BOOK REVIEWS Elementary Biochemistry
Edwin T . M e d z , Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. Burgess Publishing Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1959. ii 298 pp. Figs. and tables. 22 X 28.5 em. 86.50 (Spiral hound, $5.50).
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The author states that the purpose of this text is to intraduoe biochemistry on an elementary level to students who have had a minimum of training in organic chemistry. In this reviewer's opinion he has accompliahed his purpose creditably yet with sufficient brevity for a one-semester or two-quarter course. The subject matter has been divided into 14 rhapters, of which the first five deal with tho basic chemistry af the major classes of coll nutrients. Treatment of this mntprixl is entirely adequate and the protein rhspter is especially well done. Bevcctl newer analytical techniques such as chromatography inits various forms, ion exchange, electrophoresis, and ultracentrifugnt,ion are discussed in some detail togpther with biochemical applications. Chapter 6 reviews hriefl.~the chemiod nature and meohanism of action of enzymes, nith special attention being given to the roles which coenzymes play. The ohemistry of the vitamins is outlined in
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Journol of Chemical
Education
chapter 7, although their nutritional significance is treated later in the text. An interesting chapter follows on Minerals, Soils, and Plant Nutrition. In fact, emphasis has hem placed throughout the text on eomoarative hmchemistrv. This feature adds i o its effectiveness an> should make it more attractive to teachers in widely different fields such as Agriculture, Forestry, Home Economies, and Pharmacy. Digestion and absorption (chapter (I) are treated also in tcrmsof t,he comparative anatomy and physiology of the digestive tracts of animals, from insect,s to man. The met~holiereactions of the various nutrient mitterial~are t,reat,ed in a single rather lengthy chapter tmt the important concepts are well preserltrd. Photosynthesis and plant metxholism in general are accorded a generous discussion. Chapter 11 concerns the caloric and nutrient requirements of animals and the topic receives it relatively thxaugh ttrestment. Chapter 12 descrihes t,hc hiochemistry of certain sp~cinliscdplant and animal tissues, including hlood, kidney, and endocrine glands. Chapter 13 briefly reviews modern mebhods which have proven effectivein the hiochemienl control of organismsand thp final rhapter describes some of the more important industrial, drug, and food uses of biochemicals. A number of errors. mainlv tvooeraohi-
offset printing is the relatively low cost of revision. HAROLD G. ODDY University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio Soviet Research on the Lanthanida and Actinide Elements, 1949-1957. Parts 1-5
English Translation. Part I , Basic Chemistry; Part 2, Snalyticsl and Separation Chcmist~y;Part 3, Norlear Chemistry and N u ~ l e a r Properties; I'srt 4, Geology; Part 5, Soclear Fuel Technology. Chemistry Collection B e ries. Consultants Bureau, Ine., New York. 1959. 21 X 2i.5cm. Complete collection S65. Part 1, $15; Part 2, 8 0 ; Part 3, $2250; Pnrt 4, 7 . 5 0 ; Part 5, S i . 50. This is a collection OF 106 papers prepared from translstions from only the f o l l o ~ i n gRussian joi~rnala: Journal of .4pplied C h o r ~ i s i r . Journal ~~, qf dnalyticol Chcwistr?~,Bdletin of the .4cndemg q f Sciences, Z+or~r,ling.s qf /he ;Icarlenz~/ qi Sciences, Jmtrnnl qf .I/omie Energy, and Jownal of Gen~rolChemistrg. I t should not, and indeed the publishers indicate that it muat not, he considerrd, therefore, as a complete coverage of the Russian literature on thcac subjwts.
