Best of
Chemistry

2008

The Alchemy of Air: A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Scientific Discovery That Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler


Thomas Hager - 2008
    Mass starvation, long predicted for the fast-growing population, was about to become a reality. A call went out to the world’s scientists to find a solution. This is the story of the two enormously gifted, fatally flawed men who found it: the brilliant, self-important Fritz Haber and the reclusive, alcoholic Carl Bosch. Together they discovered a way to make bread out of air, built city-sized factories, controlled world markets, and saved millions of lives. Their invention continues to feed us today; without it, more than two billion people would starve.But their epochal triumph came at a price we are still paying. The Haber-Bosch process was also used to make the gunpowder and high explosives that killed millions during the two world wars. Both men were vilified during their lives; both, disillusioned and disgraced, died tragically. Today we face the other un­intended consequences of their discovery—massive nitrogen pollution and a growing pandemic of obesity.The Alchemy of Air is the extraordinary, previously untold story of two master scientists who saved the world only to lose everything and of the unforseen results of a discovery that continues to shape our lives in the most fundamental and dramatic of ways.

Molecules of Murder: Criminal Molecules and Classic Cases


John Emsley - 2008
    Molecules of Murder describes ten highly toxic molecules which are of particular interest due to their use in notorious murder cases. Each chapter explores the discovery of the molecules, their chemistry and effects in humans, followed by a re-examination of their deliberate misuse in high profile murder cases! Molecules of Murder is written by the highly acclaimed, award winning popular science writer John Emsley and makes enthralling reading for both scientists and non-scientists alike.

Food: The Chemistry of its Components


Tom P. Coultate - 2008
    With a Foreword written by Heston Blumenthal the book investigates food components which are present in large amounts (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and water) and also those that occur in smaller amounts (colours, flavours, vitamins and preservatives). Food borne toxins, allergens, pesticide residues and other undesirables are also given detailed consideration. Attention is drawn to the nutritional and health significance of food components. This classic text has been extensively rewritten for its 5th edition to bring it right up to date and many new topics have been introduced. Features include: - a "Special Topics" section at the end of each chapter for specialist readers and advanced students - an exhaustive index and the structural formulae of over 500 food components - comprehensive listings of recent, relevant review articles and recommended books for further reading - frequent references to wider issues e.g. the evolutionary significance of lactose intolerance, fava bean consumption in relation to malaria and the legislative status of food additives. Food: The Chemistry of its Components will be of particular interest to students and teachers of food science, nutrition and applied chemistry in universities, colleges and schools. Its accessible style ensures that that anyone with an interest in food issues will find it invaluable. Extracts from reviews of previous editions: "very detailed and readable ... the author is to be congratulated" The British Nutrition Foundation, 1985 "a superb book to have by your side when you read your daily newspaper" New Scientist, 1989 "mandatory reading for food scientists, medical students ... and anyone else who has an interest in the food we eat" The Analyst, 1990 "...filled me with delight, curiosity and wonder. All of the chemistry is very clear and thorough. I heartily recommend it." The Chemical Educator, 1997 "...an invaluable source of information on the chemistry of food. It is clearly written and I can heartily recommend it" Chemistry & Industry, 2004 New, greatly enlarged or totally revised topics include: -Acrylamide -Resistant starch -Pectins -Gellan gum -Glycaemic Index (GI) -The elimination of trans fatty acids -Fractionation of fats and oils -Cocoa butter and chocolate -The casein micelle -Tea, flavonoids and health -Antioxidant vitamins -Soya phytoestrogens -Legume toxins -Pesticide residues -Cow's milk and peanut allergies

Introduction to Neuropsychopharmacology


Leslie L. Iversen - 2008
    Authored by four founders of modern neuroscience, this concise and comprehensive text covers the current series of medications used to treat diseases of the brain and nervous system--both psychiatric and neurologic--as well as legal and illegal recreational drugs and the neuroscientific information that explains how these medications act on the brain from the molecular to the clinical level. The text ranges from drugs that affect the mood and behavior to hypnotics, narcotics, anticonvulsants, and analgesics.

Chemical Structure and Reactivity: An Integrated Approach


James Keeler - 2008
    The book includes in-text examples and extensive end-of-chapter questions to encourage learning.

Chemistry3: Introducing Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry


Andy Burrows - 2008
    A special feature is the mechanistic approach to organic chemistry, rather than the old-fashioned 'functional group' approach.Chemistry3 tackles two issues pervading chemistry education: the students' mathematical skills, and their ability to see the subject as a single, unified discipline. It provides structured support, in the form of careful explanations, reminders of key mathematical concepts, step-by-step calculations in worked examples, and a Maths Toolkit, to help students get to grips with the essential mathematical element of chemistry. Frequent cross-references highlight the connections between each strand of chemistry and explain the relationship between the topics so students can develop an understanding of the subject as a whole.

