BOOK REVIEWS is devoted to digestion, metabolism, and the endocrines. There are chapters on the chemistry of the hemoglobins, bile, body electrolytes, and kidney function. I t is interesting to compare a hiochemistry text written for the use of English medical students with its contemporary counterpart in this country. The rapid expansion of biochemistry has made it difficult to present all of the fundamental information into one volume for the heginning student. American authors, in an effort t o meet this problem, have excluded much material which may belong in the province of physiology. In England, biochemistry has always been regarded as a branch of physiology and their biochemistry textbooks reflect this viewmint. This charecteristie is noticeable
in our modern biochemistry textbooks. However, i t is not to be implied that this hook sacrifices the essential basic prineiples of biochemistry. In this revien,er's opinion, much is gained by frequent references to t,he normal and abnormal physiology resulting from the biochemical topics under discussion. In general, this volume offers a well balanced presentation of biochemistry. The working biochemist may wish t h a t the mechanisms of some reactions were given in greater detail, euch as those involved in oratein and nucleomotein svnimmediate needs. Extensive references to the literature make i t possible for a student to extend his reading beyond the pages of this textbook. A bibliography of over 50 pages is included a t the end of the book.
F. A. CAJORI
University of Colmado School of Medicine Denver
Elements of General Chemistry
Jay A. Young, King's College, WilkesBane, Pennsylvania. Prentiee-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1060. viii f 466 pp. Figs. and table.. 16 X 23.5 om. $6.95. For the elementary one semester course in introductory chemistry that presumes no previous training in chemistry and only a minimum of mathematical haekground, instructors may find here a new text that warrants considemtion. The text is constructed in 21 chapters interspersed with two short sections on the mathematics of problem solving by factors and simple operations with small and large numbers. A glossary of almost 125 chemical terms and the answers to problems for each chapter are given in the appendix. The end papers show the traditional list of atomic weights and the periodic table. Unique features of this text include several instruotive figures which supple-
(Continued on pape A768) A760
/
Journal of Chemical Education
BOOK REVIEWS ment thc discussion which is usually written in a simple, easily read style. The concont of enerw levels in atomic struc-
is carried into several illustrations, including those that deal with ionic and oovalent bonding. Other topics commendably introduced hy simple analogy and amplified by figures are oxidation and reduct,ion, lone refining, buffers, equilibrium, and ionization. At times, it may appear uncertain that the illustrations are comprehensible at the clementsry level of the dimmion, but m o ~ of t these analogy-figure treatments should provide a suitable learning situation for the beginning student. The author seeks to show the reasonableness in chemistry, and he seems to achieve his goal in general. However, the reader is led to view c h e m i s t ~as a mysterious suhjert without adequate basis in the areas of atomic theory, the absolute zero, t,he atomic nucleus, the nuclear energy, and certain of the aspects of metallurgy. The author's analogy of Rutherford's experimenGin which alpha, particles are 15 inch artillery shells and the target atoms are cities defended with tissue paper-is probably more difficult to understand than the actual experiment itself. Attempts to show the rensonsblenes~of organic reaction mechanisms, acids and hascs, and ionic equilibria are at least pertially successful. In an elementary course the danger of oversimplification constantly plagues both tho texthoak aobhor and the instructor. These potential half-truths are bravely faced by the author, and the reader is warned to beware of them. In two in~tancea,however, the author has indulged in erroneous oversimplification. He makes a direct analogy hetaeen grade distrihutions (Gaussian) and gas velocity distributions (Maxwllian), and he s h o w equal hond lengths between hydrogen and oxygen in the hydrogen hond structure of water. These misrepresentations are hardly warranted. From the standpoint of product,ian, the book is clmn, it has an att,rsctive format, and its binding should withstand ordinary student usage.
W. H. SLARAUGK Oregon State ColIege Comllis
Coreerr and Opportunities in Chemistry
Philip Pollack, with introduction by Gemge M. Murphy, New York University. E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., New York, 1960. xii 147 pp. Illustrated. 14 X 21 em. $3.50.
+
As an ex-educator now in industry, this reviewer finds Mr. Pollack's book both accurate and reahtic. The author successfully combines a certain degree of romance with actuality in discussing
(Continued on page A764)
A762 / Journol of Chemical Education
