book reviews Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Wooster
Woater, Ohio
Introduction to Quantitative Experimental Chemistry
Thomas L. Ismhour, University of North Carolina, and Norman J . Rose, University of Washington. Allyn and 369 Bacon, Ine., Boston, 1971. xiv pp. Figs.and tables. 24 X 19.5 em. $8.95.
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When first beginning t o reed this text, one becomes puzzled as to what audience the text is addressed, in spite of the preface's statement that i t was meant "for the better student a t the freshman level!' The first two chapters in particular not only demand the very best first year students but long range mind readers as well. Particularly the section on random and systematic errors leaves much to be desired; i t either says too much arnotenough. As it stands i t gives the appearance of engaging in unnecessary "equation dropping" with the connection between one expression and the next not being developed a t all. As one reads on, however, one comes to Chapter 3, Computers in Data. Reduction, which, mistitled as i t may he, is 8. pure delight to read, although some definitions need he pinned down better. Systems of Units, Calibration, and Standardization in Measurement, Chapter 4, too, is interestingly written. With Chapter 5, Measurements Related to Mass, the text turns to experiments. There are three of these in this chapter. After the build-up of the first four chapters, these turn out to he disappointments. Experiment 1 is a dehydration of BaC1. 2H20 determination complete with contrived mixtures with a non-hydroscopic substance (NaC1). Experiment 2 is also a standard one, the gravimetrio determination of chloride as AgC1. Experi-
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ment 3 is a. bit unusual: i t is the gravimetric titration of horrtte with HC1 using methyl purple indicator. Chapter 6, Measurements Related to Volume, is an improvement. Experiment 4 is the age-old magnesium ribbon plus HCl gas evolution experiment with a. couple of new twists on the experimental sebup. Experiment 5 is an ordinary constanbboiling preparation of standard HCI. Experiment 6 is rtn interesting preparation of sodium carbonate, as a primary standard using an NBOH solution and dry ice. And Experiment 7 is an ion exchange analysis of sodium and potassiumusing a Dowex resin. Chapter 7 is entitled Measurements Related to Electrical Potential and Canductivity in Solution. After a long but rather good introductory section, the chapter presents three experiments. Experiment 8 is an intriguing multi-purpose one in which titrations are fallowed simultaneously with potentiometric measurements, conductometric measurements, and phenolphthalein or bromthymol blue indicator. Ex~eriment9 is a notentiometric titration of borax m d Experiment 10 is a conductometric precipitation titration of silver acetate. Chapter 8,Measurements Related to the Absorption and Emission of Light canbins one extensive experiment. It begins with an investigation of the absorption spectrum of the iron-l,l0-phenanthroline complex, followed by an investigation of the stoichiometry of the complex formation reaction, averifieation study on Beer's law. a determination of an unknown. and tory discussion. Chapter 9, Measurements Related to Temperature has two experiments. The
in this Issue
Thomas L. Isenhour and N o m n J. Rose, Introduction to Qusntitative Experimental Chemistry M . Frank Mallette, Carl 0.Clagett, Allen T . Phillips, and Richard L. MeCarl, Introductory Biochemistry Kensal Edward Van Holde, Physical Biochemistry
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. . .A653 . . .A654 . . .A654 R. P . Wayne, Photochemistry R. E. W . Maddison, The Life of the Honourable Robert Boyle, F. R. S. . . .A655 G. H. Aylward and T . J . V . Findlay, SI Chemical Data . . . A656 A . Slioberg, editor, Elsevier's Medical Dictionary in Five Languages . . .A656 Ham Sonntag and Klaus Slrenge, Koagulation und Stabilitat Disperser Systeme Frilr: Seel, Grundlsgen der Analytischen Chemie Hwmann Rampp, Chemische Experimente die gelingen-Anorganische Chemie
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first is a moreor-less standard one on the heat of solution of NaCI, the second one is the measurement of heats of vrtporization by a technique previously describedin~ms JOURNAL [44,387 (1967)l. Chapter lo, Measurements Related to Time, contains one experiment on reaction rates, that of the hydrolysis of the chlorapentsarnine cobalt ion using absorption spectrophotometry. In summary, this is, overall, an interesting text, but with flaws here and there. I t differs from the usual "baby qumt" texts. This reviewer is only sorry that authors Rose and Isenhour did not go all the way in avoiding determinations more properly the domain of a full-blown quantitative analysis course.
JOHN P. MARTIN Davis and Elkins College Elkins, West Virginia 86Z41
Introductory Biochemistry
M . Frank Mallette, Cad 0. Clagett, Allen T.Phillips, and Richad L. McCad, all the Pennsylvania State University. The Williams & Wilkins Company, 811 pp. Figs. Baltimore, 1971. xii and tables. 26 X 18 em. $16.75.
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Lest the title mislead, it must be emphasized that this "Introductory" Biochemistry is not a superficial overview suitable for a one-quarter wonder course. It selects, as is pointed out in the preface, from the massive subieot which hiochemistry now is, but the topics selected are covered, for the most part, thoroughly and in depth. The organization is fairly traditional but the material is eminently upto-date. I t is refreshing to see this combination succeed. The first two chapters, The Nature and History of Biochemistry and The Cell are beautifully constructed and written and are a joy to read. The same level of excellence is maintained, for the most part in the "meat" section, Chapten five through fourteen, which cover carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and proteins, and nucleotides and nucleic acids. The separation of each of these four topics into two chapters (three for carbohydrates) covering, broadly, the chemistry a-nd the biochemistry of each is particularly effective. Chapter four, enzymes and enzymatic processes, and Chapters fifteen and sixteen, protein synthesis and genetics, and metabolic regulstian, also are very good and are well positionedfor thesmooth development of the wholesubject. The book has its low points. Chapter five, chemistry and occurrence of carbohydrates, is rather mediocre. Much of Chapter three, biochemical equilibria and thermodynamics, is most unfortunate. I t rambles, and is a t once both naive and patronizing. Trivial perhaps, but annoying, is the habit of breaking a. sentence in the middle of a line in order to insert an equation. This habit leads to two delicious absurdities on p. 51: . . "As long as solid calcium
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(Continued on page A6.54) Volume
49, Number I I, November 1972
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A653
