JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
54
From the first chapter to the last this book is written in s readable style which should capture the attention of students
- .- . line drawings and diagrams are-liberally used to illust,rrtte structural formulas and reactions. A superficial examination of this text leaves one with the opinion that it is "too simple." A more thorough perusal af important topics dispells this attitude. The tent should be satisfactory for science majors, although its greatest use will pmbahly be found in the terminal course. The chapters dealing with metals, the chemistry of carbon and silicon, and nuclear changes and nuclear energy are so brief that they serve only to illustrate that such fields of chemistry are existent. One of the undesirable features of the text is the scarcity of exercises a t the end of chapters. Many chapters (e. g., SolubiMy and Solutions, Introduction to Chemical Equilib rium and Ionic Equilibria) have no exercises or problems. The hook is printed in large, clear t.ype with adequate margins and spacing on n dull finish paper. These are valuable features which reduce eyestrain. WILLIAM B. COOK
literature in each ares is indiceted by tho extensive bibliography a t the end of each chapter. References to articles ~ublishedin 1953 are included. In the &st chapter. T. Malkin discusses uolvmornhism of glycerides. ~ollowingthis is a. monograph by R. T.'~olman, entitled "Autoxidittion of fats and related substances." Chapter 3 is a comprehensive survey by H. Deuel of the nutritional values of various fats. The surface properties of fatty acids and allied suhstances by D. G. Dervichisn, and an interesting discussion by 11. Schlenk entitled "Urea inclusion compounds of fatty acids," comprise the next two chapters. Chapters 6 and 7 are concerned with methods for srparitting and identifying lipid materials. The use of infrared absorption spectroscopy by D. 11. I \Vhoclor and fractionation usine countercurrent extraction are discussed in these t r o monographs. Stimulating discussions appear in each of these chapters. For example, the use of urea for fractionating mixtures of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is treated in Chapter 5. A proposed mechanism for the development of oxidative rancidity in lipids, and the influence of dietary fat on the utilization of dietary protein and carbohydrate in metabolism are presented in .Chapters 2 and 3, respectively. I t is, of course, impassible t o elaborate an all the points of interest in each chapter but the discussions mentioned above indicate the wide use of the book for advanced students of lipid nutrition and chemistry.
-
~~
~
~
R. U. BYERRU\I Mrnxro*~STAT=COLLEGE EASTL A N S I N ~MICHIOAN .
Edited by Raymond John. The Philosophical Libruy, New York, 1954. xi 199 pp. Illustrated. 14.5 X 22 om. $5.
+
THIS compilation contains much to interest the dealer, grower, smoker, and idly curious person. Types of tobacco, cigar terms, slang expressions, pipe shapes, and personages associated with tubacco in one way or another are among the items included. The value of this work as a reference would he considerably enhanced by a more critical treatment of the bohnieal status of tobacco and plants in general (it is never quite plain whether Niotiana tabacum is considered a species or a variety), mare complete references to insect pests and insecticides (and chemicals in gmernl; "Urea. A chemical sold as Uraman. ."is hardly an adequate description), and more illustrations. These are primarily matters of degrpr, however, as there seem to be few amissions in the terms liatcd.
.
0
PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF FATS AND OTHER LIPIDS. VOLUME 2
Edited by R. T. Holman and W. 0.Lundberg, University of Minnesota, and T. Malkin, University of Bristal. Academic Press, Inc., New York,1954. 347 pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 24.5 cm. $9.80. THEpresent book is Volume 2 of a projected series of digests of recent advances in the chemistry and biology of lipid materials. I t is anticipated that in the future new volumes will be published periodically, phssibly yearly. There are seven chapters in this volume, each of which is essentially a monograph by a specialist in some specific sses. The book was written neither for the beginning student of lipids nor for the casual render, but rather for graduate students and research workers for whom it should prove to be a source of useful information and a basis for new ideas. The authors have xt,tempted to present in detail highly technical material, eontrovrrsid issues which nrix from different experimental teehniques, and nrwmethadsor procedures. A completesuweyof the
0
METHODEN DER ORGANISCHEN CHEMIE. BAND VII, TEIL 1: SAUERSTOFFVERBINDUNGEN 11, ALDEHYDE
Edited by Eugen MiiIIer, Tiingen. Georg Thieme Vedag, Stuttgart, Germany. 195 rxiii 556 pp. 17 X 26.5 Em.
.
$19.50.
+
PYTHAGOEAS, the square-on-the-hypotenuse men ofsntiquity, is reported by Hermippus to have prepared a deep underground lodging and enjoined upon his mother to mark down every dot and tiddle which transpired, even to the very how, and to drop the notes down t o him. She did. Afterwards, he erawled out of ground, looking like a refugee from a morgue, and proceeded a t once t o the assembly, where he declared in a loud voice that he had been in Hades and had seen everything, and gave an sccurahe account of all that had happened. The assembly men were so dumbfounded that they regarded him as divine; they wept and wailed, some even going so far m tta send their wives to him to learn his doctrines. Now this may be the "ingenious device" for which mathematicians are eternally seeking. We hope not. One thing is certain, however: this is not a mod way to obtain current information, especially of a1dehydes;since fiw mothers heve any simificant command of the suhiect and most chemists heve node& to sit in dark caves. A more reliable technique is to search the elegant and exhaustive "Methoden der organischen Chemie." This great work is divided into two parts: the preparation of aldehydes and their reactions. The section dealing with the synthesis of aldehydes (400 pages) is very complete. It describes in detail methods for the direct introduction of the CHO group; the union of organic residues which contain aldehyde groups; techniques which involve oxidation of groups such as the methyl, primary alcohol, ether, etc.; conversion of certain heterocyclic nitro, and other substances into aldehydes; the transformation of acids and their derivatives into aldehydes; producbion of aldehydes by degradation reactions; and transformations of mixed aldehyde compounds with retention of the CHO group. Each of these subsections contains an excellent discussion of the general method and is illustrated with numerous specific lnboratory syntheses. The significant literature has been reviewed up to thelatter part of 1953. Workers who are engaged in any phase of aldehyde chemistrv will find this volume very helpful indeed.
