Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry

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natural order for the audience being addressed. The carboxylic acid chapter is then followed by a chapter on lipids, and the amine chapter is followed by one on proteins. The last two chapters are on nueleic acids and chemical instrumentation. The chapters are organized to cover structure, nomenclature, uses, and reactions of the functional group being discussed. Throughout the text are short, highlighted discussions of specific applications of organic chemistry. The authors present IUPAC nomenclature throughout, supplemented with common and semi-systematic methods of naming organic compounds. The common commercially available chemicals of a given functional group class are described hriefly. The reactions are presented in a succinct, hut clear manner. The mechanistic descriptions illustrate well the reactions under discussion. Although the authors have kept their presentation brief, they have managed to cover the fundamental chemistry for each functional group well. There are problems included both within the chapters and a t the end of each chapter. A single, simple problem is presented after the discussion of some aspect of the chemistry described within the chapters. The endof-chaoter orohlems are labeled as to subiect. One hohl;m is presented for each o i t h e topics covered. The number of problems seems inadequate, and i t would be necessary to provide supplementary problems. The problems themselves are straightforward illustrations of the material. Although the authors state that "Chemical lnstrumentation," the last chapter in the text, can be at covered anvtime after chaoter . 5.. the ooint . u h ~ ~ h t h e s t u d t nhaw u brcomr famil~nruirh the simple functional groupz, thrrr arr no problems uithin any o i the other rhal~tcrs that deal with spectroscopy. In summary, the text is a well-organized and well-written hook for the nonchemistry student in a one-semester organic chemistry course. Its only fault may be the lack of sufficient problem material. L. A. Hull Union College Schenectady,NY 12308

Introduction t o Organic a n d Biological

Chemistry Ronald M. Scolt Harper & Row. New York, NY, 1980. vii 566 pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 24.3 cm. $15.95.

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This hook is intended as a two-semester course in organic and biological chemistry and assumes that the student has had a prior one-semester general chemistry intradu&y course. The orientation is highly biological. Of 23 chaoters. . . onlv. 8 are concerned with organic chemistry proper. Aitcr thr ohiiyatory chapters on bonding and rnturntrd Inydrocnrbons, thcslanr toward hiolo,g h m ~ m e s apparent. The chapter on unsaturated hydrocarbons contains rieetions on vision, pheromones, and juvenile hormone, for ex-

ample. After mnjuyntrd double hrmds, a chapter on nlrohds. ethers and think intmduee ster~oiscmerism.The aldehydes and ketones chapter introduces carbohydrates. Formulas of all the normal aldohexoses are given, along with considerable material on the di- and polysaccharides in Haworth form. The carboxylic acids chapter has sections on flavor, medicinal amides, sphingolipids, and prostaglandins, in addition t o several other biologically oriented topics. Starting with chapter 8, Steroids, the orientation is purely biological. The chapter on amides and amino acids bears little resemblance, indeed, to the treatment usually given in an organic chemistry course. The emphasis of heterocycles is on alkaloids, medicinals, and nucleotides. Subsequent chapters deal with protein shape and function, enzymes, nucleic acids, the cell, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, Krebs cycle, photosynthesis, membranes, body fluids and ;mnsport, and bimnc,rynnic rhemirtrv. 'l'lle b m ~ khas n numhrr crf features which are noreworrhv. The t,ic