JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
82
For the speeidista concerned with cubic crystals they represent a considerable saving in time and labor.
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IABORATORY STUDIES IN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY
Joseph A. Bahor, Professor of Chemistry, College of the City of New York, and Alexander Lehrmon, Aeaociate Professor of Chemistry, College of the City of New York. Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, 1952. xii 277 pp. Line diagrams and tables. 27.5 X 20.5 Em. $2.50.
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THIS laboratory m u d consists of a compilation of 72 erercises in which the students are directed to cheek, in the labors, tory, the qualitative properties of those substancee commonly introduced into the course far college chemistry. There seems little doubt that, as the authors say in their preface, "All of the experiments have been carried out by students, and none is. beyond the capabilities of the average college freshman." Unfortunately, there is little to excite the interest of a hetter-than-average student. A first-class student would probably spend a good deal of his laboratory time repeating activities performed quite adequately in high school. The directions are clear, though labored in places, and the ilhstrations, though well done, are tiny. An unusual feature of this book consists of complete page references, for each of the experiments, to 21 textbooks of college chemistry.
composition of proteins and the results of protein analysis. He emphasizes the precautions that have to be taken in order to achieve high accuracy, essential when the results are to he a p plied to a consideration of protein structure. In a very detailed chapter (Chapter 4), B. W. Low approaches the problems of structure and configuration of amino acids, p e p tides, and proteins from the resulta of crystal structure, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray crystallographic studies. The problems of molecular configuration of folded or coiled polypeptide chains in fibrous and globular proteins, the nature of interehain bonding and the resulting intermolecular packing are critically considered, The limitations as well as future possibilities of X-ray methods in evaluating protein model structure are discussed. Also, in considerable detail, P. Doty and E. P. Geiduschek report in Chapter 5 on optical properties of proteins such as birefringence, refraction, optical rotation, ultraviolet, infrared and polarized infrared spectra, and photochemicd reactions. In Chapter 6, R. A. Alherty writes on the electrochemical p r o p erties of proteins: their ionization and acid-base binding capacity and titration. The methods and theory of moving-boundary electrophoresis are considered in detail as well as the electrophoresis-convection method. The annlication of these methods to the analysis of protein mixtures, their use as a criterion of purit:, and as a means of preparing pure proteins are discussed. Extensive literature references, some as late as 1952, are given as footnotes by all the authors. The indexes will appear in the second part of Volume I
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F. A. CAJORI U N I V E R B0~1YCOLOBADO 8 ~ x 0 OF 0 ~~ I E D I C I N E D ~ n v e n COLORADO .
BENTLEY EDWARDS
THE HARVEY LECTURES
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Delivered under the auspices of The Harvey Society of New York. 1951-52. Series 47. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1953. viii 271 pp. Illustrated. 14 X 21 cm. $7.50.
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THE PROTEINS: CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND METHODS. VOLUME I. PART A Edited by H a n s Neurath, Department of Bioehemiatry, University of Washington, and Kenneth Bailey, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge. Academic Press, Inc., New 548 pp. 108 figs. 16 X 23.5 om. $12. York, 1953. xi
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DURING the last few years a number of hooks have appeared in which various phases of protein chemistry have been the subjeot of review. This is ss it should he, for the progress toward an underatanding of the complete structure of proteins has been very rapid during the last decade. The application of new physical and chemical techniques and the results from such diverse a p proaches to the problems of protein structure necessitate frequent and critical discussion. The present book is tho first part of s. two-volume treatise (each volume to consist of two p d r t ~ )in whieh the editors hope "to present s comprehensive, integrated account oi the chemical, physioal, and biological properties of the proteins." Part A mnsists of six chapters in whieh general properties of proteins are discussed. In Chapter 1, J. F. Taylor surveys the various methods, chemical and physical, that have been employed far the isolation of proteins. The precautions necessary to avoid denaturation, the evaluation of homogeneity, and the preservation and stabilieation of proteins are considered in detail. Under the heading "The general chemistry of amino acids and peptides," P. Desnuelle (Chapter 2) presents qualitative and quantitative reactions of amino acids and methods of separation of peptides. The results of studies on peptide structure before and after partial hydrolysis and peptide synthesis are included. The author has given few details of these many methods but has over 500 literature citatiana. G. R. Tristrsm, in Chapter 3, critically evalustes the methods that hrwe been employed in the determination of the amino acid
TEE following titles and rtuthors are included: "The nuclectides: Some recent chemical research and ita biolopieal imnlicag flow tions," by A. R. Todd: "Hydrostatic pressure s f ~ e k n the of urine m d bloodin the kidney," by F. R. Winton; "An aseending reetieular activating system in the brain stem," by H. U'. Magoun; "Studies an the cellular immunology of acute bacterial infections," by W. Barry Wood, Jr.; "Metabolic blacks in carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes," by I. L. Chaikoff; "Marphogenesis and the metamorphosis of insects," by Carroll M. Williams; "The development of the cerebral cortex: A cytclogical, functional, and biochemical approach," by Louis B. Flexner: "Coaeulation of the blood." bv Walter H. Seeeers: "Some biochemiial studies based on chronktographie meth&s." by L. Zechmeister.
SELECTED VALUES OF PHYSICAL AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF HYDROCARBONS AND ~ A T E D COMPOUNDS: C O M P R I S ~ GTHE TABLES OF THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE RESEARCH PROJECT 44 EXTANT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1952 Frederick D. Roasini, Professor of Chemistry, Carnagie Insti. tute of Technology, Kenneth S. Pitzer, Professor and Dean of the College of Chemistry, University of California, Raymond L. Arnett and Rita M. Braun, Carnegie Institute of Technology. and Georoe C. Pimentel. Assistant Professor of Chemistrv. , University of California. Carnegie Press, Rttsburgh, PennI050 pp. 21 X 27.5 em. $7. sylvania, 1953. ix
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A CRITICAL review of a b w k like this is impoasible, but even s casual ininspeetion will lead one to agree with the Advisory Committee of the A. P. I. that "thisvolume serves as today'sstandsrd of physical and thermodynamic data, on hydrooarbons."
