As in the case of the author's more extensive "Micro and Semimicro Meth- ods" (reviewed in J. CHEM. EDUC., 32, 234 (1955)), the text abounds with simple hints and tips which result only from long experience. Despite the very large amount of information, both background and experimental, contained between the covers, the text reads easily; one is in- clined to forget that the subtitle is "A Laboratory Manual." I t is definitely a major contribution to the teaching of experimental soienoe.

JOHN T. STOCK The University of Connecticut

Stows

Theoretical Principles of Organic Chemistry. Volume 2

Walter Huckel, Professor of Pharma- ceutical Chemistry, Tubinger Univer- sity, Germany. Translated from the corrected 7th German edition by F. H. Rathmnn. Elsevier Publishing Cam- Danv. distributed hv D. Van Nostrand 'Co.; inc., ~ r i n c e t o i N. J. xi + 1046 pp. 18 X 26 cm. $19.

I t is an aphorism, commonly attributed to chemists, that, "no man can pass the same examination twice; indeed,-few can pass it the first time." Professor Hiickel attemnts in this "Theoretisohe Grundlaeen Der drganisehen Chemie" to set forththe necessary basic concepts to enable the young student to better understand the significant guiding principles of organic chemistry and thus m&?ridly improve his performance on exsminations. More- over, those who feel that the German lan- guage is an "invention of the devil and contrary to the Scriptures" will he com- forted in the knowledge that this excellent work is available in an English translation.

This volume is not s monograph; it is an intermediate text book designed for students who have had onlv thc intraduc- tory courses in organic and physical chemistry. Inasmuch as the author cdti- cally analyzes the older concepts and traces the historical development of the subject, the young student should be com- pletely oriented in the transition to the more modern and complex ideas.

The second volume begins with Book 111. Constitution and Phvsioal Prooerties. i:~~',ptm XI (58 pp.) CIWI< n i t h . r ~ w m a ~ M w g i t ~ ~ d e s , nr hrorr nl rrml,nwtitm, 111, r- ~ w J v ! ~ : m i v datil, & w i t \ , and rno lw~ t~ l .~~~ volume.

Chapter XI1 (98 pp.) considers the elec- trical properties of molecules under the headings of: the molecule as a. system of eleetrioal chasges; the dielectric constant; the determination of the dipole moment; dipole moment and constitution, sym- metry, valence angle, free rotation, and intramolecular salts in aqueous solutions.

Chapter XI11 (93 pp.) describes the be- havior of matter in an alternating electri- cal field: the theory of dispersion, infrared spectra and the Raman effect, anisotrop- ism of the polarizahility, and molecular refraction.

Chapter XIV (132 pp.) explores the ?a- lations between cohesion and constitution under the following subdivisions: theorem

of corresponding states, boiling points, surface tension, association, the hydrogen bridge bond, and ~olubility.

Chapter XV (94 pp.) examines the ordered states of organic substances in the liquid and in the cr,vstal states then deals with lattice structures and the relations to the structure of molecules. This section concludes with an interesting study of hiqh molecular weight polymers, principally cellulose and rubber.

Chapter XVI (52 pp.) Colloidal Chemi- cal Properties, is an excellent treatment of the colloidal behavior of soaps, starches, cellulose, glycogen systems. The re- maining chapter in Book I11 (150 pp.) is a thoroughping treatment of information relating to the chemical bond with refer- ence to oremir structures. -

Book IV is a general survey of Canstitu- tion and Reaction Velocity. It contains three chapters: XVIII, Theow of Rex - tion Velority (48 pp.); XIX, Reaction Velority Constant and Constitution (133 pp.); and XX, Reaction Velocity and Equilibrium (75 PP.).

This texthook should find a generous reception among chemists; in particular, it should be useful for intermediate stu- dents seeking to develop their theoretical knowledg~ of classical organic chemistry.

GEORGE H o ~ m s RICHTER The Rice Institzcte

Houston. Texas

Free Radicals

Collected papers of Francis Owen Rice, Professor of Chemistry. The Catholic Universitv of America Press. Washins- ton, D. 'c., 1958. xii + 278 21.5 X 28 em. Paper bound. $5.

Seldom can the collected scientific publications of one person be given s. definitive title. The exception is "Free Radicals." Few chemists have to ask whose papers thus are being reprinted under one cover. Manv of these nmem . . are valuable far beyond'dny narrow field; they are important to all whose concern is the mechanism of chemicd rextions. Sixty articles have been reproduced, arranged chranologicdly, (1931-58), hut without any index.

W. F. K.

Biophysical Chemistry. Volume 1

John T . Edsall, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, and Jeffries Wy- man, Middle East Science Cooperation Office, UNESCO. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1958. xv + 699 pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $14.

As the title indicates, this is a physical chemistry book, with coverage limited to topics which are of interest to students of biology and biological chemistry. I t is also a. textbook, developed out of a. gradu- ate-level course which has been given a t Harvard for the past 25 years.

The topics covered include the gea- chemieal environment and its history, the properties of water and carbon dioxide, electroststie~ (including the Debye-Hiic-

kel theory, dipoles and dielectric constants, and salting-out effects) conductivity of electrolytes, acid-baw equilibria (with an extended discussion of polyhasic acids), and the binding of molecules by other molecules or by ions.

All of these subjects are handled with special emphasis upon their biological aspeet~. Illustrative examples are drawn almost entirely from systems of biological interest.

The research reputations of the authors pr,ractieally guarantee the authoritstive- neas of the treatment, but i t is satisfying to note that the ~eleotion of material for presentation is also excellent, the arrange- ment logical, and the exposition generally clear.

This is not to ssv that this is an easy hook. Physical eh&istry is seldom easi, and this reviewer believes that the ma- t e d is sufficiently difficult to extend the better students and to leave the poor ones far behind.

I t is d m unlikely that the book could he used for self-study by any hut the very best students. A teacher with a knack for lucid explanation should he on hand to help the students over the difficult spots and to set st,raight the inevitable typo- graphical errors. The book is, however, recommended without hesitation as a text for a high-level aom8e given by a capable teacher far capable students.

The treatment is classical throughout, with many mathemittioal derivations of the nort long familiar to students of physics and phynical chemi~try. The derivations are formal and generalized, in the best methematical tradition, but a t the same time the authors have, as they say, "con- sidered it vitally important to give illus- trations of the general principles from actual experimental data." This serves to keep the treatment down to earth and fully alive. The experimental data are beautifully chosen, and extremely up-to- date (Robbins and Boyer's work on the free energy of hydrolgsis of ATP, for ex- .--,., ""LpL*,.

A valuable feature of the hook is the list of references, which include both up- to-date and classic monographs and hooks, as well ss research papers. A list of prab- lems is included at the end of the chapter on acid-base equilihris, but the teacher will have to supply his own problems on all other subjects.

The hook is relativelv free of misnrints.

are even more rase. The reviewer would take exception only to the assertion that energy is required to form peptide bonds chiefly becmse of the separated charges an the peptide ion.

With this single exception, the material appears to be well chosen, and excellently presented. Particularly fine are the dis- cussions of dielectric constant, p H stand- ards, and the effect of imidazole on the pressure of GOn in equilibrium with solu- tions of NaHCOa (a sort of simplified hemoglobin model).

The hook is heartily recommended either as a text for s course, or as reading matter for the biochemist who wishes to

(Continued on page A84O)

206 / Journol of Chemical Educafion