REVIEWS and research associates the later development of chemical and biochemical sciences, university education, and academic and industrial research. These research groups o p erated at universities or institutes and were composed mostly of predoctoral students, past-doctoral associates, junior faculty members, and technical assistants. The groups provided an avenue for intellectual and social interaction and, for junior members of the group, an opportunity to acquire laboratory skills, practical and theoretical knowledge and perhaps a testing ground for new idem and theories, generated on the basis of experimental results, discussions with fellow workers or inspired intuition, before they were proposed to the scientific community a t Large. After the first chapter whicb describes the scope of the book, research groups of Liebig, HoppeSeyler, Kiihne, Bseyer, E. Fischer and Hofmeister are examined. The b w k traces their scientific careers, the type of research conducted a t each stage, the arrival and association with (later to be) wellknown eo-workers or students, and excerpts from personal memoirs, memorial lectures or from letters of research asaociates. Information about the composition of each research group, in narrative and tabular form, the subsequent activities of some of the members as they rose through their profession is given, and the effect these members had an the later development of organic and biochemical sciences is discussed. The symbiotic relationship between these groups and the burgeoning chemical industry in Germany is also noted. The last chapter looks a t some modem research groups in the biochemical sciences. An interesting observation made by Fmton is tbat because of the rising impact of biochemical sciences, large groups led by senior scientists became prominent features of biochemical research in the United States resembling the situation in organic-chemical institutes of pre-World War I Germany. Fruton believes that although the closely directed groups, perhaps, ruled less autocratically than before, have remained dominant in research the training of future scientists is more effective when the group leader shows greater interest in encouraging junior associates to explore lines of research other than his own. The book reflects a careful and extensive research and providesvaluahleand interesting detail from primary sources. I t contains seven appendices with information about members of the various research groups, the degree they received, topic of their research in the group, name of the immediate supervisor, period of stay in the group and information about Later professional career. There is also a bibliography and an index of personal names. There is no subject index. Persons interested in the dynamics of research groups, the role of the scientist-leader, his attitude and treatment of co-workers and junior assoeiates, his knack of marshalling physical and intellectual resources, and his role in the training of future scientists
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Journal of Chemical Education
would find this book useful and a valuable resource for further research. Ram K. Sharma DBparhlM of Physical Sciences Easlsrn New Mwxco University Pornleg NM 88130
B a s k Chemlcal Thermodynamics, Fourlh Edltlon E. Brian Smith. Oxford University Pless: New York. NY, 1990. xvi 166 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $45.00 HBI
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$22.95 PB.
This is an excellent introductory thermadynamics text. If - one abandons classical texts and eoes to collectionsof monographs written by people who are comfortable with selected subject materiels, then this hwk ir erceptionally suited for use in a freshman chemistry class for advanced students who can integrate and differentiate and no more. The treatment is nonrigorous and yet complete enough to guarantee that the "it can he shown that" syndrome is avoided. As the level of complaints about junior level Physical Chemistry instruction rise, specifically, the annoyance with classical thermadynamin without molecularity, the idea of placing this material, at the level of Smith's booklet, in younger hands, and then startine chemistn, with molecular - ~hvsieal .. physics becomes extraordikily appealing. Since the hod" of is- ever . ~ - ~ ~knowledee ~ w~ ~ ~ , exonnding, and since the time spent in school is limited for social reasons, it becomes incumbent on us to compress the learning material so that i t fits into the lives of students. Smith's hook gives just enough thermadynamies that one can understand its usefulness without giving "rigorous" proofs of such tonics as the entroov . increase of isolated univeraea. For those who have had mtroductory calculur in high srhool, (with amne hope one can say more and more) this serve3 up derivations which enhance understending. Since freshmen do not yet hunger for "explanations," by which I mean reductions to molecular individuslitv. there is reason to expect that this book can serve them, starting them on a road whicb their abilities at that age can handle. Especially noteworthy in this little bookis the care taken with the omnipresent
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In P which is unintelligible from the point of view of units. On the other hand, the maximum work arguments for the introduction of free energies remains unconvinrinl: and quite difficult In general, the derivntimts work well, and cut to the heart uf the rhase, filling in the gaps that the standard freshman "plug and chug" course leave. Carl W. David The University of Connecticut Stons. CT 06269
Hazardous Laboratory Chemlcals: Dlsposal Gulde M. A. Armour. CRC Press: Boca Raton. FL, 1991.17 464 pp. 19 X 26.5 cm. $89.95 (ring-bound paperback).
