Chemistry: A First Course, Second Edition J. I.Kroschwitzand M. Winokur. McGrawHill: New York, NY, 1987. xvii 680 pp., Figs. and tables. 19.3 X 23.3 cm. $37.95.
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The first edition of this text, "aimed primarily at the prepmtory-level chemistry course", was reviewed in November 1983. The second edition maintains the careful development of the basic concepts which characterized the first edition and improves on the order of presentation, the detailed development of some concepts, and on several of the figures. It may he useful to summarize chapter headings: (1) Classification of Matter, (2) Math Skills, (3) Measurement, (4) Elements (and elementary structure), (5) Electronic Structure, (6) Bonding, (7) Compounds (names, percent composition), (8) Mole Concept, (9) Reactions, (10) Stoichiometry, (11) Gases, (12) Liquids and Solids, (13) Solutions, (14) Equilibrium, (15) Acid-base, (16) Oxidation-reduction, (17) Nuclear, (18) Organic and Biological. What is here, then is chemical theory, starting from the most elementary point, developed so that students should he able to work through it, given the numerous excellent sample exercises and problems with answers. Descriptive inorganic chemistry is introduced only hv wav of illustratine" theorv: .. descrintive ormnie chemistrv hioloeical ---~. ~ ~ and ~ -" ~ chemistrv ~ ~ ~ gets a hrief late treatment that is somewhat improved from the first edition. I t is still not up to the standards of the earlier chapters. The authors do suggest that for a one-semester preparatory course, the first 11 chapters are most important. There are new sections on graphing, spectra, formulas for ionic compounds, contrasting properties of ionic and covalent com-
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pounds, eolligative properties, and buffers. Three-dimensional representations are improved, and color plates are introduced. There were some specific criticisms of an otherwise excellent first edition; the revision has corrected the most important of these. Some minor problems remain. Atahle lists "taste" of common chemicals without a general caution. The atomic theory sections still present a pictorial picture as the "real atom", end chemical bonding is presented as uncombined atoms undergoing electron transfer or sharing. But most texts, like this one, never mention that uncombined atoms, except group 18 elements, are found only in soecial circumstances. A confusine " section in the first edition, in which rules for ruvalent honding include R requiring six elert n m , while all uther elements except H require eight for a noble gas configuration, remains unchanged. In the organic chapter, it is implied that a functional group is the sole determinant of nro~erties.The nuclear chapter describes n;cle& energy but never mentions E = me2. A significant test of a tent of this level is student reaction. Ibave nodirect experience in using this text, but my strong impression is that it is an eminently useful one. Staniev C. Bunce Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy. NY 12180 ~ General Chemistry, Second Edltlon D. A. McOuarrie and P. A. Rock. W. H. Freeman: New York. NY, 1987. xxi 876 pp. Figs. and tables. 20.7 X 26.1 cm.
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This is the second edition of a text which is inamodeestablished by the publisher W. H. Freeman. The aim of this tradition is to publish texts which are profusely illustrated
and in a direct and synoptic literary style. Their purpose is to he effective toward a body of students for whom communication has been more visual than written durine s large pan of their lives. This bookis more properly compared to the textbook in Hiorhrmistrs by L. Stryer that war published by Freeman and was the pioneer in this m~,derather than to more tradirionalgener. alchemiatry texts. LikeStryer, rheMcQuarrie and Hock text is viaunllv verv imwessive witheye-catchingillustrat&ns&dtkxt. Unlike Stryer, where the early chapters represent an approach quite different from that of competing texts, t h e approach of McQuarrie and Rock is very much like that of others in the same field. Those adopting it would certainly not have to alter the order in which topics have usually been presented. To me, the most disappointing aspect of this book is the use made of the numerous illustrations. In Stryer, virtually every illustration is used to visualize a concept. In McQuarrieand Rock, many are used for this purpose; hut many others are used to show structure or process rather than an underlying idea. Further, a significant number are mainly a visual feast with but a tenuous connection to the parallel subject matter. The literary style ismost readily seen in the subject headings that are short, dedarative sentences rather than topical titles. Much of the text continues this. This does not, of course, lead to fluid reading, rather each sentence can almost he considered by itself without extensive reference to what precedes or follows. Those topics that currentjargon calls "descriptive chemistry" (a term for which I confess I have no definition) are presented in sections of the text designated "interchapters". The expressed purpose of this arrangement is to allow the instructor to
Reviewed In This Issue J. I. Kroschwitzand M. Winokur, Chemistry: A First Course, second edition 0. A. McQuarrie and P. A. Rock, Generai Chemistry, second edition L. G. Wade, Jr., Organic Chemistry William H. Brown and Elizabeth Rogers, Generai, Organic, and Biochemistry, third edition . -. ... .. F. Wulfsberg, Principles of Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry Daniel E. Atkinson, Dynamic Models in Biochemistry Tadao Yoshida. Safety of Reactive Chemicals L. Eretherick, Hazards in the Chemicai Laboratory, fourth edition Lee R. Summerlin, Christie L. Bogford, and Julie 8. Early, Chemical Demonstrations: A Sourcebook for Teachers, volume 2 Titles of interest Textbook Announcements
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Journal of Chemical Education
Reviewer Stanley C. Bunce R. Owen Asplund W. Preston Reeves Aiian R. Burken Richard L. Cariin James 0. Wheeler William J. Wiswesser Malcolm M. Renfrew George B. Kauffman
