book reviews elude a mathematical review, SI units and scientific measurements, energy and power units, and a much too brief treatment of concentration units. A glossary of 185 words and terms and a section on answers t o selected problems completes the book. The authors have done much to make chemistry an appealing subject, and they have written this text in delightful s t y l ~ n e whieh reads very well and does not talk down to the reader. Non-science students, chemistry majors, and teachers would profit hy reading it. Roy D. Caton. Jr. University of New MexiM) Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
under review they have been joined by two other chemists serving as editors in preparing the third edition of one which has been designed for students who have had no earlier experience in a chemistry course. This manual includes 39 experiments and 7 study assignments. Many of the experiments are traditional and have been used repeatedly with relatively minor modifications since appearing in the author's first published laboratory manual. All important and appropriate areas of general chemistry are represented in the selection of experiments including an abbreviated scheme of qualitative analysis for ten common cations and nine anions. Literature references to this Journal are provided with several of the experiments, particularly those which have been added to the list morerecently. Five new experiments not included in earlier editions appear; these involve the determination of Avogadra's number (stearie acid film), observation of atomic spectra, separation of ions by paper chromatography, a study of vitamin C. of the adivitv of amylase . and . ~observation ~ and mtalasr. Supplrmentary dnta fur the prpermentsore pruvided in It; rnhler in the appendix. Experimental instructions are clear and complete and follow a brief introduction and develo~mentof the underlyinx theory. The use of'numerous drawings is& helpful. Laboratory safety is stressed. AU experiments can be reasonably performed in one threehour laboratory period. Report sheets (tearout) are provided with each experiment whieh clearly indicate the observations and measurements to be made hy the student as he fills in the blanks and spaces. There are ~
FrantrlMalm's Essentials of Chemistry In the Laboratory. Third Edition
James B. Ifft, University ofRedlands; and Julion L. Roberts, Jr., University of Redlands. W. H. Freeman Co., San Francisco, 1975. xiii 442 pp. Figs. and tables. 27.5 X 21.5 em. $5.95.
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For the past 25 years Harper W. Frantz and Lloyd E. Malm have produced a succession of laboratory manuals for the beginning chemistry course. With the manual here
also questions and problems to test the student's understanding. Each of the experiments in the manual is available as a laboratory separate from the publisher. This manual is highly recommended as a collection of time-tested and self-contained laboratory assignnients for its intended audience. E. Kirk Roberts Middlebury College Middiebury. Vermont 05753
lntroductlon lo Modern Blochemlstry
P. Karlson, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Marhurg. Translated by Charles H. Daering, Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine. Academic Press, New York, 1975. xiii 545 pp. Figs and tables. 24 X 16.5 cm. $15.95.
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The author has succeeded rather well a t covering the exceedingly broad spectrum of subject matter that can be included in an introductory biochemistry course, and the treatment of topics is often penetrating enough to afford some appreciation of the frontier. However, the text is almost devoid of classic experiments along with the excitement of discovery, and there are other important omissions. For example, no indication is given of how semi-conservative replication was demonstrated, of the role of DNA ligase in joining Okazaki fragments, of how nueleie acid reassociation kinetics can be analyzed, or even of what s Cat curve is:The treatment of regulatory enzymes is outdated; in fact the regulation of such enzymes as aspartate transcarbamylase and of glutamine synthetase is not mentioned. It is indicated that cyclic AMP does affect protein kinases hut only in regard to glycogen metabolism, and the mechanism for this activation of protein kinase is not depicted. The role of cyclic AMP in the transcription of operons is not mentioned. No indication is given of how the instructive theory for antibody formation was disoroved. and there is o n h a cursorv sentrner pertaming tu the pn,hlem of how diverse nntihc,dy sprciiw~tasarrgenerated 'l'nr hlhllonraph) hardy sufficr~with re. spect to its comprehensiveness. However, i t is fairly well up-to-date, especially if allowance is made for the text being originally written in German. A serious deficiency is that the reader is not confronted with the solving of concrete problems. This is most successfully done in "Biochemistry, A Problems Approach" by W. B. Wood, J. H. Wilson, R. M. Benbow, andL. Hood (W. A. Beniamin, Inc., 1974). Furthermore, problemsets conclude each of the chapters in the splendid new texts "Biochemistrv" bv A. L. Lehnineer (Worth Pub-
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not competitive with these texts exiept for use by readers with a very limited knowledge of chemistry and biology. Mitchel T. Abbon San Olego Shlte University San Dieso. California 92182
(Continued on Daze A342) A430 / Journal of Chemical Education
