The Periodic Table and the Human Element (Emsley, John) - Journal


The Periodic Table and the Human Element (Emsley, John) - Journal...

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reviews Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, a n d Structure, Fourth Edition

T h e Periodic Table a n d t h e

Human Element

text of principles and examples of the reactions, useful far access

Six 28min. VHS videocassettes. A co-production of BBC Continuing Education & Training and Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 1991-92. Series consultant, John Emsley, Imperial College. Distributed by Films for the Humanities, P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, NJ 08543-2053. To order or for information call toll free 1-800-257-5126. Purchase $149 each, rental $75; purchase $795 for the entire series.

to the current literature of organic chemistry, appeared in 1968. Subsequent, and steadily popular, editions have appeared in 1977 (1328 pp.), 1985 (1346 pp.), and 1992. While the organization and level of topic treatment is designed for *. . . Students who have had the standard undergraduate organic and physical chemistry courses". it is useful for anv nrofessional who wants to review a stnndnrd topic in the field. Contemporary review and summary artdrajudged tu be useful entrees to the field arc rrfrrrnmd, ns are important citations from the last five y m s . Over 5110(1 new references have replaced citations in the third edition. The structure and approach of this text has not essentially changed since the second edition: 19 chapters divided into two sections. The first section. of nine chanters. . . deals with the structure of organic compounds'(five chapters, including one introducing five reactive intermediates: earbacatians, carbanions, free radicals, carbenes, and nitrenes). The second part, 10 chapters, deals with major mechanistic patterns: five chapters of substitution r e actions (aliphatic, aromatic, and free-radical varieties), two chapters on additions (to carhon-carhan, and carbon-heteroatom multiple bonds), and one chapter each on eliminations, rearrangements, and oxidation-reduction mechanisms. Two important appendices remain: a brief, but current and useful, introduction to chemical literature, and a very useful summary of reactions classified for use in synthesis. Mareh has been uncomnmmisine in his search for elaritv and utilitv* in oresentations of a wide varietv r ~-~~~~~~~ ~ , of essential organic rhemlstry. It remains an accessihlc and uarful rod for hnth specialistsand nonspecialistsin the field. It does anexcellenrjub both as a text far first-year graduate students and a handy reference for others

This series of personal stories, narrated by working scientists, successfully provides the human perspective so often lacking in many accounts of science, in general and chemistry, in particular. Suitable for science and chemistry classes as well as far a general audience, it was inspired by the late Primo Levi's popular book, The Peridic Table. Each videaeassette is prefaced by the declaration, %very element has a set of properties that distinguishes it from all the others. But for the chemist, each element is often distinguished by a personal story." Two programs are of particular interest to chemical educators, for they deal with topics ordinarily considered in most general, organic, or biochemistry courses, while adding a biographied-historical dimension usually neglected in standard textbooks. In The Atom That Makes the Difference (Carbonj Carl Djerassi, Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University, 1992 Priestley medalist, novelist, poet, art collector, and, in his own words, the mother of "the pill," explains to viewers the conduct and goals of synthetic organic chemistry, the nature of steroids, and the relationship of structure to properties. Who Found the Missing Link? (Umniumj is a veritable onewoman show for Ruth L. Sime, Professor of Chemistry a t Sacramento City College. This program is the only one in the series to have only one narrator. For the last 15 years, Sime has carried out research on Austrian physicist Lise Meitner (1878-1968), who played a crucial role in the discovery of nuclear fission, which changed forever the world in which we live. In her account of the research leading to nuclear fission, Sime, who sneaks from various Eurooean Locations where the work was enrrird out, not only tells Mcitner's story hut also relaks the cont r ~ b u t w nof~ Plantk, Einstein, and Fernmi a s well as of Hahn and

Jerry March. Wiley: New York, NY, 1992. xv + 1495 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.2 x 24 cm. Cloth $59.95. The first edition of this monumental and scholarly one-volume

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Bruce E. Norcross Binghamton University Binghamton, NY 13901

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The remaming pruwams in this highly recommended series are The S r r n l of hhupuleon's Hbllpoper ,Arsenio, fi.'xplorion on the

