book reviews research literature, some as recent as 1972, are included a t the end of each chapter (640 far the entire book; 102 for the last chapter alone). Moreover, every chapter but one contains an extremely valuable list of collateral readings, largely of the review type and many from this Journal. Another feature, useful to both instructor and student alike, is a list of study questions and numerical problems a t the end of each chapter (276 for the entire book; 26 for the first chapter alone). Students, even advanced ones, often do not recognize the fundamental difference between "experimental facts" and "theoretical facts." While acknowledging the close and symbiotic relationship between experiment and theory, Professor Lagowski has separated these two complementary aspects of chemistry "in order to demonstrate that unity of experimental results is possible without the use of extensive theoretical arguments." This important distinction is logically and consistently reflected throughout the hook. Older theoretical concepts are also included to emphasize the evolutionary nature of science and to give an added perspective to current theories. In its organization, the b w k is fairly traditional, and a given topic can easily he located by perusal or by consulting the well-compiled 22-page index. Chapter 1, Atoms and Their Characteristics, contains a lucid discussion of atomic structure. The neat chapter, Ionic Compounds, is followed by two chapters on Covalent Compounds, one devoted to Experimental Observations and one to Theories of Bonding. The fifth and shortest chapter (9 pp.) briefly surveys the representative elements; Chapter 16 fulfills the same function far the transition elements. Chapter 6, Hydrogen, is.followed by Chapter 7, Solvent Properties of Covalent Hydrides, which is particularly informative and complete. Despite the hook's moderate length, its treatment of descriptive chemistry is more than adequate without degenerating into an encyclopedic recital of facts. Eight separate consecutive chapters (8 to 15) deal with each of the representative periodic groups from the alkali metals to the rare gases. Chapters 17 and 18 are both devoted to transition metal coordination compounds-the first with experimentally observed properties and the second with theoretical aspects. The book concludes with an extensive chapter, Organic Derivatwes of the Transition Metals, conveniently classified according to the number of eleetrons in the ligand. In this reviewer's opinion, Professor Lagowski's eminently readable and teachable text, with its excellent and reasonably complete treatment of descriptive chemistry, its clear differentiation of experiment from theory, and, its attractive size and price, should he a strong contender on the current market of inorganic textbooks. George 8.Kauflman
Calilornia State University, Fresno Fresno, Cali1 93710 A592
/ Journal of Chemical Education
The Chemical Industry 1900-1930: Industrial Growth and Technological Change
L. F. Haber, Oxford University Press, New York, 1971. xi + 452 pp. Tables. 24 X 16 cm. $24.75. This volume is an impressive follow-up of Haber's "The Chemical Industry in the Nineteenth Century" 11958) and will perhaps find even mare extensive use. In the same pattern as in the earlier volume, the author deals with the world-wide develapment of the chemical industry from the beginning of the twentieth eentury until the onset of the Great Depression. Haber, the son of Fritz Haber the chemist, is an economic historian and the thrust of the book is economic rather than scientific. Nevertheless, it is still valuable to the chemist since the author is not oblivious to changing characteristics of the chemical art and their influence on the industry. In the ninteenth eentury volume the author correctly perceived that a major characteristic of the industry in that century was the rise of the Leblane soda process followed by its survival struggles in the face of competition from the Solvay process. In this volume he recognizes, as a key feature of the three decades, the thrust toward adequate supplies of fixed nitrogen for the fertilizer and munitions industries, with the ultimate success of the HaberBasch process. A large amount of attention is also given, as it was in the earlier volume, to the story of dye production. This inevitably leads to a full discussion of the development of cartels and such major chemical combines as I. G. Farhenindustrie and Imperial Chemical Industries. There is also perceptive treatment of the unfavorable Allied position with respect to dyestuffs and certain other chemicals a t the onset of the Kaiser's War, with an examination of the efforts of Allied governments to attain a position of self-sufficiency. The book, however, dispels a widely held myth-that Germany dominated the chemical business a t the onset of the war. That viewpoint is only true with respect to fine chemicals (dyestuffs, photographic chemicals, pharmaceuticals). In the heavy chemical field (acids, alkalies, inarganies, fertilizers) the German position was strong, but so was that of Britain and the United States. Of particular interest to chemistry teachers is the chapter on research in industry and universities which has much to offer an the professional growth of chemistry and chemical engineering. Haber gives careful attention to the rise of industrial research with the resulting need for research-minded chemists rather than analysts, the latter being the image of a useful chemist in the minds of many early ehemical entrepreneurs. The new needs of industry stimulated the development of graduate programs along the German model in the universities of the US and elsewhere. In the same period there was virtually no change in the number of BS chemists being produced. In summary, the present volume is a welcome addition to the literature. It sheds light on an area of chemistry which has had little previous study except for Williams Haynes six-volume "American
Chemical Industry, A History." Haber draws on Haynes' studies but extends them by giving a well-integrated world view of industrial growth during a critical period. The bibliography is an unusually gaod one, with a bibliographic essay giving a critical appraisal of the works of greatest value. For the sake of the record, Haber includes a very complete listing of eompany histories. This is useful since, despite the fact that mast company histories are of limited value because of their self-eangratulatory nature, they are frequently the only readily available source of information about certain companies. Aaron J . lhde University 01 Wisconsin Madison. Wisconsin 53706
REVIEWERS NOTE: In J. CHEM. EDUC. 144, A494 (1972)l I received the corrected reprint of Haber's volume on the nineteenth eentury industry. At the end of the review I made some vitriolic comments about the price of the reprinted volume. Since then, it has come to my attention that the price given to me a t that time really referred to the volume just reviewed above, not to the reprint reviewed then. Through an error, I had been sent the reprinted volume, but with the price of the new book reviewed here. The price of the reprint of "The Chemical Industry in the Nineteenth Century" is really $8.25, which is entirely in line with the economies of reprintng the book. A.J.I.
