book reviews
Chemistry: A Study of Matter
Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio
Introductionto Chemistry
Joseph C. Muhler, Indiana University, Charles S. Rohrer, East Texas State University, and Ernest E. Campaigne. Indiana University. Xerox College Publishing, Lexington, Mass., 1972. aiv 533 pp. F i q . and tables. 23 X 15 cm. $8.50,
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The authors' purpose in miting this book, is to "present as clearly and simply as possible the essentials of general, inorganic, organic, and biochemistry that are required as background for biologically oriented curricula in agriculture, nursing, home economics, dental hygiene and other related study. The book was designed with enough flexibility to permit use in a one or two semester terminal survey course in chemistry." Since the authors teach in various settings (a dental-medical school complex, a regional general purpose university and a major state university), each author has expanded certain subject matter to meet his needs and desires. "None of the authors attempt to teach all topics in depth in a particular setting. The book is designed to allow each instructor to select his topics for a variety of patterns pertinent to his objectives." The student who uses this text is piesumed to have had no previous knowledge of chemistry, and little knowledge of mathematics. Problems are explained in a step-by-step procedure and important relationships are stated both in the text and in the tables. Each chapter contains an extensive set of study questions. These become increasingly difficult and subjective so that the students are led to formulating more complex concepts. This paperback book contains 32 chapters, a total text of 520 pages with an index of 13 pages. At the beginning of each chapter a section is included on New Terms and Concepts, vhich cites key words and ljhrases used in the chapter.
Briefly, the chapter coverage in general and inorganic chemistry is as follows: Matter and Its Structure; Bonding; Second Row Elements and Multiple Bonds: Oxygen and the Atmosphere; Hydrogen and Oxidation-Reduction; Gases; Liquids and Solutions; Electrolytes; Nonmetals; and Metals. All descriptive chemistry in these chapters is presented in relation to the application of their biological significance. Chapter 11 an The Metals, specifically describes the metallic elements in terms of their chemistry in living matter, in relation to health and nutrition. Chapter 12 introduces radiochemistry in terms of its medical application. The chapter coverage far organic chemistry is as follows: Nomenclature; Hydrocarbons: Halogenated Hydrocarbons; Oxygenated Hydrocarbons; Hydroxy Acids, Stereochemistry and Optical Isomers; Carbohydrates; Lipids; Organic Nitrogen Compounds, and Heterocyclics. The chapter coverage for Biochemistry and Physiological Chemistry is from a traditional paramedical approach as follows: Vitamins; Hormones; Colloidal State; Protoplasm and Cell Constituents; Proteins and Nucleic Acids; Blood, Milk, Saliva and Lymph; Enzymes and Digestion; Respiration; Metabolism; and Excretion. The authors state that their objectives in writing this text were: "to provide an introduction to the various fields of modem chemistry and its relation to our soeiety through current concepts and theories." They have succeeded in doing this. However, since the subject matter is so extensive, it would be difficult for students to achieve mastery of the subject matter in a one semester course. The positive advantage of the breadth of the subject matter is such that any instructor will be able to find a stimulatine...ootoourri to pre-enl l o his students. This text l z rernmmrndrd for U i Q in o one year rhemlstry
Joseph C. Muhler, Charles S. Rohrer, andErnest E. Compnigne, Introduction to Chemistry Alfred B. Garrett, W T Lippineott, and Frank Henry Verhoek, Chemistry: A Study of Matter Richard D. Sacks and Harry B. Mark, J r , Simplified Circuit Analvsis: Dieital-Analoe Loeic Leo ~ l n d e l k e r n An , l n t r o ~ u c ~ to o nMacromolecules Edward C. Kendall, Cortisone S. P. McGlynn, L. G. Vanquiekenborne, M. ~ i d s h i t a andD. , G. Carroll, Introduction to Applied Quantum Chemistry Albert F. Cotton and Geoffrey Wilkinson. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: A comprehensive Text Iruing M. Klatz and Robert M. Rosenberg, Chemical Thermodynamics New Volumes in Continuing Series
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Lois A. Cook Wright State University Dayton, Ohio 45431
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Alfred B. Garrett, W. T. Lippincott, and Frank Henry Verhoek, The-Ohio State University. 2nd Ed. Xerox College Publishing, Lexington, Massachusetts. xiv 674 pp. + xxx Index. Figs. and tables. 26 X 20.7 cm. $12.00.
