ensures that the student will have to visit the library for his copy.

C. Anastasi

Aspects of Chemical Evolution. Edited by G. Nicolis. Pp. 286. Wiley, Chichester. 7985. f52.25.

This volume represents papers presented at the 27th Solvay Conference. The first 40 pages or so are taken up by Jacques Solvay and others with a rather charming account of the history and achievements of these conferences. Following this, we are taken on an illuminating journey through evolution from simple chemical systems to the com- plexity of insect morphogenesis.

Prigogine provides us with a lucid account of the development of non-equilibrium thermodynamics which embraces stochastic aspects of evolution. He concludes, perhaps rather provocatively for such a volume, that ‘there is no strict Darwinian selection of the fittest’ and indeed he would find much sympathy with many biologists. This is followed by several articles from the likes of Miller and Schuster on the chemical evolu- tion of the atmosphere and prebiotic synthesis until we are led to consider biological energy processing, although to a purist aspects of this may cause some alarm. No conference on chemical evolution would be fully dressed without a discussion of the Belousov-Zahbotinski reaction; of this Tur- ner and Nicolis give a clear account. Nicolis also introduces complex dynamics, which is utilised by Kauffman in his account of insect morphogenesis. Finally, Thomas indicates how graphical and boolean treatments may be utilised to describe (bio)chemical sys- tems. Despite the price of this volume (f52.25), which will put it out of reach of most students, a visit to the library would be worthwhile as this volume represents a useful survey of the physical aspects of the evolutionary process. Some articles are timeless, others may already have fallen into obscurity.

Paul O’Shea

Aromaticity. By P. J. Garratt. Pp. 313. Wiley, Chichester. 1986. f46.65.

This timely book is well executed and eminently readable - not surprising for a chemist who has worked with, and re- viewed, several types of aromatic systems. There are chapters on The Aromaticity Problem; Cyclobutadiene, Benzene, and Cyclooctatetraene; Benzene, its Isomers and Derivatives; Annulene (a particularly good account); Monocyclic Antiaromatic Ions; Monocyclic Aromatic Ions; Annulenones, Fulvenes, and Related Sys- tems; Heterocyclic Systems; Polycyclic Sys- tems; Homoaromatic and Topologically Related Systems; and Aromatic Transition States and Criteria for Aromaticity.

The author returns repeatedly to Aroma- ticity as a concept; it is a bit like ‘Seven chapters in search of a definition’. The author recognises that benzene itself is the only perfect aromatic specimen. Sufficient

space is devoted to nonaromatic and Physical Methods of Chemistry, Vol. I. antiaromatic species, I would have preferred Components of Scientific Instruments more information on aromatic substitution. and Applications of Computers to even if it complicated the argument on Chemical Research. Edited by 6. W. aromaticity. I very much liked the informa- Rossiter and J. E. Hamilton. Pp. 834. tive ‘Further Reading’ appendix to each Wiley, Chichester. 1986. f 143.00. chapter. I liked less the misleading use of NOtz; that important arrows went missing;

S cientists considering moving into new fields

that ‘a number’ is used both as a singular will find much of interest in this book. The

and a plural noun; and the mispelling (on editors have assembled authoritative intro- d uctions

page 1) of the names of Wohler and Liebig. to several important areas in

chemistry. The eight main chapters (which Nevertheless. the book is strongly recom- discuss electronics, vacuum technology, mended as a text for graduate students, but undergraduates will likewise find much to

optical radiation, handling air-sensitive

inform them and fascinate them. materials, and computer applications) are

P. H. Gore well-written, practical, and comprehensible to the non-expert.

Unhappily, though, the volume suffers from two serious drawbacks. Firstly, an already long book is lengthened unjusti-

Advances in Mass Spectrometry ‘1985. fiably by numerous figures of dubious value

Parts A and B. Edited by J. F. J. Todd. (do we really need, for example, reproduc-

Pp. 1661. Wiley, Chichester. 7986. tions of pages from the Kontes glassware

f 195.00. catalogue, or a half-page photograph of five pipettes?) Further, most chapters assume

These two volumes are the report on the little prior knowledge, so explanations proceedings of the 10th International Mass appear, (such as the difference between Spectrometry Conference, held at the Uni- analogue and digital) that will be unneces- versity College of Swansea on 9th to 13th sary for the typical reader. September, 1985. El43 is the second drawback. This will

Part A gives the full texts of the Plenary surely mean the book is purchased only by Lectures; these deal with Applications in the most extravagantly-paid reader. Books Biology, Pharmacology, and Medicine or reviews covering the topics discussed (Horning); Theory of Mass Spectrometry already exist, at a fraction of the price. One (Lorquet, Barbier, and Leyh-Nihant); In- suspects Wiley could not have expected this strumentation (Todd); Mechanistic Aspects volume to pay for itself - fascinating though of Organic Mass Spectrometry (Schwartz); it may be - were it not the first in a series and Physical Chemistry of Ion Reactions many libraries may feel obliged to collect. (Derrick). Many of the 26 Keynote Lectures H. Cartwright

deal with instruments designed for special purposes - e.g. 14-C Dating in Archaeolo- gy, Mass Spectrometry of Halley’s comet - and it is evident that many of the special-purpose machines of some years ago are now being made commercially (e.g. Physical Methods of Chemistry, Vol. II.

Laser Microprobe Mass Analysers) and that Electrochemical Methods. Edited by

Ion Cyclotron Resonance (Fourier Trans- BVanr w Roasiror and John E. form MS) is now an established technique. Hamilton. Pp. 904. Wiley, Chichester.

Part B contains the short abstracts of the 1986. f 143.00.

papers presented orally or as posters. These This book is a revision of what was are divided into the following sections (number of papers in parentheses): Liquid

published in 1971 as Part IIA of Physical

Chromatography/MS (34), Methods of Chemistry, edited by B. W.

C a s Rossiter and the late Dr Arnold Weissber- Chromatography/MS (42), Ion Structures ger. A similar format has been retained, and Mechanisms (5.5), Instrumentation and together with several of the original authors. Novel Techniques (51), Laser-induced Potentiometric methods have been conden- Ionization and Excitation (29) High- sed into one chapter, as have those temperature Studies and Inorganic Analysis concerned with conductance and transfer- (29), Isotopic Measurements (7), Cluster ence. There are two new chapters - an Ions (7), Physical and Theoretical (55), introductory one on the basis of choosing Data Processing (13), Biomedical Applica- tions (35), Pyrolysis MS (7). New Spectra

and performing electrochemical experiments

(50), Tandem MS (31), and Desorption and one on spectroelectrochemistry. The

Ionization (68). change of emphasis goes some way to reflect progress during the past 15 years. The

The volumes provide a valuable snapshot view of the whole field of Mass Spec-

chapter on spectroelectrochemistry is both

trometry in 1985, and the editor and timely and well done and the introductory chapter admirably fulfils its intention of

publishers are to be commended for the answering questions frequently facing a speed of publication. However, the high beginner. price would preclude personal purchase in Unfortunately, the standard of revision is many cases. not uniformly high and substantial parts of

P. Bladon the book seem curiously old-fashioned. In

54