book reviews Twentv-six oroblems are eiven which involve
spectrum. Chapter 5 covers ultraviolet spectroscopy in somewhat more detail (40 pages) than usual for a text of this sort. Roughly half of the chapter is theory, in terms of energy diagrams and orbital pictures, and half is empirical rules for structure-spectra correlations. Chapter 6 is a fairly standard mass spectrometry chapter following the pattern in the previous chapters with about 45 pages devoted to fragmentation patterns for common structural units. Both of these chapters are followed by the usual number of problems. Chapter 7 consists entirely of the usual spectral problems in which ir, nmr, ms, and sometimes uv data are given. Thecompounds are almost all structurally simple, and the problems would not be sufficiently challeneine a t the maduate level: however. the " book does prepare the student t o work more challenging problems. Robert D. Guthrie university of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506
Guide for the Perplexed Organic Experhentalist
H. J. E. Loewenthal, Heyden & Sons, Inc. Philadelphia, 1978. v 174 pp. Figs. and tables. 20 X 13 cm. $9.60.
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The transition from student to researcher can be fraught with mistakes, missteps, and misfortunes. In many instances, the difficulty of the transition is dependent on a student's background and on the availability of a person who knows how to direct the student's efforts and who will to take the time toguide the novice researcher. As stated in the preface, the goal of this little o a ~ e r b a c kis to ease this transition bv
ning to work in a research program. I t is a collection of pointers and prejudices (and a few peeves) which the author has gleaned from years of doing research. The laboratory operations and apparatus described are ones which facilitate research hut are not found in laboratory manuals. Interspersed with these are numerous handy tidbits such as how to clean a TeflonD stir bar which has been blackened by alkali metal in liquid ammonia or how to package samples to send to friends and colleagues. The first ehaoter. "On Searchine the Litof the useful organic chemistry reference works and offers suggestions on how to find the specific information desired. The suggestions on how to conduct a literature search and how to organize the information could benefit any beginning graduate student. The second and third chapters, "On Carrying Out Small-scale Reactions" and A324 / Journal of Chemical Education
"On lsolatingand Purifying the Product," are so it is not generally appropriate to a student who knows littleor nothing about the subject a ootoourri of tios on labaratow techniaues. and who is probably not interested in 'I'he applicability of many of the suggesr~ons searching for more detail in the original liti- depmdent I ~ iP t u d e n t ' ~mfuntmn, hut rhr rntimnle hehind the suggextium i i rcle. erature cited. "ant to some degree in any organic research Although the author suggests that the book program. The most unique sections of this would be useful as an intermediate level unchapter are the ones on Kugelrohr distillation derxraduate textbook, it is difficult to enand on the preparation of analytical samples, visige a course that would concentrate on topics not found in most laboratory manthese topics to such an extent or an instructor uals. so heartless as to adopt a $60 textbook. The book would be valuable reading for graduate The chapter m raicty, Chapter Four, i% students, especially those specialonly three page3 long and briefly ~ ~ u t I i n o ~ t hresearch ~ izing in kinetics of reactions of metal ions in hns~c,mmmon sense admonitions regarding solution. The book presents state of the art mfc conduct in the lahoralory. Chapter Five. results and often identifies areas that need "On Catnlstlr llvdnxenatim." descrilrt, a additional study. useful hydrogen&ankask and offers some The book could also be of value as a refergeneral comments about catalytic hydrogenation a t atmospheric and medium pressure. ence source to instructors of senior and These comments are intended to supplement g r d u a t t Icwl nmrsei in ~ntrrgmtrchcmictry detailed procedures in other books which are ht, n1.h rc, mrur[wratr material on m d i h referenced by the author. Chapter Seven i d o t ~ mch~mmtrvinto their courie-. Such presents four experimental procedures from readers, especially those with prior knowlthe author's laboratory. The procedures serve edge of this subject, willappreciate the terse style and theextensive list of references, since as examples of many ofthe techniques mena wide variety of aspects of the subject can be tioned in the book and are also useful as exexamined in one volume. amoles of how to write concise.. vet . detailed experimental pn,crdure,. Chaprcr Eight James P. Bi* ~lrsrrilwssrwrsl unique and wetdl pierw of A r i m State University nppnratus and techniques, many collected Tempe. A 2 8528 1 from research laboratories other than the author's. The last chapter offers guidance on ordering chemicals and what t o expect when the order arrives and on bottling and storing chemicals. At the end of the book. there is a hrt uf 75 references I
