Elements of General a n d Blologlcal Chemistry, Seventh Edltlon John R. Holum. Wilev: New York.. NY.. 1987. xix 556 pp. ~ i i sand . tabies. 21.6 x 25.6 cm. $37.25.
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An understanding of the fundamental concepta of chemistry is e~scntislto any lcvel of study of the molecular basis oilife.'l'he first eight chapters of this text give a concise overview of the concepts of general chemistry. Emphasis is placed on those concepts that are most directly related to the chemistry of biological processes. For instance, in the chaoter on acid-base chemistrv the bicnrhmate/carl,onate t d f e r is used to iilustrate huller systems and ir discussed in connectam with its impurtancc in acid-base balance in the blood. Both the chapters in organic and those in biochemistry are practically oriented so that oniy the chemistry of those they functional groups' found in biological molecules. Small mono- or di-functional biochemical molerules are discussed first bcfore complex polvmers such as DNA, or proteins are even mentioned. The text has been updated over the previous edition in a number of chapters. An interesting example is the Special Topic on Lipoprotein Complexes, Cholesterol, and Heart Disease. The diagram of the transport of cholesterol and triacvlelvcerols is an example of several inatanrex in the text where out%mding art wurk make$ the text more palatable to students. The chapters in the text are compactly organized and lend themselves very well to a one-term course. The author's position that chemical concepts play an important role in our daily livine is dearlv broueht out in the selection of photographs for the text.This isrcpecially true fur the chapter cover picture- and their captions.
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Considering that the text is aimed a t a specific audience, namely the health care professionals, the author has been successful in retaining the most essential topics in both general, organic and biochemistry. I t is a tough task to decide what to include in a one-term course. There is temptation to cover too much or else to water dawn. This is not the case with this text. Muriel B. Bishop Clemson University Clemson. SC 29631
Organic Chemlstry K. Peter C. VoNhardt. W. H. Freeman: New York, NY, 1987. xxii 1274 pp. Figs. and tables. 20.9 X 26.1 cm. $49.95.
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Vollhardt's Organic Chemistry is a traditional functional group approach t o the twosemester course required for science majors. I t is not, however, an ordinary one. It is a fairlv readable text usine" sound didactic nrincioles. A number of nedaeoeical .... featureswt this bonk apart from i t s nmtemporaries and many of them are desrrihed by the author in the beginning of the text. A number of traditional characteristics are exceptionally well done. For example, the text begins with a strong, comprehcnsive review of the principles of general chemistw which leads easilv into the concents of ivbridization as anglied to oreanic ehemistry. The concept of functional g&ps and the names of the basic groups are introduced early and used in the problems before the student encounters spectroscopy. There is an unusually good general introduction to basic thermodynamics and kinetics early in the text. The book also emphasizes IUPAC nomenclature and only introduces common names when those names are "firmly entrenched in the literature". Many necessary
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skills such as nomenclature, designation of chiral centers as R or S, and drawing chair conformations of substituted cyclohexanes are presented as a numerical list of clear and concise steps. However, there is no eamparable clear and concise Listing of the relative stabilities of carhocations or free radicals. Each chanter ends with summaries of the reactwnv mtnrdured and the important concepts covered. There are exercrvs with in the chapter and problems a t the end of each chapter which clearly relate to the textual material. Answers to all the exercises are found a t the back of the book; answers to the problems are in a separate workbook. All of these characteristics indicate a strong intent to make the book "student oriented". Four features deserving special attention are (1) the use of color, (2) the introduction of ancillary material, (3) authenticity, and (4) organization. The text makes exeeptiona1 use of color with as many as four colors used on the same page. Color is used not only artistically but also didactically. Students are instructed about the significance of the colors that are then used to code additional information into drawings. This is particularly beneficial in displaying mechanisms, explaining nomenclature, and demonstrating chirality and hybridization. Even the periodic charts (which are not identical) inside the front and back covers of the book are filled with extra information in colarcoded f o m . The text is also enriched by "boxes" which contain relevant sunolementary material that encourages thestuderlt to realize the widespread importance of organic chemistry. This materlnl is succinct, current, readable, and set apart from the text. Not only are the reactions and ancillary material current, but also the author promises that they have been checked in the literature for authenticity (references are not provided). The organization, however, is some-
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Reviewed In This Issue Reviewer
Books John R. Holum, Elements of General and Biological Chemistry, Seventh Edition
Muriel B. Bishop
A187
K. Peter C. Vollhardt, Organic Chemistry
Linda L. Munchausen
A187
G.H.
Ram K. Sharma
A188
James G. Traynham, Essays on t h e History of Organic Chemistry
George B.
Joseph 6.Dence and Dennis J. Diestler, Intermediate Physical Chemistry Stationary Properties of Chemical Systems
Gloria Dimoplon
A188
H. J. Arnikar, Essentials of Nuclear Chemistry, Second Edition
H. E. Suess
A189
Charles P. Poole, Jr. and Horacio A. Farach, Theory Resonance, Second Edition
Edward A. Boudreaux
A189
Taylor, Organic Chemistry for Students of Biology and Medicine, Third Edition
of Magnetic
Kauffman
Titles of Interest
A188
A190
Volume 65
Number 7
July 1 9 8 8
A187
