Book Description

Hydrophilic polyurethanes have the unique property of being able to absorb or otherwise manage moisture-and this makes them valuable in medical and a number of other important commercial applications.This new book provides a concise, unified presentation of hydrophilic polyurethanes technology and applications. All important topics from chemistry, analysis, processing and quality systems to product development and applications are covered clearly and systematically. The text is well illustrated by more than 45 flowcharts and diagrams and supplemented by more than 20 data tables.A special feature of this new book is its inclusion of case studies of recent development of commercially valuable products using hydrophilic polyurethanes. These case studies illustrate how these unique materials can be tailored to specific application needs.The information in this new book will be useful to all those involved in the research, development and applications of polymers, biomaterials, and other materials whose utility requires the special properties of hydrophilic polyurethanes. To receive your copy promptly, please order now. Information on ordering - by mail, fax, telephone or the publisher's secure website - follows the complete table of contents on the reverse.The AuthorTim Thomson is the director of Main Street Technologies, an independent research organization specializing in the development of advanced medical materials and devices. Previously he was technical manager of the Hypol Group, W. R. Grace & Co. He is recognized as an authority on hydrophilic polyurethanes and their use in medical device and other applications. He has an M.S. in Physical Chemistry from Michigan Technological University and has been awarded six patents in synthetic chemistry and process control. ... Read more

Book Description

'The very best phosphine ligand discussion is in the new Homogeneous Catalysis book by van Leeuwen. Early chapters are Excellent! Extraordinarly so' Marcetta Y. Darensbourg, A&M University, Texas Homogeneous catalysis using transition metal complexes is an area of research that has grown enormously in recent years. Many amazing catalytic discoveries have been reported by researchers both in industry and in academia. Homogeneous Catalysis: Understanding the Art gives real insight in the many new and old reactions of importance. It is based on the author's extensive experience in both teaching and industrial practice. Each chapter starts with the basic knowledge and ends with up-to-date concepts. The focus of this book is on concepts, but many key industrial processes and applications that are important in the laboratory synthesis of organic chemicals are used as examples. The full range of topics is covered, such as fine chemicals, bulk chemicals, polymers, high-tech polymers, pharmaceuticals, but also important techniques and reaction types among other aspects. For a few reactions the process schemes, environmental concerns and safety aspects are included, to encourage catalyst researchers to think about these topics at an early stage of their projects and to communicate with chemical engineers, customers and the end-users. Homogeneous Catalysis: Understanding the Art provides a balanced overview of the vibrant and growing field of homogeneous catalysis to chemists trained in different disciplines and to graduate students who take catalysis as a main or secondary subject. This book is an invaluable tool for practising professionals and academia, including: Chemists in academia with an inorganic, organic, catalytic, etc., chemistry background; PhD-students in these fields, and advanced students; Research Institutes of Petrochemical industries; Fine-chemical industries; Pharmaceutical industries; Chemical Laboratories of Universities for Organic, Industrial, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, and Catalysis; Graduate schools. There is no other book available that gives insight into so many reactions of importance, while the field of homogeneous catalysis is becoming more and more important to organic chemists, industrial chemists, and academia. This book will provide this background to chemists trained in a different discipline and graduate and masters students who take catalysis as a main or secondary topic. ... Read more

Book Description

Organolithium chemistry occupies a central position in the selective construction of C-C bonds in both simple and complex molecules. Paralleling the surge of interest in methods for asymmetric synthesis, the use of organolithiums in enantioselective synthesis has witnessed spectacular advances in a little over a decade. This volume is the first dedicated to a comprehensive coverage of this important area. It is designed to provide graduate students and researchers with a rich source of essential information on synthesising molecules in an enantioselective manner using organolithiums, and be an inspiration for future developments. Following an overview chapter summarising the key milestones, successive chapters, each written by leading experts in their field, critically survey all the major areas of progress. ... Read more

Book Description

This book illuminates the basic concepts of quantum chemistry, and emphasizes atomic structure but not molecular applications. The author starts with a survey of the basic ideas and problems of wave/particle duality, the nature of wave function, and its statistical interpretation. He then discusses some important applications of Schrodinger's equation to chemically relevant situations, and probes the structure of the hydrogen atom, multiple-electron atoms and the periodic table of elements. The emphasis throughout is on the physical concepts and their concrete application. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Clear and great insights into Quantum theory
Clear and great insights into Quantum theory

From the very begining I had feelings to read and get clear insights into what is this quantum theory about. This book gave me full satisfaction. I liked it so much that I almost wrote the full book in my notebook, so that I may read it again and again ! (I had borrowed it from Chicago Public Libray).