Arrow Pushing in Organic Chemistry: An Easy Approach to Understanding Reaction Mechanisms


Daniel E. Levy - 2008
    Understand the fundamental reaction mechanisms relevant to organic chemistry, beginning with Sn2 reactions and progressing to Sn1 reactions and other reaction types. The problem sets in this book, an excellent supplemental text, emphasize the important aspects of each chapter and will reinforce the key ideas without requiring memorization.

Quanta, Matter and Change: A Molecular Approach to Physical Chemistry


Peter Atkins - 2008
    True to the authors' philosophy as outlined in the preface, it approaches physical chemistry by first developing the quantum theory of molecular electronic structure, then by statistical arguments moves into thermodynamics, and thence to kinetics."- Peter Taylor, Review in Chemistry World (Royal Society of Chemistry), July 31, 2009.

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture


Robert Bruce Thompson - 2008
    But two decades ago, real chemistry sets began to disappear as manufacturers and retailers became concerned about liability. ,em>The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments steps up to the plate with lessons on how to equip your home chemistry lab, master laboratory skills, and work safely in your lab. The bulk of this book consists of 17 hands-on chapters that include multiple laboratory sessions on the following topics:Separating Mixtures Solubility and Solutions Colligative Properties of Solutions Introduction to Chemical Reactions & Stoichiometry Reduction-Oxidation (Redox) Reactions Acid-Base Chemistry Chemical Kinetics Chemical Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle Gas Chemistry Thermochemistry and Calorimetry Electrochemistry Photochemistry Colloids and Suspensions Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Synthesis of Useful Compounds Forensic Chemistry With plenty of full-color illustrations and photos, Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments offers introductory level sessions suitable for a middle school or first-year high school chemistry laboratory course, and more advanced sessions suitable for students who intend to take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry exam. A student who completes all of the laboratories in this book will have done the equivalent of two full years of high school chemistry lab work or a first-year college general chemistry laboratory course. This hands-on introduction to real chemistry -- using real equipment, real chemicals, and real quantitative experiments -- is ideal for the many thousands of young people and adults who want to experience the magic of chemistry.

Linus Pauling: Scientist and Peacemaker


Clifford Mean - 2008
    This unique volume, first published to mark the centenary of Pauling's birth, gathers his words and those of his contemporaries and students, together with photographs, drawings, and reproductions from the Pauling Papers. Pauling (1901-1994) was known for being outspoken and for leaping over scientific boundariesfrom physics to chemistry to biology to medical research. This collection draws a vivid portrait of a remarkable man'scientist, humanist, and activist?highlighting his larger-than-life personality and his singular achievements. As both scientist and citizen, Pauling was passionate and deeply thoughtful. He wrote The Nature of the Chemical Bond, one of the most cited sources in scientific history, and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954. He risked his reputation during the McCarthy years as a vocal opponent of Cold War policies and nuclear proliferation. As a result, he was vilified by the press, investigated by the FBI, and awarded the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize.In the 1970s, Pauling again gained international recognition, this time for his advocacy of megadoses of vitamin C as a cure for cancer and cold prevention.

Exactly Solved Models in Statistical Mechanics


Rodney J. Baxter - 2008
    Topics include basic statistical mechanics, Ising models, the mean field model, the spherical model, ice-type models, corner transfer matrices, hard hexagonal models, and elliptic functions. The author has updated the 1989 version with a new chapter, "Subsequent Developments," for the 2007 edition.

Organic Chemistry for Cosmetic Chemists


Anthony O'Lenick - 2008
    To be successful, the language of chemistry must be understood. Organic Chemistry for Cosmetic Chemists focuses on refreshing the chemist with fundamentals of chemistry used to make raw materials used in our industry. Both theory and practice are presented. Many chapters contain problems at the end that allow the chemist to practice what they have learned. Topics include: Structure of Organic Compounds Raw Materials Synthesis Approach Nucleophilic Substitution Sulfation/Sulfonation Oxidation Reduction Polymers Aldol Condensation Diels Alder Reactions Ring Opening and ClosingPacked with exercises, examples and patent references, this book is a must-have for the cosmetic chemist interested in staying on top of their game!

Principles Of Biochemistry: Life At The Molecular Level


Donald Voet - 2008
    The third edition continues this tradition, and additionally incorporates coverage of recent research and an expanded focus on preparing and supporting students throughout the course. With the addition of new conceptual assessment content to WileyPLUS, students have the opportunity to assess their conceptual understanding of key introductory biochemistry concepts and retrain themselves on their misconceptions.

Student Solutions Manual to accompany Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change


Patricia Amateis - 2008
    This supplement contains detailed solutions and explanations for all even-numbered problems in the main text.

