) Ni-
dehyde," "Polymers of Cyclic Ethers," trogen Compounds and Ozone; (8) Carbon
"Polyethylene Oxide," etc. These provide Compounds; and (9) Aerosols.
an introduction to the preparation and po- In general the book is well written. It
lymerization of various monomers on the contains a large number of timely refer-
industrial level illustrated by chemical ences which are up to date. The quality of
equations. Degradation and stabilization production is goad and it appears to be
of the particular polymers is also dis- free of major errors. The illustratians are
cussed. Industrially useful copolymers (of well done, though not elahorate, and are
the polymer under discussion) are men- adequate in number. The extensive glossa-
tioned, where applicable. The physical ry of terms is a very useful feature.
properties of the various polymers as well Although the authors have assumed
as their commercial use are also provided. only a background in general chemistry,
The hook is well written, easy to read, same organic chemistry is presented. A
concise, and contains sufficient equations more balanced text would have resulted
so that most statements can be readily fol- from assuming a background in organic
lowed. It is a specific book, in that it deals chemistry and including much mare dis-
solely with commercial polymers and gen- cussion of reactions of organic compounds
eralization to other systems is not empha- in the atmosphere.
sized, hut may be inferred. It can be un- Important omissions from the hook are a
derstood after two semesters of organic detailed discussion of the principles of
chemistry and it may find use by ad- photochemistry and a discussion of some
vanced undergraduate-beginning graduate of the proposed mechanisms of photo-
students as preliminary reading matter chemical smog formation, It is not possible
before going on to more advanced books to treat some of the more important as-
such as "Textbook of Polymer Science" by pects of air chemistry in a meaningful way
Billmeyer and "Organic Chemistry of Syn- without a basic understanding of photo-
thetic High Polymers" by Lenz. However, chemistry. Although the mechanisms of
it does not contain any description of the smog formation are still obscure, some of
physical chemistry of macromolecules and the main features of the process are known.
therefore, does not constitute a "complete and a detailed discussion of same of the
package." In addition, specific criteria of proposed reaction sequences involved in
performance (tensile strength, etc.) are the process should have been included.
given without a background or frame of
reference. (Continued onpoge A598)
A596 / Journal of Chemical Education