The book's hallmark I feel is the simple on the dot language and comments that clears any doubts you may have. What I also liked is that it begins with the concept by first introducing the classical mechanics model and then emerging into quantum model.

Excellent book, all interested in the subject must read, to build a strong foundation ! ... Read more

Book Description

An integrated approach to organometallic chemistry, incorporating many new results. Provides historical background, and develops the subject from first principles to the latest developments. Topics include classification, nomenclature, nontransition- and transition-metal organometallics (preparation, properties, structures, and bonding), and fluxionality and applications. Includes critical analysis of the environmental aspects of main-group and transition-metal organometallic compounds. Contains many illustrative figures and charts. ... Read more

Book Description

An accessible and quick introduction to the scientific study of drugs, including their composition, uses, and physiological effects. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must for the medicinal chemist
Reading this book is much easier after taking the author's course. You get a better feeling for how the book is laid out after listening to the author's lecture style. An organic chemist by training, the author naturally gears this book to the organic chemist. He gives just enough physiology to understand the pharmacology behind it. The book follows his lecture course fairly well with more in-depth discussion on topics of interest. A standard reference text that should be in any chemists' library starting out in the pharmaceutical field. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in a second edition, Biochemistry of Inorganic Polyphosphates fills the need for an exhaustive resource on inorganic polyphosphate metabolism. The authors describe the structure and properties of these compounds and presents a comparative analysis of the newest and traditional methods of their extraction from cells. Distribution of polyphosphates in organisms, their localization in cells and tissues is also described.

• Comprehensive presentation of inorganic polyphosphate metabolism
• Follows polyphosphates in cells of organisms from different stages of evolution
• Presents methods for the analysis and study of polyP-dependent enzymes
• Comprehensive information on genetics, metabolism and biotechnology of polyphosphates
• Textbook and reference work on all aspects of polyphosphates

Book Description

The interaction of transition metals with unsaturated molecules has led to fundamental insights in the nature of the chemical bond which, in turn, has provided the basis of important present-day applications such as transition metal mediated synthesis or homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.This slim volume outlines the chemistry and discusses the bonding in of some of the most important classes of organometallic compounds: the complexes of transition metals with Pi-ligands such as alkenes, alkynes, arenes, and cyclopentadienyl and allyl ligands.The material covered follows on from Organometallics I which covers the chemistry of complexes with metal-carbon delta-bonds.Synthetic and reactivity aspects of each class of compounds are illustrated with pertinent examples from the recent chemical literature.Highlighted excursions relate the fundamental chemistry to current synthetic or catalytic applications.Undergraduates, graduate students and lecturers will find this book to be a wonderful resource. ... Read more

Book Description

Fullerenes-a guide to the current state of knowledge in the field

The last decade has seen an explosion of research into the chemical and physical properties of a promising new class of carbon-based materials known as fullerenes.