AP Chemistry For Dummies


Peter J. Mikulecky - 2008
    Focused on the chemistry concepts and problems the College Board wants you to know, this AP Chemistry study guide gives you winning test-taking tips, multiple-choice strategies, and topic guidelines, as well as great advice on optimizing your study time and hitting the top of your game on test day.This user-friendly guide helps you prepare without perspiration by developing a pre-test plan, organizing your study time, and getting the most out or your AP course. You'll get help understanding atomic structure and bonding, grasping atomic geometry, understanding how colliding particles produce states, and so much more.To provide students with hands-on experience, AP chemistry courses include extensive labwork as part of the standard curriculum. This is why the book dedicates a chapter to providing a brief review of common laboratory equipment and techniques and another to a complete survey of recommended AP chemistry experiments. Two full-length practice exams help you build your confidence, get comfortable with test formats, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and focus your studies.You'll discover how toCreate and follow a pretest plan Understand everything you must know about the exam Develop a multiple-choice strategy Figure out displacement, combustion, and acid-base reactions Get familiar with stoichiometry Describe patterns and predict properties Get a handle on organic chemistry nomenclature Know your way around laboratory concepts, tasks, equipment, and safety Analyze laboratory data Use practice exams to maximize your score Additionally, you'll have a chance to brush up on the math skills that will help you on the exam, learn the critical types of chemistry problems, and become familiar with the annoying exceptions to chemistry rules. Get your own copy of AP Chemistry For Dummies to build your confidence and test-taking know-how, so you can ace that exam!

Principles of Molecular Photochemistry: An Introduction


Nicholas J. Turro - 2008
    Derived in part from Nick Turro s best-selling text for three decades Modern Molecular Photochemistry this updated primer introduces an initial paradigm that relates the photon and a reactant molecular structure to photochemistry through the structure and dynamics of electronically excited states, reactive intermediates and products. The same paradigm is readily adapted to incorporate the photon and a reactant molecular structure to photophysics. The book provides brilliantly clear descriptions in pictorial terms that can be readily understood by the student and applied to systems of interest. This text will be of interest to not only practicing photochemists and their students, but also to biological scientists, polymer scientists, material scientists and nanoscientists who use photochemistry and photophysics in their research and teaching.

Inorganic Chemistry


James E. House - 2008
    The author emphasizes fundamental principles--including molecular structure, acid-base chemistry, coordination chemistry, ligand field theory, and solid state chemistry -- and presents topics in a clear, concise manner.Concise coverage maximizes student understanding and minimizes the inclusion of details students are unlikely to use. The discussion of elements begins with survey chapters focused on the main groups, while later chapters cover the elements in greater detail. Each chapter opens with narrative introductions and includes figures, tables, and end-of-chapter problem sets.This text is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level students enrolled in the inorganic chemistry course. The text may also be suitable for biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and other professionals who wish to learn more about this subject are.

Is Arsenic an Aphrodisiac?


William R. Cullen - 2008
    The general public are fearful of any possible exposure to it and yet it holds a certain dark and eerie fascination! The average person has only one idea about arsenic - it is poison - and this reputation has a sound base. Some arsenic compounds are very toxic and have been used with criminal intent from the time of the ancient Romans to the present day. Up until now, there has been no book that covers arsenic with such breadth. This book is a general appreciation of how much the element, arsenic, has become part of our lives in an entertaining style covering the years 1000 BC to the present day. The coverage of the chemistry, toxicology, and medicinal aspects is deliberately kept at a level for the general reader to understand. It covers the way in which this ubiquitous element and its compounds have influenced the lives of the people of the world. The author's objective in writing this book was not to elaborate on the vast chemistry of the element, but to try to reveal to the general reader how the element and its compounds have become embedded in our social fabric, for good and for ill. No other element comes close in this regard and he uses the word sociochemistry to describe this interface between society and chemistry. The book covers a broad range of topics including the use of arsenic in human medicine in many cultures from Chinese medicine to the beginning of chemotherapy. This peaked in the western world in the early 20th century, with Ehrlich's discovery of salvarsan, an arsenic-based cure for syphilis that gave rise to the field of chemotherapy. Salvarsan and related compounds were eventually displaced by antibiotics such as penicillin. Arsenic trioxide has staged a comeback, however, and is being used as a successful treatment for a form of leukemia. Other chapters cover arsenic compounds which were widely used in agriculture and wood preservation during the 20th century and their associated myths as well as arsenic compounds as chemical warfare agents and the resulting stockpile. The topic of arsenic in the environment is discussed in depth - arsenic is all around us - in our soil, our water, and our food, and our bodies have adapted to its presence and it does not usually pose a problem. However, the natural presence of high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water currently threatens the lives of millions of people in India, Bangladesh, Mexico and elsewhere. It also covers mining and pesticide manufacturing which can lead to high local arsenic concentrations in soils, slag heaps and mine tailings which, when located close to human activities, can produce human health risks. Other chapters cover a variety of topics including: " A proposed connection between arsenic and Cot Death (SIDS) which caused panic " The high concentration of arsenic in kelp products-is this harmful? " What about the 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide stored in a mine in Canada? " How toxic is arsenic anyway, and how do you assess the risks of exposure? " How did Napoleon die? These and many other topics are addressed at a level that will result in understanding without delving into too much technical detail or requiring a degree in chemistry. Essential reading for everyone with a general interest in science, this illuminating text covers a broad range of topics.