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is the so-called "practice databases" that the distributors such as dialog and BRS supply for new users of Chemical Abstracts databases. These typically include a few issues of abstracts several years old, so they are not of value for searches. Online charges of only about fifteen dollars per hour are very attractive for learning search methods, and i t is especially reinforcing to he able to check one's search against the printed abstracts, but this is not a realistic substitute for the search of a much larger database, because of the orders of magnitude smaller number of articles found in a given search. Classroom use is not, however, what SCIMATE was designed for. Could it be a worthwhile purchase for other users, such as a very active research scientist or group, or a librarian? I don't know of any chemical scientist who regularly uses enough different kinds of electronic databases t o justify the expense. Even an avid and weU-financed user of only a couple of different services would probably find i t easier just t o learn the command languages. But the librariaddatabase specialist who has to accommodate the needs of a variety of different kinds of users, and who consumes a fairly large amount of time a t a terminal or computer may find SCIMATE is a useful twl. Such a user will find the programs generally well-documented, with a loose-leaf notebook of over 430 pages describing the menus and their options. The descriptions are generally quite complete and clear, with even a little humor from time t o time. I t was a little disconcerting, however, to find consistent references in the installation instructions to the CP/M operating system, when I was using a version for PC-DOS on an IBM personal computer. While the author's intent was not compromised, such a lapse does tend to shake one's confidence in the whole package. I also found it annoying to be directed occasionally to "reset the modem," since I was using a modem board installed in my computer, and it was therefore not possible to reset it by hand. SCIMATE doesnot include a facility to access modem commands directly. Harold H. Harris Universily of Missouri St. LOUIS.MO 63121
therefore. half of the book treats organic hemistr; and biochemistry. No baekgriund n chemistry is presumed. Chapters 1 through 18cover the standard uhject matter of general chemistry. The text ,laces considerable emphasis upon problems, md its treatment of dimensional analysis is rarticularly strong. Other subjects treated "ell include atomic structure, the gas laws, quations and stoichiometry, equilibrium, md oxidatian-reduction. In each case con:epts are developed, then example problems we carefully presented followed by numerous xercises with a partial answer key. The organic chemistry section (Chapters L9-29) is not so sound or well conceived. Reictions are presented for the standard func,ional groups. Mechanisms are given Light :reatment, and therefore students will have ittle base upon which t o understand or gen?ralizethe reactions presented. The chapter ~n aldehydes and ketones is particularly carbled and will confuse neophyte readers. J n the whole, the subject of stereoisomerism s treated well, hut coverage of polymers is weak. The chapters on natural products are luite detailed, with the carbohydrates section 1 hit too classical. Proteins, lipids, and nucleic ieids are well treated. The biochemistry ~ection(Chapters 30-34) is well done, with ietailed discussions of nutrition, hioenerzetics, and lipid and protein biosynthesis and metabolism. There is a certain ambivalence a t times by the authors regarding conventions, units, and notation. Seven different units for pressure nre used, including an example problem which converts t o n t o mm Hg. Whether the hydronium ion is HC or H30+ or something else is unclear. Both inorganic and organic nomenclature is presented using several systems, and two or more names are frequently used for the same compound. An experienced reader infers that the authors are trying to please contending schools of pedagogical thought, but a student may he confused or wonder if chemists have their act
College Chemistry: An Introduction t o General, Organic a n d Biochemistry, Third EdltiOn-Workbook, College Chemistry in t h e Laboratory Morris Hein, Leo Best, and Leo Pattison: Brooks/Cole, Monterey. CA. 1984. xix 770 pp. and ix 406 pp. Figs. and tables. 19.5 X 24 cm. and 21.5 X 28 cm. (workbook). $29.95 and $16.75.