Karl Kadish and Rodney Ruoff, two highly recognized leaders in the fullerene and nanotube research community, edit a comprehensive and much-needed survey of this important and rapidly evolving field. Contributions by experts in diverse areas of chemistry, physics, pharmacology, materials science, and chemical engineering provide an excellent introduction to fullerenes and highlight their considerable potential in such cutting-edge applications as semiconductor materials, new pharmaceutical compounds, and polymers. From the electrochemistry of fullerenes to molecular and solid C36, this book offers a remarkably fresh and authoritative look at some of the hottest research topics today, including:
* Organic functionalization of fullerenes
* Photophysical properties of different types of fullerenes
* Polyfunctional polymer derivatives of fullerenes
* The theory and production of endohedral metallofullerenes
* Fullerene surface interactions
* Superconductivity in fullerenes
* Synthesis of materials incorporated within carbon nanotubes ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great reference book on these unique compounds.
Without a doubt, fullerenes are one of the most well-known groups of compounds in the chemist community in the 20th century. Not very long after the discovery of the compound C60, numerous articles in organic, physical, analytical, and biochemical research have been published. While extensive studies on these outstanding compounds are still being under way, this book serves as one of the most thorough collections of literature on the subject. Although highly specialized, the book is recommended to any graduate student, as well as chemist and chemistry-related scientist who enjoy in-depth discussions on these unique compounds. In addition, relevant references are included for further reading on certain aspects of the compounds discussed. ... Read more

Book Description

This short text is intended for first year undergraduates and introduces some concepts of chemical bonding in a clear, descriptive and essentially non-mathematical fashion.The text will find a place alongside textbooks containing more detailed formal coverage and mathematical descriptions. This book could form the basis of an introductory course on chemical bonding.The book addresses aspects of atomic orbital structure and uses this to develop a discussion of the bonding in diatomic and polyatomic molecules using Lewis dot structures, hybrid orbital, and molecular orbital methods. The prediction of molecular shape is addressed through the VSEPR method.It is valuable for students in first-year chemistry courses, as well as non-chemistry students requiring a readable introduction to chemical bonding. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Ingredients, Philip Ball blends history and science as he offers an illuminating look at our centuries-long struggle to understand the nature of the physical world. It's been a long journey from the ancient belief in four elements--earth, water, fire, air--to the hundred plus elements that occupy the modern periodic table, and Ball makes a perfect tour guide, highlighting the many points of interest on the way. He introduces us to key scientists such as Lavoisier, who named oxygen, proved that water is not an element, demolished the ancient 4-elements theory, and lost his head to the guillotine. Ball highlights the unexpected opportunities for making useful things from the riches found on the periodic table. We learn, for instance, that the seemingly useless argon (after the Greek argos, 'lazy'--because it did nothing) makes perfect filler for light bulbs, because no matter how hot the bulb gets, argon won't react. Likewise, silicon, a very poor conductor of electricity (hence the label semiconductor) is perfect for computer chips, because the slow movement of electrons is easier to manipulate. Ball shows us how to read the periodic table and he recounts Mendeleyev's tale of discovering the correct form to the table "in a dream." He also explains the difficulties of defining and identifying the elements, the principles behind the formation of synthetic elements, and the ways in which particular elements (gold, iron, oxygen) shaped culture and technology.From the alchemical quest for the Philosopher's Stone to the legend of the Midas touch, The Ingredients provides an engaging look at the elements that make up the world we live in. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Elements: A Short Primer In Thoughtful Prose
Philip Ball's The Ingredients is a short and sweet introduction to the chemical elements. It is not a comprehensive description of each of the 110+ elements that appear on the periodic table. Rather it is a history of the concept of an element and a definition of what an element is done in context with examples. All the important terms from Chemistry 101 are there - atom, electron, element, isotope, neutron, nucleus, proton - as are all the important people and events in the history of the elements, but it is done in Ball's extremely readable prose style. Even though I've taught basic chemistry at the high school level and I've heard all this stuff before, I thoroughly enjoyed this short, but concept dense book. ... Read more

