botanist-these are my first thoughts when I think of the characteristics of great scientists. Modesty, youthfulness, complete dedication to the search for knowledge with fame a by-product, lack of financial support, lack of acceptance of their ideas, and extraordinary knowledge are attributes associated with great scientists by many scientists as well as nonscientists. Perhaps these ideas are mistaken. Perhaps only a few of the great scientists of the past possessed these characteristics. Or perhaps the great scientists in this day of grants and research empires are, in fact, of a different type than those of the past. At any rate i t is important that the layman and especially the science student he presented an accurate picture of thenature of great scientists of today. "The Double Helix" provides information on one group of great scientists, several of them Nobel Prize winners. Both Watson and Crick were deficient in the fundamentals of chemistry; in the early days, Crick did not know the formulas for the DNA bases! They did no labolatory work to solve the DNA prablem. Even when the solution to the problem was imminent, Watson played tennis every afternoon and went to dinner parties or the movies in the evenings. Neither could be accused of being modest. Crick was considered obnoxious by many both because of his manners and his willingness to interpret the data of others before they could. Watson's interest in DNA was specifically to win a Nobel prize. Thus, he and Crick raced Linus Pauling, and when Pauling's proposed structure was found to be in error, they rejoiced. "The Double Helix" will provide very enjoyable reading for d l scientists and for many nonscientists. I t should give teachers of science a better perspective on the makeup of research scientists. They will then understand the advice of Albert Szent-Gyiirgyi (1961): "If any student comes to me and says he wants to be useful to mankind and go into research to alleviate human suffering, I advise him to go into charity instead. Research wants real eeotists who seek their own pleawre and"satisfaction, but find it in solving the puzzles of nature."
Rates and mechanism, reaction equilibGeneral Chemistry rium, and complex ions follow. ThermoMartin A. Paul, National Academy of dynamics, organic chemistry, biochemistry Sciences and National Resesseh Counand industrial, plus the epilogue complete cil; Edward J . King, Bsrnard College, the twenty chapters. I t is amacing Columbia University; and Larkin H. to see the number of topics covered and Farinhalt, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. discussed. The index contaiins about Harcourt, Brace, and World, h e . , New 2400 entries. Many of these me dis789 pp. Figs. York, 1967. xvii cussed in great detail. On the other and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $9.95. hand, on account of this large number of topics, some have to be discussed but This text seeks to be all things to d l briefly and are easily forgotten by the stustudents and tesohen; it is only moderdent. A case in point is Ligand Field ately successful in achieving its goals. Theory. ' The authors have tried to design a text When the ward "modern" is included in which will be stimulating hut detailed, the title of a chemistry text, i t might be and sophisticated withont neglecting the enlightening to investigate the claim. A descriptive and applied aspects of the writer cannot twoid certain old fashioned science. They also feel that sufficient topics in his text and still expect it t,o be historical and biographical material should essentially complete. He can omit topics be included to give some perspective to the that are no longer necessary. He can student in evaluating the concepts of emphasize modern topics if he can put chemistry and the role which individuala t,hem early in the text,. And he can play play in developing and using these condown older and necessary topics by eatchcepts. ing them often and casually in the text, The first half of the book discusses stoiwhile his modern offerings are apt to get chiometry and states of matter, atomic and more monolithic treatment. molecular structure, periodic classificaSome of this pattern we have outlined tion, chemical energetics and physical can be detected in the work. Oldanalytic properties of solutions. Dispersed among foundations for formula writing are ohthese chapters is a moderate amount of served, but the classical topic of numerical descriptive material intended to illustrate valence is omitted. One rushes into the the principle a t hand or (as in the chapter more modern concept of subatomic partion Gases of the Atmosphere) to focus cles in order to write Lewis valence, to numerous principles from previous chapuse atomic orbital notation and to sketch ten. One selects material from the reatomic orbitah. Meanwhile the tables mainder of the text according to the needs for the ground electronic configurations of of the student group. This section treats the elements are given hardly before the such topica as the Alkali Metah, Precipiperiodic classification of the elements is tates and Colloids (Solubility Product), introduced. There are no chapters on the Thiophilic Metals and Metalloids, several descriptive matter of s. given element, or a. other assorted "periodic" groupings, Hyrelated group of elements, and t,heir comdrocarbons, Biochemistry, and Nuclear moner compounds. Rather the material chemistry. There is, then, resemblance to is gat,hered into the more theoret,ical chapthe "old style" of general chemistry text; ters as needed. I s s. previous course in however, this should not deter the prospecchemistry presupposed? tive user from further consideration, beThe laboratory feature in the appendix came an interesting blend of writing style, is attractive. A few of the experiments organization, and topics selected makes may be done a t home. They are worthfor a pleasant surprise. while. Sketches of apparatus are clearly The problem sets are generally excellent done. One notices, however, that the and are one of the beet features of the text. wing top is sketched wit,h every burner. Problems often illustrate the principle unThis is confusing to t,he student. der consideration by relating it to princiLine drawings in the main text are exples previnusly studied. Chapter 16 on cellent. Photographs abound and mast Halogens, for example, makes use of prohof them are good. The book is replete WILLIAMR.. RODERICK with finished exercises or prohlems. lems demanding an understanding of stoiAbbott Laboratories chiometry (Chapter 4), of thermochemisTliey appear on s, gray background which North Chicago, Illinois try (Chapter lo), and of electrochemical makes them stand out from the rest of the reactions (Chapter 15), thus enhancing text. Wit,h some of them, two solntions both an understanding of the halogens and are given: one done in a wordy reasoned the student's control of important princiIntroduction to Modern Chemistry way; the other more mat,hematicsll,y ples. Also, numerous problems are informulated. There are problems a t t,he Edward F . Neuzd, Western Washington cluded which can accustom the student to end of mnst of the chapters. An appendix State College. Harcourt, Brace & extract conclusions from tables of meaaurecontains the answers to elections from World, Inc., New York, 1968. xv ments, ds in ueing melting paints of elethese. 336 pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 25.5 ments to illustrate the variety of structural The work seems to be designed for cm. $6.95. Paperbound. units and the magnitude of intersotion beclasses of different science majors. I n tween the units. Another strong feature the prefsce the author suggest? what can There are twenty chapters in this paperof the organization of the text is the combe omitted for different majors. Calculus back. The book also features an spparatively large emphasis on the d i d does not appear in this hook. The most pendix of twenty-three experiments which state and the properties of solids. The use difficult mathematics is t,o be found in the are closely related to the text. The first of thermochemical cycles is extensive and treatment of pH. The text seems to he two chapters are introductory and classiaccustoms the student to the use of therunusually free of errors. One that stands cal. This is followed by three chapters an mochemistry in a variety of chemical conout is the naming of Lucret,ius as a Greek subatomics and a chapter on molecules texts. philosopher on p. 14. He was a Lat,in and chemical bonding. Three chapters Much of the organization of the later philosophical poet. on the states of matter ensue and are faldescriptive material is facilitated by the lowed by a, chapter on solution chemistry. B E R N ~ RA.D FIEKERS Acids and bases, and redox with electroCollege of the Holy Cross chemistry bring us through chapter 12. Worcester. Massachusetts (Continmd on page A698)
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