Chemistry-A First Course J. I. Kroschwitz, and M. Winokur, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1980. xv 554 pp. Figs. and tables. 24.2 X 19.3 cm. $16.95.
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This hook is "aimed primarily at the preparatory-level chemistry course, we take nothing for granted, neither prior scientific knowledge nor prior experience in deduction." This premise is followed meticulously almost to the paint of excess; however, a student should he able to read this book and learn general chemistry without much assistance. The writing is clear and generally easy to understand. The illustrations are sat is^ factory with the exception of those involving human figures which are woefully simplistic and in one case (p. 246) difficult to interpret. The order of presentation is common with chapters on Classification of Matter; Math Skills; Measurement, Elements and their Invisible Structure; Compounds; Classification, Formulas, and Nomenclature; the Mole Concept; Chemical Reactions; Stoichiometry, Electronic Structure of the Atom; Chemical Bonding; Gases, Liquids and Solids; Solutions; Chemical Equilibrium; Acids and Bases; Oxidation~Reduction; Nuclear Chemistry; and Organic and Biological Molecules. The reviewer's preference would be to have the chapters on the electronic structure of the atom and chemical bonding after the chapter on elements and their invisible structure rather than five chauters later. on Comnounds: Classification. The - - ~ chanter Formulas and Nomenclature is, in my estimation, the least satisfactory chapter in the hook. The terminology is not precise; for ex-
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chemistry. The material of importance to freshman students is covered a t a level which most students should be able to understand. One general comment about the printing of the hook is that the shades of blue used throughout the text are difficult to differentiate even in good light. John A. Beel
ample, charge is frequently used in place of oxidation state or number. The term "combined atoms" is used to refer to covalent compounds but not to ionic compounds. The table listing common ions of the main group elements seems to be of littlevalue. Learning the names and formulas of the acids first and deriving the complex ions from the formulas of the acids seems more logical than the re^ verse method used in this chapter. There are many specific inaccuracies which could he mentioned; however, there is no need for an exhaustive listing here. In my opinion, considerable work needs to be done on this chapter to bring it up to the level of the rest of the book. In the chapter on electronic structure of the atom there is no necessity to present for memorization a scheme for order of electron fill since this can be determined easily if a Periodic Chart is available. Also the distinction between groups and families on the Periodic Chart is not emphasized sufficiently, and the term "group" is used frequently in d a c e of familv. In the chanter on chemical
University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 80639
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: A Brief lntroduction M. Lynn James and James 0.Schreck, D. C. Heath & Company, Lexington, MA, 1982. v 525 pp. Figs, and tables. 19.5 X 24 cm.
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This book must be evaluated in terms of the goal the authors set for themselves. That god is to bring "students pursuing careers in the health sciences, including nursing, medical laboratory technology, health education, physical education, home economies, dietetics and environmental science" in "one semester or two quarters" t o "an understanding of the chemical basis of life."To this reviewer who has devoted a career to chemical research in a biomedical context this, a t first glance, appears to he a completely unrealistic goal. Upon reflection it becomes clear that the word "understanding" in the goal statement is critical. At one limit the goal reduces to educating students to an understanding that the basis of life is chemical; a t the other, a detailed knowledge of the chemical processes of living systems is implied.
nroblem rather than-iust eettine thecorrect answer. In the ehaoter o n Sdiutions. the tory. Although some inadequacies of the hook have been listed, the book is an eminently well-written book from the standpoint of the student because the authors, contrary to the authors of most freshman texts, have refrained from writing an encyclopedia of
(Continued on page A320)
A e v i e w e d in this Issue J. I. Kroschwitz and M. Winokur, Chemistry-A First Course M. Lynn James and James 0 . Schreck, General, Organic and Biological Chemistry: A Brief lntroduction Thomas L. Allen and RaymondM. Keefer, Chemistry Experiment and Theory, Second Edition R. K. Mackieand D. M. Smith, Guidebook to Organic Synthesis Douglas Applequist, Charles Depuy, and Kenneth L. Rinehart, lntroduction to Organic Chemistry, Third Edition Gardner W. Stacy, Organic Chemistry: A Background for the Life Sciences David Freifelder, Physical Biochemistry, Applications to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Second Edition Norman 0.Smith, Elementary Statistical Thermodynamics: A Problems Approach Arthur W. Adamson, Physical Chemistry and Surfaces, Fourth Edition P. A. S. Smith, Derivatives of Hydrazine and Other Hydronitrogens Having N-N Bonds Continuing Series
Volume GO
Reviewer John A. Bee1 G. Doyle Daves, Jr. J. L. Kirsch L. G. Wade, Jr. W. Britton
John W. Huffman Richard A. Paselk George Blyholder James W. Whalen J. H. Boyer
Number 1 1
November 1983
A319
