The Cosmic-Chemical Bond

UK academics Williams (Univ. College London) and Hartquist (Univ. of Leeds) present an authoritative though

skimpily documented account of the universe's evolution, from the prechemical times--shortly after the big bang--of

isolated elementary particles and hyperenergetic photons, through the formation of atoms, to more complex

molecules and dust particles, and finally to stars, planets, and galaxies. The emphasis is heavily chemical, with

relatively brief focus on the physical dynamics of stellar fNmation and energy. The text is also unsparingly

technical, though nonmathematical. The authors stipulate that the intended audienc;e is "anyone with a general

interest in chemistry, from students to professional scientists." However, students will need a good background in

chemistry and physics to follow the text. The presentation is adorned with stl'ikingly good color illustrations of

deep-space objects in the throes of processes described. Unfortunately, bibliographic aids are limited to brief

"Fwiher Reading" lists, dominated by the authors' and their students' contributions. The relatively terse index largely

references individual scientists. There is no discussion (perhaps wisely; no one really understands it) ofthe "dark

matter" and "dark energy" that may or may not, depending on cosmologists, dominate the evolution of galaxies and

the universe. Js there a "dark chemistry"? Summing Up: Recommended. With reservations. Upper-division

undergraduates through professionals. -- T R. Blackburn, former(v, American Chemical Society Petroleum Research

Fund