Chemical Bonds
Harry B. Gray, California Institute of Technology. W. A. Benjamin, Inc., 1973. viii + 232 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 x 23 cm. $4.95. The electronic structure of the atom, chemical bonding, and the structures of molecules and solids are topics which interest many teachers of chemistry. One consequence has heen the publication of a variety of short introductory texts covering these subjects. "Chemical Bonds" is likely to provide strong competition for other books in this area. This book is essentially an updated and abridged version of Chapt e n 7-13 and 16 from "Basic Principles of Chemistry" by H. B. Gray and G. P. Haight, Jr. The review of this general chemistry text written for this J o u r d in 1967 by Professor J. M. Anderson included comments such as: "This material, . . . (on molecular structure) . . . , is written with unusual clarity, with excitement and vigor. Their presentation of molecular orbitals is . . . surely the finest a t an introductory level. The illustrations are beautifully done and exceptionally clear." Professor Gray bas also written more sophisticated hooks on related topics. "Chemical Bonds" benefits appreciably from its lineage. The material is clearly
(Continued onpageA594)
book reviews written and essentially free from erron and has more and better illustrations than competitive books. The topics covered include atomic structure and the electronic structure of the atom; chemical bonding in diatomic and polyatomic molecules, in transition-metal complexes, and in molecular, network, and metallic solids; and the structures of molecules and solids. Bonding is discussed initially in terms of Lewis structures; molecular orbital theory is discussed in more detail than in other introductory texts; the concepts of valence bond theory are also presented. Each chapter is fallowed by a n interesting and instructional set of problems (a total of 128). Each chapter also ~rovidesa list of articles and books which are suitable for more detailed studies. This book covers bonding in somewhat more detail and depth than is found in mast general chemistry texts. However, the level is such that mast students with a sound high school background in chemistry, math, and physics would be able to benefit from its use. One can always find some topics which one would handle differently than the author. The presentation of the relative energies of atomic orbitals seems rather elementary in comparison with other topics in the book. For example, the author daes not discuss the dependence of orbital energies on atomic number or extent of ionization. The discussion of infra-red and Raman speetrascopy is so brief as to be of questionable value. There are several good books on the market which cover similar material. I believe "Chemical Bonds" compares favorably with the best of these. It can be recommended as a teat for college students and for any person who wants an introduction t o modem bonding theory. Ronald C. Johnson Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 30322
The Origins of Life
L E O r ~ e l Salk . Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, California. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1973. vi 237 pp. 21.5 X 14.5 em. Clothbound, $7.50; paperbound, $4.25.
+
The non-scientific community always seems t o be particularly fascinated by discovering that scientists speculate. The subjects of their speculation accordingly gain much attention. Any book hearing the title "Origin of Life" is certain to be thus attractive. A scientific treatise, loaded with the vocabulary of science that appears to be jargon to the non-scientist is as useless to this audience as is the emotionridden axe-grinding-for-teleolom that appears from some publishing houses sponsored by fundamentalist theological groups. This hook admirably avoids the first pitfall. Similarly, it is an admirable antidote to the latter kind of poison. The hook is written for non-scientists but the A594
/ Journal of Chemical Education
reader needs t o be willing to use chemical symbolism and to know what such words as "polymerization" mean. The very brief bibliography suggests sources for the more highly trained reader. The author's style is well adapted to his purpose. Clarity is enhanced by his precision and yet not obscured by bulky qualifications. The essential honesty of scientsts' stating how they interpret facts, design experiments to reveal additional facts, and build conceptual schemes to correlate their information is clearly obvious to the reader. There is a n abundance of information in these pages. This makes the hook worthwhile reading for any scientist wanting a balanced over-view of the current status of the problem (e.g., Important prehiotic molecules have recently been discovered in space by the radio-astromers.). There are bits of information that can help teachen concisely drive home important points (e.g., To develop a feeling for the vastness of time, the 100 human generations since the flowering of Greek civilization contrasts to the 10'3 generations of bacterial evolution). Careful statement of summarizing principles provides a sound basis for philosophical views: (e.g., "The replacement of 'will' by 'chance' as the mediator of biological change has transformed our view of man's relation to the rest of the Universe."). Not a few scientists currently are being thrust into the evolution-creationist controversy. This book properly avoids the pseudo-science of trying to answer any question of First Cause. Its information and point of view can well be used by those who properly try to keep "how?" from being obscured hy "why?". Highly recommended! WFK
Salt, the Mysterious Necessity
Edited by Mark Botterson and William W Boddie. The Dow Chemical Company, 1972.112 pp. 31 X 23 cm. $6.95. This little hook could he descriptively entitled "History and Salt" or perhaps "The Part Salt Played in World Trade." If anyone is looking for something pertaining to the chemistry of salt, i t is not present in this hook. Physically the book is very attractive, beautifully illustrated and well written. It consists of a series of short essays written by different individuals. Some of the information in one section overlaps that in otbers. Some of the chapters deal with: The physiological importance of salt, salt production methods and economics during the middle ages, salt and scurvy during long sea voyages, salt and the Aztecs, salt and the Civil War, the part Dow Chemical Company plays in obtaining salt. For history, economics, and trade information, this book provides a simple elementary portrayal. The level of the book is perhaps that of the upper elementary or junior high school grades. Unless one is interested in obtaining a historical back-
(Continued onpageA596)
