Chemlstry: A Search to Understand Anna J. Harrison and Edwln S. Weaver. Harcourt Brace Jovanovlch: New York, NY, 1989. xi 601 pp. Figs. and tables. 21.3 X 24.3 cm. $28.00.
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Thisbookis based an materials developed a period of years for a one-semester course for general students who are envisioned by the authors as "intellectually curious but not professionally driven to develop technical competence in chemistry". There are 22 chapters of which 15 are considered to provide the basic structure. In the author's courses the remaining chapters, mainly concerned with "large molecules", both natural and synthetic, are considered to be gratuitous information chapters. They are not covered in any detail in formal lectures but are provided to assist students in selecting topics for an optional paper or as information for a prepared question on the fmal exam. Chapter 1 essentially replaces the traditional preface to the student and touches base very briefly with models and the lam guage of chemistry. The layout of chapters is described and hints are given for usingthe book. Each chapter concludeswith two sections: Scramble Exercises and A Look Aheadboth designed to help students "identify and resolve confusion". The authors maintain that when a student encounters an ordinary exercise, the student frequently knows what to do and all that remains is to go and do it. However, with an appropriate scramble exercise, the student will have no idea how to do it and will have to scramble and strueele and make do. nhilosonhv is ~that &i ~oreferable . . Their ~= ~~ - ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ forstudents to thinkabout a few exercisesof this rype rather than todoagreat number of drill exercises. There is an average of seven scramble exercises per chapter. For those
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who prefer to assign more problems, an appendix with additional choices, some of which are drill, is provided. A Look Ahead sections are designed to indicate the relation of the chapter's material to course themes and to indicate knowledge students need to proceed. Set off from the main text material in two-column format throuehout the book are Background fnformatio~,Ediroriai Comments, and Gratuitous Information sections. The 27 Background Znfonformation sections address topica such as large and small numbers, temperature, mass and weight, energy, pressure, and direct proportions. The -~~~ five Editorial Comments sections raise questions related to the importance of chemistry and chemicals upon society. The 31 Croluirous Informorion sectiona are "just for fun" and include such topics as combustion reactions and acid rain, heat lamps and the greenhouse effect, restyling "our hair. "This Weather Takes the Starch but of M& and meciianism of nuclear fusion reactions an the sun. Chapter 2 starts with presentation of a bonding model limited to the elements hytlrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Models for water and methane follow. It is intended that students start building these molecular models at the ball-and-stick level right away. This leads to a discussion of chemical and physical properties of these two compounds and to hydrogen peroxide, alkanes, male& and structural formulas, structural isomers, alcohols, and ethers. Bond angles and lengths are discussed. Finally a critique of the banding model is presented to set the stage for the Chapter 3 extension of the model to admit multiple bonds. This now comparison of alkanes, ~ allows ~ ~ a brief , alkenes, and alkynes and an introduction to aldehydes, ketones, acids, and esters. An assessment of the "ball, stick and spring" bondimg model foUow8, and its limitations ~
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are pointed out. By now students should be comfortable with Chapter &Fire. This is used to introduce equation writing. Chapter 5 looks at the nucleus and Chapter 6 explores extranuclear structure of atoms. The mole concept and mass and energy relations for reactions get a first look in Chapter 5. Chapter 7 considers diatomic molecules and uses theas to introduce the valence bond model (including sigma and pi orbi,)&t electronegativities, and Lewis h u e tures. Chapter 8 on vibrational motion and dissociation of diatomicmolecules is suggested as a "funexcursion" rather than as an exercise in physical chemistry. The authors point out that this material is not absolutely essential to later chapters. Chapter 9 uses water, ammonia, methane, and other carbon compounds tolook at orbital hybridization and its consequences. At this point students have sufficient background to start looking at "large molecules" and their . nrooerties in Chaoters 17. 21.
Chapter 10 wescumpounds of alkali metals and alkalineearth elements to introduce properties of ions and ionic compounds. Covalent and ionic bonding are compared. Chapter 11 explores properties of hydrogen to develop concepts of the ideal gas and the kinetic molecular model. Real gas deviations and molecular forces are considered. Chapter 12 considers properties of liquid campounda and solutions with emphasis on vapor pressure and boiling points. Chapters 13 and 14 explore acid-base phenomena using the Br6nsted model. Included are discussions of pH, pH-percent abundance curves, K.'s, pKds, buffer solutions, Kb's, pKb9s,Kr,pKv, pOH, and relations amone these. The aonroach is nictorial and qualitake rather quantiktive. Chapter 15 presenta reactions of ions in aqueous solutions. Acid-base reactions and ~
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in This Issue Reviewer
Anna J. Harrison and Edwin S. Weaver, Chemistry: A Search to Understand Leopold Gmlin, Gmelins Handbuch der Theoretischen Chemle. Jubllaumsausgabe Donald C. Woolston, Patricia A. Robinson, and Gisela Kulzbach, Effective Writing Strategies-for Engineers and Scientists Louis DiBerardinis, Janet S. Baum, Melvin W.First, Gari T. Gatwwd, EdwardF. Grw'en, and AnandK. Seth. Guidelines for Laboratory Design: Health and Safety Considerations William 0. Foye, editor, Principles of Medicinal Chemistry Titles of Interest Monographs
B. F. Walker George 6. Kauffman
Malcolm M. Renfrew
Malcolm M. Renfrew B. S. Thyagarajan
Volume 66 Number 5 May 1989
A158 A158 A159
