Every Molecule Tells a Story by Cotton, Simon;

Short description:

This latest edition continues the celebration of molecules responsible for the experiences of everyday life. It presents new sections, notably the chemistry of molecules in food, and also covers developments such as the chemistry of drugs. This book brushes away any preconceived notions about chemistry to demonstrate its importance.

Long description:

Every Molecule Tells a Story continues the celebration of molecules responsible for the experiences of everyday life: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the chemicals that fuel our living, the steroids that give us sex, the colours of the seasons, the drugs that heal us, and the scented molecules that enrich our diet and our encounters with each other. You can?t see them, but you know that they are there. This latest edition presents new sections, including odorants, including their potential in the diagnosis of diseases and the possibility that they may improve our memory. Environmental issues appear, such as air pollution ? both outdoors and indoor ? and the need for recycling of plastics. It does not pass over the dangers of some chemicals, whether abused drugs, for example oxycodone and the fentanyls, or nerve agents, notably the Novichoks. Based on the highly successful first edition, this book brushes away any preconceived notions about chemistry to demonstrate its importance.

Key Features

• The author introduces his molecular collection by explaining the relevance of chemistry in our everyday lives.


• The second edition is considerably expanded, and new areas include food chemistry, vitamins, drugs of abuse.


• New discoveries are reflected in existing chapters.


• The chemicals are frequently put in context of their human associations, so that the book goes beyond just ?the chemistry?.


• A celebration of the molecules of chemistry.

Overview

This compilation is an essential reference work for every chemist ? particularly organic chemists. It is a handbook of up-to-date knowledge on many of the chemical compounds in our chemical world, and their contexts. Not only is each chapter full of fascinating facts, but each chapter examines the molecules from a different perspective. Here, this reviewer provides commentaries on each of the chapters.

Chapter 1: Food

What differentiates this book from others that cover the topic of food is that, upfront Dr. Cotton discusses the taste of foods: ?So the core of this chapter is to consider molecules responsible for flavour sensations in a range of foods, both cooked and uncooked ?. This topic is especially relevant to those who, through chemotherapy, or though viral infections, lose their ability to experience the food sensations.

According to Dr. Cotton, roast beef has been the most studied, the delightful smell (to most carnivores) coming primarily from: methional, 2-acetylthiazole, and 2- acetylthiazolidine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, and 2,3-diethyl-5- methylpyrazine. While fried chicken exudes a completely different array of complex molecules. Eye-opener

Table of Contents:

Preface.