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The review of the first edition of this college general chemistry text (J. CHEM. EDUC., 46, 538. 1969) noted the "skillful blending of modem theoretical information with historical insights, sufficient attention to the related descriptive chemistry-straightforward and clear style-the most important of the old, and a well-diversified cross-section of the new." The second edition maintains the same high level of quality of the earlier work, corrects some of the few but inevitable minor errors which creep into any teat and rearranges the format and style rather considerably. In fact it is a strikingly more attractive volume, with its black jacket and bold white lettering. The halftones which replace the former black and white line drawings also make a real contribution to the improved appearance of the new volume. There are 4 fewer chapters, but because of consolidation of materials and rearrangement, the overall size is about the same. Except for rearrangement and minor revisions, many chapters of the text are almost identical with the previous edition. One notable addition is made at the end of each chapter with a 2-3 page essay designed to show the student "how the knowledge presented in the chapter becomes important in the life of the individual or society." A number of these essays contain interesting and current factual information relating the chapter topic to some of the pressing contemporary questions such as the energy crisis, human health and disease, environmental pollution, ete. As an example, following the chapter on The Alkali and Alkaline Earth Elements there is an excellent discussion of the vital biochemical role these ions play in the human body and how they relate to human health. Titles of other essarys are: Odor and Molecular Geometry, Respiration, Modern Ceramics, and Reinforced Buffering in Blood. A change which will be welcomed by many previous users of the volume is the increased number and variety of the Questions and Problems at the ends of the chapters as well as the addition of a set of higher level Special Problems. A new appendix, Some Rules of Chemical Nomenclature, has been added. As in the previous edition, each chapter closes with a Summary, a list of Important Terms and References. Revision of the latter bring into this volume some of the most recent and best of the related articles from the literature, such as Scientific American, J. CHEM. EDUC., etc. Those who particularly liked the first edition of this text will find the second a far more attractive volume and better tuned to the current trend of relating science to the everyday world. Some will he disappointed that the two editions are so closely parallel. On the other hand, if (Continued onpogeA346) Volume 50. Number 6, June 7973
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you have an essentially fine text in an unattractive format-why not pep it up? Donald S. Allen Eisenhower College Seneca Falls, New York 13148
Simplified Circuit Analysis: Dlgltal-Analog
Logic Richard D. Sacks, University of Michigan, and Harry B. Mark, Jr., University of Cincinnati. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New 166 pp. Figs. and taYork, 1972. viii bles. 22.7 x 14.7 em. $6.50.
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This hwk is presented by the authors as a supplement to the existing texts for an upperclass or graduate electronics course for chemistry and other physical science students. The hook is not intended to he a complete introduction to electronics. I t is a reprint of two chapters from Volume I of the series "Computers in Chemistry and Instrumentation" (Dekker, Inc.). The first chapter deals with analog computation. All analog operations are treated using the Laplace transform. Not since C. N. Reilley's article on operational amplifiers in this Journal (39, A855, A933 (1962)) has this reviewer seen analog computation so treated in articles or books written for chemists. It is important to recoenize that a detailed mathematical undentandrng is not neressar) to use the transform approach The super~orrtyof the methad is particularly rewarding when considering operational amplifiers since the computational capabilities develop very naturally without a sophisticated mathematical background. The authors present the power of the approach in a clear and utilitarian manner. The rudiments of the general method for analog programing of differential equations with some linear examples to demonstrate amplitude and time scaling are covered. The solution of simple algebraic equations is also treated. Throughout the first chapter the operational amplifier is treated as a black box. That is, aside from the input and feedback elements the hardware of the analog computer is not mentioned. The chapter covers analog computation not analog computers. The second chapter is devoted to digital theory. Digital counting, computation and logic are described. Included in this are Boolean algebra and minimization techniques, encoders, multiplexers and arithmetic networks. The emphasis is to show in detail how logic devices can manipulate numbers. The last 70 pages of the chapter are devoted t o t h e hardware implementation of these techniques. It is a Lucid presentation which then flows smoothly into the construction af gates and flip-flops. The emphasis is on the types of integrated circuitry commercially svailahle using the current terminology. It is worth noting that the authors use relatively little space in the hook to cover "hard core" hardware. This draws attention to the trend in electronics texts which A346
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is undelway. With the commercial availability of chips that contain the equivalent of 100 transistors it is questionable whether it is worthwhile to teach the operation of a transistor. In the future electronics texts for natural scientists may very well not even mention topics Like the hybrid parameters of transistors but deal only with the "external" operation of the sophisticated devices synthesized from them. Since it is hilled as a supplement the bwk is less vulnerable to criticism for omissions. Thus one need not expect to find explanations of circuit theory concents used in the bwk. The omission of open eulleetor gates is surprising. However as a teaching mstrument a serious umirsion is the lack of problems. Occasionally examples are given but there is no opportunity for a student to test his understanding. I believe this book is a valuable addition to the instructional literature in electronics. It is well written and can serve an important and useful funrtiun to supplement current tears for electronic courses m the natural sciences. I t will be particularly useful for the instructor who wants to cover recent developments in integrated circuit hardware as these apply to digital and analog operations.
