book reviews Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry, 2nd Editlon
Stuart J. Raum, State University of New York, College a t Plettsburgh. Maemillan Publishing Ca., New York, 1978. Figs. & tables. 18 X 26 cm. xiii 514 pp. $14.95.
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This book is intended for a course in organic chemistry with heavy emphasis on biological applications. It is written for students in the areas of nursing, biology, medical technology, agriculture, and veterinary science, and i t assumes students have had a t least one orior course in chemistrv.
chapters cover biochemistry. The second edition of this book contains many revised chapters, a new chapter on sulfur and phosphorus compounds, new material on aging, taste, smell, birth control, drugs, viruses, and pesticides. Reaction mechanisms are not heavily stressed, but some are included. The book does not utilize a two-color format which is the trend for most modern textbooks. Readability and easier understanding of concepts could have been improved if a twu-color format had been used, oarticularlv for figures and structures. Ex-
adequate, but no answers are provided in the hook. Overall, the book is well conceived and written. Instructors looking for a book for a course in organic chemistry for nonmajor in health related fields should consider this edition. Roger D. Barry Norfhem Michigan University Marquene. 49855
Organic Chemistry: A Brief Survey
Reuben L. Baumgarten, Lehman College of the City University of New York. The Ronald Press Co., New York, 1977. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 24 cm. viii + 474 pp. $14.50. This teat is designed for a one-semester course in organic chemistry for nonmajors. The book is well written and easy to read. A liberal number of interesting historical notes and examples drawn from biochemistry serves to increase the enjoyment and interest. Although there are some confusing sentences, the number of these is small. In addition, the number of typographical errors is low for a new t e d . However, one particularly annoying one is the consistent use of r instead of A for wavelength in the chapter on spectroscopy. The book is comprised of 24 chapters. The first six chapters cover the basic concepts of organic chemistry including bonding, geometry, and an introduction to nomenclature. Electronic and steric effects are also introduced here and used to discuss acid and base
chemistry. This is followed by an introduction to reaction mechanisms. The next ten stereochemistry, six chapters on natural products and polymers, and a final chapter on spectroscopy complete the coverage. Each chapter is followed by problems of varying degrees of difficulty. All the imoortant conceots of oreanic " chemistry nrr presrnrrd i n adrquarr drrnil. The lrrcl of rhc rerr IS quite appropriatr for the audirncr for u,hlch il is des~nned.hlua of the major reaction mechanisms are presented in the chapters dealing with the reactions of the functional groups and then used to aid in understanding the chemistry. Overall the text succeeds in its goals and deserves consideration by those teaching a one-semester organic chemistry course. Joseph M. Hornback U n i w i t y of Denver Denver. Colorado 802 10
Prlnclples of Chemlcal Kinetics
Gordon G. Hommes, Cornell University. Academic Press, New York, 1978. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. x + 268 pp. $19.50, The subject of chemical kinetics is extremelv bmad. and. hence. it is necessarv to
he on the phenomenology and commonly used theories of chemical kinetics along with a selection of ap~lications.The topics included in this text accomplish this purpose and should provide the student with a basic understanding of the principles of chemical kinetics and an appreciation of how mechanistic information can be obtained from various experimental approaches. Although the title is different, the book is essentially a somewhat revised edition of an earlier work coauthored with the late I. Amdur. Many long sections of the text have been lifted verbatum from the earlier edition. However. some of the material. esneeiallv
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chapter on enzyme kinetics has been expanded and a new section has heen added on collision dynamics by computer simulatim. The lists of references a t the ends of the chapters have been expanded to include new material. One meat imornvement is in the
he the case for many instructors, asbell, unless they are particularly well-gmunded in kinetics. The pnhlems at the ends of the chapters represent a good mix from easy to challenging. With une or two exceptions all the problems in this edition have been taken from the earlier work. Many students leaving school these days will be faced with tackling envinmnental or energy-related problems involving kinetics.
(Continued on pa#? A86) A84 1 Journal of Chemical Education
book reviews Typical examples include the chemical treatment ofwaste waters and cooling water from power plants. Some of these problems are very complex and involve the solution of a set of simultaneous differential equations. Although some may argue differently, I feel that a modern text on kinetics should also include a short chanter an numerical methuds, indsalm,: hmv p n , l h n i c , i ~ h i sI Y ~ may P he solved. Iris very Afla ult tuht.+in informntmn d 1 h t)pe ~ in on? wnvenlent p l x e .
of staff physicians should he called to appropriate sections whenever a new research program is started which involves the handling of such a substance as oxygen difluoride not commonly met in normal medical practice. Advance warning of the potential need for quick treatment could save lives. Malcolm Renfrew Universify of Idaho Moscow. 83843
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M. H. Liehke
Univemity of Tennessee Knowville. 379 16
Eflects of Exposure to Toxic Gases-First Aid and Medical Treatment. 2nd Edition William Baker, Allen L. Mossman, and Dauid Siegel, Matheson, Lyndhurst, N.J., 1977. Tables. 15 X 23.5 cm. vi 172 PP.
