in July, 1956. These papers are nicely edited and, i t is important to note, include the discu~sionand comments which followed their presentation. In this respect the." possess the same high value that has long been associated with the Discussions of the Faraday Son'ety. All told, 52 of the leading academic and industrial English and continental researchers in the field contributed to this volume. As Professor Garner points out, "Chemisorption" may he regarded as a eantinuation of the Faradrty Society S,ymposia on "Adsorption of Gased'in 1932 and "Heterogeneous Catalysis'' in 1950. This hook is not intended as a general survey of the field for those with no previous experience in it. I t presupposes same knowledge or experience and require8 a. reasonably active interest in the phenomena discussed. I t is intentionally limited in scope in o ~ . d to e~ permit full and adequate discumions and includes papers in the five main categories: (1) Theory of Cheminorption, (2) Chemisorption on Insulators, (3) Chemisorptian on Metals, (4) Chemisorptian an Semiconductors, and (5) Chemisorptian on Carbon. The papers discuss principally work done in the last five years, but a t the same time they carefully tie this work to earlier research. All researchers desling with phenomena a t solid surfaces and all libraries endeavoring to maintain adequate information in this fiold should own a. copy. R. NELSON SMITH I'OMON* COL,.EOE
CLAREIIONF. CALIFORNIA
practice of tracer teehniqnes. The first hhree chapters, which deal n i t h fundamental principles of nuclear physics and chemistry, have been reuritten and modernized. As in the earlier editions, individual chapters are devoted t o isotopes or groups of isotopes of importance in biological tracer research. In each case, the techniques of preparation and assay of the isotope are presented and this is followed by consideration of examples from the literature illustrating uses of the isotope in biological research problems. P e r h ~ p aone of the most outstanding features of the neus edition is the extensive treatment (100 pages) of biochemical aspects of tmrev methodology. Here again, the examples selected for detailed discussion are drmm from a variety of re~earchesa t the forefront of modern biochemical research (e.g., CO1 fixation in photosynthesis, hiosynthesis of ramplex molerules, mechanism of enzyme action etr.). These examples ns aell as the other topics ransidered are thoroughly dacumented with references to the original research papers. Professor I h m e n , who is now in the Department of Biochemistry of 13randeis University, is to be complimented for this valuable contribution to the literature.
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Louise Kelley, Professor of Organic Chemistz.~, Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland. Second edition. McGrawHill Book Co., Ino., New York, 1957. vii 757 pp. 3 7 figs. SO tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $7.50.
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ISOTOPIC TRACERS IN BIOLOGY Mortin D. Kamen, Professor of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. Third edition. Academic Press Inc., New York, 1957. xii 474 pp. 71 figs. 41 tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $9.50.
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THEfirst edition of this work, published in 1947, was designed s s an introduction to tracer methodology ss applied to hiological research with t,hree maiu objectives: (1) to provide an introduction or review of those concepts in nuclear physics, an understanding of which is basic to the intelligent application of tracer methods in biology, (2) to present a systematic and critical survey of existing tracer methods, and (3) to indicate potentialities and limitations of these methods as applied to biological problems. The original text and the amplified second edition fulfilled these aims admirably. In addition to serving as an introduction to the field, the previous editions have also been generally regarded as an important source hook and guide by biochemists, microbiologists, and others actively engaged in research with isotopic tracers. The new edition has essentially the same framework as the previous versions, but has been expanded to include tracer
