book reviews Two supplemmtal books are available. The "Student's Manual" contains worked out answers to textbook 1,nrblems as well asother study materials. The s e c ~ n dhook, "Organic Nomenclature: A I'nurarnmed Study Guide" is a well planned pnrgrammed approach designed to help the student master the basic aspects of organic nomenclature. Robert A. Scharnbach Whinier College Whinier. Calilornia 90608
Physical Biochemistry
l h i d Fwi/cldcr, Brandeis University. W. H. l h e m s n and Cu., San Francisco, 1976. n + 570 pp. Figures and tales. 16 X 24 cm. 916.95 M d w n biochemistry and muleeular biolvgy haveevolved from a variety of disciplines,
which partially avxrunts for the wide range oI'n-irnrch instrunrentetim presently used. The Ilpd~ingl~iorhrmistis frequently overrvhdnlrd hy the variety ol' sophisticated phy4c,al methods and techniques used and desrrihd in the current literature. T o und c r a t ; d a paper frequently requires consider:ihle time on the part of the reader in seilwhing imt ndditim;il rderences that describe the methodulogy! As such, there has existed n great need for a practical physical 1,i~tchemistrytext that describes physical methuds in some detail, givestheir scopeand limitutions, along with a number of working
A1 10 I Journal of Chemical Education
examples: This text does that-and more. Starting with an introductory chapter on the Characterization of Macromolecules, Freifelder briefly defines the terminology and concepts that are used in examining the properties and shapes of macromolecules in six subsequent parts. The first, Direct Observation, covers light and electron mierascopy from simple theory to the backscatter scanning micruscope. His descriptions for preparing samples for the electron microscope are brief, but lucid. A colleague who specializes in the art of electron microscopy was quite favorably impressed with this first section. The second part covers General Laboratory Methods, including measurement of pH, radioactive labeling and counting, autaradiography, and membrane filtration and dialysis. His description of the practical problems encountered with tris buffers (e.g. concentration and temperature effects) in the chapter on pH are typical of those found throughout the book. The third part examines chromatography, electrophoresis, and immunological methods in 100 pages. While this treatment is nut all-encompassing, the material that is presented is well-chosen, concise. and clearlv written with excellent "me, diffusion, and viscosity are covered in Part IV, folluwed by a section on spectroscopic methods (Part V). Here, absorption, flubrescence, optical rotatory dispersion, circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance are described. These two parts of the text would be an excellent basis for an
be fit intoearlier chapters. Thisis fallowed by a brief Glossary and a workable Index. There are references a t the end of each chaoter which are useful and relevent. In teresting aspects of the book are the numerous one-paragraph examples given in each
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w e are currently using the book as a supplementary text in our graduate-level biochemistry courses. It has been received quite favorably by most students. For a virgin edition, the text appears to be remarkably free of minor errors. This is the best practical physical biochemistry book 1 have seen. I t will serve as a handy reference on physical methods for workers in the biological sciences for years to come. I am pleased to have such a book available and recommend it highly. Ivan I. Kaiser Division of Biochemistry University of Wyoming Laramie. Wyoming 8 0 7 1
The Dvnamics of Soectrorconk ~ r a n s k o n s (lllustr&ed : by ~ h ~ n e t i c Resonance and Laser Eftecls)
James D. Macomber, Louisiana State University. .John Wiley & Sans, New York, 1976. xxiv 332 pp. Figures and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $19.95
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In order to set the mood for this text Pro(Continued on page A1 121
