JANUARY. 1954
51
metabolism. Quite properly for a text of this kind, the clinical implications of biochemistry are kept to a minimum. Recent developments in the field of biochemistry are discussed and recent references are cited. For example, the literature on a-lipoic acid iis reviewed to September, 1952. The recent developments are placed in a. proper perspective by a judicious use of historical material. For example, the authors lead up to a discussion of the chemical nature of enzymes with a. historical introduction in which work of van Helmont, R&aumur, Liebig, Berzelius, and others is discussed and which includes a statement by M. Traube indicating that he viewed enzymes as proteins as early as 1858. The reviewer queations whether some of the material which is included might not h a w been omitted. Considering that this text was written for the mature student, the materid on equilibrium and thermodynamics in Chapter 9 could have heen shore ened and covered by a reference to a standard text on the subject. Also it was surprising to 6nd on page 22 an elementary discussion of the meaning of pH-surely not needed in a book for the graduate student. An impartant feature of this text is the inclusion of many references. some of these me to original papers--particular$ those which have appeared within recent years. In addition there are many references to review articles. The text is written iu s. lucid and pleasing style and appears to he remarkably free from errors. This book should prove to be an excellent text for graduate students in biochemistry and a. ready reference work for all who are working actively in the field of biochemistry. ARTHUR H. LIVERMORE REBDC O L L ~ ~ E P o n r ~ m oOnaoo~ .
book. To illustrate, he describes in detail eleven technique; for the estimation of ale6nic unsaturation and in shstract farm autlinesnine more. Although the detailed techniques are not new in concept, recent modifications of the older methods are included. For example, among the procedures given for determining the bromine number of an alefin are included three modified procedures from the recent literature. As a further example, the new sensitive Schwarzenbsch and Wittwer (1947) modification of the Kurt Meyer method is referred to among alder methods for determining en01 content. When they are available, completely new procedures are added to the older ones. For the determination of active hydrogen the Zerewitinofl method on both a macro and amicro scale is described, but, in addition, detailed directions are given for the recently developed determination using lithium J. E. JOHNSON, AND H. W. aluminum hydride [J. A. KRYNITSKY, CARHART (1948)l. In addition to the table of contents, subject index, and author index, each section of the present volume is preceded by an outline of the methods to be discussed, which adds to the convenience of the user. The volume ie remarkably free of typographical errors. In view of the fact that the book is essentially aimed at the research worker, the author's inclusion of a common method for determining liquid densities or, far example, descriptions of the use of the Abbe m d the Pulfrieh refractometer has puaeled this reviewer. Anyone unfamiliar with the use of rt refmetometer is not likely to be sufficiently enlightened by the present descriptions. The above is minor criticism indeed of a careful, thorough, u p b-date treatment of those aspects of organic analysis which fall u,ithin the scope of the author'= intentions. The book will make a useful addition as reference work to the libraries of d l those who, in widely diverdied fields, are doing research with organic compounds.
ESTIMATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
F. Wild, Fellow of Dawning College, hiversity of Cambridge. 239 pp. Cambddge University Press, New York, 1953. vii 29 figs. 14.5 X 22.5 em. $5.
