BOOK REVIEWS Organic Chemistry: Principles a n d Applications Siegfried Nussenbaum, Sacramento State College, Sacramento, California. Allyn and Bacon, Inc., Boston, 1963. xiii 625 pp. Figs. and tables. 22 X 23.5 cm. $8.95.
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This text is designed for a one semester or full-year course. The first five sections of chapters 3 through 13 and parts of chapters 15 through 17 deal with structure, nomenclature, physical properties, reactions, prepitration, occurrence, and uses of organic compounds; this material is designed for the one semester come. The remaining sections in these chapters treat topics of biological, theoretical or industrial significance which are then introduced because "the student is ready at this point t o fully understand them." The author'^ objectives include "equal emphasis an modern theory, classical organic chemistry, and descriptive organic chemistry to provide the students with a wide perspective, knowledge, and stimulation." To accomplish these, some of the details essential for synthetic organic chemistry have been eliminated, some of the reactions simplified and their number limited. The first two introductory chapters are followed by a detailed trestment of hydrocarbons in the next five chapters; together these comprise the 244 pages of the first section of this book. A second section of 258 pages includes compounds containing
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Journal o f Chemical Education
halogen, oxygen, and nitrogen and is organized by homologous series with halogen, hydroxyl, ether, eerbonyl, earboxyl, and amine functions as well as heterocyclic compounds. The third and final section is devoted to the major constituents of organisms and has three c h a p ters on carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids and proteins. This organization is doubtless based on the experience of the author in writing for both one and two semester courses which generally have different t.ypes of students and obieetives. Introdueine use of confar the terminal one semester student, while the wealth of practical detail on application may not provide a sufficiently strong background in a one year eoursp for students who may wish t o take further work in chemistrv.
of carbonyl compounds until page 345 so that their ~pplicetiansin synthesizing dclcohals and their relittionshi~ t o other functional groups come only after the middle of the text. The author and publisher are to be commended for the style, which is uneneumbered and readable, and the attractive typography and format ss well as the meticulousness in eliminating typographical errors. The numerous illustrations and photogmphs are striking and should be of interest to a beginning student. Problems and exercises are aimed st the
average student and will not challenge the superior snd motivated student. Despite these minor shortcomings, this book provides an upgrading and modernization of the terminal course in organic chemistrv and is recommended for such
ganic chemistry may stimulate such students to take more advanced courses. J A C O B G. SHAREFKIN R~ooklynCollege of the City Uniuersit!q R~ooklyn,New York
Materials for Missiles a n d Spacecraft
Earl R. P a ~ k e r University , of California, Berkeley. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 442 pp. Figs. New York, 1963. xi and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $1.5. The design of components used in missiles presents challenging materials problems. Within this design area is the need far high strength materials with the Low weight necessary to produce increased payload; a more detailed analysis of ang spacecraft, however, adds the varied and difficult environments present. The importance of the variation of material8 design problems is probably one of the better aspects of this publication which is based upon s. series of lectures presented through the University of California. While it is impossible to discuss in depth all the details of these various problems in one lecture series or (Continued on page A581
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