Preface; 1. Introduction - the negative ion of hydrogen (H-); 2. Ground states of complex atomic negative ions - theoretical considerations; 3. The electron affinities of the elements; 4. Atomic negative ions - excited states - autodetachment, general account; 5. Autodetaching states of specific atomic negative ions; 6. Molecular negative ions - grounds states; 7. Excited electronic states of molecular negative ions; 8. Modes of formation of negative ions - formation by radiative processes - radiative attachment and polar photodissociations; 9. Modes of formation of negative ions - formation by three-body collisions of electrons - electron affinity; 10. Formation of negative ions by capture of bound electrons; 11. Detachment of electrons from negative ions - photodetachment, field detachment and detachment by electron impact; 12. Detachment, charge transfer and other reactions between negative ions and neutral systems at low and intermediate energies; 13. Detachment, charge transfer and other reactions involving negative ions- collisions at high impact energies; 14. Recombinations of negative and positive ions - mutual neutralization; 15. Negative ions in electric discharges, planetary and stellar atmospheres, trace analysis and tandem accelerators; References; Author index; Subject index.