little is postponed for later consideration. Occasionally perplexity threatens: for example, epoxide reactions with Grignard reagents are covered on p. 262, but no attempt to account for the reactivity of epoxides appears until p. 342. NORMAN KHARASCR A few typographical errors and occaUniversity of Southern California sional lapses of grammar appear, bowLos Angdes sprit bonds are mislabeled, and some factual statements about reactions are incorrect. These items are, in my judgment, f m less serious than two sources of major disappointment. Nomenclature is Esrentimls OF Modern Organic Chemistry treated very lightly in this text. Formulas in the text are named, but little direct William A . Bmner, Stanford University, instruction in nomenclature is given after Stanford, Cdifornia, and AWwt J. alkanes. Several key illi~strations are Caslro, San Jose Stat,e College, San Jose, improperly named, and the symbol P (for California. Reinhold Pnhlishing Corp., para) is used in names a hundred pages New York, 1965. xviii 645 pp. before its meaning is mentioned. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. The second major disappointment, and $R.95. more puzzling than nomenclature, is the lack of follow-through on energy relations, Titles are sometimes unhelpful, sometimes even presumptuous, but "E~sentials so well developed in the "introduction." Although the authors have illustrated of Modern Organic Chemistry" is a welleffectively the relationship of alternate chosen title for this text. "Essentials" transition state energies on relative rates of implies selection, the comparative size of DEREKA. DAVENPORT the text necessitates selection, and the reaction, they still discuss orientation in Purdue University aromatic substitutions solely in terms of selection has been made with a goad eye Lafayette, Indiana ground state electron density distributions. toward what presently concerns organic Similarly the effect of a substituent on the chemists. Dates cited include 1964 and relative stability of a carboxylic acid and 1965. Some professors may quarrel wit,h the carboxylate anion is not considered in a the actual sseleetions. hut most will be discussion of acid dissociations; attention ~mtifir.1to find n3t;dcrn o r ~ n n i vtext of is focused only on the acid. One wonders nmrr r n ~ ~ ~ ~ t i g-iw w l ~tha~a l v it. likclv c o w what the earlier development of energy repetitors. Textbook of Organic Chemistry lationships in the abstract was for. The distinguishing feature of this text An amusing, probably unintended parois the lengthy "introduction" of 6 chapters Lloyd N . Fe~gusm,Howard University, chialism shows through in the selection of (118 pages) which develops the language Washington, D.C. 2nd ed. D. Van individual chemists for identi6cation; and concepts of organic chemistry before Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, 1965. identification with affiliation is restricted attention is given to classes of compounds. 755 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 xii largely to Californians. The first postuThis section includes discussions of stereoX 23.5 cm. $11.75. late of bename intermediates is mistakenly isomerism, spectroscopic data, molecuIn a review of the first edition of this attributed to a California chemist in 1956. lar orbitals, reaction intermediates, textbook (J. CHEM.EDUC.,36,259 [1959]), The book is well illustrated. Threeand energy relations during reactions. it was stated that "Teachers who present dimensional drawings and tables are well The next 8 chapters are concerned with an general courses of organic chemistry to a. done, and good choices of naturally ocintegrated treatment of functional group broad spectrum of students and who are curring examples of each functional group classes of compounds. A full chapter an not looking for a radically different book class have been included. In places the Optical Isomerism (particularly wellshould find Dr. Fergusan's book of interest writing seems genuinely inspired, enough written) and one on Natural Products far consideration." I t was pointed out so to make the disappointments all the (mostly carbohydrates, with some reacthat the approach of the text was direct, mare keen. tions not usudly included) complete the that the style was clew and friendly, and text. Each chapter closes with a. list of JAMESG. TRAYNHAX that while the subdivision of material was Supplementary Reading, references mostly Louisiana State University classical, the presentation of physical to articles in JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL Balm R a g e aspects was modern and useful. It was EDucnnoN. Study questions pertaining aLso noted that certain teaching innove, to each ohapter are collected in 42 pages tions made the book attractive for use at the end of the book: these are good with average and good students. review questions aimed at the material In a thorough revision, Professor specifically covered in the text. Ferguson has achieved advances which Throughout the text, boldface type is will he appreciated by teachers and stuused effectively for emphasis on words or dents. Greater emphasis is given to reactparts of formulas. Excellent brief d i s Applications of Absorption ion mechanism; the chapters an ammatic cussions of physical properties introduce Spectroscopy of Organic Compounds compounds have been moved forward each functional group class; I R and UV to permit an integrated treatment of data are cited, but NMR data seldom apJohn R. Dyer, Georgia. Institute of aromatic and aliphatic compounds; and pear. Heterocyclic compounds are Technology, Atlanta. Prentice-Hall, a useful chapter on Structure Determinatreated adequately, not in a separate he., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, tion by Physical Methods has been added chapter, but st zppropriate places through 1965. x f 143 pp. Figs. and tables. following the discussions of the various the text. Several reactions are usually 16 X 23.5 em. Paperbound, $2.50; classes of aliphatic compounds. An exsummarized to show what happens to a cloth, $5.50. tension of certain topics, such as alicyclic functional group, and then mechanisms The belief that "one learns by doing" compounds, has been made; and answers are considered. to test questions, historical and factual has long been recognized by teachers tryOne of the most favorable aspects of the data, and a general updating of material ing to get students to solve problems. book is that it is clearly addressed to the have been included. Exercises are also student, not to the professor. Early This premise has undoubtedly prompted revised tlnd extended, and the 51-page the writing of several problem manuals development of language and concepts appendix on The Solution of Mathematdesigned to give practice in the solution of oermits a tone of thorouehness to he ical Problems in Elementary Organic structure problems with the aid of spectrd whicrcrl in the 1.rrtt.rhnlf wf thc hnk when Chemistry has been retained. rlnccrs of c ~ n p o t m dHi W l w q concidcrcd; data.
[sic] Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics and Rates of Chemical Resct i o n ~ a r somewhat e less successful partly because of the necessary compression and partly because there seems to be no clear idea as to what prior knowledge the comprehending reader should have. Certainly the treatment of thermodynamics will be hmdgoingfor those whose previous knowledge does not extend much beyond the Hess's Law of PACC. The book is written in a relaxed almost conversational tone and happy phmes abound. Thus: hydride ion "in the outer layer of the star sots as a kind of stellw overcoat which keeps the inside warm." And: "collisions between A and B will be ineffective unless B hits A's tender spot." Professor Dewar has a weakness for participial adjectives and his ability to find some of the more dour agpeots of chemical theory both "entertaining" and "amusing" is positively Aristophanie. I t is saddening to see the publishers of Fowler and Gowen treat the semi-colon so impertinently;
The revised edition is a,sound and teschable oresentation of the one-vear course in t,r~hnicchmmistry and mrril.; the altcnricn of te~vhrr+ for pns~iblr3tl
