book reviews &per is to be congratulated far bringing this topic under one cover, even if only with limited success. The book deals with 133 seientistsof which 106 are chemists, and only 21 are physicists and 6 represent other fields. There is one or more story for each listed scientist. Some are little-known events from their lives, some are humorous, some are tragic. The accounts range from half s page in length (e.g. Walter Hempel, Professor of analytical chemistry in Dresden, 1851-1916) toseven for F. Wohler. Some scientists are easily recognized and some are less well known (see above). Most of the stories are amusing, interesting, have a moral, andlor try to illustrate a point. The selection of accounts does not seem to folrowan easily recognized pattern. Thus the "obvious" dream stories about KekulC were not included hut Alfred Werner's liking of alcoholic beverages and the fact that the idea of coordination banding came to him in sleep, found their proper place in the book. The book also records that three of the listed scientists, Hans Fiseher, Otto Hdnigschmid, and Victor Meyer committed the chemist's suicide with cyanide, and thatJohn W. Webster almost committed the perfect murder. The author states in the preface that the book has two chief aims: to instruct and to entertain. He also advises the readers not to read [the book] straight through, but in snatches, lest their appetite become gored. Unfortunately the absence of a subject index makes it mandatory to read the book through before the reader is able to learn what in the book is instructional. The missing index is thus the main shortcoming of the book. It is hoped that a subsequent edition will correct this deficiency. The book is not a biopraphical dictionary although the scientists-are listed in alphabetical order. Only 20 of the scientists were born before 1800 and only 24 were Americans by hirth or by naturalization. The stories are presented mare or less uniformly. The introductory paragraph contains sufficient information about the scientist and his major contributions so that the reader can make a connection with the selected stories. Many stories were reproduced with the permission of the publishers from "Was nicht in den Annalen steht" (What does not appear in the Annalen) and Physiker Anekdoten. Other sources include Asimov's "Biographical Encyclopedia of Science and Technology," Farber's "Great Chemists" and individual biographies. Many accounts came from articles that appeared in this Journal, some authored or translated by Dr. Oesper who has a life-long interest in collecting stories and anecdotes about scientists. The Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences do not seem to have been a source of stories, which may explain why there are so few listings of Americans and nonchemists. A sort of bibliography and listine of the source of information amears .. in~ a .Eonelndine . ~" section under "Sueeested .... Kmdinyi." Unfortunnrely individual srorier omnot be traced ton particular sourr~since reference numbers are not used. Although it is recognized that some accounts are just "good stories'' that cannot he documented, ~
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A346 / Journal of Chemical Education
it still would he valuable t o know their previous source. In spite of the shortcomings, this hook is recommended to all instructors and teachers for their personal library. It may require some indexing hy individuals before they will be able to retrieve appropriate stories for the use in class; however, their students will enjoy and benefit from hearing that even scientists are human
served spectra. In summary, this book contains a large tahle and many diagrams which would be useful for research work in Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectroscopy. It may have drawbacks for students of this field due to translation problems and lack of explanation in some areas. Stephen G. Kukolich University of Arizona Tucson, 8570 1
John H. Wotir Southern lllinoir University Carbondale. Illinois 62901
Chemistry of the Atmosphere
Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance in Chemistry
G.K. Semin, T. A. Babushkina, and G. G. Yohobson. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1975. x 517 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 24.5 cm. $47.50.
+
This book compiles much data from nurlenr quadrupde wsonanre sprrtnraropv whwh wuuld otherwisr nut be readilv a territ nnd uuntnrvrrsy nrr included (supersonw air craft, singlet c,xygen renrtwns, the rex t i m r of wunc, and others arc nut tthr f r e m prdrlem, becausr ot publication deadh e , or b y rhoierr. The nlnrrlhutim iri w l eanos to particulate loads in theatmosphere, a favorite topicof mine, and a significant one, was not included; another, the greenhouse effect was. On the other hand, many useful
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detailed tables and figures are included in this well written account of a significant, fascinating area of study. Dean F. Martin University 01 South Florida Tampa. 33620
Atlas of Spectral Data and Physical Constants tor Organic Chemistry. Second Edition,
J G. Grasselli and W M. Ritchqv. Chemical Ruhher Company Press, Cleveland. 26 X 30 cm. 6 volumes: $500. 1098 pages. The one-volume first edition covering 8000 compounds has been dramatically expanded to six volumes covering 21,000 eompounds. Three of the new volumes contain the data base of alphabetized compounds with literature references, physical constants (molecular weight, mp, bp, density, refractive index, specific rotation, and solubilities), locations and, in some cases, intensities of major spectral peaks (14,000 have ir, 11,000 uv, 8000 'H nmr, 6000 mass, 1500 raman, and 800 I3C nmr spectral information). The other three volumes contain extensive indexes and other information to aid in using the data base. If one wants the properties of a particular compound. the tables of synonyms and structural formulas may be helpful (the latter could be improved by showing the stereochemistry of more of the natural products). Unknowns can be approached through indexes of molecular formula (incorrectly called empirical formula). molecular weight, mp, bp, and any of the six spectral methods. The spectral indexes are eleverlv arraneed to make i t easv to find a tra gives the three most intense peaks only, sufficient to limit the possibilities t o one or a few compounds which can easily be distinguished by finding the compound(s) in the data base and checking other mass spectral peaks andlor other observed properties. If one wants to get into the data from a particular structural feature rather than a specific compound, the Wiswesser Line Notation Index will be valuable; an "eyeball" abbreviated form of this notation makes visual scanning easier. There is a good introduction to Wiswesser Line Notation, and an extensive (especially for ir) section on spectral aids which will also helo with unknowns not inof ir with 'H nmr spectra. With its high price tag, the "Atlas" will depend on library orders. If the information it contains weie available nowhere else, every chemistry library would want it. However, large chunks are available elsewhere: The same physical constants and physical constants indexes are included for 14,000 of the compounds in the CRC Press Classic "Handbook of Chemistry and Physics" a t 1120th the cost of the "Atlas", and the "Sadtler Standard Spectra" depict actual spectra (rather than just major peak locations and intensities) for some 50,000 compounds for about 60 times the cost of the "Atlas" and (Continued on page A3481
Volume 54, Number 8. August 1977 / A347
