Experhnental Elementary Organlc Chernlstry
book reviews
James A. Moore, University of Delaware. W. B. Saunders Company, 1974. Figs. and tables. vi 243 pp. 16 X 24.5 cm. $5.95.
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Chernlstry: A Science lor Today Spencer L. Seager and H. Stephen Stoker, Weher State College. Scott, Foresman & Co., Glenview, Illinois, 1973. x 469 pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 20 cm. $10.95.
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With the advent of respectahilily for the reaching of science to non-srience rnsjorr has come a steady stream of texts for the purpose. In t h e case of chemistry texts the orientation toward the non-science major is sometimes little more than a catchy "relevant" title affixed to a traditional general chemistry text. If the text has in fact been oriented toward non-science majors, then i t is certain t o invoke the wrath of many teachers; for although all teachers of ehemistry may agree on the need t o teach chemistry t o the masses, there is little agreement on what should he taught or on how it should be taught. "Chemistry: A Science for Todav" elearlv falls in the latter c a b gory, and the authors state that this "textbouk represents our rontrihution to the contruversy" w e r "eowses designed for the general education of today's college stu. dents." Some of the features of this hook which are intended t o help the nonmajor gain an understanding of chemistry are the following. First, the material in the descriptive section (approximately two-thirds of t h e hook) is relevant in the good sense of that word. Chapter 14, "Some Interesting and Useful Nonmetals," for example, covers only phosphorus, carbon, and silicon; and Chapter 15 on metals covers only iron, coinage metals, and aluminum. The elements were selected in each instance because they or their compoueds are familiar t o the layman. Chapter 13, "Some Important Industrial Chemicals," covers the five chemicals manufactured in largest amounts in the U.S. Other descriptive topics indude nuclear processes, electroehemistry, organic chemistry (4 chapters), biochemistry ( 3 chapters), medicinal chemistry, and pollution (2 chapters). ~
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Second, "in a few instances, where the change makes very little difference in the ideas being taught," the authors "have used terms or concepts that are a little less than rigorously correct hut are more familiar t o the student or more easily understood." The use of weight rather than moss is cited in the preface; I was unable t o find another example. Only one definition of entropy, namely, the extent of randomness, is given. I am disappointed that the term mole is used. Although this approach will be condemned by many, there are also many of us who feel that scientific jargon is one of the harriers to a n understanding of science by t h e nonscientist and that a text of this type should avoid unnecessary jargon. A third feature is the clarity with whieh the text is written, always important but especially important in texts for nonscience students. Other features are the care and detail in presentation of explanations. best shown in the emlanations of problem sohing in Chapter 9. "Chemical Calrulationr:" and the Suggestions for Further Heading provided fur most chaptersreferences t o interesting articles in ChemN o , S c t ~ n r z Scienriltr A m e n ~ o n ,and .lourno1 o i C h e m w 1 Edurorion The formar of the hmk is attractive and the production has been done with care: only four minor errors were found in an examination of more than half of the chapters. There are numerous well-drawn diagrams. The only criticism ia a very minor one. Each chapter is preceded by a black and white photograph without caption (the titles are hidden on the back of the title page). The photos look like they belong in a "What is it?" phota quiz; in my opinion they add nothing scientific or aesthetic. If you teach general chemistry t o nonscience majors, I highly recommend this textbook for your consideration. ~~
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Willlam R. Roderick Rooseven Univem#y Chicapo, Himis
Reviewed in this lssu
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Spencer L. Seoger and H. Stephen Stoker, Chemistry: A Science for Today James A. Moore, Experimental Elementary Organic Chemistry Thomas L. Jacobs, William E. Truce, and G. Ross Robertson, Laboratory Practice of Organic Chemistry, Fifth Edition J. H. van der Moos, Interpretation of Infrared Spectra, An Audi-Visual Programme Gilles Klopman, editor, Chemical Reactivity and Reaction Paths R. D. Leuine and R. B. Bernstein, Molecular Reaction Dynamics Almon G.Turner, Methods in Molecular Orbital Theory H. Moenke, and L. Moenke-Blankenburg, Laser Micro-Spectrochemica1 Analysis George S. Ernmerson, Engineering Education: A Soeial History New Volumes in Continuing Series
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...A386 ...A386
...A386 . ..A387 . ..A388
...A388 ...A388 . ..A389
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There is no such animal as the lahoratory texthook in organic chemistry. This is particularly true of a laboratory manual designed "primarily with the needs and interests of health science majors in mind," for no group of students presents a greater challenge in terms of needs, attitudes, emphasis, and degree of sophistication. How well the author has succeeded will depend upon the nature of the one-semester course the teat must serve. (The teat is designed t o supplement Moore's "Elementary Organic Chemistry.") There is something in this text for everyone, not enough for some, and too much for others. The author states firmly that he believes (1) experiments should require a minimum of equipment and chemicals and (2) the students to whom this text is addressed need clearly detailed instructions for suecessful completion and understanding of the experiments they perform. Both of these objectives have been met. For examole. the column chromatoeraohv exoeri.. . k t 1Ch. 6 ) utilize* an eyedropper as rhe culumn nnd reqt~iresnu suctiun. a common hugnhoo in large lah sections if aspirators are used. Other experiments, such as the reactivity of alkyl halides (Ch. 10) and the chemistry of alcohols (Ch. 11) require testtube quantities of materials. The tlc experiment (Ch. 7) uses inexpensive commercially available analgekie drugs and is designed t o maximize the use of economical commercial tlc sheets. Discussions of the principles involved in each experiment are good, though brief, and experimental procedures are outlined clearly and in simple terms. In a few places, however, the discussion of principles is weak. The treatment of theoretical and percentage yields (Ch. 1) is superficial and unclear. Many students have considerable trouble with these concepts. More emphasis should he placed upon melting point ranges (Ch. 2) and the fact that only impurities soluhle in the melt have an effect upon the melting point of a solid. In Chapter 12 the mechanism of aromatic nitration is begun in detail and then truncated for no apparent reason. All of the major laboratory techniques necessary in organic chemistry, with the exception of gas and paper chromstography, are illustrated with good experiments and reinforced later. Most of the maior chemical reactions encountered in a onerernester organic chemimy course are also illurtrated with eaperimentn, although e m densation reactions, esterification, and reactions of alkenes and alkynes are, for the greater part, omitted. Interesting, thaught-provoking questions and tear-out laboratory report sheets, which lead the student by the hand in taking data, appear a t the end of each chapter. The instructor's manual whieh accompanies the text contains useful information such as materials and amounts of chemicals needed, prohletns that may he encountered, and answers to the questions a t the
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Volume 52. Number 8, August 1975 / A385
