VOL.4. No. 9
Rw8m BOOKS
chemistry of enzymes, influence of various factors upon enzyme action, physical chemistry, and kinetics, occurrence and formation of enzymes, and the significance of enzymes in vital economy are discussed in some detail. The reviewer has been very favorably impressed by the treatment accorded the physical chemistry and kinetics of enzyme phenomena. The second division includes the detailed consideration of the several individual enzymes, which have heen subdivided in turn into the two groups, (a) the hydrolases, and (b) the desmolases. Oripin, preparation, chemical changes -~ accelerated by, and activators of the enzymes are discussed in each instance. As a reference work, its most outstanding deficiency is the scarcity of literature citations, comparatively few of these appearinganywhere in the volume. As s textbook. this volume should prove very useful to the student. C. H. BAILEY Biochemical Laboratory Methods for Students of the ~iilogical Sciences. CLARENCE AUSTIN MORROW,P=.D.. late Assistant Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Minnesota. John Wiley and Sons. Iuc., 350 New York City, 1927. xvii pp. 15.2 X 22.8 cm. $3.75.
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This bwk has been designed especially as a laboratory text for those taking a lecture course in phytochemistry, hut according t o the author "the needs of those students whose life work will lie in other branches of the biological sciences have been kept in view a t all times." Practically 102 pages of this text have to do with experiments involving the study of the physical chemistry of plant protoplasm, and these experiments are well adapted t o meet the needs of a student taking a course in phytochemistry in which the fundamentals of physical chemistry and their relation t o biochemical phenomena are stressed, and where the student has had no previous training in physical chemistry.
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Sixty-four pages are devoted to the laboratory study of proteins and the experiments, listed among others, involve the isolation of proteins, the isolation and synthesis of amino acids, color tests of hoth proteins and free amino acids and the determination of certain of their reactive groups. Sixty-one pages are devoted to the laboratory study of carbohydrates, 16 pages to lipins, 31 pages t o enzymes and 19 pages to plant pigments. I n practically all the experiments plant materials are required, hut these are used in studies of compounds of interest to hoth animal and plant biochemists. In certain instances, a study of materials peculiar to the plant alone have not been considered. The nature, number and details of the experiments leave little to he desued. A great many of these experiments are quantitative in nature; a number of which, including the determinations of fat constants, are ordinarily taken up in the study of the chemistry of foods. However, most of the experiments are of a qualitative rather than of a quantitative nature, which is probably more desirable. The reviewer is of the firm opinion that this text, with extremely few modifications, is especially well adapted to meet the needs of those who are studying phytochemistry, and as a reference book on qualitative and quantitative methods for the study of the main organic compounds found in both plant and animal organisms, it is unsurpassed. On the whale, Dr. Morrow's book is carefully written and is a real contribution t o the study of biological science. E. HALEY The Romance of Chemistry. WILLIAM FOSTER, F%.D., Professor of Chemistry, Princeton University. The Century Co., New York City. Fust Edition. 1927. xvi 456 pp. 14 X 21 un.
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$3.00. In
1925 Professor William Foster
wrote his "Elements of Chemistry." intended for the beginning student of chemistry, and in which he illustrated the scientific text by some examples of their applications in daily life, thus stimulating the interest of the beginner and permitting him t o better visualize the subject. In the present book, "Romance of Chemistry." he reverses the relative extent of description of chemical science and its practical applications. The book is intended less as a guide for beginning students in chemistry than to open the eyes of the general public t o the tremendous importance the applications of chemistry have acquired in every branch of our modern life. The subject is presented so that the average reader unacquainted with chemistry may understand it. Quite naturally the lay reader of inquisitive mind may want more information involving some theoretical explanations. Such additional information is disseminated throughout the text in special chapters and paragraphs, but in such a manner that their reading is not indispensable to follow the descriptive part of the subject, which is presented in such dear and simple language that anybody of average education can understand it. L. H. BAEKELAND
tralization and the Ionic Theory. The remaining common non-metals are treated in. the reverse order of their appearance in the periodic table. Following the non-metals, a chapter is devoted to a general introduction to the chemistry of the metals, which includes their periodic classification, atomic structure and distinguishing characteristics. The metals are then studied hy groups and subgroups, the last chapter being devoted to radio-activity. The author is conservative in his employment of the electronic theory. The statement an page 190 that "oxidation and reduction consist merely in a transfer charges" will probably not satisfy of those who prefer to visualize the transfer of electrons. However, his treatment of oxidation and reduction reactions is very fine. Group relationships and subgroup characteristics are especially emphasized. He has included many tables of properties and has paid particular attention to analytical reactions. The text is therefore suitable for use in connection with a laboratory manual of qualitative analysis. Important industrial processes are discussed from the standpoint of the principles involved. The book is strongly bound; the type is large and the illustrations, figures, and charts are clear and attractive. The text is well indexed and contains descriptions of such a large number of subGeneral Chemistry. HAMILTON P. CADY. stances as to make it a desirable reference. PKD., Professor of Chemistry, UniR. A. BAILER versity of Kansas. Second Edition. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, List of References on Vocational Guidance. (Prepared in the Library Di1920. xviii 540 pp. 73 fig. 14 X vision, John D. Wolcott, Chief.) Bu20 3 cm.$3.25. reau of Education, Washington, D. C., Designed for the introductory course May, 1927. Library Leaflet No. 33. in college chemistry, this text is clearly 22 pp. 15 X 23 cm. (Free.) the product of an experienced and capable
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teacher. The author follows the plan of treating the non-metals before the metals. Oxygen, Hydrogen, Water, the Laws of Gases and Mobile Equilibrium precede Symbols, Equations and the Atomic Theory. Chlorine is next presented as a typical non-metal and as an introduction to Acids, Bases, Neu-
References listed under the following headings: General References; Elementary Schwls; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Colleges and Universities, Including Teachers Colleges; Schwl Counselors and Personnel Management; Vocational Psychology; Occupations; Guidance of Negroes; Guidance in
