companying models in the hands of his students. All chemical educators are certainly indebted t o Professor Ormerod for his fresh and innovative teaching ideas utilizing molecular models that he suggests ta make the three dimensional world of chemistry come alive for all of our students. George W. Stapleton Arcadia High Schwi Arcadia. Caiifmia 91006
Correlated Organic Laboratory Experiences
K. LeRoi Nelson, Angus University, Blackham. Brigham Young University Press, Provo, Utah, 1975. xia 427 pp. Figs. and tables. 21.5 X 27.5 cm.
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Most new lahoratory manuals in organic chemistry follow s classical format with incornoration of a few new exoeriments. "Correlated Organic Laburator) Expenenccs" inmsduccs a number of nwel fmtures integrated to produce a truly un~queappn~erh to the organic chemistry lahoratory. The laboratory is designed to he self-paced, but the early experiments are sequenced with an explicit time schedule. The schedule is differentiated into four levels of achievement. denendine on the needs of the student and the t r w l numlw of labor at or,^ hours nrarlnhle. The lower achievement levels reqwre fewer samples or tests in some experiments as well as fewer total experiments, but otherwise use the same procedures. Major laboratory concepts are divided into a number of Work Units, each of which has a grade paint value and a maximum time. The early Work Units are short observations, measurements, and techniques which usually require only an hour or two. Advanced work units are open-ended projects on syntheses, natural product isolation, kinetics, and structure elucidation; these four topin constitute up to 92 lahoratory hours for the chemistry major working twice a week for two semesters. Another attractive feature is the development of common laboratory techniques as integral parts of general themes such as physical observations, characterization of compounds, and separations rather than as isolated experiments. For example, recrystallization, included as "purification of a solid unknown," is found about halfway through the first semester program sandwiched between general techniques of filtering and the drying of liquids and gases. The text is also unified bya central theme on the chemistry of wood. The separation techniques, spectroscopy, and natural product isolation use nrimarilv.teroenes and carhuhgdrates aa sample\. The mapr ssnthesid prolerts begm with o-pinenr. I~monmr,p rymenr, vnndlin. or vnnillic sod. In light irf current environmental concerns, these examples may be more appealing t o students than, for example, the preparation of cyclohexene; the authors' conviction is that "students are capable of doing more interesting things.'' The text provides explicit directions for ~ a r l yexperiments with less detail for the
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advanced projects. The teat is written with concepts and principles on the left-hand page and experimental procedures on the right. This occasionally causes blank pages and awkward divisions of the material, hut d w s distinguish clearly what the student must do. Discussions of both principles and procedures seem clear and to the point. The structures, diagrams, and spectra as well as the text itself are verv well oroduced. In still another useful feature. maim ~.each .~ , rhrmirnl la accompanred b) a reprrduction of its listmg in the "Merck Index"8th Edition. This not only provides the student with immediate access to the physical properties of a compound, but through the constant listing of tmicological properties, provides a subtle reminder of lahoratory safety. I would urge anyone in charge of an organic chemistry lahoratory to examine this hook. Some may find it suitable as a laboratory text. Others will find certain features which can be readily incorporated into their course. Everyone would benefit from the reexamination of their present lahoratory program whieh this text will provoke. ~
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Arthur W. Herrion Fiorida hternatiomlUniversity Miami, Florida 33199
Practical Cllnlcal Chemistry Gelson Tom, Reproductive Biology Research Foundation, and Philip G . Ackermann, Reproductive Biology Research Foundation. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1975. xix + 779 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 em. No price given. The authors have prepared a n up-to-date (1974 writing), extensively researched, and well-documented text which should be of value to students, medical technologists, clinical chemists, and other clinical laboratory workers. They have provided in a single, compact volume exemplary methods for almost all of the constituents commonly determined in the clinical chemistry laboratory. These are described in chapters in whieh the constituents are grouped either by chemical structure (e.g., carbohydrates) or by biological relationship (e.g., liver function tests). The emphasis is on analytical methodology, with a limited survey of older methods and a fairly thorough review of madern approaches. These authors, as is necessary in such situations, have exercised their biases in the selection of methods t o describe in detail for each constituent. The recommended procedures are easy-ta-follow, manual approaches which require readily available laboratory instrumentation. Typical normal values and some information regarding interpretation of results is provided far each method. Sufficient information is orovided reeardine" the analytical principles and reactions involved in the method. Terminology, including that for serum enzymes, is current and alternate nomenclature is provided parenthetically to minimize confusion. A rapid index to methods is provided on the inside front cover to facilitate access to information. The usual index a t the hack is adrqunte for most purposes and internal rrmr-reiewncing is good. Chapter 20 ~~
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