an interesting variation on this theme. The examples of the dependence of bialoeieal activitv . unon chemical structure xr+ n r u w and :ntrigulng, and the rnnrkrd acrtvlry r h ~ tkt:c h n c r s in plq'$id~,~.rnl wrnp:tny *light attu:tuml vnranrlon. ty 10 I I I U S I P H Is811.h ~ a rcla~mnsl.ip. 1 ' 1 8 ~upporrumy I>, f~ tlxe L I ~~ I $ I shook. nwst w r t , di+re~arded he attempt ;n the first chapter to introduce enough organic chemistry to carry the reader through same of the most active areas of current bioohemical research falls short, as it must in such brief summary. Thereafter, the authors present the subject matter rather well and with understanding. Unfortunately, several paints of confusion are present, e.g., the failure to distinguish clearly between configuration (D and L) and rotation (+ and -); the use of both ring and open chain structures for the carbohydrates without explanation; the labeling of the amino acid structures given in the Appendix as "L" when they are all of the "DM configuration according to the Fischer convention. In addition, there are a numKENNETH HELLMAN ber of errors and misprints which, alSmith College though they may he minor, are likely to Northampton, Massaehuselts he immediately ~erceivedby most of the students who will read the boak. To attempt to condense the expansive field of biochemistry into so few pages is a formidable task, and not consistent with The Chemistry of Some Life Processes the original policy of the publisher in preVernon H . Cheldelin andR.W.Nmburgh, senting this series. Although the authors Oregon State University, Corvallis. have made a valiant attempt, the result is Selected Topics in Modern Chemistry. not up to the standards set by previous Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, books in the series. 1964. viii 120 pp. Figs. and tables. KENNETH HELLMAN 12.5 X 18.5 cm. Paperbound. $1.95. Smith College Northampton, Massachusetts All nine of the previous members of the Selected Topics in Modern Chemistry series have been ably reviewed by L. P. and all have been Eblin in THIS JOUXNAL well received. The latest in this series Color Centers in Solids is an attempt to introduce students to and interest them in a chemical description James H . Sehulmn and W . Dale Comp of life processes-the essence of biochemton, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, istry. Washington, D.C. Maomillan Co. (a The book is divided into six chapters Pergemon Press book), New York, covering the following areas: an intro1962. x 368 pp. Figs. and tables. ductory chapter in which the chemical 16 X 23.5 cm. $12.50. structures and properties of some subColor center research continues to be stances of fundamental biological imattractive in spite of the fact that many of portance are briefly surveyed; a summary the fundamentals were discovered in the of the chemical basis of heredity, includearly thirties. Schulman and Compton ing synthesis and functions of proteins; a have done a good job of catalogingprogreas discussion of the source and utilization of and presenting s. realistic picture of color high energy compounds; a. brief, but excenters as of 1961. With continued progcellent chapter on cellular organization; ress in the field, the material is inevitably the hiosynthesis of mt~cromoleculesand somewhat dated. The treatment is its regulation; and h d l y a speculative mainly phenomenological like much of section on the origin of life. There is also the work in the field, but there are 22 pages an Appendix-new to this series-in devoted to theoretical considerations. which appear the structures of various Many chapters end with a section on rehiologicd ChWnk& alluded to but not cent developments, a helpful procedure. shown in the text. A brief but varied set In contrast to semiconductor junction reof additional selected readings is included search which spawned a whole industry, at theend of the text. color centera have not proved to be a. I n previous monographs in this series, profitable enterprise. Only 11 pages could selected areas of chemistry were developed be devoted to the few applications found in depth not often practical in an introso far. Chapter 10 is a valuable survey ductory text. The continuing theme of of color centera in materials other than this series has been the basic, but often the standard slkali halides. concealed theme of chemistry-the use of Although the book is well executed from the inductive process to describe the r e an artistic point of view, it will probably lationship between chemical structure and serve as a model of poor proof-reading or activity. The field of biochemistry offers in anabolic and other energyrequiring reactions. Finally there is an introduction to nucleie acid structure and function. The Baldwin touch is present throughout. The text is tastefully interspersed with the author's comments, both humorous and serious. The discussion is quite general with few excursions into detail. On numerous occasions, the reader% interest is alerted only to he left suspended as the author moves on to another topic. This, of course, is Baldwin's intent-to lure the r e d e r t o further anddeeperstudy, and he succeeds. Unfortunately, he leaves no trail of references for the reader to pursue. Although the author states in his prologue that this small book is for reading and not study, and that it is not intended to be a supplementary treatise, it is recommended for those students who indicate an interest in biochemistry, not only as a brief preview of the nature of biochemistry, hut also as an example that not all scientific writing need be prosaic.
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typesetting. An errata of same 45 items was included in the review copy and copies found in book stores were being sold in this condition. If these were corrected in a second printing, the book could be highly recommended. It is quite readable and provides a good introduction to many peripheral areas of physics and chemistry. Little demand is placed on the reader's background. RICHARD C. CARLSTON AerqietCeneral Corporation Azusa, California
Chemical Applications of Infrared Spectroscopy
C. N . R. Rao, Indian Institute of Technology, Kampur. Academic Press, 681 pp. Inc., New York, 1963. xiii Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. $19.50.
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The continual appearance of diverse books on infrared spectroscopy shows the liveliness of this field. In a subject with so many ramifications there is certainly room for a variety of hooks and probably no single volume can adequately cover all aspects of the subject. The him of the volume under review is "to present basic concepts, measurements, and techniques of infrared spectroscopy rtnd to survey as completely as possible its chemical applications." Except for certain omissions, the last goal is well ful6lled. Whether the other aims are adequately realized will depend upon the interestsoffhereader. The first chapter is devoted to basic concepts, instrumentation and technique. One is immediately aware of a particularly strong point of the boak, namely, the abundance of specific examples, data, spectra, and graphs. The level of treatment is low-intermediate. The basic concepts are handled in a nonmathematical manner. There is a qualitative discussion with diagram of the modes of vibration but there is no discussion of symmetry properties or rotational 8pectra. Emphasis is on the factors which affect the vibrational modes in complex molecules. Thus, students desiring a firm grasp of theory will have to look elsewhere. The neophyte in practical work in infrared spectroscopy will need supplementary material. Under instrumentation and technique a large number of topics is discussed but at times the treatment is somewhat sketchy. For example, there are sections on microtechniques, spectra under high pressure, difference and derivative spectroscopy but there are few how-to-do-it directions. For instance. nothine is said about how ane pdishrs n rock salt wiudow. It should be menrimed hwwver that srlcqu~1ereferenws are ~ r for m both the bwinner snd the advanced worker. The hulk of the book is devoted to structure correlations in the near, medium, and far infrared regions. Individual chapters are devoted to the various classes of organic compounds, to high polymers, to specific applications to organic chemistry, and to biochemistry. A chapter on inorganic compounds emphasizes simple and complex ions. The spectra of an
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