BOOK REVIEWS many of the techniques (or tricks) described here are of such obvioos simplicity and cleverness as to leave the reader wondering, "Why didn't I think of that?" DAVIDL. POWELL The College of Wooster Woostw, Ohio s in Spectroscopy-Organic re Determination by NMR, IR, nd Mass Spectra
if
lnwg M . Trost, University of Wisconsin. \1. A. Benjamin, Inc., New York, 1967. 416pp. 23.5 X 28cm. $7.50. Paperbound.
This problem book in spectroscopy eontains infrared, ultraviolet, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectra for two hundred organic compounds. The spectra for each compound are conveniently arranged and clearly recorded so that they can be viewed simultaneously. On the p ~ g econtaining the spectra are recorded the percentage composition and the osmometric molecular weight. Almost all classes of organic compounds are represented. The problems are difficult and challenging. Most of them require inferences from each of the available spectra. for their solution. There are no reference tables of spectra so the problem solver must use
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other sources of data. This is an experience which closely parallels that encountered in solving a research problem. Certainly, the person who successfully works the problems in this book will be well equipped for the assignment of stmctures from modem spectroscopic data. The book seems most appropriate for advanced undergraduates and first year graduatestudents.
science. The history of this organization is closely related to that of the great German chemical industry and the latter has always supported the Geaellschaft in i k many ventures. The stmy is told largely in terms of the men who headed it,, and so we find the sections labeled the A. W. Hofmann era, the Emil Fiseher era, etc. The years of growth were followed by the dark periods J o s ~ p nD. DANFORTE that resulted from the German defeats in the two great wars and the political situaGrinnell College tion during the Hitler regime. After the Grinnell, Iowa ,50112 country was divided, the Gesellsckajl too was split; now the Gesellsehajl Deutscher Chemiker is active in West Germany and 100 hre Deulrche Chemisehe the Chaische Gesellsehajt in der G&hatt Deutseher Dernokratischen Rebublik functions in East Germany. The Berichte has h a l t e r Ruske, Humholdt UMersity, likewise been divided or rather it now a p Berlin. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim/ pears as two independent journals. Bergstrasse, West Germany, 1967. 260 pp. 82 figures and photographs. 15.5 Besides i b Berichte, the Deutsche ChemX 23.5 cm. DM 14 (= 3.50 dollars). ische Gesellschaft has sponsored numerous literary undertakings. The mast imparThis outstanding volume was commistant of these has been Beilslein, Gmelin sioned by the German Chemical Society in and since 1892, the Zentmlblatt. I t has honor of its 100th birthday. The sooiety also played an important part in standardwas organiaed on November 11, 1867, and izing the academic instruction a t the the first scientific meeting was held in German universities. All these activities Berlin on January 27, 1868. Its Berichte and more are set down in much detail in likewise dates from 1868. There is no this story. Footnotes and the many refneed here to attempt an analysis or aberences to the Berichle are of great value stract of the contents of this well reand the photographs add much. searched chronicle, which in much detail Though the German is of medium di5gives the story of the beginnings, growth, culty, this volume deserves s. wide distrihuvicissitudes, and present state of this ortion even in countries where German is a ganization. Every chemist knows what i t has signified in the development of our (Continued on page A246)
