APRIL. 1955
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the authors for spending many pages on the very inadequate and unsatisfactory "free volume" theory of liquids (refinements of the original work of LennardJones and Devanshire) and neglecting almost completely the admittedly semiempirical cor~spondingstates treatment which Pitzer and Guggenheim gave for simple fluids ("perfect liquids") like argon and methane. The publisher's advertising suggesta this book as an up-to-date text for advanced courees. While most teachers will be reluctant t o require students to purohsse a twenty-dollar text, they can certainly recommend, s t least for library reading, a book so well designed for student use. The authors have been very careful with their use of symbols and difficult mathematictics; the derivations and general discussions, while not always easy, are remarkably lucid. As a reference work, this is almost unsurpassed. I n spite of the difficult nature of the subiect it is fairlv easv to ooen to a sul,j~vr11) the middle of the lw;,l, and urdrrst9nd'it witl; n minif I d l . SUIW rtft.rewc toprcviou~w~rionsi9, of m t II minimum snd hwk-wit+ rourrr, i n ~ v i t , ~ lhut h , !hi+ is k q ~ to encesare slwsys clearly stated. No person doing research in any of thefields covered can afford to be without thisvolume a t his finger tips.
the errors. However, when ethene, sulfonic, and benzamide should read, respectively, ethane, sulfinic, and benaanilide, understanding is impaired. Subscripts are hard to read and 6 and 8, or 3 and 8 can be confused. Greek-lettor prefixes are poorly printed. The plus and minus signs an structural formulas of ionic compounds often are carelessly placed. The factual material is accurate and up to date. However, the treatment of electron mechanisms is highly attenuated and when attempted somewhat vitiated by poor formula illustration. I t is probable that no book on problems can or ever will satisfy entirely the needs of any teacher other than the authors. However, the problems included in this book are general in application, varied in type, and cover the usual material of the first-year organic course well. Many college or juniorcollege teachers and serious students of organic chemistry will I find i t a distinct advantam to introduce find useful. - the ~ book ~ ~ ~ my students to problems whose emphasis and wording differ from mine and those of the textbook in current use. ~
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INA M. G R A N I R . 4
R O B E R T L. GCOTT U N I V ~ ~OFI CALIPORNI* T ~
Los ANQEGEB.CALIFORNIA
PROBLEMS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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Edward G.Rietz, Wright Junior College, and Cash B. Pollord, University of Florida. Prentice-Hall, Inc.. New York, 1953. vii 332 pp. 13.5 X 21.5 cm. $3.95.
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THIS is the first book of problems in organic ohemistry in twenty years or more. Most teachers of elementary organic chemistry agree that there is no better way for s. student to make the new lanrmaee and mvriad details of orwnio chemistrv a nart problems. The book contains 29 chapters, a n answer section, a list of "name" reactions, references, snd a n adequate index. The first 28 chapters are arranged according to classes of organic compounds in the classical order of most organic textbooks. Each chapter is headed by an excellent systematic discussion of nomenclature stressing the I. U. C. but including also other systems and common names. Then a short outline of the methods of preparation, physical properties, and reactions of the class of compounds under treatment is presented and followed by a series of problems. These problems illustrate (1) naming of organic com~ounds: (2) writing formulas from names: (3) pre~arative methods; (4) syntheses; (5) balancing of o&datia"-reduction equations by a simple method of equating the electron change for the number of oxygen atoms theoretically necessary to oxidize one molecule of the compound to the electron change of the npecifio oxidizing agent used; (6) determination of structure from quantitative and qualitative data entailing a review of the cal-
80 identification or- structure prohlems of varying degrees of diffieultv. All of the aroblems are answered conciselv in an answer section following Chapter 21). Enough explanation is given in eseh answer to enable the student to follow oloarly the reasoning of the authors and to edit his own accordingly. The answers t o some of the problems depend only on material included in this book, but to solve many of the problems the student is forced to refer to his own and other textbooks, to tables of physical constants, and to other reference books. The "name" reactions list which precedes the index is s. helpful guide in this connection. The book contains many typographical errors snd Bomo omission of words. I n most cases, the meaning is clear despite
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THE CHEMICALS OF LIFE: ENZYMES, VITAMINS, HORMONES
I s o o c Asimov, Boston University School of Medicine. AbelardSchuman, New Yo&, 1954. I59 pp. Illushated. 14 X 21 cm. $2.50. As INDICATED in the title, this hook is about some of the substances thet make life possible. You will see that the enzymes, together with their helpers, the vitamins and hormones, control the different reactions in our bodies and make certain that d l the ingredients in the cells are working properly. You will learn how an enzyme works, how chromosomes split up and reunite, how food protein is changed t o human protein, the importance of vitamins, the slands where hormones me msnufae&red, and many more thin& about enzymes and body chemistry. Dull? Dr. Asimov is a man of manv talents. "The Chemicals of Life" is nonfiction, strictly accurate, and seicntifie, but as fascinating to read as any of his science fiction. GRET.4 O P P E
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GMELINS HANDBUCH DER ANORGANISCHEN CHEMIE. SYSTEM 62: GOLD. PARTS 2 AND 3
Edited by Erich Pietsch. Eighth edition. Verlag Chemie, 306 pp. 17.5 X GMBH, Weinheim, Germany. Part 2: v 25.5 cm. $40.32. Part 3: x d 558 pp. 17.5 X 25.5 cm. $74.88. (Available through Walter J. Johnson, Inc., 125 E. 23rd St., New York 10, N. Y.)
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THE publication of Parts 2 and 3 of the volume on gold rompletes the work on that element. The first part, which was puhlished four years ago, was devoted t o the history of gold and its influence on civilisstion. Part 2 is divided into four chapters, the first of which (178 oaees) discusses the occurrence of eold in celestial bodies. in manv oar& of the earth's crust. and in ;he ~ s p a .
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ical, chemical, and metallurgical processes that are used in winning gold from its ores, and in its purification. The third chapter (54 pages) describes the preparation of special modifications of the metal (foil, powder, crystals, and colloidd gold) and the separation of the isotopes of gold, while the final, short chapter (5 "aces) describes the surface treatment of sold and its allavs.