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DR. WILD has now produced a book dealing with methods for the quantitative determination of functional groups in organic molecules as a companion volume to his "Charttcterisation of Organic Compounds," which was published in 1947 and dealt with the qualitative aspects of organic analysis. The present volume appeared in May of this year and in great detail discusses quantitative methods (both macro and micro) of estimation of the groups: ole6nic double band, alcoholic, enolio, and phenolic hydroxyl (with additional specific procedures far methanol), thiol, the earbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones (including special methods for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, bensaldehyde, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone), amino, nitro, cyano, nitroso, isocvano, isothiocyano, acetyl, benmyl, methoxyl, ethoxyl, propoxyl, butoxyl, methyl and ethylimino, methyl and ethyl groups attached to sulfur, and methyl groups attached to carbon. As with the previous volume, this work is of greatest value far the research worker and is of more limited use to a beginning student. Although many procedures are described in detail, the thoroughness of Dr. Wild's approach to those groups which he has chosen to include has necessitated his presenting the less widely applicable methods in abstract form. However, the entire book is copiously documented, so that any lack of detail works no hardship on those using it. The chemical, biologiod, medical, pharmacological, agricultural, and food technological literature has been consulted through 1951. The author indicates in his preface to the book that one of his aima is to bring to the general attention many of the new improved laboratory techniques which are rarely mentioned in te& hooks of organic chemistry, and which "remain unnoticed and untried, although often they would give better results." He fulfills this aim, and presents a much more comprehensive survey of zvailablble techniques than is presented in the usual laboratory
FRANCES BERLINER
BRVNM ~ w aC O L L E ~ E Bnrn Mhwa. P m ~ a n v m r ~
DATA FOR X-RAY ANALYSIS
0
Volume 1: W. P a r i s h and B. W. Irwin, Philips Lahoratories. Inc., Imington-on-Hudson, New York. 100 pp. Volume II: W. Parish, M. G. Eckstein, and B. W. I d , Philips Laboratories, hc. 82 pp. Philipe Technical Library, North American Philips Co., Inc. 21.5 X 30 om. Paper bound. $2 per volume. THE?harts in Volume I pive grqhi~ltlS O I U I ~ O ~ SI*) the B r a ~ p d rquntiun. h = 2d ain 8. The yuwhg d is ploltd a8 a funetio~~ 8 and 28 in the ranee of 0 iron1 0' to 90" for thr Kn.. Ko,3rd Kn, wave lengths of m&ybdenum, copper, cob&, iron, and chromium. Routine cslculations in ~owderdiffraction mdvsis mav thus he sinlplitir.1 *iwr the rpuvi!.y d ma? I,r ulminrJ dirertly f n m tlw vluxrrr, onvr tlw arrlur or8 lint l,rrn fwunrl from mex.iurements on the film. These charts are intended primarily for identification of powder samples from X-ray diffraction data, since it is not possible to use them with sufficient accuracy for the precise determination of lattice constants. Volume I1 contains tables for use in precise calculation of the lattice constant of cubic crystals. The tables consist of values of .\/ha kP t l2 for each reflection hkl for the Ku,Ku,, and Kaz wave lengths of copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, and chromium. From the experimentdly obtained values of 8 for each reflection, sin 8 ie found from some good book of tahle.bles and then the cubic cell length is found from ~
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.
o =
p + p + p
. h2- .-sin1d
The values of a thus obtained may be plotted against some function of 8, two of which are tabulated in this volume, and then extrapolated to 8 = 90° to give a precise value of the cell constant. The tables m e attractively laid out and are easy to read.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
82
For the npecialiata concerned with cubic crystals they represent a considerable saving in time and labor.
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IABORATORY STUDIES IN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY
Joseph A. Bahor, Professor of Chemistry, College of the City of New York, and Alexander Lehrmon, Associate Professor of Chemistry, College of the City of New York. Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1952. xii 277 pp. Line diagrams and tables. 27.5 X 20.5 Em. $2.50.
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THIS laboratory msnud consists of a compilation of 72 erercises in which the students are directed to oheek, in the labors, tory, the qualitative properties of those substancee commonly introduced into the course for college chemistry. There seems little doubt that, as the authors say in their preface, "All of the experiments have been carried out by students, and none is. beyond the capabilities of the average college freshman." Unfortunately, there is little to excite the interest of a hetter-than-average student. A first-class student would probably spend a good deal of his laboratory time repeating activities performed quite adequately in high school. The directions are clear, though labored in places, and the ilhstrations, though well done, are tiny. An unusual feature of this book consists of complete page references, for each of the experiments, to 21 textbooks of college chemistry.