Book Description

What is the most common element in the universe? Can you name the noble gases? Everything we see around us is made of chemical elements, but most of us know little about them. Penned by award-winning science writer John Emsley, Nature's Building Blocks explains the what, why and wherefore of the chemical elements. Arranged alphabetically, from Actinium to Zirconium, it is a complete guide to all 115 of those that are currently known, with more extensive coverage of those elements we encounter in our everyday life.The entry on each element reveals where it came from, what role it may have in the human body, and the foods that contain it.There are also sections on its discovery, its part in human health or illness, the uses and misuses to which it is put, and its environmental role. Readers discover that the Earth consists of around 90 elements, some of which are abundant, such as the silicon and oxygen of rocks and soils, while some are so rare that they make gold seem cheap. Our own bodies contain about 30 elements, some in abundance, some in trace amounts; some vital to our health, and some that are positively harmful. A list of the main scientific data, and outline properties, are given for every element and each section ends with an "Element of Surprise," which highlights some unexpected way in which each element influences our everyday life.Both a reliable reference source and a high browsable account of the elements, Nature's Building Blocks offers a pleasurable tour of the very essence of our material world. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A chemist's book of bedtime stories
Although it looks like a textbook, "Nature's Building Blocks" reads like a collection of bedtime stories -- fascinating information about each of the elements, including things that are common-sense but you may never have thought of and stuff that's just gee-whiz cool and unexpected. Like a collection of bedtime tales, you needn't start at the beginning and go to the end -- you can pick any element you like and enjoy the delicious nuggets of information.

The book suffers from a disturbing number of awkward sentences -- it deserves a much better copy editor for the next edition!

This won't replace a chemist's CRC Handbook for sheer amounts of data, but unlike CRC it's a heck of a lot of fun to read.

Elemental, My Dear Emsley!
John Emsley writes excellent books on chemistry and Emsley's The Elements [3rd Edition] is an indispensable guide to the chemical elements for scientists. However, a layperson delving into The Elements may find it tough going because of its myriad numbers and tiny tidbits of text. In Nature's Building Blocks, Emsley dispenses with most of the numbers and expands the tidbits of text into page length essays on each element. Even though the book is clearly a reference book, the section on each element is an enjoyable read. Each section is divided into subsections that relate the element's significance to the cosmos, humans, food, medicine, history, war, economics, the environment, and then ends with a section called the Element of Suprise [one element's suprise is that there is nothing that Emsley could find to say about it that was suprising]. This book contains the kind of information I need as a chemistry and earth science teacher in a high school to spice up discussions on the elements. All laypeople with an interest in chemistry need a copy of this excellent book. Every high school library in the country should have a copy of this book on their shelves.

A good, comprehensive reference.
A comprehensive reference book on all the elements in the periodic table. Well researched and presented. Definitely reference bookshelf material.

A Book I've Been Looking For!
I was looking for a good book on the elements over the last few years and kept drawing a blank. The few I found were too technical, too simple, or involved strange treatments. Than I found this book! It was exactly what I wanted. A complete treatment of the elements of the periodic table alphabetically arranged. When I first found it I thought I would test it out by checking a rather obscure biological fact- certain tunicates (ascidians) concentrate vanadium in their blood. On p. 486 I found the reference with one error- Ascidia was called a "worm" (it is a Urochordate). However, the author made up for this by noting under copper that snails, spiders, octopi and oysters utilize that element as part of an oxygen-carrying blood pigment, making their blood pale blue.

Other entries were just as fascinating. The sections for each element cover such subjects as human involvement (biologically- including food and medicine), history, economics, environmental associations, chemical properties and "Element of Surprise" - little known facts regarding the element in question.

Where else could you find the origin of Teflon, the history of lead, the use of a salt of nitrogen to inflate airbags, or that thorium oxide was injected into patients during early X-ray diagnosis? These, and a host of other facts, are presented in exacting detail in "Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements."

This is a very much-needed book for anybody requiring a good reference on the chemical elements. It is also a very good read!

This book is a blast!
I keep this book by my bedside table, and read an element each night before falling asleep. It's loaded with factoids that will bring a smile to your face and amaze your friends. For example, did you know that even 0.5 microgram of Tellurium will give you bad breath for up to 30 hours? Or that Charles II died of mercury poisoning because he did alchemical experiments in a poorly ventilated room in his palace? I'm reading the book cover-to-cover, but I know that in the future I'll want to dip into it again and again.

