book reviews
I heartily recommend Professor Pickering's new approach to all educators in analytical chemistry.
Editor: W . F. KIEFFER College of Woater
RALPHN. ADUS Unwersity of K a ~ a 8 Lawrence, 66044
w m t o r , Ohio
Biological Chemistry Modern Analytical Chemistry
W . F . Pickwing, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1971. 622 pp. Figs. and tsbles. 24.1 xii X 17 cm. $13.75.
+
This new text is a delightful departure from tradition. Indeed, the writing of analytical chemistry texts over the past 20 years has been stereotyped. In the words of one of our better-known contemporary intellectuals, "if you've read one, you've read 'em sll." Not this book-it's an analytical "What-dun-it," taking as its central theme what energy form interacts with the chemical system of interest in analysis. How the energy interacts and the effects produced are described in sufficient depth to provide s. remarkably encompassing picture of modern analytical practices. Professor Pickering has no gripe with tradition analytical chemistry because his sections an mattermatter interactions quite adequately cover the classical chemical part of analysis. The material is very well organized and the writing is elem and easy to read, although parts gave the impression of handbook compilation style. I evaluated it in two ways. First, I picked several sections in which I can consider myself to have some degree of expertise (an embarrassingly small number) and asked-is this what I would present to my students if I were teaching along the lines suggested by this text? In this context, the section on epr spectroscopy is excellent. I t provides a good
-Reviewed
introduction for a non-specialist and insight into the types of problem far which epr is applicable-just exactly what one would wish to present. The section on oxidation-reduction titrations is a d c quate, but I'd use only part of it. The concept of formal potentials is presented but seriously short-changed. I t appears that in trying to condense this section it has been squeezed too tight. But, alas, in the section on polarography, we step back into tradition. While I agree that the term polarography should designate dropping mercury electrolyses, this area by itself hardly constitutes adequate treetment of modern electroanalytical practice. I'm not concerned that solid electrode methodology is skimped, but rather that the whole repertoire of voltammetric techniques is neglected. Students who Learn electroandytical practices from this book will never know "where it's at." Secondly, I asked-is the material in this book a. better representation of analytical chemistry than the analytical courses I've taught or been associated with? The answer is an overwhelming "yes!" Just how one o m incorporate all the material of this book into restrncturing existing undergraduate analytical courses is not easy to decide. It's hmd to believe one would handle this material in any adequate fashion in one semester. Nevertheless, this is a. powerful new approach adopted by Piokering-ne which demands attention. If we cantinue teaching analytical chemistry as only precipitates, tricky solution equilibria and button-pushing, we'll surely drive them all to sociology!
in this lsue
W . F. Pickering, Modern Analytical Chemistry Henry R. Mahler and Eugene H . Cordes, Biological Chemistry Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr., Textbook of Polymer Science, Second Edition Amos Turk, Jonathan T u ~ kand , Janet T . W i l t s , Ecology, Pollution, Environment D. J . G. ryes, Chemical Themnodynamics Ralph Baierleln, Atoms and Infarms,tion Theory: An Introduction to Statistical Mechanics Raymond Daudel and Camille Sandorfy, Semiempirical WaveMechanical Calculations on Polyatomio Molecules: A Current Review ~ i g a r dS . Manson, Advanced Organic Synthesis: Methods and Techniques F. Leslie Hart and H a q J . Fishm, Modern Food Analysis Leopold May, editor, Spectroscopic Tricks. Volume 2. Robert E. Maizell, Julian F . Smith, and T . E. R . Singer, Abstracting Scientific and Technical Lit,errtture Franr Bukalsch and wolfgang &deknm, editors, Experimentelle Schulchemie K m o Hirayama, Handbook of Ultraviolet and Visible Absorption Spectra of Organic Compounds Stewart M. B7ook8, Basic Chemistry: A Programmed Presentation New Volumes in Continuing Series
I
Hmry R. Mahler and Eugene H . Cords, both of Indiana. University, Bloomington. 2nd ed. Harper and Row, New 1009 pp. Figs. and York, 1971. xiv tables. 18.5 X 26.5 cm. $19.
+
The second edition of Mahler and Cordes' encyclopedic biochemistry text has been updated and expanded with extensive revision of some chapters and sections. A new and provocative introduction is provided by the authors dealing with the Nature of Biochemistry and Rational Approach to Biologicd Chemistry. A new chapter on chemistry of carbohydrates has been included that provides an extensive presentation on cell wall structure. The reviewers were particularly impressed by Chapter 19, Nature and Function of the Gene; Chapter 20, Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids; and Chapter 21, Biasynthesis of Proteins, all of which have been expanded and reorganized. Such expansion is in keeping with the rapid advances in the field of molecular genetics1 biology. These chapters should provide the student with insight into controversies over many hypotheses. The information provided on protein structure and properties (Chapter 3) is more comprehensive than it was in the first edition. There is also much revision and new material in Chapter 15, Biological Oxidations. Among other new materials included is Table 2-3 an the dissociation and metal binding constants for phosphates of biochemical importance. Also new is Figure 12-8, a scheme for three light reactions in plant photosynthesis. And others as well. Extensive and updated reference lists at the end of each chapter will aid the interested student in further pursuing topics presented. As in the first edition, the emphasis is on physicochemical aspects, while physiological and medical examples are sparse. There is very little that relates to adv,ances in biochemical understandine of evolution. phylogeny, or development.u The little od evolution that is given refers to the family tree of the cytochromes. Virtually nothing is given that relates biochemical parameters to the economy of organisms vis-&-"is their environment. The authors touch tangentially upon the use, by some fishes that live in cold water, of a protein that has a. capacity of lowering the freezing point of the blood. This is not expanded upon, but at least it helps build interest, appearing as it does at the beginning of Chapter 3 dealing with proteins. Altogether, too few such examples are provided, however. In the review of the 1st ed. [J. CHEM. E ~ u c . ,44, 310 (1967)], it was painted out that schematic diagram were done with ( C d i n u e d on page A8961
Volume 49, Number 7, July 1972
/
A395
