all age8 in areas of the biochemical ssiences have undoubtedly experienced t,he frustrations of restudying quantitative citations of Irving's work, f t u n which the aspects of our subject matter by returning cutxmt formulation (with N- and S-metal to undergraduate bext books. We may bonding) stems. Yet in n brief discussion have forgotten how to determine the of tho formation of zinc dithiaon%teelseantilog of 3.6020, t,he yalne of R, ionic where, they refer to the bonding of metal strength equations, the concept of ento sulfur as m e of the primary steps. tropy, the specific activity of pure carbonPerhaps it is not, entirely fair to expect, 14, or the graphics of competitive and nona 1037-page hook to be a treatise rather competitive inhibition of enzyme activity. than a monograph. I t is after all a iribute These and many other aspects of the l o the imporlance of these fields and to the quantitative treatment of biochemical intense, widespread interest they generate data are outlined in this relatively small i t , the scientific community to note ahat, book. even the almost three t,hausand references The thirteen chapters are organized into employed here could be augmented by an three sections. The first contains chapequal mtmber before tho topics could be tera on logarithms, algebraic equations, considered to be exhaustively treated. I t stat,istical methods, and stoichiometrical is n book that will he well-worn by d l the problems. All bhose quantitative aspects research groups working in these fields. normally expected in s biochemistry I t is deplorable that their publishers laboratory manual, including treatments practieallv guarantee that gmdoate stxof thermodynamics and enzyme kinetics denbs, whom the nulhors consider an imare found in the second part. Spectroportant segmeut of their audience, will be photometly and radiochemistry are predeprived of pemonal copies of this book. sented in the find section. Each chapter concludes wit,h t,wo sets of questions for H ~ R FREI~KR Y bhe student, with detailed solutions given University of Arizona for the first set only. This is 8.11 obvious Tucson bonus, as it allows t,he book to he osed as a Quantitative Problems in the text as well as areference book. Biochemical Sciences The authors think of this book as a companion text, covering subject matter Rez Montgomery and Charles A . Swenson, that. is supplemental to t,hat presented in both of University of Iowa, Iowa. City. beginning graduate level courses. Most W. H. Freeman and Co., Sen Francisco, d of the material h, this book s h o ~ ~ lhave 1969. xiii 308pp. Figs. and tables. been treated in undergraduate courses in 15.5 X 23.5 em. Softhonnd. $2.95. mathematics, physics, or analytical and physical chemistry, so from this viewpoint, Graduate and postgraduate students of
book reviews
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A138
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Journal o f Chemical Education
it is a reference and remedial study book. In either case, the unique variety of quantitative tools discussed and the effective and precise methods of presentation make the book a very vduable addition to any biochemically oriented laboratory or c l a w room bookshelf.
W. BERNLOHR ROBERT Universitg of Minnesota Minneapolis Problems in Organic Reaction Mechanisms
F . 31'. Menger, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Appleton-Century121 pp Crafts, New Yark, 1969. vii Figs. and tables. 18.5 X 25.5 cm. Softbound $2.95.
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This inexpensive book consists of fifty-five reactions involving a great variety of types for which the stndent is to wo1.k out suitable mechanisms. Few of the problems can be solved simply by inspection. The student can check his answers against the answers provided. Far the first twenty answers detailed remarks are given while for the last thirtyfive, the mechanisms are presented without comment. In addition, a lit,erature reference from which the reaction and/or reaction meehsnism wits taken is given for each problem. This book is not. designed for the beginning organic stndent to use as he progresses throogh his fin1 organic course.
(Continued on page A1411
