spectroscopy sections include practical information on preparing samples. Two new seetions have been added to the experimental format: A descrintion of the Puroose of the emeriment and a Prior Readinelist to soe& ~ r -the ~~~~technia;e ~ ~ . sedions used in that narticular exoeri-nt. Prep-CC separations have k n introduced sume of t i c experimmts, and addittonal spuming band distillotions arc included. New biographical sketches discuss famous chemists who discovered the reactions, especially in the case of name reactions. Ashort Glossary (two pages) of important chemical terms also has been added. This is a . good feature that could be expanded in future editions. Compared with the material added, little has been dropped. The tables of environmental data have been dropped, and the physical properties of most products have been deleted. To enhance clarity, experimental procedures are now written a s instructions rather than i n the passive voice of the scientific literature. MOL-3 is also o-ized differently from previous editions. The discussions of techniques appear in their own chapter, separated from the experiments in subsequent chapters. Techniques and experiments are moss-referenced: Each technique lists the experiments that use it, and each experiment lists the techniques needed. Experiments are grouped in three chapters. Chapter 6 contains 35 simple experiments with detailed instructions. Chapter 7 contains seven advanced experiments, requiring more skill and giving less explicit instructions. Chapter 8 contains six new synthetic sequences (24 reactions in all) progressing from gram-scale reactions in early steps to microscale reactions for the fmal steps. The production of this book is even better than the second edition. The paper, printing, hinding, and cover are comparable to the best black and white lecture texts. The figures are elegantly drawn, with a simplicity that points out the important aspects of each reaction setup. Most of the IR's are as clear as the originals, printed crisply with a small gra grid. These can be tricky to read, however, because the 500-em-Y.mtervals are divided in four (or eight) parts rather than five. Other IR's and NMR's are reproduced with varying levels of quality. Some of the NMR's are taken a t 300 MHz and others a t 60 MHz, representing the variety of instruments students might use. MOL-3 sets a new standard for a laboratory textbook. Extremely competent and complete, i t contains a n enormous amount of work and thought. On a practical basis, some instructors and students mav, auestian whether thev need this Laree a lab text. MOL-3 1s about the s n e uf an organic lerrurr text, and some srudentsmay find it rntimrdating. Orhcrs may halk at itseost; hut the rosr is justified hv the amount uf infurmation, ingenuity. experience, thought, and eammm s e m r rumpi.ed in this book The authors do not exaggerate when they state: "In a single laboratory text, MOL-3 presents a n unparalleled variety of experimentation for use a t the undermaduate and maduate levels of instruction." For instructors whoprefer the microscale approach, and whose students are not intimidated by a large lab text, MOL-3 provides a comprehensive reference t h a t should be useful throughout a student's career.
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Lerov G. Wade. Jr.
~ h m a ~no l l k g e Walla Walla, WA99362 Bioinorganic Chemistry
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lvano Bertmr. Harry B Gray, Slephen J L~ppard,and Joan Selversrone Valenlme Unlversly Soence Books 20 Eogend 611 pp Flgs an0 laoles Ra , MI Va ley, CA94941.1994 v 18.5 x 25.9 crn. $58.00
In the sense that "a handful of sand is a fair anthology of the universe," Bioinorganic Chemistry is a good anthology of its universe, inorganic biochemistry. J u s t a s single grains of sand are individualistic but together form a recognizable aggregate, individual chapters of this book differ in style and approach but together weld theoretical and descriptive inorganic chemistry with U characterizes E biobiochemistry into the distinctive S ~ N ~that inorganic chemistry.
The opening chapter by Theil and Raymond on transition metals and the closing chapter by Lippard on metals in medicine portray their respective fields with broad brush strokes. The opening chapter, rich in variety, draws the reader in. The dosing chapter, recounting the enormous ramifications of introducing a foreign and reactive metal ion comnlex into the bodv. farms a satidvine ~," closure by relatmg many of the fundamental ~nnrganieprinclpies of previous chaprrrs ro realistx medical appllcatwns. In between are more specific chapters on zinc, rnlcium, dioxygen carriers, dioxygen reactions, electron transfer, specific oxidation-reduction enzymes, and interactions between metal ions and nucleic acids. Throughout, there is evidence of good editing: the writing is clear, the text contains few errors (and those are of a minor nature), and there are ample figures, some with effective use of color. Because of the pervasiveness of common structural elements, chanters four throueh seven. which are concerned with dioxveen ,.. transport and biological oxidation-reduction. provide a wheuwe core nt the center of the hook. 'l'hese ehnpters rontnin the most explicitly inorganic matmal, such ar orbital dmmamn, free radical mechanisms, and Marcus theory. There is a n excellent balance between inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysical chemistry, as exemplified by the dioxygen chapters. The tours de force chapters on enzymes and DNA are packed with interesting relatior& and trends hut supply more than answers. If this splendid book has a drawback, it is the one defect that inheres to any collection assembled hy choice. Inevitably the suite of chosen topics betrays a n irksome omission. This reviewer was disappointed to see no mention of systematic metal ion-ligand dynamics studies. Calcium ion, for example, is a major player in numerous physiological processes. Its complexation reactions have been studied by many fast reaction methods, but they are not presented. However, t h e book is detailed and sufficiently representative of the field it seeks to cover, to be judged primarily on the basis of what is there rather than what is not there. And what is there makes Bioinorganic Chemistry a "must" for any chemist seriously interested in biological aspects of aqueous inareanie chemistrv. Instructors dedicated to teachine hioinorganrc chemwtry to aeniors or lirst-year graduate students should , they should seninclude t h r hnok on rhrir rcferencr ~ h c l f nnd ouslg consider makina Bturnorganrc Chemzsrry thew textbook. Students taking such a course will find that Bioinorganic Chemistry offers a perspective rarely seen in any but the best research-inspired texts: the enthusiasm, uncertainty, excitement, and wander of scientists caught up in the effort to understand and benefit from the intricate workmanship of Nature.
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Kenneth Kustin Brandeis University Waltham, MA02254
inorganic Experiments J. Derek Wwllins, Editor. VCH: New York, NY, 1994. xv pp. Figs., tables, and photos. 16.7 x23.9cm. $90.00.
+ 286
Meaningful experiments that develop laboratory skills, introduce interesting chemistry, and are reproducible, are not always easy for laboratory instructors to find, especially in inorganic chemistry. Therefore, this laboratory manual, edited by J. Derek Wwllins ofthe Loughharough University of Technology with a foreword by 1973 Nobel chemistry laureate Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson, one of the distinguished group of 71 contributors from 10 European countries and the United States, is particularly welcome. Intended for both undergraduate and graduate students, the hwk contains 65 experiments giving detailed directions far the preparation of 179 nontransition, transition, organometallic, solid state, and coordination compounds. Classified hv the editor as Tntroductor\r (16 exoeriments). Tntermedlate"(24 expenrnmts,, and "advanwd"125 expenmen& ,theexpenrnents, whwh itre either deriwd from laboratory courses where they have been rcstcd or are indcprndrntly rhrckrd prrpnrations, demonstrate most of the impadant chemical techniques in the context of some interesting and stimulating chemical examples and reaction types.
Volume 72 Number 6 June 1995
A125
