Organic and Biologlcal Chemistry
John R. Holum, Augsburg College. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1978. Figs. & tables. 26 X 18.5 cm. aii 494 pp. $14.95.
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As author of Elements o f CeneralondRiolr~gicalChemistry, now in its third edition, Organic Chemistry, A Brief Introduction, and Fundnmenta1.s of General, Orgnnir and Riologieol Chemistry, the author nf this text should be no stranger to readers of this Journal. This text consists of the last 20chapters of Fundamento1.s. It appears to be designed for students of biology and allied health who have had one or more semesters of general chemistry, and who need tu he introduced to hvth organic and biological chemistry in one semester or a t most two quarters. Since time is at apremium in such courses, care must be exercised in the selection of topics to he covered. Particular attention must be paid to the
these students. While others seem to use blunt seisarrs on the full-year organic course, this text was shaped with a well-honed razur. Instead of a perfunctory analysis of a large number of topics, the author chooses to ignore certain topics completely. Functional gmups and reagents which have no counterparts in biological organisms are either omitted or slighted, regardless of their innate appeal to organic chemists. The first 8 chapters contain discussions of hydrocarbons; alkenes and aromatics; aleoh d s and ethers; halides, mereaptans and amines; aldehydes and ketones; carhoxylic acid derivatives; synthetic polymers: and optical isomerism. The remaining 11 chapters include treatments of carbohydrates; lipids; proteins; enzymatic metabolism; nucleic acids: extracellular fluids: hiochemieal energetics; carbohydrate, lipid, and protein n~etabalism;and nutrition. As we have noted,
the treatment of organic chemistry appears to be designed primarily to introduce those concepts necessary for the discussion of biological chemistry. Thus, it should not be surprising to find that the RSH function is identified simultaneously as both a mercaptan and a sulf'hydryl linkage and that the dominant reaction of interest in the discussion of mercaptans is the oxidation of these lhnctiuns t o form the disulfide linkage. Nor is it surmising to find that organic reaction mechanisms are essentially ignored; whereas, evnlicit note is made reoeatedlv of those as-
comprvmds is dominated by a discussion of the detoxification of these compounds ill the liver, and the resultant liver damage which may occur when these compounds are resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis. Recent years have witnessed the publication of a plethora of textbooks which are designed explicitly for students of hialopy or allied health; thus, this text enters a crowded field. There are a t least 10 texts on this reviewer's shelves with similar aims, hut which differ eonsiderahly in terms of either level of presentation or emphasis. If one includes the myriad short organic texts as well, one may now chuose from texts that run the entire gamut from the author's Organic Chemistry, n Brief Inlroduction, which emphasizes the organic chemistry and contains a snupq~nof biochemistry, to texts such as the this, where the emphasis is placed definitely on the biulagical chemistry. I find the style ofwriting in this text tu he extremely lucid. Sentences are for the most part short and to the point. The subject
tions, most of which are excellent. The oruhlems are well written. often raisine ~ o i n t s
been written by an individual who understands the abilities and limitations of the students enrolled in this course. It i s a text which is written for the student, rather than to impress the author's colleagues. This text is part of a package which includes a study guide and a laboratory manual. The study guide provides the students with additional examples, sample examination questions, and the answers to the text's exercises. The laboratory manual emphasizes molecular models, physical properties of organic and biological compounds, and organic reactions. I t does not include experiments which are designed to provide the special techniques needed by the organic chemist, such as distillation, crystallization, and extractiun. It is a pleasure to recommend this text to your attention. In a remarkably crowded field, this textbook must be considered one of the best. George M. Badner Pordoe University W Lafayetre, IN 47907
Chemistry through Models
Colin J . Suckl~ng,Keith E. Suckling, and Charles W. Suckling. Cambridge University Press, Camhridge, London, New York, 1978. Figs. & tables. 23.8 X 16 em. xii 321 pp. $32.50.
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"Chemistry through Models" is logical and attempts to build concepts in a stepby-step process, leaving nothing unexplained, exploring every avenue on the use of models to predict possibilities, to solve problems and to market new products as they pertain to theoretical and applied science. By modeling, the authors mean eonstrutting alternative, usually simpler forms of objects or concepts in the expectation that the study of the model will shed light on the nature df the objects or concepts,the objeeLives to be achieved, and, in the case of industry, practical means of producing and marketing the products through modeling. According to the authors, there are four basic steps in modeling: (1) t o translate the idea or experience into a model by action (experimentation); (2) to construct large or small scale representations of states, objects or events that represent the real thing based upon the "action" (models may be pictorial, mathematical, proposed reaction mecha-
- Reviewed in this Issue John R. Holum, Organic and Binlogical Chemistry
Reviewer George M. Bodner
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Colin J. Suckling, Keith E. Suckling, and Charles W. Suckling, Chemistry Through Models
John W. Aleoek
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P. W. Atkins, Physical Chemistry
Dewey K . Carpenter
A260
Richard d. Laob and Robert I.. Pecsok, editors, Phqaicoehemicol Applications of G m Chromotogmpky
John A. Dean
A260
F:. H. Grant, R. J. Sheppard, and G. P. Smith, Dielectric B~hauiorof Biological Molerules
C. Russell Middaugh
A260
Lon C. Ruedisili and Morris W. Firebaugh, editors, P m s p e r t i w s on Encrgy, Issues, Ideas, and Enuironmental Dilemmas
Graeme L. Baker
A261
Michael E. Green and Amos Turk, Sofcty in Working u i t h Chemicds
Malcolm Renfrew
A261
in Solution
Volume 56. Number 8. August 1979 / A259