Reviewed in this Issue Reviewer Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanism, and Structure, Fourth Edition John Emsley. Series Consultant, The Periodic Table and the Human Element (a videocassette series) James M I , 1001 Things Everyone Should Know about Science MikuliiS Teich with Dorothy M. Needham, A Documentary History of Biochemistry 1770-1 940 Mary Ellen Bowden a n d Theodor Benfey. Robert Bums Woodward and the Art of Organic Synthesis Carl Djerassi, The Pill, Pygmy Chimps, and Degas' Horse: The Autobiography of Carl Djerassi Tobern Bergman (Editor) and J. A. Schufle (Translator), Chemical Lectures of H. T. Scheffer David Knight, Ideas in Chemistry: A History of Science

Bruce E. Norcross George B. Kauffman and Laurie M. Kauffman George B. Kauffman and

Laurie M. Kauffman George B. Kauffman George B. Kauffman George B. Kauffman and Laurie M. Kauffman George B. Kauffman George €3. Kauffman

Volume 70

Number 2

February 1993

A51

reviews

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Georcle 8. Kauffman and Laurie M. Kauffman California State University, Fresno Fresno, CA 93740

1001 Things Everyone Should Know about Science

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James Trefil. Doubleday: New York, NY, 1992. Figs., tables, & illustrations. x+ 305 pp. 15.3 x 23.3 cm. $20.00 ($25.00 in Canada). 1001 Things is packed with the scientific facts that make it an ideal sequel and companion volume to James Trefil's 1991 publication. Science Motter:Arhieuin(: ScientificLilemcy Written i n simple language and a conversational but infomative style and accompanied by a hundred drawings and photographs, this accessible, handy reference book represents Trefil's attempt to *give an overview of how the world operates" by breakine down "all of science into bite-sized chunks." raneine in leneth from a single sentmw u, ~ e v e r paramaphs. ~l Thrs numbered hvt of "things' is arranged in sewn chapters-"Classical Hiology," 'Evalut~an." "Molecular Biology." "Classleal P h y s d Sclenee," "Modem Physrcal Science," "Earth Science." and "htronumy," each of which is subdivided into sections. Although there is a logical progression within sections from the first item to the last, the book is eminently suited for browsing in no particular order. The human dimension of science is not neglected, for historical informatton about such sc8enttfic lummanes a s Rohr, Madame Cune. Dalton, Emstem. fianklm. Hewcnberg, Mcndrl, Mmdrlrrv, Newwn. and Rutherford 1s nresented In )terns titled T n d u r m c Puzzle%o '"Enduring ~ y s i e r y "the cutting edge of science &d its tentative and incom~letenature is emohasized bv soeculation on lnrngumg matter3 ahout w h ~ hthem .s currently no consensus. At mtervala unnumhred 'Pop Qwzms" (questtons and answers, also are included. There is no separate chapter on chemistry, but, in keeping with its position as "the central science," it figures i n virtually every chapter, and sections on molecules of life (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acid), photosynthesis, thermodynamics, elements, the atomic nucleus, etc. abound, and a separate 13-page section on chemistrv is included in the chanter on 'Wadern Phvsieal Seireence." A hetailed 13-oaee (2 mlu& ner naeel " ~ indexmakes . tneval uf mformation easy. Trefil has confined his anentmn to the rradiuonal natural sciences, but he promises tu deal wlth medlcane and technology in future books in the serics

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George B. Kauffman and Laurie M. Kauffman CaliforniaState Universitv. Fresno Fresno, CA 93740

A Documentary History of Biochemistry 1770-1940 MikuldS Teich with Dorothy M. Needham. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press: Cranbury, NJ, 1992. 19 Figs. xxxvii + 579 pp. 15.0 x 22.8 cm. $85.00. Although biochemistry has long been one of the most active and productive areas of chemical research, for almost two decades Henry M. Leieester's slim volume Development of Biochemical Concepts from Ancient to Modern Times (1974) and Joseph S. h t o n ' s ABio-Bibliography for theHistory oftheBiochemica1 Sciences since 1800 (1982) have, to the best of my knowledge, been the only books devoted to its history. Now MikulAs Teich, Honorary Pmfessor a t the Technical University ofvienna, with the late Dorothy Moyle Needham, who died in 1987, have contributed to this neglected field with a massive, scholarly, original source book that promises to hecome a standard history of biochemistry. In the Foreword, Teich argues cogently far limiting the time span of his study to the period from the last three decades of the 18th century, when the chemistry of life emerged from a nonscientific to a scientific basis, to about 1940, when the new science of molecular biology split from its parent science. In Teich's words, The book is "an attempt to make available source materials on the evolution of the study of the chemistry of life into modem b i u chemistry."

