Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biolooical Chemistrv.. Second " Edition John R. Holum, John Wiley &Sons, Somerset, NJ, 1982, v 717 pp. Figs. and tables. 21.5 X 26 cm. $25.95.
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The second edition of this textbook for students in the professional health sciences continues the theme developed in the first edition. The first ten chapters are devoted to the basic principles of chemistry, chapters 11-18 provide an introduction to organic chemistry, and chapters 19-29 treat hiochemistry-related topics. The organization of chapters and topics has heen changed somewhat from what was found in the first edition, and the biochemistry section has heen updated. However, the basic outline does not deviate significantly from the first edition. Answers to problems, are provided but not in detail, and a useful glossary of terms is presented a t the end of the hook. The emphasis of this textbook is distinctly biochemical, and the component topics are presented in abundant detail. Alarge number of figures, well presented in shades of blue and black, are designed to assist the student in understanding cvmplex biochemical eoncepts and operations. Marginal highlights have been added in this second edition t o assist students in examinations. If bioehemistry is the emphasis of your course, this book should meet many of your requirements. As with most textbooks designed for this level of instruction, there is an inordinate reliance on classical examples in the general and organic sections. For example, in discussing catalysis this textbook uses the thermal decomposition of potassium chlarate in the presence and absence of maganese dioxide (p. 123) to exemplify the concept instead of a relevant biochemical example. Organic chemistry is treated in classical terms, thruugh chlorination of hydrocarbons, catalytic hydrogenation, halogenation of a l ~ kenes, and the variety of rather esoteric transformations normally found in organic textbooks. A student a t this level need not know that ethyl ether is inert toward heating with aqueous sodium hydroxide (Problem 14.48), hut that student should know the approximate boiling point of ethyl ether
(Table 14.5). If this text had directed the topics of general and organic chemistry to biochemistry, the result might have heen spectacular. Michael P. Doyle Hope College Holland, MI 49423
General Chemistry Principles and Structure, Third Edition James E Brady and Gerard E. Humiston, John Wilev 8 Sons. Somerset. NJ. 1982. 8 1 2 6 ~Figs. . and tables.2115 X 26 cm. $27.95.
pendix. As with previous editions, no previous knowledge of chemistry is assumed, although the text is meant to he used in the science major's first-year course. More descriptive chemistry is included, as well as a chapter on periodic trends. Helpful comments printed in the margin highlight the text. It is a pleasure to recommend this solid, substantial, and very satisfying text. J. J. Zuckerman University of Oklahoma Norman. OK 73019
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Brady and Humiston's excellent textbook now makes its appearance in a third edition, four years after the second [see THIS JOURNAL, 59, A222 (1982)], but lacking the third dimension provided by stereo illustrations viewed through a folding cardboard device stored inside the back cover which was a unique feature of the first two editions. This reviewer grieves the loss of these pictures which were fun to use, despite the addition of the half dozen pages of hlackart paper figures sewn into chapter 9, and hopes that the stereo views will return in a later edition. The tone of this text has always been serious and high-level. The prose is well-written and straightforward. Brady and Humiston's texts have had a deserved popularity with well ovei 100 adoptions currently, and as the
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study guide, solutions manual, lahbratory manual (by J. A. Beran), a card file of test items, instructor's manual, transparency masters, a problems book, Problem Exercises fur General Chemistry, 2nd Ed. (by G. G. Long and F. C. Hentz, Jr.) which parallels the first 18 chapters af Rrady and Humiston, and a set of 20 microcomputer programs (by W. Butler and R. Hough) for the Apple I1 and TI+. the Commodore Pet 4.0 Basic and
TITLES OF INTEREST
A Biographical Diclionary of Scientists, Third Edition Trevor I. Williams (Editor), John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. Somerset, NJ. 1982. xiv 674 pp. 16 X 24 cm. $42.95.
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This reference book for anyone interested in the history of science worldwide gives biographies of historically eminent scientists. For the general reader, the use of unfamiliar technical terms has been avoided as far as possihle and the scope has been made very broad to include science, medicine, technulogy, and mathematics. Most entries also have bihliographical references for those who require fuller information. There is a list of anniversaries from Anaximander of Ancient Greece to the twentieth century and an appendix of 700 other notable scientists. This fully updated and expanded third edition now contains some 1100 biographies, with a fuller list of anniversaries and an amended appendix. A useful subject index has been added, enabling the reader to find out which scientists were must closely concerned with particular developments. (Continued on page A104)
Reviewed in This Issue Reviewer John R. Holum, Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry, Second Edition J a m s E. Bradyand GerardE. Humiston, General Chemistry Principles and Structure Third Edition Titles of Interest New Volumes in Continuing Series
Volume 60
Michael P. Doyle
A103
J. J. Zuckerman
A103 A103 A106
Number 3
March 1983
A103