Frederick 0.Tabbutt Evergreen State Coiiege Olympia, Washington 98505
An Introduction to Macromolecules Leo Mandelkern, Florida State University, Tallahassee. Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 1972. Heidelberg Science Li161 pp. Figs. and brary, Val. 17. X tables. 15 X 22.7 em. $5.90.
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Most polymer scientists have developed a rather cynical attitude, no doubt also prevalent among other scientists, toward the plethora of books which are being published in their field. Whether because of innate human egotism or the economies of hook publishing, a new hwk on polymers seems to appear periodically, and with apparently increasing frequency. This ohvious duplication of effort raises serious doubts about the contribution which many of these hooks have to offer. "An Introduction to Macromolecules" happily raises no such douhts. In the first place, it is a small hwk (155 pp., paper hack), of which there are regrettably too few. I t presents, in five short chapters, a unified treatment of the field of macromolecules, suitable for reading and study by undergraduate science students. The chapter topics are, consecutively, Structural Features and Preparation, Chain Structure, Rubbers and Glasses, Crystalline Polymers and Fihers, Macromolecules of Biological Importance. In the second place, as the above sequence of topics might suggest, there is an orderly development of the fundamental physical properties of polymers based on the concept of the flexible chain molecule. The author starts by showing the relation
between valence bond character and conformations of the chain units, and how these considerations then govern the statistics of chain dimensions. A discussion of the restraints imposed by restrictions to hond rotation, temperature, and interchain forces naturally leads to a clear definition of rubbers, glasses and crystalline materials. This unified treatment of the physical properties from simple considerations of the long chain molecule (and ensuing networks) is difficult to find in mast hooks. The author also avoids the clutter usually introduced when the varied chemical structures of polymers are discussed. Finally, the effect of chain structure on physico-chemical behavior is dramatically illustrated by choosing (what else!) the biopolymers as examples. Biological macromolecules offer the most exciting examples of the control of chemical function by steric and conformational structures, while the nucleotides are of course the best possible source for demonstrating the ultimate in structure control during chain synthesis. On the negative side, one can find very little. Perhaps the most serious omission is the absence of any discussion of the dispersity of molecular weights, especially as it is related to the method of synthesis (Chap. 11). A minor, though irritating, point of criticism revolves around some incorrect nomenclature, e.g., "polyvinyl chloride" instead of poly(viny1 chloride). The author is not alone in this gaffe. The overriding quality of this book, however. is the combination of concise treatment and lucidity of exposition, which is so rare nowadays. Syntax is perhaps equally ss important as science, especially when we wish to communicate with the student. This hook is exceptionally good reading, and should be most successful in its goal, whether used as a course text or for individual study, of introducing the undergraduate science student to macromolecules a t an early stage. Maurice Morton The University ofAkron Akron. Ohio 44304
Cortisone Edword C. Kendall. Charles Scribner's 175 pp. Sons, New York, 1971, xii Photographs. 24 X 16 cm. $7.95.
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Although this book is not a textbook it certainly helongs in most college libraries. Far those of us who try to teach something of the human side of chemistry in our courses, it is a useful addition. In fourteen short chapters Dr. Kendall traces his career from boyhood in Connecticut, through school (PhD from Columbia in 1910) and several jabs, and finally to his receipt of the 1950 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology (together with Philip Hench and Tadeus Reichstein).
