BOOK REVIEWS half life (p. 102) is not likely to convey the actual significance of this term. Sometimes related concepts are not properly distinguished: electric field and electric potential are confused (p. SO), while the system described as an analogy for dynamic equilibrium (p. 182) actually represents a steady state. The reviewer re grets that such matters were not fully and precisely expounded even a t the cost of some increase in length; a topic should be made clear if it is introduced a t all, and Dr. Hardwick's expository skill is abundantly evident elsewhere in the hook. The inevitable misprints and minor errors are present but few. Despite its imperfections, the book as a whole is an original and valuable contribution to chemical education. I t should appeal widely to teachers and students alike. G. EVANS GORDON Tufts Univwsitg Medfwd, Massachusetts
Chemical Principles
William L. Mosterta, University of Connecticut, Storm, and Emil J. Slowinski, Mscalester College, St. Paul, W. B. Saunders Co., Minnesota. 669 pp. Philadelphia, 1966. xxiv Figs. and tables. 17 X 25.5 em. $8.75.
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I t is often said that if you want a. text to suit the course you think should he taught, you must write it yourself. The reviewer did not write this book and in accord with the above statement it is probably not the text I would pick for my introductory chemistry course. There are nevertheless valid arguments for a diversity of approaches to teaching beginning college chemistry and this leaves a place for several good texts to sati~fythe teachers and the needs of different types of students. This is a hook oriented toward descriptive chemisty, and those who are inclined toward theory will find it disappointing. My criticism is with the intent of the authors rather than with the accuracy and clarity of the writing, which on the whole is very good. The book gives the impression of hrwing been written for an updated version of the freshman course of about 15 years ago. Here you can read about the Solvay pr* eess, how sodium is produced commercially, the corrosion of metals, or how water softeners work. Valence bond theory in its simplest form is used to describe covalent bonding with barely 8. mention of molecular orbital theory. Crystal field thmrv is discussed hrieflv in one of the fine-print sections in the chapter on complex ions hut the main emphasis again is the VB approach. A minimum of mathematics is used and the level of it requires only a knowledge of the hare rudiments of algebra. Even where simple concepts of trigonometry or calculus could be used in a footnote to state concisely what is being done, for the (Catinued on. page A998)
A996 / Journol of Chemiml Education
BOOK REVIEWS student who has more than the minimal mathematical competence, they are not mentioned. Finally in Chapter 23 (Nnclear Reactions), long after chapters on Thermodynamics and Reaction Kinetics, the authors explain that the logarithmic rate equation comes from integrating the differential first order equation and then say to students who are taking ealeulus "You probably wondered all along why we followed such s tortuous path to arriveat the logarithmic rate law." I'm still wondering. The authors assume no previous chemistry and in the early part of the book use a historical perspective in introducing the concepts of element, compound, Avogadro's number, periodicity, etc. They correctly use the term mass when that is what is meant except in the hallowed expressions atomic weight and molecular weight. Even these misuses of language ought to be eliminated. After all the "atomic weights" don't go to zero when we firematter into orbit. The chapters on thermodynamics, atomic structure, bonding, changes in state, and reaction rates are descriptive and only semiquantitative. The descriptions, though, are quite gwd. Following these chapters inorganic reaotions are discussed in terms of types of reactions: Reactions of Elements with Each Other, Precipitation Reactions, Acids and Bases, Complex Ions, Oxidation-Reduction Reactions. In discussing electrical cells the authors very carefully use both standard reduction potentials (SRP) and standard oxidation potentials (SOP) which makes the treatment very clear hut does not quite follow the accepted convention on the matter. The final two chapters, Nuclear Reactions and Organic Chemisty, are tacked on the end to satisfv those who feel introductorv chemistrv 'should have a hit of
on in 35 pages. A great deal of care and efforthas gone into the writing of this hook and as a descriptive introduction to chemistry it is very well done. For the student who will study no more science in college this may he a very good hook. For the student going on in science, however, should we not encourage him more in the use of the language of science?
Foundations of Modern Organic Chemistry Series
Edited by Kanelh L. Rinehart, Jr. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The three books reviewed here are the first rwsilahle of a projected seventeen volume series, "Foundations of Modern (Continued on page A1000)
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