A general treatment is given of the chemical kinetics of certain types of co-ordinated reactions. It is shown that where several components are synthesised by the use of mutually supplied intermediates there is a steady state in which each separate component increases according to the simple exponential law of autosynthesis. Before the steady state is reached there may be lag phases, or even periodic variations in rate. The conditions under which the kinetic equations can be applied to material subject to cell division are considered. Changes of proportions accompanying transfer to new media or to media containing inhibitors are shown to be possible, and the rate and relative permanence of these adaptive changes are discussed.The relation of the equations derived to the phenomena shown by living cells is indicated, and a hypothesis about the mode in which new enzymes may arise in response to new substrates is outlined.
The discussion of complex reactions, in the chapter on ionic reactions, is somewhat disappointing. The discussion of enzyme reactions, in the chapter on heterogeneous reactions, while brief, is both interesting and stimulating. The bibliographies given are extensive enough to be useful, but in many cases are far from complete. To the reviewer there appears to be some bias in favor of articles which have appeared in English journals.No student of physical chemistry who is interested in any phase of the kinetics of chemical reactions in liquid systems can afford to ignore this book. It should also prove very useful to organic chemists, biochemists, and others who utilize re-
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