My only criticism, and it's minor, is that I wish the chapter headings (e.g., "Indium") contained the info summarized in the chemical element table (symbol, atomic number, atomic weight) at the end of the chapter. ... Read more

Book Description

The field of organometallic chemistry has seen explosive growth over the last forty years.On a fundamental level, new structural and bonding concepts have been discovered, while applications range from catalysis to new synthetic methods.This succinct text outlines the main classes of transition metal organometallic complexes and introduces the reader to the chemistry of compounds with metal-carbon bonds: metal carbonyls, metal alkyls, and metal alkylidenes and alkylidynes.The synthetic methods leading to each class of compounds are illustrated with pertinent examples, followed by the discussion of characteristic structures and reactivity patterns.The book stresses general principles and relates the material to specific applications such as catalytic processes.This book is ideal for supplying a quick overview of the discipline to students of chemistry. ... Read more

Book Description

Hardbound. NMR is a growing technique which represents a generalized, spread, common tool for spectroscopy and for structural and dynamic investigation. Part of the field of competence of NMR is represented by molecules with unpaired electrons, which are called paramagnetic. The presence of unpaired electrons is at the same time a drawback (negative effect) and a precious source of information about structure and dynamics. New phenomena and effects are described which are due to the high magnetic fields and advances in the methodology. Solution NMR of Paramagnetic Molecules is unique in dealing with these matters. The scope is that of presenting a complete description, which is both rigorous and pictorial, of theory and experiments of NMR of paramagnetic molecules in solution. Pertinent examples are described. From the time dependent behaviour of electrons in the various metal ions including polimetallic systems to the hyperfine-based information ... Read more

Book Description

The authors of this book discuss polyurethanes used in a variety of biomedical applications. Polyurethanes form a large family of polymeric materials with an enormous diversity of chemical compositions and properties The wide range of properties that can be achieved with polyurethane chemistry has attracted the attention of developers of biomedical devices who see promise in the mechanical flexibility of these materials combined with their high tear strength. ... Read more

Book Description

This substantially revised and expanded new edition of the bestselling textbook, addresses the difficulties that can arise with the mathematics that underpins the study of symmetry, and acknowledges that group theory can be a complex concept for students to grasp.

Written in a clear, concise manner, the author introduces a series of programmes that help students learn at their own pace and enable to them understand the subject fully. Readers are taken through a series of carefully constructed exercises, designed to simplify the mathematics and give them a full understanding of how this relates to the chemistry.

This second edition contains a new chapter on the projection operator method. This is used to calculate the form of the normal modes of vibration of a molecule and the normalised wave functions of hybrid orbitals or molecular orbitals.

The features of this book include:

• A concise, gentle introduction to symmetry and group theory
• Takes a programmed learning approach
• New material on projection operators, and the calcultaion of normal modes of vibration and normalised wave functions of orbitals

Reviews (2)

Great for beginners
If you don't have the math background it often takes to penetrate Cotton, this book could be the answer. For learning the quick and dirty basics of the use of group theory for molecules, this is the book. The only problems are its sparseness and the high price for a 156 page book. Excellent for self-teaching, though.

Exam tomorrow, and still in confusion with group theory...?
Cotton's(or Bishop's or like that...) book on group theory is too wonderful for me to grade. But, you may agree with me, in that it really takes times! You must read those books to understand the internal structure of group theory, but if you have exam tomorrow, Vincent's will be an emergency measure. Just follow him about 5 hours. Then you can solve some crucial spectroscopy problems, make MO's, and so third. But don't forget to check the books of details. This book is just for an emergency measure. But truly great enough for that. ... Read more

Book Description

This text focuses on the practical aspects of crystal structure analysis, and provides the necessary conceptual framework for understanding and applying the technique. By choosing an approach that does not put too much emphasis on the mathematics involved, the book gives practical advice on topics such as growing crystals, solving and refining structures, and understanding and using the results. The technique described is a core experimental method in modern structural chemistry, and plays an ever more important role in the careers of graduate students, postdoctoral and academic staff in chemistry, and final-year undergraduates. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great introduction in crystal structure analysis
This book should be one of the best introduction in crystal structure analysis for the beginners! Everybody wanting to start with x-ray structure analysis should read this book at the very beginning, since it's, in fact, a International Union of Crystallography Text on Crystallography. It covers the most important topics of x-ray structure analysis in an easy understandable language without boring the reader with mathematical details. You can get a good impression about what the basic principles and problems of x-crystallography are, and how they can be solved. ... Read more