I N HER revision of the nell-known texb hook by the author and Professor Hill, the author hopes that "a. proper balance, hetween the two extremes of-only material n-hich students can master in a an? year course, and the inclusion of too much me; t e d so as to make the hook unwieldy-, hm heen achieved." I t is the belief of this reviewer that, in the main, this ahjeetive has been achieved. Following introductory chitpters on raleulations involved in determining molecular formulas and reviex of stomic structure with applications to ol.gsnic chemistry, there are 16 chapters on aliphatic compoimds. About halfway through these chapters, there are two wellwritten chapters on organic theow; one on mechanisms of organic reactions, and one an the molecular-orbital theory and its applications. Also interspersed are a rhapter on isomerism, two chapters on biochemistry, and s. chapter on wganometallic compounds. This is folloned hy a chapter on slicyclic chemistry. There are 12 chapters (133 pages) on aromatic chemistry, three of which are on nitrogen compounds. Falloning this there arc chapters devoted t o dyes, terpenes, heterocyclic chemistry (22 pages), alkaloids and steroids, plant pigments and vitamins. The text is followed by four interesting appendixes: a list of symhals used; a (Catinued a page ASS) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
simple method of balancing organic reactions of the oxidation-reduction type; a list of reference books and journals; and tables of logarithms and international atomic weight,^. The book is well-indexed, with 57 pages. T h e r e there is more than one veferenre to a rompound, the most important disrussion is listed in boldface type. The book is well-wt.ittcn; no elmxs n-ere noted. Many of the criticisms of the earlier edition have heen eorrwtecl. Tho book is sectioned and easy to follow. Cross references are frequently and wisely used. A few more biographies are included, although more might have been desirable. Helpful review questions, often of a pmhlem nature, and literature references are given a t the end of each chapter. Industrial processes for the synthesis of important substances are often described in detail for the purpose of providing some understanding of the difference in materials used and in reaction conditions between a. synthesis carried out in the lsboretory, and the commercial synthesis of the same substance. Yields are often mentioned in order to emphasize the fact that conversion of one organic m b ~ t a n r einto another is usually far from romplete. The reviewer is not in agreement uith the order of presentation of topics. For example, the importance of alkyl halides as synthetic intermediates n.ould suggest earlier presentation. The authov has drlayed this chapter in order that a l k d hal-
ides might follow the chapter on mechanisms-this is good. The theoretical chapters were postponed so as to give the student some familiarity with organic reactions-this is good. However the entire section (mechanisms, orbital, alkyl halides) could have been moved forward before the chapter on deahols and ethers to better advantage. Likewise the chapter on aldehydes and ketones, following alkyl halides, and eight chapters sfter alcohols, and six chapters after acids, seems out of place. The newer theoretical electronic concepts are introduced ear1.v and used frequently throughout the text. Liken-ise, the mechanisms of most organic reactions are explained well, and the style and manner arc easy to follon-. Although the book contains more than can be covered in a year, the teacher can easily and canveniently suggest the more important material.
platinum complex compounds and comuletes the datinum series of whi?h Darts A-c werebuhlished from 1938 to i951. This volume is especislly complete in that the Gmelin Institute reviewed the entire Russian platinum literature. Their findings as nell as those of other researrhen to the end of the year 1953 me included. The introductory chapter, 38 pages, deals with thearrangement of the material, nomenclature, formula, a summary of the more important ligands and their ahhreviations and a summary of Russian literature. I t also gives a brief review of thc historic development and a general description of the properties of platinum complex compounds. The nature and the importance of the trans effect are discussed with special emphasis on its importance in advancing the knowledge of platinum complex compounds. There are 2880 platinum compounds described in the main part, 589 pages, of this volume. This tremendous amount of material is rapidly available due to the systematic arrangement and the inclusion of a formula index arranged by type and liumber of neutral ligands. This volume illustrates the care and thoroughness of the entire Gmelin series. Active workers in the field of platinum rhemistry will appreciate the convenience and utility of this work.
SAMUEL P. M l S S I E
F ~ s vU s r v ~ n r r ~ r NASRIILLE. TENNEBSEE
GMELINS HANDBUCH DER ANORGANISCHEN CHEMIE. SYSTEM 68: PLATINUM Edited by the Gmelin Institute under the direction of E. H. E. Pietsch. Eighth edition. Verlag Chemie, GmbH, Weinheim Bergstrasse, Germany, 1957. 1iv 638 pp. 2 5 figs. 17.5 X 25.5 cm. 590.
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ROY I. GRADY
THISnew volume of Gmelins Hnndhook of Inorganic Chemistry is devoted to the
COLLECEO F WODSTER woorrm. 0x10 ~
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