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Molecular structure: the physical approach
171
It is a delight to meet a book which has something of value for all levels of reader. It can be strongly recommended to the new student for its clarity of explanation, and its flavour of more advanced concepts. The mature electrochemist will find it refreshing and stimulating. A. B. Introductory Biochemistry, by Stuart J. Edelstein, Holden-Day Inc., San Fransisco, 1973, pp. xiv + 353, price U.S. $13.95. The book has been written by an author who, as a result of his experience in biochemistry teaching, has developed the conviction that biochemistry would be more interesting to students if taught with a biological perspective and with emphasis on living systems interlaced, where appropriate, with structural details. Part I of this book, covering Macromolecules, has been written on the basis of this philosophy and covers Colinearity, DNA Structure, Replication of DNA, Machinery of Protein synthesis, Genetic code, Coordination of protein synthesis, An introduction to proteins, Structural aspects of proteins, Tertiary structure and enzyme action and quaternary structure, and cooperation interactions. The first five chapters in Part II, dealing with Metabolism cover more conventional aspects of biochemistry, viz. Fundamentals of Bioenergetics, Ele~trochemi~~ coupling, Metabolism of nitrogen containing compounds, Coenzymes and reaction mechanisms, Better chemistry through living and Integration of metabolism. The theme in the final chapters in this section reverts to the authors’ principles relating to biochemistry teaching and deal with Control of protein synthesis, Topics in ~fferentiation and Implications of contemporary bioehemist~. Each chapter ends with a few interesting problems where solutions are also provided. There are four appendices: Basis of Genetics, Buffers and pH, Chemical principles and Elementary thermodynamics and also an index. It is unfortunate that some topics such as the Krebs’ cycle and glycolysis are treated very briefly and also there is very little biophysical emphasis. Bearing in mind publication costs there is also much wasted space which mainly results from the lay-out of the book. This book, however, makes very interesting and fascinating reading, is well illustrated and no doubt the text in many of the chapters will prompt very lively seminar discussions. It is doubtful, however, if it will ever become a standard text as an introduction to biochemistry. E. W.-J. Molecular Structure: The Physical Approach, 2nd ed., by J. C. D. Brand, J. C. Speakman and J. K- Tyler, Edward Arnold, 1975, pp. 367, price, board .4Zl.O0, paper f5.50. During the last twenty-five years the application of physical methods to the elucidation of molecular structure has developed rapidly, This book
172
provides a general account of these methods and discusses their qualities and limitations. In the first edition the authors concentrated on principles and restricted the discussion to the molecule in its electronic ground state. In this second edition a new chapter is introduced, giving an elementary survey of molecular spectroscopy as a whole. The specific areas of molecular spectroscopy covered in subsequent chapters are as in the first edition, for example, the vibration of molecules, the Raman effect, electron diffraction by gases and vapours. However, there are some changes in detail and presentation. An elementary account on nuclear-spin statistical weights has been added to the chapter on the rotation of molecules. The chapter on symmetry includes a more formal development of group theory. Crystal structure analysis has been amplified and updated. A selection of numerical problems has been added at the end of the book. This book will be particularly useful to students of physical chemistry and research workers in other branches of chemistry. W. J. 0. T.