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Here is a "user friendly" update and expansion of the chemical disposal guides earlier published by the University of Alberta. Laboratory tested procedures for converting over 200 hazardous substances and groups of substances to more readily disposable materials are offered. Where possible the products have been identified and equations for the reactions given. For suspect carcinogens the reaction mixtures have been submitted to the Ames test for mutagenieitv. The disposal procedures are restricted to relatively small quantities. Experience has proved them safe on thia scale. The methods should not he used for larger quantities unless a qualified chemist has tested larger batches successfully. The author warns that the disposal of any hazardous material must be in accord with governmental regulations and that disposal on-sire may requlre licensing a8 a treatment center unless the pwcedure can be considered as part of reactions being performed at the bench. The text includes an "incompatibility table" to mide the safe storaee of chemicals in a stockmom. Hazard ratings for the substances are numerically ranked for health, fire, and reactivitylstability hazards. Physiological reactions to toxins are described and procedures for handling spills. In summary, the book provides helpful information for hench workers in disposing of small quantities of wastes safely and with substantial reduction in costs, a vital consideration for schools and colleges in these days of frugal funding. The book, like Bretherick's Handbook of Reaetiue Chemical Hazards, 4th ed. (Butterwarths, 1990), should be made easily available to faculty and students in all chemistry departments. Malcolm M. Renfraw University 01 ldsho ~~~
MOSCOW. ID 83843
NIOSH Pocket Gulde to Chemlcal Hazards US. Depattment of Health and Human Services-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati. OH, June 1990. (For a l e by Government Prlnting Office. Superintendent of Documents. Washington, DC 20402 a s DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-117.) vl 245 pp. 12 X 23 cm. Ring-bound paperback. $7.00.
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Here is a compact printing of tabulated information about 398 chemicals or substance groupings tbat are subject to existing OSHA regulations. The substances are (Continued on page A237)
REVIEWS identified by structural formulas, Chemical Abstract Service Reeistrv and RTECS ( ~ I & Hitegistry o f ' k k e fffecw of hemical Subatlnces) numbrrs; also hy the Departmrnr of Tran~porrarionidentification and corresponding guide numbers; and by synonyms and trade names. The data provided indude current exposure limits, physical descriptions, properties, incompatibilities and reactivities, methods of measurement. oersonal ~ratectionfrom each toxic ~~~~~~~. ~ u b ~ t a n c rrecommendations , for rerpiratori,etiertsof exposure nnd Firrt Aid procedures, and specific organs that w e the subject of attack. In short the book provides a large amount of authoritative information a t a low cost. This reviewer, however, has some misgivings about the usefulness of the guide. The small size requires fine print and many ahbreviations whose meanings are not self-evident. Even so, the book is too large to fit comfortably in apoeket, and it will not be an easy reference in timr of emergency. Wurkers could well find thrir needs hetter met by a well k e ~ file t of JISDS'a, t ~ u tthe NlOSH Packet duide may be a desirable addition to the safety bookshelf a s s backup reference. The Guides are updated at intervals. This next issue will add new substances that were included as part of the OSHA 2-1-A Table on 19 January 1989. Malcolm M. Renfrew University of Idaho MOSCOW. ID 83843
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Following a brief general introductory chapter, the electronic structures of molecules are described from the perspective of modem quantum theory in chapter 2. The interaction of molecules with radiation, molecular phataphysics and the mechanistic aspects of organic photochemistry are considered in the following three chapters. Wherever possible, difficult concepts are presented from a qualitative (pictorial) point of view rather than a solely mathematical one and a quantum rather a classical approach has been adopted.
The solubility of the more important industrial gases is discussed in detail. Data from different sources are compared, evaluated and expressed in tabular form and fitting equations are given where appropriate. Graphs showing solubility data are an important feature of the book and enable easy comparison between the behavior of different gas-liquid systems. Other substances that are gases a t 25 "C are listed with some of their physical properties, which may, in some cases, be used as a guide to approximate solubilities when direct measurements are not available.
