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 -- T R. Blackburn * CHOICE - Vol. 51 No. 08 *