BOOK REVIEWS timely, as it includes the metabolic fate of the steroids and the role of ascorbic acid in their metabolic transformation. In this volume, the author has achieved a. felicity of diction that is commendable. The references are numerous and the prinb ing is clear, which makes rending the volume B pl~mure.
JOHN C. KRANTZ, JR. School o j Medicine University of Mwyland Baltimore 1 , Mmyland Block and GmH Polymers
William J. Burlant, Ford Motor Company, and Allan 8 . Hoffman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Reinhold Publishing Corp., 166 pp. Figs. New York, 1960. v and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $7.95.
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This is a book about "molecular engineering" of polymers, the synthesis of macromolecules of desired chemical strue-
mol~eularorganic compounds one must understand the mode of reaction of the constituents from which they are formed, the condit,ions under which the desired reaction takes place, and the eonfigurntion of theend product. I t is obvious that x substantial knowl-
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Journal o f Chernicol Educofion
edge of organic and physical chemistry, especially in the field of high polymers, is required t o approach such a. formidable task. The new techniques involved are now so actively pursued in academic and industrial laboratories that students with only a modest background in polymer chemistry need a general introduction and guide for further research in this most interesting and challenging field of modern chemistry. This purpose is splendidly fulfilled by the present baok which strikes a. happy medium between a simplified approach to a difficult subject matter and a too abstract treatment such as one can find in morespeeializod treatises. The book starts very properly with an explanation of nomenclature of polymer compounds and a very illuminating definition of graft and block polymers. The attached table of addition and condensation compounds giving the structural formulas of the monomers and the corresponding polymers is quite unique and constitutes a most welcome help in the further perusal of the text. The main part of the book deals with t,he r e s e h n
in polymerization, chemical initiators, and ionizing radiation. The letter method of inducing polymerization reactions h a been given a very comprehensive treatment and is introduced with a short description of the nature of radiation and its chemicsl effects. While tho baok is as instructive and comprehensive as could be possibly
expected within a. limited space, the same cannot be said about the index which omits mentioning of Cobalt60, G-value, retardants, etc. These and many other terms that are often used in the text do not appear in the index which naturally limits the use oi the book for reference purposes.
FRANCIS JOSEPH WEISS Science and Technologv Division Libmry of Congress Washington, D. C.
The Abundance of the Elements
Lameme H. Alle~,Observittory of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Monographs and Texts in Physics and Astronomy, Volume 7. Interscicnce Publishers, Inc., New York, 1961. xi 283 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5cm. $10.
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This book is one of two dealing with the topic of elemental abundances that have been published this year. The other by V. V. Cherdyntsev, was reviewed earlier. See THIS JOURNAL,38, 640 (1961). I t is inevitable that the simultaneous appearance of two books in this specialized field would invite eompsrisons. The book by Aller reviewed here is, without question, written from the point of view of the astronomer and the astrophysicist. The subjects of abundances in the earth's crust and in the (Contim~edon page A240)
BOOK REVIEWS meteorites are dealt with only briefly. The major portion of the book is devoted to a well-organized survey of astrophysical abundance determinations. Some of the
Stellar Atmospheres, Ahundances from Cosmic R B . ~ and , Compositional Differences between Stars. Two chapters dealing with general abundance compilations and theories of the origin of the elements are used by the author to bring
together the wide variety of data presented and relate it to current theories of element synthesis in stars. This approach to the subject of elemental ahundsnees is quite different than that used by Cherdyntsev. The latter reviewed sstrophysical determinations only briefly, while discussing terrestrial and some meteoritic abundance8 a t length. Therefore, these books are not repetitious, as a simple inspection of titles might suggest. Aller has presented in this hook haekground material sufficient to guide the non-specialist to an appreciation of the problems in astrophysical abundance determinations. The book should find use in an academic library sn a reference
hook for advanced courses in inorganic chemistry and genchemistry, as well as for researchers in the fields of astrophysics and astronomy. One specific criticism that should be made is that it is difficult to determine the original references for much of the data in the compilations presented. An error has been made in Table 3-2 (Atomic ahundancps in meteorites). The values given in the first column are actually those of Urey (revised) and are not those adopted by Suess and Urey (1956), as the column heading would indicate. I n this same table s. second column is headed "Other results" and reference is made t o papers cited p r o viously which contain recent analytical results. I n several cases the abundance listed is not to he found as such in any of the literature cited and may he an interpolation or a selection by the author. If this is the case, i t should be so stated. Also, this column larks references to a number of important meteoritic sbundance determinations of the last several years. The simultaneous appearance of two hooks in this interdisciplinary field attests to a erowinn interest in this area of
of geology and geochemistry and emphssising concepts of nuclear stability and Aller exploring in detail the rontrihutions of astronomy and astrophysirs. refer^ ence t o both books would best acquaint the resei~reherand the student with the problems and importance of this very interesting field.
WILLIAMD. EHMANN University of Kentucky Lezingtm The Enzymes.
Volume 1
Edited by Paul D. Boyer, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Henry Lady, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Karl Myrb(iek, University of Stockholm, Sweden. 2nd ed, revised. Academic Press, Ine., Now York, 1959. xi 785 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 23.5 em. 524.
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I n recent years the full force oi physical and physical-organic techniques has been brought to hear on enzymes. This has resulted in an increased level of sophistication in eneymology, so that this volume may justifiably he subtitled, "KineticsThermodynamies-Mechanism-Baaic Properties." The less fashionable question of enzyme purity is not discussed, although the inhomogeneous preparations used limit progress s t least as much as the chemical techniques rtvsilshle. The three first chapters, concerning kinetics, begin with a lucid discussion on The Development of Enzyme Kinetics by H. L. Segal. Unfortunately, the clear, w,nsirtcnr nornmrl:atnre wed to prccrnt Il~sto~ivaIIy sixnitimnt kinetic cuprrcrim: throuuhout rhc \.olurnr ir nor nlx~ut.~~!w.l The second chapter, byffive authors, presents one modern approach to enzyme kinetics in its full algebraic complexity. (Continued on page A P G )
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Journal of Chemical Education
