reviews Geschichte d e r d e u t s c h e n Grosschemie: Entwicklung.und Einfluss in S t a a t und Gesellschafl Walter Teltschik. VCH Verlagsgeseilschatt mbH, Postfach 10 11 61, D-6940 Weinheim, Germany; 220 E. 23rd St., New York, NY 10010-4206, 1992. Figs., tables. xiv+ 426 pp. 13.7 x 21.3 cm. DM 58. Large-scale chemistry (Gmsschemie) is one of the most important branches of German industry; the concentration of research laboratories and factories is so great in one area of the country that the Rheintd is often referred to as a "chemical valley." Although single periods or single companies of the industry are treated in detail in various publications, they describe their subieets from various viewooints and frequently lack ohiectivitx kuthermore, studies written by employees of a particular firm sometimes exaggerate their own concern's contributions and undervalue those of their competitors. The present book, on the other hand, presents a comprehensive and balanced history af the entire German chemical industry told from the vantage point of an industrial chemist who, as an employee of a great chemical concern, actively witnessed its development from 1951 to 1990. Not only positive contributions hut also negative aspects of the industry are recounted, usually in the context of their relationship with the state, society, and political evmti. This meticulously documented, but eminently readnhle, volume embraces the ~ e r i a dfrun 1850 to 1990 and con~istsofewht chapters. Extensive notes and references (31 pp) as late as 1991 as well a s a list of 132 monographs (8 pp) are included along with 15 tables in the text and 12 tables in an appendix. Three separate indexes (2 columns/pagebname (6 pp), firm and place (6 pp), and product and pmeess (8 p p k o n c l u d e the volume and make retrieval of information easy. Chemists, historians of science and technology, journalists, politicians, and anyone interested in modern German history will profit from this volume. G e o m e B. Kauffman California ~tatehiversity,Fresno Fresno. CA 93740
meries Coordination Complexes; Metal-Containing Liquid Crystal; and Precursors for Electronic Materials. Chirality in Industry: T h e Commercial Manufacture a n d Applications of Optically Active C o m p o u n d s A. N. Collins, G. N Sheldrake, and J. Crosby. Editors. Wiley: New York, NY, 1992. xiii + 409 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.8 x 23.7 cm. Electrochemistry in Colloids a n d Dispersions Raymond A. Mackay and John Texter, Editors. VCH: New York, NY, 1992. 546 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.4 x 24.2 cm. $115.
Nucleic Acid Targeted Drug Design C. L. Propst and Thomas J. Perun, Editors. Marcel Dekker: New York, NY, 1992. xiii + 619 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.2 x 23.6 cm. $165.
Society of Plastics Engineers Monographs. Fundamental Principles of Polymeric Materlals, S e c o n d Edition Stephen L. Rosen. Wiley: New York, NY, 1993. xvi + 420 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.4 x 24.4 cm. Modern Synthetic Methods RolfScheffold, Editor. VCH: New York, NY, 1992. 489 pp. Figs. &tables.17.7 x 24.7 cm. $75. This new hook provides access to some selected and rapidly d e velonine areas of smthetic oreanic chemistrv. It focuses on svnthe& k e t s of t6e chemist; of carbanion; and acetvleneaas well a s on some topics in cnrhohydrate rherniatry Contributions from six leadmg exper- not only outline the general back~~uund. basic principles and their application in organic synthesis, but also provide representative experimental procedures and references. ~~~~~~~
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Continuing Series Monographs Inorganic Materials Duncan W. Bruceand Dermot O'Hare, Editors. Wiley: New York. NY, 1992. xiv + 543 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.7 x 23.7 cm. This book addresses areas of research in this field where inorganic materials are central to that research. Each chapter provides a n introduction to the subject under discussion and then develops the field to provide an overview, with certain topics being expanded. Areas of interest include: Molecular Inorganic Superconductors; Molecular Inorganic Magnetic Materials; Metal-Containing Materials for Nonlinear Optics; Inorganic Intercalation Compounds; Biogenic Inorganic Materials; Clay Chemistry; Poly-
Ellis HorwoodIPTR Prentice-Hall Physical Chemistry Series. High-Energy Chemistry L. T: Bugaenko, M. G. Kuzrnin, and L. S. Polak. T: J. Kemp, Translation Editor. Ellis Honvoodand T: J. Kemp, Series Editors. Ellis Horwood: New York, NY and Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1993. 404 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.9 x 23.8 cm. ~
Surfactant S c i e n c e Series. Volume 47, Coagulation a n d Flocculation: Theory a n d Applications Bohuslav Dob~ds.Editor. Marim J. SchrcH and Frederick M. Fowkes. Ser es Eotiors. Marce Denner: New York NY, 1993. vll 704 pp. Fgs. ano taoes. 16.2 A 23 5 cm $195.
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Reviewed in This Issue Reviewer Walter Teltschik, Geschicte der deutschen Grosschemie: Entwicklung und Einfluss in Staat und Gesseilschaft :; i1
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George B. Kauffman
Monographs
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New Volumes in Continuing Series
i:: Volume 70
Number 7 July 1993
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