Introduction a l'Etude des Parfums (Bassiri, T.) - Journal of Chemical

DOI: 10.1021/ed038pA550.2. Publication Date: August 1961. Cite this:J. Chem. Educ. 38, 8, XXX-XXX. Note: In lieu of an abstract, this is the article's...
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BOOK REVIEWS 5 parts: (1) Chemistry and Physics of Surfaces (4 papers); (11) Imperfections and Surface Behavior (5); (111)Electrode Behavior of Metals and Semiconductors (5); (IV) Surface Reactions in Liquid .Media (4); (V) Surface Reactions in Gaseous Media (4). The author of each article is a. recognized ~ u t h o r i t yon the subject about which he has written. Eightcen authors -.ere from the U.S.,4 from Germany and 1 each from France and Australia. All papen w e uniformly presented in t,he following form: Abstractpaper-rcferencen-disct~ssion. The references given after ~ e r paper h allow, in most eases, further stndv of thp suhjrct.

The physical and chemical behavior of metal surfaces have been studied for a much longer period than semiconductor surfaces. I t is characteristic of the hook to compare findings in the metal surface field with the corresponding findings in the semiconductor field. Almost all authors of the papen are from universities or research institutes. The subject of most papers is therefore highly theore& ical. For those who want to understand modern theories on surface chemistry the hook will he a rich source of information. Paper quality, printing, and the repraducbion of illustrations are excellent.

Mental Drugs: Chemistry's Challenge lo Psychotheropy

0. .4. BattGta, American Viscose Corporation. Chilton Co., Philadelphia. Pennsylvenia, 1960. xviii +I55 pp. 14.5 X 21 em. $3.95.

This small volume covers an amazing amount of material in the area, of the relei tionship of chemistry to mental health. Thus such diverse topics ar Chemistry of Moods and Emotions, Diet and Mental Health, Chemistry of Mental Retardabion, Man-Made Tranquilizers, etc., me treated in an entertaining and informative way. ERNSTM. GOLDSTEIN Snrh esoteric topics as Heath's taraxein, Hofrnxnn's LSD, and Osmond's adrenoShieldalloy Corporation chrome are introduced to the reader. Newfield, New Jerwy I t is a. bit difficult to decide the type of render for whom this book was intended. If intended for the chemist, the use of structural formulas for the compmnds mentioned would have been helpful. If intended for the clinician, the treatment is somewhat shallow from a medical point of view. In either ease the provision of a. bibliography would have been helpful to the serious reader. We may conclude that this hook was meant to int,roduce this subject to the srientist who is not a specialist. In this, the hook does a good jo&but again n guide to further reading would have hren holpful. We are not aware of any other volumrs thnt cover the same ground. The title is somewhat misleading in that. chrmiral treatment of mental disease is d~srrihrdin the hook as an aid to, rather than a replacement for, psychotherapy. Finally, it is our opinion that the lay reader would not benefit greatly from this book. Inderd hp may find its oversimplifications somewhat confusing.

MAXWELL GORDON Smith Klim & F w ~ e hLaboratories Philadelphia, Pansglvania

lntr~durtiona I'Etude des Padurns

T . Bassiri. Masson & Cie, Paris, France, 1960. 278 pp. Figs. and tahles. 16 X 24 em. 38NF. In the preface the author describes his purphse in this work as the preparation of a handhook which will permit the neophyte perfumer "to risk his first steps (in perfumery) without too many eman!' In the reviewer's opinion the author has succeeded in compiling a surprisinxly large a m m n t of useful and diversified information on perfumery in one compact volume. I t will be recognized that any attempt to include in 261 pages of text such diverse topics ss (a) theories of odor and taste, ( b ) properties of aerosol propellants, (c) properties and characteristics of the essential oils, and (d) the scientific preparation and attitude of a perfumer will necessitate a rather superficial treatment of any given topic. If we choose to accept t,his limitation, the author has accomplished his purpose admirably; in ao doing he has created a work of very little use t,o anyone except an apprentice pcrfumer as m y given topic is much more (Continued a page A6693

A550

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Journol of Chemical Education

BOOK REVIEWS

ginning with s. discussion of perfumery as a profession, including a section describing the scientific baekpround (chemistrv. physics, botany, c o s m e t o l o ~ )necessary t,o a perfumer. The second section drals with explanations of odor (31 pp.) and taste ( 6 pp.); many of the important theories relating to each are presented sketchily and uncritically. This is the only section of thr, book which gives even a minimum numbet of rcferences to the original literature. The middle seotion (74 pp.) discusses

".

periumrs and includes definitions, prepxrxtions and 38 formulations which rely heavi1.v on the nat,nral oils rather than synthetics. This section contains muoh information of value on specialized topics as: perfnmrs far cosm~tiesand soaps, aerosol prrfomes, and perfumes for plnst,ics. The final two sections arc resprctively tabuletions of essential oil8 and the main chemical products used in perfumery. The former section lists 85 of the more common essential oils and includes their botanical derivation, habit, regions of odture, method and yield of isolation, physical constants, constituents and odor. ,411 of this information is nvaililble in Gnnt,her in much more detail. Thr last seetion eonbains mverwl hundred entries of

"aroma" products (arranged by functional rnwps ~ ~ v i for n c w h pl~yz~rnl ~~mnunts, rr.cthmli of .r?!.tl.vi;ii urnl :,nw of npplcslion in ~ c r f u t n t w . Thlq s m l d urnwar ro

be a u&ful section for first infGnation about the areas of perfumery in which a compound hhs found applimtion. The book is an admirable compilation of information; however its diversity severely limits its usefulness in any purpose ot,hrr than that for which it is written. The French is clear and should present no great obstacles to readers with only a modest. command of the language. The format. is attractive, and the numher of t,ypographieal errors is small. DONALD R. MOORE

The Tmbek Laboraiories Ens1 Rutherford, New Jerscu Inorganic Syntheses.

Volume 6

Edrted by Ellgene G. Rochow, Harvard Vniversity, Cambridge, Massachusetts. XIcCmw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1960. xi 272 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 om. $7.75.

+

The latest volume in this series maintains the high ~ t a n d a r d sset by its prede eessors. Detailed procedures for the preparation of more than 96 inorganic sub~tancesare given in the 69 entries. Thc growing international status of this relatively new (1939) publication is reflpctpd by the faot that roughly one-third of the contributions may be credited to forrim chemists. manv of whom are

in many cases improvements of the checkers have heen incorporated. Each synt.hesis contains a critical summary of preparative methods, a procedure including crucial details, a description of properties, both physical and chemical, and representative references. In numerous cases, equations, diagrams, yields, safety precautions, and analytical methods and data are provided. Many of the synthr~ps are new, while others are improvements and adaptations of existing methods. Occasionally, alternate methods allow aompnrisons and add ta the flexibility of the volumr. B s has been customary, the book is divided into chapters according to the periodic table, subdivided into A and B subgroups. The usual cross-references, an index of contributors and checkers, and cumulative subject and formula index~s are provided. Mantlals for courses in inorganic preparat,ions are still scarce; although intended primarily for the research chemist, this volume will provide the instructor of such a course with a gold mine of material for use in the oollege laboratory. Among the wide variety of techniques and reactions used are the following: nonaqueaus solvent,~,arc-induced and amalgam redoetions, inert or anhydrous atmospheres, and preparation of deuterium-labeled acids. The t y p e of preparations illustrated range from simple to COmDlex compounds of both common and rare elements and inrhlde anhydrous halides and oxyhalides, mononuclear and polynuclear complexes, S-P (Co?zlinzced on page A664)

A552

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Journal of Chemical

Education