xix + 490 pp., price f. 10.50. There can be no doubt that atomic absorption spectroscopy (a.a.s.) has been rlze growth area of analytical chemistry in the late 1960s. As a result, books published even two years ago have rapidly become dated, and demands for a comprehensive review of the current state of the art are continually voiced. The present text achieves this purpose admirably. It is really two books within one cover. The first 178 pages could stand on their own as a monograph on general a.a.s., whereas the remaining pages are a mine of information on the determination of elements in biological samples by a.a.s. The general section covers the theory of the technique and gives comprehensive descriptions of light sources, atomization and ncbulization processes, burners, flames and non-flame devices, including many of the most recent developments. A brief discussion of interference effects is followed by chapters on methodology and instrumentation ; the Beckman 979, Jarrell-Ash 82-580, Instrumentation Laboratory 153 and the Perkin Elmer 303 are briefly described, and the specifications of most other instruments are tabulated. The section ends with brief chapters on recent developments-presumably written too late to be included in earlier chapters, and atomic fluorescence and emission spectroscopy. This last chapter is too brief to be of much value.
The second part of the book begins with a brief discussion of the function of metals in the body, and with preparation of biological samples for analysis. The remaining chapters deal with the elements, arranged in their Periodic Groups. For each element, its occurrence and accounts of its analyses are dealt with in great detail. Unfortunately, the information is comprehensive rather than critical, and the reader will have to exercise his own judgement for evaluating and choosing analytical procedures. Extensive author and subject indexes are included.
In general, the book is well-produced; there are numerous clear illustrations and very few typographical errors. Among those that glared at the reviewer were the Na line at 509 m/c (and why not nm?) (p. 8) the Nj/N, value for Zn of 7.29 -lo-' at 2000° K (p. lo), Bechman (p. 137) and the persistent mis-spelling of the reviewer's name. Appendix 2-Definition of common terms is a rather odd collection. Apart from an explanation of three abbreviations, it defines only "Bandpass" and "Sensitivity". Why these in particular were selected is not clear, and no reference is made to the recommended definitions being considered by IUPAC.
Apart from these minor criticisms, however, this is an excellent book; the reviewer has no hesitation in recommending it to all analytical chemists, not just to those involved in biological trace analysis.
A. Townshend (Birmingham)
And. Chitn. Actu.