academic-industry rhrmistry gap have this prol,ltm. The instnmor who is knowledge- able in polymer chemistry s h d d haw no problem using the hook.

This hook should become a new standard polymer chemistry textbook. I t will easily rank above Sevmour's earlier effort. and in time wall c<m&re fawraby w i t h ilke eyer's c l a 4 c b w k . ,\ttmrtivrlv pnekngrd and well written. l t should hen wrlnme nddrtwn in the classroom or professional library.

G. Allan Stahl Phillips Research Center

Bartlesville, OK 74004

Atoms, Molecules, and Life Michael S. Matta and Antony C. Wilbra- ham, The BenjaminlCummings Publishing Co., Menlo Park, CA, 1981. xvii + 721 pp. Figs. and tables. 19.5 X 24.5 cm. 521.95.

"Atoms, Moleculeu, and Life" is an ap- propriate title fur this text. I)esignt-d by the authon for s tudrn t~ in nursing and thr all~rd health professions, the content is an overview of general, organic, and biological chemistry. Its twenty-four chapters (658 pp.) could be divided roughly into those three topic areas with eight chapters concerning general chemistry (including nuclear chemistry), six chapters dealing with organic structures, re- actions, and nomenclature, and ten chapters distinctly hioehemieal. Health-related ex- amples appear as early as page 2 and are very well intemated into the text, often in the form

of 29 special ~ections called ''A Closer I.ook." At times thesesectiunsare phgrirnlly placed in inappropriate spota, but they are as a whole an effective emphasis on the appliea- tions ofconrrpu prercnted at that time.

The book has blue os n second n h r a* well ae boldfarr and italic twe . Their use is ef- fective and not overdo";. The fieures and - tables are clear, pertinent, and, again, not overdone. ~~ ~

Each chapter hegins with an introductory paragraph followed hy n list of learning ub- jectives, which are pointed and comprehen- sive. Within the chapter are numbered sub- divisions for ease of assignment and referral. The subdivision headings are followed by a one-sentence summary of the ensuing dis- cussion. These summaries seem to be of more value as the hook progresses into organic chemistry. At times they are simplistic in the biochemistry sections.

Problems are interspersed throughout the chapters. Answers can be found at the end of the text. A summary follows each chapter as well as a list of key terms with section refer- ences, more problems (section-referenced), and further reading suggestions. Answers to the end-of-chapter questions appear in a student study guide written as an optional accompaniment to the text. The problems are complete and not trivial.

Four appendices cover "Systems of Mea- surement," "Exponents and Exponential Notation," "Significant Figures," and the use of logarithms for pH calculations. A 23-page glwsary caps the hook.

The standard topics taught in a Longer se- quence of courses are still here. Dimensional analysis, use of equivalents and normality,

nercent bv weieht and volume. and oreanic , .. " reactions are presented succinctly and well. Of necessity many topirs arr truncated. Sometimes the decision to lrnvc renain items out of the general discussion is questionable. As with any textbook which tries to cover much in so little space, an occasional error or inconsistency creeps in. These may he dis- tracting to an instructor but not to the stu- dent. One thing whichmay he missing is the implication that the text topics are not a closed body of knowledge hut have many open ends still to be investigated or ques- tioned. This may he simply a function of the author's desire to present chemistry at a di- gestible, practical level to students in applied fields within a limited time and space.

Overall, Matta and Wilbraham show an admirable amreciation of their audience. its . . interest4 and abilities. "Atoms, ~olecuies , and I.itrw is worthy romprtition for ctrrrcnt texts in thin "re8 such RS Iloltrm and Sears and Stanitski.

Christina A. Bailey California Polytechnic State University

San Luis Obispo. CA 93407

Physical Chemistry J. Philip Bromberg. Allyn and Bacon, Inc.. Boston. MA. 1979. xiv + 882 pp. Figs. and tables. 19.2 X 24.4 cm. $24.95.

Bromherg's text has several features which should appeal to undergraduates who

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Volume 59 Number 8 August 1982 A249