VOLUME 33, NO. 1, JANUARY 1956 structure of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and dioxide, and fuels are presented in Chapter 8. The study of gases and kinetic theory lead to a systematic consideration of the periodic table in Chapter 12. This includes the long form of the table showing the relative sizes of atoms and ions. Nuclear structure comes in Chapter 13 preceding the electronic structure of atoms (Chapter 14). The discussion on types of chemical bonds in Chapter 15 is superbly done. This is enough to indicate that the authors have heen building a strong foundation for their presentation of elements and compounds. The first elements t o he studied thoroughly are those of the sulfur family. The study of the elements and their important compounds is always done in terms of family groupings in the periodic table. However, the cyclical presentation of the fundamentals of chemistry continues throughout the volume. Thus, there is further study of radioisotopes and nuclear changes in Chapter 21. The volume closes with 61 p a p devoted t o carbon compounds, including important hormones, vitamins, trace aspects of biochemistry-nutrition, elements, &-and such topics as carbohydrate metabolism. The student who takes no more chemistry will have s. good introduction to organic ehemistry. The authors have not hesitated t o "ditch" mueh of t h e traditional ttreatment of many topios and terms in chemistry which are not in line wit,h modern concepts or modern trends in the teaching of chemistry. Hence, they consistently speak of "molar weights" and "molar volumes" rather than the outmoded and objectionable G.M.W. and G.M.V. The treatment of atomic weights includes adiscussion of the unit for actual atomic weights, of the average ma88 of oxygen atoms or the "avogram"grams. The conventions as to electrode poten1.6601 X tialp follow the IUPAC reeommendations rather than the current American practice. Consequently, the half-reactions are arranged in an order of increasing tendency for the ions t o gain electrons uit,h theoxidized state on the left. Thin reverses thesignof t,he st,andard potential as usually given in American texts. The mort vigorous oxidizing agents me a t the left and bottom while the most vigorous reducing agents are a t the right and top of tho oolumn of half-cell reactions in the e. m. f. series. The authors have been very courageous in adopting this convention in that it is a complete departure from current practice. Moreover, there is mueh t o be said in favor of their convention. I n effect they are using tho standard hydrogen reference electrode t o establish hoth the magnitude and the sign of all electrode potentials. This potmtial is the e. m. f. of a cell which combines a given half-cell reartion with a. standard hydrogen electrode pleced on the left. This follow^ the reeommendations of the Commission on Phyaieo-Chemical Symbols and Terminology and the Commib pion a n Electrochemistry of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The format of the volume is pleacing and the illustrations are oxeellent. The reviewer noticed very fow errors. The most seriou~criticism is one t,hat can be relatively emily removed in the second printing. The indexing is inadequate. Thus, such important termsa? atomic number, A number, Z number, hyporhloroua acid, hydronium ion, hydrogen ion, and pH were not found in the index though in use in the text. With the incorporation of mueh new material on structure, some material usually presented in general ohemistw texts has had to be cnrtsiled or omitted. Thus, the reviewer found no d i s cussion of pH or normal solutions. The authors frankly admit in their preface that teachen using this book will have t o present selectively only certain sections of the volume. I n this way the range of content can vary from in~tructort o instructor, but the oontinuoua emphmis on the relations of properties and uses t o electronic and geomctricitl structure should result in a. total pattern for viewing chemistry that students can apply long after t,hey have finished their first course in chemistry. The reviewer repeats a part of his first paragraph: This is an exceptional text. It should he in the hands of every teacher of general chemistry. CONRAD E . RONNEBERG
DEN~O u~zvensmr X GR*NVILLE, OHIO
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY
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I. A. Campbell and L. E. S e i n e r , Professors of Chemistry Oberlin College. The Macmillan Co., New Yark, 1955. viii 216 pp. 3 2 figs. 20.5 X 27.5 om. Paper bound. $3.
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THIS m s n u d i~ designed t o serve as the basis for two semester? of lahorrltory work in general chemistry. The experiments me well designed to bring out (1) fundamental principles of chemistry, such as the determination of molar weights of gases, liquids. and soluble solids, the determination of equivalent weights of met& or acids, etc.; (2) the significant reactions and properties of inorganic elements and compounds; and (3) the chemistry of semimicro qualitative analysi-not less than 12 weeks. This manual can be used with any college general chemistry text. Some of the principal features of this manual are that: (1) the student is expected t o design experiments, with guidance, and make discoveries for himself rather than verify what he already knows; (2) the experimental "setups" are very simple and require no great manipulative skill on the part of the student; (3) many of the exueriments are onlv hrieflv outlined comuelline the student t o work out his own procedu"res; (4) detaileh disc&ons of the theory back of individual experiments are largely absent, thus requiring a maximum of teaching or reliance on the class work; (5) there is complete absence of a "work-hook formatuthe student is expected t o write up his own reports; and (6) a large fraction of the experiments are a n a test-tube s c a l e f r e quently quite novel and pertinent, like the use of ammonia solution on heated copper oxide t o illustrate reduction by ammonia. The experiments are very carefully planned in sequence t o serve as the experimental basis for any general chemistry course. The experiments oorrelate the work of the entire year, with about one-third of the y e a devoted t o simple qualitative analysis. This manual should be examined b y all teachers of general chemistry who wish t o break away from the loek-step, workbook type of manual and have the student assume some responsibility for his own work in the hhoratory. CONRAD E. RONNEBERG DEN~O UN I Y E R ~ I T Y
G n m v r m s , Onm
Edited by F. Rodt. Elsevier Publishing Company, Houston, 1954 xndx 664 pp. 18.5 X 25.5 cm. $36 for set subscribers, $42 for subscribers to Series 111, $48 for single copy.