composition of proteins and the results of protein analysis. He emphasizes the precautions that have to be taken in order to achieve high accuracy, essential when the results are to be a p plied to a consideration of protein structure. In avery detailed chapter (Chapter 41, B. W. Low approaches the problems of structure and configuration of amino seids, p e p tides, and proteins from the resulta of crystal struoture, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray crystallographic studies. The problems of molecular configuration of folded or coiled polypeptide chains in fibrous and globular proteins, the nature of interehain bonding and the resulting intermolecular packing are critically considered, The limitations as well as future possibilities of X-ray methods in evaluating protein model structure are discussed. Also, in considerable detail, P. Doty and E. P. Geiduschek report in Chapter 5 on optical properties of proteins such a8 birefringence, refraction, optical rotation, ultraviolet, infrared and polmized infrared spectra, and photochemical reactions. In Chapter 6, R. A. Alherty writes on the electrochemical p r o p erties of proteins: their ionization and acid-base bindimg capacity and titration. The methods and theory of moving-boundary electrophoresis are considered in detail as well as the electrophoresis-convection method. The annlication of these methods to the analysis of protein mixtures, their use as a criterion of purit:, and as a means of preparing pure proteins are discussed. Extensive literature references, some as late as 1952, are given as footnotes by all the authors. The indexes will appear in the second part of Volume I
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F. A. CAJORI U N I V E R B0~1YCOLOBADO S C ~ O OOF L MEDICINE Dmven. C o ~ o n ~ o o
BENTLEY EDWARDS
THE HARVEY LECTURES
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Delivered under the auspices of The Harvey Society of New York. 1951-52. Series 47. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1953. viii 271 pp. Illustrated. 14 X 21 cm. $7.50.
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THE PROTEINS: CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND METHODS. VOLUME I. PART A
Edited by H a n s Neurath, Department of Bioehemiatry, University of Washington, and Kenneth Bailey, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge. Academic Press, Inc., New 548 pp. 108 figs. 16 X 23.5 om. $12. York, 1953. xi
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DURING the last few years a number of hooks have appeared in which various phases of protein chemistry have been the subjeot of review. This is ss it should he, for the progress toward an underatanding of the complete structure of proteins has been very rapid during the last decade. The application of new physical and chemical techniques and the results from such diverse a p proaches to the problems of protein structure necessitate frequent and critical discussion. The present book is tho first part of s. two-volume treatise (each volume to consist of two p d r t ~ )in whieh the editors hope "to present s comprehensive, integrated account oi the chemical, physioal, and biological properties of the proteins." Part A mnsists of six chapters in whieh general properties of proteins are discussed. In Chapter 1, J. F. Taylor surveys the various methods, chemical and physical, that have been employed far the isolation of proteins. The precautions necessary to avoid denaturation, the evaluation of homogeneity, and the preservation and stabilieation of proteins are considered in detail. Under the heading "The general chemistry of amino acids and peptides," P. Desnuelle (Chapter 2) presents qualitative and quantitative reactions of amino acids and methods of separation of peptides. The results of studies on peptide structure before and after partial hydrolysis and peptide synthesis are included. The author has given few details of these many methods but has over 500 literature citatiana. G. R. Tristrsm, in Chapter 3, critically evalustes the methods that hrwe been employed in the determination of the amino acid
TEE following titles and rtuthors are included: "The nucleotides: Some recent chemical research and ita biolopieal imolications," by A. R. Todd: "Hydrostatic pressure &Ling the flow of urine m d bloodin the kidney," by F. R. Winton; "An aseending reetieular activating system in the brain stem," by H. W. Magoun; "Studies an the cellular immunology of acute bacterial infections," by W. Barry Wood, Jr.; "Metabolic blacks in carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes," by I. L. Chaikoff; "Marphogenesis and the metamorphosis of insects," by Carroll M. Williams; "The development of the cerebral cortex: A cytological, functional, and biochemical approach," by Louis B. Flexner: "Coaeulation of the blood." bv Walter H. Seeeers: "Some hochemiial studies based on chronktographie meth&s." by L. Zechmeister.
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SELECTED VALUES OF PHYSICAL AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF HYDROCARBONS AND ~ A T E COMPOUNDS: D C O M P R I S ~ GTHE TABLES OF THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE RESEARCH PROJECT 44 EXTANT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1952
Frederick D. Roasini, Professor of Chemistry, Carnagie Insti. tute of Technolwy, Kenneth S. Pitzer, Professor and Dean of the College of Chemistry, Unive~sityof California, Raymond L. Arnett and Rita M. Braun, Carnegie Institute of Technology, and Georoe C. Pimentel. Assistant Professor of Chemistrv. , University of California. Carnegie Press, Rttshurgh, PennI050 pp. 21 X 27.5 em. $7. sylvania, 1953. ix
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A CRITICAL review of a b w k like this is impoasible, but even s casual ininspeetion will lead one to agree with the Advisory Committee of the A. P. I. that "thisvolume serves as today's standard of physical and thermodynamic data. on hydrooarbons."