Structural Effects on Equilibria in Organic Chemistry, by Jack Hine, John Wiley, New York and London, 1975, pp. xii + 347, price $9.45. This book considers the structural influences of solvent, reactants and products, on equilibria in the reactions of organic compounds. In recent years reliable equilibrium data on a variety of types of reactions has been determined due to the introduction of new spectrometric and chromatographic techniques. In the first chapter Professor Hine considers some general aspects of thermodynamics. He then goes on to deal with intra- and intermolecular reactions, the Hammett and Taft equations and equilibrium in conformational and cis-trans isomerization. Further chapters deal with Brgnsted and Lewis acidity and basicity, unsatumtion, ring formation and free radicals. At the end of each chapter there are several problems which will prove useful to the student wishing to test his understanding of the text. The book is suitable for students at graduate and advanced undergraduate level and is also a useful reference book for all chemists, biochemists and chemical engineers. W. J. 0. T. Molecular Reaction Dynamics, by R. D. Levine and R. B. Bernstein, Oxford University Press, New York, 1974, pp. vi + 250, price f5.00. The logical objective of chemical kinetic studies is to obtain an understanding of the mechanism of elementary chemical reactions at the molecular level. The experimental and theoretical progress made in recent years is such that
It is a delight to meet a book which has something of value for all levels of reader. It can be strongly recommended to the new student for its clarity of explanation, and its flavour of more advanced concepts. The mature electrochemist will find it refreshing and stimulating. A. B. Introductory Biochemistry, by Stuart J. Edelstein, Holden-Day Inc., San Fransisco, 1973, pp. xiv + 353, price U.S. $13.95. The book has been written by an author who, as a result of his experience in biochemistry teaching, has developed the conviction that biochemistry would be more interesting to students if taught with a biological perspective and with emphasis on living systems interlaced, where appropriate, with structural details. Part I of this book, covering Macromolecules, has been written on the basis of this philosophy and covers Colinearity, DNA Structure, Replication of DNA, Machinery of Protein synthesis, Genetic code, Coordination of protein synthesis, An introduction to proteins, Structural aspects of proteins, Tertiary structure and enzyme action and quaternary structure, and cooperation interactions. The first five chapters in Part II, dealing with Metabolism cover more conventional aspects of biochemistry, viz. Fundamentals of Bioenergetics, Ele~trochemi~~ coupling, Metabolism of nitrogen containing compounds, Coenzymes and reaction mechanisms, Better chemistry through living and Integration of metabolism. The theme in the final chapters in this section reverts to the authors’ principles relating to biochemistry teaching and deal with Control of protein synthesis, Topics in ~fferentiation and Implications of contemporary bioehemist~. Each chapter ends with a few interesting problems where solutions are also provided. There are four appendices: Basis of Genetics, Buffers and pH, Chemical principles and Elementary thermodynamics and also an index. It is unfortunate that some topics such as the Krebs’ cycle and glycolysis are treated very briefly and also there is very little biophysical emphasis. Bearing in mind publication costs there is also much wasted space which mainly results from the lay-out of the book. This book, however, makes very interesting and fascinating reading, is well illustrated and no doubt the text in many of the chapters will prompt very lively seminar discussions. It is doubtful, however, if it will ever become a standard text as an introduction to biochemistry. E. W.-J. Molecular Structure: The Physical Approach, 2nd ed., by J. C. D. Brand, J. C. Speakman and J. K- Tyler, Edward Arnold, 1975, pp. 367, price, board .4Zl.O0, paper f5.50. During the last twenty-five years the application of physical methods to the elucidation of molecular structure has developed rapidly, This book
172
provides a general account of these methods and discusses their qualities and limitations. In the first edition the authors concentrated on principles and restricted the discussion to the molecule in its electronic ground state. In this second edition a new chapter is introduced, giving an elementary survey of molecular spectroscopy as a whole. The specific areas of molecular spectroscopy covered in subsequent chapters are as in the first edition, for example, the vibration of molecules, the Raman effect, electron diffraction by gases and vapours. However, there are some changes in detail and presentation. An elementary account on nuclear-spin statistical weights has been added to the chapter on the rotation of molecules. The chapter on symmetry includes a more formal development of group theory. Crystal structure analysis has been amplified and updated. A selection of numerical problems has been added at the end of the book. This book will be particularly useful to students of physical chemistry and research workers in other branches of chemistry. W. J. 0. T.
Structural Effects on Equilibria in Organic Chemistry, by Jack Hine, John Wiley, New York and London, 1975, pp. xii + 347, price $9.45. This book considers the structural influences of solvent, reactants and products, on equilibria in the reactions of organic compounds. In recent years reliable equilibrium data on a variety of types of reactions has been determined due to the introduction of new spectrometric and chromatographic techniques. In the first chapter Professor Hine considers some general aspects of thermodynamics. He then goes on to deal with intra- and intermolecular reactions, the Hammett and Taft equations and equilibrium in conformational and cis-trans isomerization. Further chapters deal with Brgnsted and Lewis acidity and basicity, unsatumtion, ring formation and free radicals. At the end of each chapter there are several problems which will prove useful to the student wishing to test his understanding of the text. The book is suitable for students at graduate and advanced undergraduate level and is also a useful reference book for all chemists, biochemists and chemical engineers. W. J. 0. T. Molecular Reaction Dynamics, by R. D. Levine and R. B. Bernstein, Oxford University Press, New York, 1974, pp. vi + 250, price f5.00. The logical objective of chemical kinetic studies is to obtain an understanding of the mechanism of elementary chemical reactions at the molecular level. The experimental and theoretical progress made in recent years is such that