(Continued om page A440)
BOOK REVIEWS The papers are grouped under the five headings noted above, and no paper is listed under more than one heading. Within each grouping, there is an understandable heterogeneity since thi8 ia merely an ovectll eompendiom rather than a selective one. No attempt has been made to treat the litnthnide and actinide elements separately. The difficulty in preparing a, comprehensive review of this type of publication is apparent. Indeed, the reviewer is prompted to suggest that people interested in these zrcaa of chemistry examine the volumes for specifically useful articles rather than depend opon a general review. Any such examination will indicate clearly the close parallel between work done in the Soviet Union and that done in the United States and England. In many instances, work reported here is essentially the same as that which has appeared in the Western literature. I t is unfortunate that lack of comprehension of a language or lack of availability of s, published report has resulted in repebition of work or duplieiltion of effort. Although tho accuracy of trsn~li~tion cannot 1,r determined uniformly, the method and mcchmics of presentatirn are excellent. The relatively high cost of the complete net may deter many people from purchasing what would otherwise he a useful addition to the literature of the lanthanide and actinide elements. THERALD MOELLER Noye-9 Chemical Lahoralory Univer.~ilyo f Illinois, Uibona Induced Oxidation
W. P. Jorissen, University of Leiden, The Netherlands. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, Xew Jerscy. 1959. x 208 pp. 77 figs., 26 tables. 15.5 X 23.5 em. $8.75.
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An induced oxidation is one whichoccurs only in the presence of another substance which is known as an inductor. Far example, mitnganous ion is not oxidizod by chromic acid, but in the prcsenec of isopropyl alrohul, a rapid oxidation occurs. These reactions are of considerable' importance in inorganic and 0rganic ehemistry. This book deals largely with the work of Dr. Jorissen and his atudents on induced oxidations in whieh oxygen is the oxidizing agent. Moat of tho work whieh is cited was done in thc late 1800's and early 1900's. As such, it may be of some interest to chemical historians. However, i t is doubtful if it would he of .significant value to tcechers or research workers in chemistry. There is a need for a good survey of induced oxidations of all types since the information on these reactions has not been summarized in a. conveniently available form. Unfortunately, this book does little to serve this purpose.
KENNETH B. WIBERG Uniue~sityqf Washingla Sea11le
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lntrodurtion t o Chemical Engineering Problems
William H . Coreoran and William 3. Lacey, both of California Institute of Technology, Pasadena. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1960. xii 185 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23 5 em. $9.50.
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This is s presentation of the physical chemical principles as they apply to a few chemical engineering problems. The text material is well presented and is fortified with excellent illustrative prohlemr. The authors cover both material balances and mergy t,alane~sas well as two chapters on Introduction to Chemical Equilihria and Introduction to Chemical Kinetics. These are followed by four chapters on inorganic processes wherein the authors show how the development of the pro* esses is hasod an the chemical engineering principles covered in the earlier chapters. These inorganic processes are (1) fixatinn of nitrogen ( I 6 pages), (2) nitric acid (8 pages), (3) sulfuric acid (11 pages), and ( 4 ) sodium hydroxide (12 pages). Fiftyt u v new prohlems are listed s t the end of the book. Although the book is written concisely and clearly it is difficult t,o see how it will replace same of the present hooks vhiah are corrent,ly used nt this level.
JOHN J . MCKETTA The Universify of Tezas Auslin Dictionary of Atomic Terminology Edited by Lore Lettmmeyer. Philosophical Library, Inc., New York, 1959. 2!18 pp. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. $6. This volume is a most interesting nrldtion to the literature for those dealing w~th foreignliterature in the atomic cnergJ fiold. The nature of the book can he very simply stated. The volume con~istsof 1,814 terms used in tho field of atomic energy. The terms are alphabetized in English, with the rest of the work giving the German, French, and Italian equivalents far these terms. The remainder of tho book contains German, French, and Italian indexes, with the number of the term giving the other language equivalents. The selections of the terms seem to Ire quite satisfactory in making a quick eomparison a i t h the U S . glosssry of nuclear terminology ("A Glossary of Terms in Nuclear Science and Tochnalagy," ASA XI. 1-1957, published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers). I t would seem that this volume contains more e n t r i e ~than does the U.S. glossary. In general, the entries lean toward phy~ica and engineering, rather than biology. In common American usage, the title "Dictionary" might be somewhat misleading, since no definitions of tho terms are given. The generalimpression is that i t would be an extremely useful reference for those who need a handy "conversion table" for the languages listed. R A L PT. ~ OVERMAN
Oak Ridge Institute ojNuclear Studies Oak Ridge, Tennessee
