Abstract
THIS interesting and well-written little book offers a readable summary of some of the broad principles of biochemistry and of the contribution of chemistry to modern civilisation, as is indicated by such chapter headings as “The Breath of Life”, “Food”, “Vitamins”, “Soap”, “Dyes” and “Metallurgy”. It is accurate in general; but the original synthesis of alcohol is wrongly ascribed to Berthelot, and such obvious misrenderings as “Wolbe”, “Erlich”, and “Sully” appear in text and index alike. A very generous view is taken of Mayow's contribution to chemistry. The implication (p. 81) that chemical symbols are synonymous with ‘jargon’ is supererogatory, as is also the prefatory suggestion that teachers of chemistry do not need to make their subject attractive.
The ABC of Chemistry.
J. G.
Crowther
By. Pp. xi + 248. (London: Kegan Paul and Co., Ltd., 1932.) 4s. 6d. net.
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The ABC of Chemistry . Nature 131, 895 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/131895d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/131895d0