A52

Journal of Chemical Education

The volume contains 180 selected reprints, more than half of which appear i n English for the first time. (Needham translated the German and French selections). Most of them are excerpts from articles and books, but in a few cases the entire paper is r e minted. Imoortant discoveries alwavs ~,are rendered more vivid when ~~-~~ presented in the actual words of the discoverers. Thus this mcticulo~lalydocummted, annotated collectwn will serve a* a useful guide providing instructors and students of biochemistry and history of chemistry courses with a n understanding of the growth andnature of the discipline known as modern biochemistry. It also will pmve invaluable to researchers in these fields. ~

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George B. Kauffman California State University, Fresno Fresno, CA 93740

Robert Burns Woodward and the Art of Organic Synthesis M a y Ellen Bowden and Theodor Benfey. Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry, Publication No. 9, 3401 Walnut St., Philadelphia. PA19104-6228, 1992. Figs., illustrations, & tables. 48 pp. 21.5 x 24.1 cm. $5.00 PB. On Aoril 10. 1992. the 75th anniversarv of the birth of 1965 the Nobel chemist& laukate Robert B. ~ a o d & d (1917-1979). -~ ~~~Berkman ~ e n &for the lliatnry of Chemistry opened its latest travelingexhibit. 'R. B. Waudward and the Art ofOqanic Synthesis" cJ C h m . Educ 1992.69, 169; Ruckman Cenlvr News 1992, ~

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The booklet under review here, desimed as a teaching aid in high schools and colleges, was wittm io accompany this&hibit, which, following its spring and summer showing m Philsdelphra, Washmrton showme at the Aurmst ACS Mcctine. and October showingat ~arvardybeganits inkrnational tour g 1 9 9 3 . Replete with photographs of persons, compounds, instruments, cartoons, advertisements, and crucial notebook pages as well as diagrams and reaction schemes and liberally peppered with inspirational quotations by RBW himself, i t portrays the life and accomplishments of "one of the giants of chemistry and of modern science," firmly ensconced in the context of 19th- and 20th-century chemistry. A brief account of Woodward's early family life and education is followed by a histo"cal review of classic syntheses and theories of structure and bonding. Because Woodward's approach relied on modem instruments, a n entire chapter is devoted to visible, ultraviolet (Woodward's Rules), infrared, and mass spectrometry; Xray crystallography, NMR, and HPLC. The most important of Wwdwardb syntheses are discussed from that of quinine (1944) through those of cholesterol and cortisone (19511, lanosterol, lysergic acid, and strychnine (1954), reserpine (1956), chlorophyll (1960), tetracyclines (19621, colchicine (1964). cephalosporin C (19651, cobyrie acid (with Albert Eschenmoser of the ETH)and prostaglandin (19731, and vitamin BIZ (his mast complex synthesis), and culminating with that of erythromycin, completed (1981) by Yoshito Kisbi and RBWs Harvard co-workers after his untimely death on July 8, 1979. Woodward's theory of the biogenesis of cholesterol (1953) and the Waodward-Hoffmann rules are explored a s are his determination of the structures of penicillin, strychnine, terramycin, aureomycin, ferrocene, tetrcdotoxin, and other complex molecules. Also featured are RBW's personal life and relations with industry and colleagues. (The book reads like a "Who's Who" of contemporary organic chemistry). This multifaceted portrait of a n extraordinaq human being, teacher, and consummate organic chemist should inspire more young persons to pursue scientific careers, provide chemists with d e e ~insieht into the creative mind of "a leeendarv , architect of moircule;:" and enhance the public'* undersrandmg of chemistry and its research methods.

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George B. Kauffman California State J n versity, Fresno Fresno, CA 93740