ROOH REVIEW Chemistry: A Basic Introduction, Second Edition G. Tyler Miller. Jr.. Wadsworth Publishing Co., Belmont, CA. 1981. Figs. and tables. 19 X 24 cm. Miller's one-semester wxt, "Chemistry: A Basic Intruduction" is m e of the be4 desi~mrdandowaniaedhooksofits kind that 1 h&e had the-oleasure to read. The text is. made readable 1,s nvordrng ccmgerted sentences,prerenting mnm pointsand kpy amds in rcrlur~dtypeand usmg boxed infmnatitm and colored type to indicate summaries of important concepts. The illustrations are clear and make their intended points. In addition, at the end of each chapter is a list of exoected accomolishments and a review of thh chapters. ~ h book k should accomplish its mission-to help students understand the material in the text. The first 14 chapters of this book is the "basic text." These chapten include discussions of matter and energy; measurements and units; elements, compounds and chemical reactions: atoms and their structure: rhemienl periodicity and the perrodrc table; chemical bondma; naming inorganic rcmpounds: chrm~rnl formula calculaticm: chemical equation calculation; gases; liquids and solids; solutions; acids and bases and oxidation-reduction reactions. None of these chaoters oresent a detailed discussion on anv eeaamle. anhled. . .the chaoter on bond& deals largely wirh i.rws structural formulna, inert gas strurtures. the difference brtwcrn an ionic bond and a covalent bond and the ~
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concept of polar covalent honds. In the chapter on acids and bases there is a descriptive discussion of the concept of dynamic chemical equilibria, hut the quantitative aspects of eqdihrium are not discussed in this chapter. All the sample problems in this book are discussed in detail, and the layout for each problem is excellent. For example in the problem, "What is the mass in grams of one molecule of water," the author divides the solution into defining unknowns, the knowns, the plans for solving this problem and the results. Each of the 14 chapters has a special topics chapter at the end of the book that is relevant to the individual subjects in the basic text. For example, the chapter on bonding is related to a special topics chapter dealing with the shape of covalent molecules and a discussion of molecules in the atmosphere (a topic not specially related to bonding). The basic chapter dealing with chemical equation calculations has a special topics chapter geared to that chapter dealing with reaction yield calculations. There is a discussion of equilibrium constants, buffers, and the common ion effect in the special topics chapter. The third oart of the hook contains suoplementary rhapwrs inrludmg chemical reattims: energy, equilibrium,nnd raw; organic chemistry; Iriorhemiitry;and nurlrar ehcmistry. These supplementary chapters occupy about 20 percent of the book. (The special topics geared to the basic text involves about 27 percent of this hook.) I endorse this text for anyone who is looking for a text for a one-semester course that
has little emphasii on organicor biwhrmistry
l ~ treat* t the l m i r concepts ofchemistry in a clear and understandable manner. I am
convinced that students will find this book quite helpful. E. L. Blinn Bowling Green State University Bowling Green. OH 43403
An Introduction t o Chemical Analysls Water E. Harris and Byron Kratochvil, Saunders College PublishinglCBS. New York, New York, 1981. xii 611 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 24 cm.
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When one examines a textbook for possible adoption it is helpful to know something about the teaching philosophy of the authors. Walter Harris and Byron Kratochvil, the authors of "An Introduction to Chemical Analysis," fortunately have discussed their philosophy in several places. One of these places is the "Instructor's Manual to Accompany An Introduction to Chemical Analysis." In this manual they have included information on the whole approach to the teaching of introductary analytical chemistry, from the basic philosophy to the evaluation of student results in the laboratory and on examinations. Only about a fourth of the (Continued on page A246)
Reviewed in this Issue G. Tyler Miller, Jr., Chemistry: A Basic Introduction, Second Edition
Reviewer E. L. Blinn
Walter E. Harris a n d Byron Kratochvil, An lntroduction to Chemical Analysis
Alvin L. Beilby
Lubert Stryer. Biochemistry, Second Edition
George M. Bodner
Philip S. Bailey and Christina A. Bailey, Organic Chemistry: A Brief Survey of Concepts and Applications
L. A. Hull
Ronald M. Scoff, lntroduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry
J a m e s L. Bloomer
Alex Kaplan and Laverne L. Szabo, Clinical Chemistry: Interpretation and Techniques
Fred F. Farris
A. G. Sharpe, Inorganic Chemistry
David E. Pennington
RaymondB. Seymour and Charles E. Carraher, Jr., Polymer Chemistry: An lntroduction
G. Allan Stahl
Michael S. Maffa and Antony C. Wilbraham. Atoms. Molecules, and Life
Christina A. Bailey
J. Philip Bromberg, Physical Chemistry
E. W. Anacker
J. M. Chapman and G.Ayrey, The Use of Radioactive Isotopes in the Life Sciences
C. T. Peng
New Volumes in Continuing Series Titles of Interest
Volume 59
Number 8
August 1982
A245
