This book is one in a series of five written primarily for biologists and biochemists on topics ranging from DNA sequencing to animal cell culture and technology. A reader who has had the general chemistry sequence can understand most of the theory presented in this book; a reader who has had analytical chemistry has probably been exposed to all of it. Still, the authors present the material as if the intended audience has never had any solution chemistry theory, or has forgotten it, and is intimidated by algebra.

The authors start by discussing the concept of a buffer, then move into acid/base and buffer action theory. Next, they discuss pH measurements - replete with a technical discussion about pH meters - and discuss basic care and conditioning of pH electrodes. They finish the book by discussing preparation of buffers, taking into account pH, ionic strength, metabolic activity, and so forth.

The book is easy to read, with wide margins for personal notes and side notes that enhance the discussion in the text. Calculations are presented in a step-by-step fashion (my freshman chemistry students could take a lesson here!); thought processes and directions are found in lists or flow charts. An appendix lists several reagents that are used as common buffers - not providing recipes for preparation, but giving important facts such as the pK_a and toxicity. A second appendix listing standards for pH calibration seems unnecessary, given the availability of prepared buffer solutions on the market. The glossary seems weak; it lists the definitions of pK_a and pD (the latter hardly discussed in the text), while leaving out the definition of pH! The authors' use of the term "hydroxyl ion" frequently and interchangeably with "hydroxide ion" is annoying to me.

One chapter is devoted to self-written automated buffer calculation programs available in DOS, Macintosh, and Windows formats and via the WWW. I checked out the WWW site. At first, I had problems accessing their calculation page, but an email to Beynon was quickly returned, solving the problem. The site is easy to use, and the program will give error messages if conditions are not suitable for buffer preparation. The buffers chosen matched those listed in the appendix, but Beynon assured me that ten minutes' worth of work in Javascript would allow addition of other buffers more suited to inorganic chemists.

The book is more beneficial to biologists than to chemists. However, the topics that are discussed are useful to all solution chemists, providing clearly presented material for quick learning. The WWW site is best used after reading the text (after all, why use a calculator as a black box?). Overall, the book presents "The Basics" and is worth adding to any solution chemist's library.