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This hook is intended to provide a practical and convenient reference for persons called upon to administer first aid to the victims of exposure to asphyxiant and toxic gases. I t covers the dangerous gases which are generally available commercially, ranging from such a deadly chemical as nickel carbonyl to the more tolerable substance, oxygen. Among the 37 individual gases (or groups of related substances) are acute poisons (e.g., hydrogen selenide) and vinyl chloride for which the onset of physiological damage from law-level exposure may he long delayed. Each substance (or group) is treated under the following headings: Description, Major Hazards, Effects in Man, Toxicity, Threshold Limit Values, Preventive Measures and Safety Precautions, First Aid (and suggested medical treatment, in some ease), References. There is a n introductory on Industrial Hygiene, and appendices A and B cover supportive medical treatment and drug therapy with a listing of more complete reference works on therapy. Appendix C tabulates the toxic effects of acute exposure to gases covered in the book. This reviewer is not qualified to give an authoritative opinion about the procedures cited; therefore, he called on Dr. J. Logan Rogers, M.D., of the University of Idaho's Health Service, who was favorably impressed by the book far on-campus use but did not judge i t to be an adequate text for medical students. The book appears to have been prepared with care. As an update and expansion of the first edition, i t seems reasonably current, yet it cautions users to note the publication date and possible obsolescence of material therein. This is a rapidly changing field-note, for example, the sudden rise t o prominence ofbenzene as a carcinogen. In the reviewer's opinion this is a hook which all chemistry departments should have for the safety training of faculty and students if there is work in progress with any of the substances covered. A copy should he kept easily a t hand for quick reference by those untrained in case an emergency develops. It is likely that a copy may also prove useful t o the medical staff members of mast institutions. The attention A86 / Journal of Chemical Education
Colloid and Interface Science, Volume I: Plenary and Invited Lectures Edited by Milton Kerker, Clarksnn College of Technology-New Yark, Albert C. Zettlemoyer, Lehigh University-Pennsylvania, Robert L. Rowell. University of Massachusetts. Academic Press. Inc., New York, 1977. xiiii 636 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.3 cm.
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This hook represents volume 1 of a four volume collection of papers presented a t the International Conference on Colloids and Surfaces held in San Juan. Puerta Rico, in June 1976.The papers collected in volume 1 are those of Plenary Lectures and Specifically Invited Speakers. The volume is organized in the format of the conference itself, i.e., ten subject areas each with a plenary lecture and several invited lectures. One plenary lecture and a eouole of the invited lectures do not appear in ihis published collection. Since it is impossible to review an extensive collection of papers in a few paragraphs, it is more useful to provide a table of contents and then a few brief comments about the book. I) Farces a t Interfaces Tabor, D., "Surface Forces ond Surfaee Interactions" Israelachvili, J. N., and Ninham, B. W., "lntermoleculor Forces-the L o n ~ a n dShort of I t " Requena, J., Brooks, D. E., and Haydon, D. A., "uon der Waals Forces in OillWoter Systems" Buckley, Donald H., "The Metolto-Metal Interface and Its Effect On Adhesion and Friction" 11) Catalysis Burwell, Jr., Robert L., and Stec, Kenneth S., "Adsorption and Cotalytic Reaction of Hydrogen on Chromia a t Low Temperatures" Nieuwenhuys, B. E., and Sachtler, W. M. H., "The Nature of Weak Adsorption on Transition Met01s"
Lo Jacono, Mariano, and Hall. W. Keith, "Catalysis and Surface Chemistry. I. Cyelopropone Reactions Over Reduced MolybdmaAlumina" Teichner, Stanislas Jean, Mazabrard, Alain RenC, Pajonk, Gerard, Gardes, Gerard E. E., and HoangVan, Can, "Hydrogen Spilloorr in Catalytic Reactions. I. Activation of Alumina" 111) Aerosols Kerker, Milton, "Some Recent Reflections on L i ~ hSt e a t t ~ r i n ~ " Bricard, J., Cabane, M., and Ma(Continued on page A88)
