Chemistry In The Garden

The aim of this book is to describe some aspects of the chemistry and chemical ecology which are found in the garden. In the garden there are numerous interactions between plants, the soil and with other organisms in which chemistry plays a central mediating role. The discussion concerns several of the chemically and ecologically interesting compounds that are produced by common ornamental garden plants and vegetables and by the predators that attack them.

Many chemists are amateur gardeners and this book is directed at them as well as those with a general interest in the scientific processes involved in the garden. Review: James Hanson a recognized authority on natural products chemistry seeks to pass on not just his knowledge of the subject but also the excitement of seeing chemistry in action.....he illustrates the intricate chemical balances in the biosphere.If you have ever wondered why strawberries are red or why it is difficult to make jam from them, then this book will enlighten you.

Anyone suffering from the delusion that natural equates with safe should read Chapter 6 on bioactive materials from ornamental plants.There is a very good general introduction to the subject of biosynthesis for those unfamiliar with it, and some more detail on selected aspects, which will interest the natural products chemist.

There is a glossary of botanical terms.....a good list of suggested further reading and, very importantly, a comprehensive index. * Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 2008, 47, 2535-2536 (Charles Sell) * An impressive feature of this book is its coverage of bread and butter substances, such as the properties that make cellulose such an important structural material.

The book includes a through index and has a good bibliography. Priced at u14.95, this is expecially good value for a hardback. I recommend this book to A-Level teachers not just for themselves, but also to give to students who want to discover organic chemistry beyond that in the A-Level chemistry specifications. * Education in Chemistry * The amount of information that is squeezed into this short book (just 146 pages) is remarkable.....full of interesting facts and figures, relating to plants commonly grown in gardens: did you know that over 800 compounds have been isolated from wine matured in oak barrels?This book is easier to read than most scientific literature, and provides a concise introduction for anyone wishing to study any aspect of plant chemistry......It is an enjoyable read and it succeeds in its aim: 'to show that there is chemistry in every part of the garden. * Chemistry Industry, 24th March 2008 (Andrew Salisbury) *