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This work is intended for the student who is not majoring in chemistry but for whom chemistry is required. Presumably many of these students will he in the health sciences:
A204
Journal of Chemical Education
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Inn few placrs slmr additions ww~ldhave hren welrome.'l'hr historical aeatunt of rhc measurement of the charge and mass of the electron is not included. Kinetics is largely neglected, and the concept of molecular orbitals is not introduced even in a qualitative sense. Mechanisms of organic reactions are covered unevenly; electrophilic additions to alkenes are descrihed in some detail, but nucleophilie substitution reactions are not discussed from a mechanistic point of view, and cycloadditions are not treated a t all. Applications in organic chemistry are covered reasonably well except for polymers, but descriptive inorganic chemistry is not emphasized. The commercial and intellectual importance of organic synthesis is not introduced to the student, and photosynthesis is not given detailed coverage. Yet on balance this text is a solid work, relatively free of errors, well written particularly in the general chemistry section, with excellent graphics. The book is worthy of consideration for the intended course, though not for the chemistry major course or the course for students from outside the sciences. J a m e s L. Pyle Ball State University Muncie, IN 47306
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O m a n i c Chemistry Stephen Weininger. and Frank Stermitz. Academic Press. Inc., Orlando. FL. 1984. xviii-1121 DO. Fiqs. and tables 20.5 X 26 cm. $31.00.' Weininger and Stermitz's "Organic Chemistry" has many excellent features. The physical format is attractive. In addition to numbering of chapter sections, figures and tables, all equations are numhered. Strueturd formulas are clearly drawn, and red ink or shading is used to highlight sites of reaction. However, the reversal of double bonds in "line-angle" formulas relative to corresponding condensed structural formulas for aromatic rings on on. . . 25-26 is unfortunate m,l may beconfusing ru students. Nurnrn,us problems are provided, with a few w l w d in the text ascxomples. Answer* to selected prohl~rnrare providcd in an np. pcndix, and n n m p l ~ t e"Student Sdulion* Manual" is awilable-all common practice with organic textbooks. supplementary readings are given for each chapter. Almost every chapter has one or more boxed inserts which provide interesting historical, biographical, or practical information. Although much of this information is standard in organic terrhooks. *.,me information is of very rrcrnt inwrert 1e.g.. use ol N M K in medical diarnmia. I'CHs a+ wllutanra~.The bit,graphical inserts are e&ellent, especially that for Woodward, describing not only his skill in the "art of organic synthesis" hut also his lecture techniques and his habit of always wearing a blue suit. Because Morrison and Boyd's "Organic Chemistry" has long been preferred by so man" eolleee " teachers. indicated hv its 25year tenure and four editions, it is helpful t o compare the text by Weininger and Stermitz with this well-known text. In sueh s eomparison this new text comes out very favorably, indeed. The approach of Weininger and Stermitz is, in my opinion, superior to that of Morrison and Boyd in several aspects. There are excellent summaries of concepts for each chapter. The early introduction af spectroscopy (IR and mass spectrometry in Chap. 8; NMR in Chap. 9) enables its integration into the discussion of almost all classes of organic compounds. Examples of biological reactions are used throughout the text, illustrating the importance of organic chemistry in understanding biological processes. Chapter 1 provides a survey of functional groups, similar to that in Solomons' "Organic Chemistry" hut briefer. The final chapter covers the use of chemical literature. Despite the importance of such an introduction t o chemical literature, I am unaware of sueh coverage in other texts of organic chemistry. The ereatest difference from Morrison and Uu).d and lrndirlmni .xgnnic trrtc is in rhr treatmrnt of synrhercs and rrorrions. Weininger nnd S t ~ r m ~wr t r rlarsea uf rompounds more to illustrate principles of structure and synthesis rather than use principles to explain classes of compounds. Teachers who emphasize complete coverage of the syntheses and reactions of each class of compound will he disappointed in this text, and their students will be frustrated if this text is so used. On the other hand, a good argument can be made that an understanding of the principles of organic synthesis and reactions is more important than a compre-
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