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EARLIER volumes of Elsevier's Encyclopaedia. have received many well deserved complimentary reviowa. This supplement to Volume 14 maintains tho standards of excellence which have been set previously. Volume 14 originally covered the literatureof steroids and triterpenes up to 1936. I n the decade 1937-46 which the Supplement covers, the great expansion of the literature of steroids makes it impossible to cover this field alone in one bound part. The present volume includes the nor-steroids, thesteroid hydrocarbons, and their halogen, nitrogen, and unsuhstituted monohydraxyl derivatives. The nor-steroids are compounds in which one or two of the six-membered rings of the 1,2-cyclopentenophensnthrene ring system have become five-membered. It is stated that "the literature has been consulted up to and including 1946, the literature concerning the structure and configuration of compounds up to 1954." The coverage is, however, more complete than this statement might imply. The practice has been continued of including literature references relating to structural changes up to the latest possible date, and those deal-
48
JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
ing with configuration have also been incorporated. For example, most of the 1953-54 references to the absolute configuration of steroids rue given in the section on nomenclature and stereochemistry. Although the literature prior to 1937 was covered in the original volume, a considerable portion of this has acquired new significance in the light of more recent developments and has been referred t o in this Supplement. Illustrative of this .thorough treatment is the section of more than 100 pages on choleateral. Of the nearly 1100 referenoes, approximately one-third are to the literature prior to 1937. As in previous supplementary volumes, referenoes to the patent literature have been ineorporated. With respect to nomenclature, the aim has been to make a selection from the nomenclatures in use durine the oeriod covered
changes in steroid nomenclature recommended more recently which could have been profitably introduced. The editors and publisher me to be congratulated on the excellent organization of material, format, printing, and general appearance of the volume. It is of interest to note that this volume, "Steroids, Part I," is the fourteenth part of the work t o appear. Publication is proceeding a t the rate of about 2000 pages per year. The puhlisher has made the Encyclopaedia available on a deferred payment plan. GEORGE H. COLEMAN WATNDUN~VERBITY DETROIT, MICHI.*N
ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY. VOLUME IX
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Edited by M. L. Anson, Lever Brothers Co., K e n n e t h Bailey University of Cambridge, England, a n d l o h n T. Edsall, Harvard University. Academic Press, Inc., New Y a k , 1954. viii 542pp. Illustratsd. 16 X 23.5 cm. $10.50.
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THE appearance of another volume in this well-established set of reviews re-emphasizes the fertility of protein research and the rate a t which data are aeeumulating as a result of this research. The present volume contains eight selected topics covered by 12 prominent investigators. These topics are considered in the order in which they appear in the book. The first represents a new trend in subject matter for these reviews, and allows the reader to anticipate the appearance of similar material on other amino acids in future volumes. "The metabolism of glycine," by H. R. V. Amstein, represents one of the most comprehensive treatises on the subject that is currently available. Listing a total of 445 references, the author effectively presents his "discussion of the occurrence of glycine in proteins and tissues and its metabolism by higher animals." Understandably, it is difficult to decide in parts of the metabolic considerations whether the amina arid glycino or serine is being reviewed. An excellent subdivision of this chapter considers glycine as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of important compounds, which section stresses, in many instances, the growing reoognition of 8-aminolevulinic acid as an important intermediary metabolite. After perusal of this fine review by Dr. Arnstein, one is impressed with the wide gaps which still remain in the knowledge of this, the simplest of amino aeids. The author has not hnsit,nted to mesent fullv the controversial issues and the ~ -~~~ -. unsettled problems. A short review follows by M.I. Chalmers and R. L. M. Synge on "The digestion of protein and nitrogenous compounds in ruminants." By outlining the evidence obtained from direct study of rumen function as well as from feeding experiments, the fundamental conclusion is presented that excessive attention has been centered an "the substitution of nonprotein nitrogen for protein in ruminant diets, t.o the neglect of study of the economical use of pre-existing protein." The point is noteworthy. ~~
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In aremarkably efficient manner the general methods of resohtion as applied to the various individual amino acids are prosented by J. P. Greenstein in the chapter, "The resolution of raoemic a-amino acids." Coupled with the pages covering the criteria of optical purity and certain aspects of molar rotation, this review will unquestionably be invaluable as s, rde~.ence source in research. Tlw a+rrnhling oi inicmmation on " S ~ t ~ r : i
