Analytical Chemistry
Donald J. Pietrzyh and Clyde W . Frank, Academic Press, New York, 1979. vii 700 pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 16.5 em. $16.50. The second edition of "Analytical Chemistry" shows several improvements over the first edition (.I. CHEM. EDUC., 53, A324 (1976)). In expanding the coverage of analytical chemistry from 667 p a g s !es 700 pages, the authors have entered the "heavyweight" class of texts for the chemistry major. The slant is still sufliciently health-orientated to be of great interest and utility for the biologically-oriented student. The coverage of electrochemistry has been expanded hut is still not as extensive as that found in several competing texts. The chemistry major would need same additional exposure t o this area later in his curriculum. Perhaps the best coverage is that of separation methods and chromatography, with many practical points being mentioned in the theory chapters. High performance liquid chromatography is only given hrief treatment, however, Classical areas such as gravimetry, acidbase equilibria, and complex ion equilibria are treated succinctly in a very readahlc and well-oqanized fashion. The chapter on radiochemical methods has wisely been dropped from the present edition. The chapters on spectral m e t h d s are brief, but thorough. One wonders a t the necessity of including a section on infrared methods, since nearly all students taking an analytical chemistry course will get a thorough exposure in their organic courses. The experiments now appear in a n easier to use separate section at the end of the book. Several new experiments have been added including n gravimetrie chloride titration of acetic acid in vinegar, and the spectrophatometric determinations of lead and aldehydes and ketones. The philosophy of the
+
-Reviewed
authors in selection of unknowns continues to be the usage of synthetic "pure"samples prepared by the instructor, hut a few novel and interesting variants appear; the determination of calcium, magnesium, and phasphorus in egg shells and the polamgraphic determination of riboflavin.
easily since many of the theory chapters can he used without referring to earlier ones. Errors are infrequent, with only two minor typographical errors being spotted by this reviewer. In summary, the authors are to he commended for producing a textbook which gives a balanced introduction to analytical chemistry. The book would serve well as the text for non-chemistry majors and should he a serious candidate far the chemistry majors course. The book mav not have as much declearly identified. Wayne C . Wolsey &calester College St. Paul. MN 55105
Clearly the approach requires enormous selection of topics. In this regard there is little doubt that one will find fault with omission errors. More importantly, however, for what is included, the selections are uniformly first rate. Thus, t o be sure, some topics are missing, but those included are good topics and are well done. The book is divided into two main sections with 7 chapters devoted t o general concepts and 9 chapters devoted to 9 classes of compounds. In the former the author emphasizes electron motion via "curly arrows" ta describe ionic reactions. There is, of course, no panacea for learning organic chemistry, and the approach here is reasonable in that it probably solves more problems than it creates. For the classes of compounds the choices are not surprising and include alkanes, halides, alcohols, amines, alkenes, benzenes, carhonyl, and carboxyl with the exception of the chapter and alkanes the material that is covered is both well chosen and well done. The carbonyl chapter is .* good example. While less than ten reactions are included they were clearly the key reactions of carbonyls. If most students could understand, retain and utilize this much of basic carbonyl chemistry they would be prepared for most future applications. Each chapter has a number of problems ( k 1 7 ) that are not of the drillvariety. They appear throughout the chapter and the answers are at the end. The writing style is very reasonable and while there are some errors they are few and not of high importance. The most perplexing problem raised by this hook is the intended audience far American use. The author is successful in the stated aim "not as a competitor to the . . other texts. It is designed to offer teachers and students.. .anovel and interesting way ,f looking a t the science of organic chemistry," which is fair enough, and it will be interesting to see how this is translated into actual use.
.
An lntroduciion to Organic Chemistry
J. Carnduff. John Wilev & Sons., Inr...
+
Somerset, i979. vii 194pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 15.5 em. $21.50. Most organic texthooks utilize some 1000 pages to cover what their authors select as introductory organic chemistry. Amazingly, Carnduff utilizes only a fraction of this 1187 pages] and the result, while obviously not i texthook, is a useful overview with suitable key reactions described in detail.
Shelton Bank State Univemily of New York at Albany Albany, NY 12222
(Continued on page A380)
in this issue-
Donald J . Pietrzyh and Clyde 1V. Fronk, Analytical Chemistry J. Carnduff,An Introduction to Organic Chemistry Douid Todd, Experimental Organic Chemistry Hugh W. Salzbrrg, Jaeh I. Morrow, Slephen R. Cohen, and Michael E. G r w n , editors, Physical Chemistry Lah
