The Colours of Life: An Introduction to the Chemistry of Porphyrins and Related Compounds [Paperback]

Lionel R. Milgrom (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198559623 | ISBN-13: 978-0198559627 | Publication Date: May 15, 1997

Why are leaves green and blood red? The answer lies with one family of pigments, the porphyrins and their relatives. These pigments are also responsible for the fundamental energetic processes that make life as we know it possible. The properties of these colorful molecules are now being investigated for use in a wide range of applications, from cancer therapy to microelectronics. The Colours of Life is intended to be an introduction to the porphyrins and their role in life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A lively and comprehensive account . . . . This is truly a book with something for everyone. Milgrom's explanations draw on inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry." --Journal of Chemical Education

"This book starts with the proposition that the fundamental processes which make life feasible--photosynthesis and metabolism in cells--rely on the porphyrin family. Aiming to present the chemistry of porphyrins both to the specialist and non-specialist reader, it will, I think, be most useful for teachers and lecturers wanting an overview of the field. The coverage is wide-ranging." --Education in Chemistry

"It has been some years since a book that reviews porphyrin chemistry was published. The current book discusses the chemistry and biochemistry of porphyrins at the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level. It is often difficult to find a clearly written description of the fundamentals of an area for students; this book exactly fills that niche, giving students the background they need to read current literature and review articles." - The Quarterly Review of Biology, March 2000

About the Author

Lionel R. Milgrom is at Brunel University, Uxbridge.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198559623
• ISBN-13: 978-0198559627
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,130,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is perhaps the only current text on porphyrins., July 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Colours of Life: An Introduction to the Chemistry of Porphyrins and Related Compounds (Paperback)

This is perhaps the only current textbook on porphyrins, most other books being severely outdated. I use this book to provide my graduate students a quick introduction to porphyrin chemistry. The book's main strength, in my opinion, is that it places comparable amounts of emphasis on chemical and biological aspects. Regarding the chemical aspects (at least), I would have preferred a somewhat more advanced level, that would have allowed a bit more detailed and rigorous discussions on, say, synthesis, metalloporphyrin electronic structure, etc. Thus, I feel that a special topic course on porphyrin chemistry could not be primarily based on this book, but this book certainly deserves being on the required reading list. The book is fun to read. There are no other recent books covering the same subject. It's certainly a worthwhile purchase for anyone with more than a passing interest in porphyrin chemistry.