Ethylene (Ethene): lnternetlonel ~ h & m o d y n a m l cTables of t h e F I U I ~ State, Volume 10 IUPAC Commlsslon on Thermodynamlcs R. T. Jambsen, M. Jahanglrl, R. B. S t e w art R. D. McCerty, J. M. H. Leven Sengers, H J. White, Jr., J. V. Sengers, and G. A. Olchowy, K. M. de Reuck, S. Angus. W. A. Cole, R. J. 8. Craven, and W. A. Wakeham, Editors. Biackweli Scientific Publications: Boston, MA. 1988. xxviii 299 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 25.5 cm.
Surfactant Sclence Serles. Volume 36, Interlacla1 Phenomena In Petroleum Recovery Norman R. Morrow, Edltor. Martin J. Schickand Frederick M. FoWes, Consulting Editors. Marcel Dekker: New York. NY, 1991. xiii 449 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $125.00 US & Canada1$150.00 F.
Fluorlne In Bloorganlc Chemlstry John T. Welch and Seetha Eswarakrish nan. Wiley: New York. NY, 1991. xviii 261 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.2 X 24.2 cm. $59.95.
Ellls Horwood Serles In Chemlcal Englneerlng. lnstrumentatlon a n d Automation In P r o c e s s Control M. J. Pinand PaulE. Preece, Editors. David Sharp, Series Editor. Ellis Horwood: New York. NY. 1990. 239 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.4 X 24.7 cm.
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lnternetlonal S e r l e s of Monographs o n Chemlstry, Volume 18. Nonequlllbrlum Phenomena In Polyatomlc Gases, volume 1 Frederick R. W. McCouft, Jan J. M. Beem akker, Walter E. Kohler, and Ivan Ku5Eer. Clarendon Press: Oxford. 1990. xxxiii 562 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 24 cm. $110.00.
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Catlon Blndlng by Macrocycles: Complexatlon of Catlonlc Specles by Crown Ethers Yoshihisa lnoueand George W. Gokel, Edltors. Marcel Dekker: New York, NY. 1990. x 761 pp. Figs. and tables. 18.5 X 26 cm. $150.00 US 8 Canada1$180.00 F.
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Essentials of Molecular
Photochemistry Andrew Giibertand JimBaggon. Blackwell Scientific Publications: Boston, MA. 1990. xv 538 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.2 X 24.3 cm. $114.95 HB1544.95 PB.
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This volume is designed as a textbook for a coune in organic photochemistry and is, also, useful to those requiring a fundamental knowledge of photophysical and photochemical processes.
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Continuing Series
EIIISHorwood S e r l e s In Polymer S c l e n c e a n d Technology: StyreneBased Plastlcs a n d their Modlflcetlon c ~ o s i k Zden6k , HorBk, Petr ~ v e Ladisiav and FrantiSek VeEerka. T. J. Kemp and J. F. Kennedy, Series Editors. K. H. C. B e s sant, Translation Editor. Ellis Horwood: New York, NY, 1990. 360 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.2 X 24.5 cm.
Polymeric Materlals a n d Processing:
PIastIcs, Elastomers a n d COmpOSlteS Jean-Mlchel Charier. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1991. xxii 633 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 23.3 cm. $60.00.
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Solublllty ot G a s e s In Llqulds: A Crltlcal Evaluation of GaslLlquld S v s t e m s In Theorv a n d Practice .P. G. T. F& an; W. Gerard. Wiley: New 331 pp. Figs. and York, NY. 1991. xli tables. 15.8 X 23.5 cm. $187.00.
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This volume presents a general picture of the solubility of gases in liquids. The subject matter is concise and comprehensive with important experimental methods and factors influencing gas solubility being explained. Volume 68
P r a c t b e l Spectroscopy. Volume 11, Modern NMR Technlques a n d their Appllcatlon In Chemlstry Alexander I. Popov and Klaas Hallenga, Editors. Edward G. Brame, Jr.. Series Editor. Marcel Dekker: New York. NY, 1991. x 665 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $135.00 US & Canada1$162.00 F.
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Surfactant Sclence Serles. Volume 37, Catlonlc Surfactants: Phvslcal Chemistry Donn N. Rublngh and Paul M. Holland, Edltors. Martin J. Schick and Frederick M. Fowkes, Consulting Editors. Marcel Dek527 pp. ker: New York, NY, 1991. viii Figs. and tables. 18 X 23.5 cm. $125.00 US & Canada/$150.00 F.
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Number 9
September 1991
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