and the many adopters of previous editions may well he joined by some new recruits! T. W. Sottery Univarsily of Soulhem Maine ters with 33 additional pages. The resulting treatment does not seem excessive, hut it is competent rather than inspiring. The authors use experimental evidence as a basis for their arguments. I t is hard to fault this approach, but they often fail to portray the individual items as part of an overall theoretical pattern. (2) The earlier presentation of a chapter on solutions is a definite plus and follows naturally after the treatment of pure liquids in chapter 11. (3) Thermodynamics has moved forward from chapter 23 to chapter 14 preceding equilibrium and kinetics. This is a great improvement, perhaps the most significant change in the sixth edition. Combined with an earlier and more complete treatment of thermachemistry in chapter 5 the authors' presentation of thermodynamics is excellent. Even the title change "Spontaneity of Reaction," (replacing "Chemical Thermodynamics") should make chapter 14 less forbidding and more meaningful to the beginning chemistry student! One might prefer the neutral term randomness to the negative connotations associated with disorder and question the omission of the word standard (in reference to the molar heat of formation) and the superscript zero in the symbol. (4) The sixth edition provides additional material in three chapters on "Precipitation Reactions"(l8),"Chemi~try of the Transition Metals" and "Chemistry of the Nonmetals." (The usefulness of this material in a time of shortened semesters is a matter for organic chemistry into one is a realistic response to the decreasing time available for the presentation of this topic area. Except for the special features noted above and in the preface, the titles and order of the 28 chapters are similar to the majority of eurrent principles teats as is the 861-page length. Since there is more material than can be covered in a normal two-semester course the instructor can (and indeed must) choose which topics will he included. The two-color format is attractive, hut the red color has a pale, washed out look. The hlack print is clear and readable; the pale red print is much less legihle than the black on red used for historical perspectives. The use of boldface for important statements is a very effective technique. The reader notes with relief the absence of the crowding which mars so many current texts. The marginal notes are interesting and informative while the illustrations are very well executed with effective use of the second color. The short sections which introduce and conclude each chapter are a nice touch which should helo students to see the material of the rhnpwr ns pnrr 01' the overall pattern c,f chemisrry. Thew are orher ienrurcs of thir text such as the key wards and concepts; the grouping of "matched pairs" of questions and problems by topic; the summary at the end of each chapter; which may he minor individually hut add up to an impressive oackaee. " This sixth edition desewes the serious consideration of anv instructor who is conremplnting n change of text ior a rhemir d prtncrples course. There nre significant improvements compared to the fifth edition
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Journal of Chemical Education
GMham. ME 04038
Chemistry, Experiment a n d Theory Bernice G. Segal, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY. 1985. xxiv 999 pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 26 cm.
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Recently one of the best known of American Chemists hegan a characterization of the current crop of Freshman Chemistry textbooks by reporting them to have the average weight of about 4.5 lb. Perhaps this is a simple fact that was intended to be taken at face value, but it is hard to resist reading the implication that the group is big and the differences amone t h e members small. Wltrther intended or not the implication is. ol't~urre.correct. A n author and p~blisher show murh courage in bringing new uffering to this market, particularly when the product has to be read carefully to he appreciated. This hookis not an eye-catcher. I t has the obligatory "tech-art" color cover, hut inside it is strictly two color. In the age of evermore-wonderful color pictures on glossy pages, it is an anachronism. The drawings are uneven; many were apparently done for this work, but some have obviously been pulled from a variety of sources. The same is true for the photography; there seems to have been an effort to control contrast as the subject warrants, but the photography is not state of the art and curiously, occasionally, neither is the equipment portrayed, even when the context clearly is not historical. Nonetheless, the presentation of the textual material facilitates reading. The relatively flat finish on the paper offers a welcome relief from glossy page glare. The body of the text is hlack on white with key words highlighted in a rust color. The many excellent examples that clarify or extend the text appear at the appropriate place in the flow of the logic but are separated visually by printing black on a light gray shading. The separation is effective yet not obtrusive. However, it is in subject content, organization, and style of presentation where this hook should be judged. Segal, in the prefix states my goal has been to he as helpful as possible to motiuoted, capable students who plan to pursue a career in any of the broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, and whoneed astrongfoundation in the fundamentals of chemistry." The reviewer has provided the emphasis in the previous sentence because these are the people to whom the book is directed and who will best benefit from it. The text is intended to provide the basis for afnll year's seouence of courses and orohahlv would work best in a two-semester arrangement as will be noted. The level of presentation of the material is similar to that of Brown and LeMay, "Chemistry, the Central Science;" (3rd ed.), Masterton, Slawinski, a n d Stanitski, "Chemistry Principles;" (6th ed.)., or Moeller, et al., "Chemistry with Inorganic Qualitative Analysis;" (2nd ed.). The organization of the presentation is, however, different in that "Properties of Dilute Solutions": chapter 6, "Aqueous Solutions and
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Ionic Reactions": chapter 7, "Introduction to the Law of Chemical Equilibrium": chapter 8, "Acids, Bases, and Salts": chapter 9, "Buffer Solutions and Acid-Base Titratians": chapter 10, and "Equilibria Involving Slightly Soluble Electrolytes": chapter 11.. are oresented hefore the more thoroueh treatment of nrtlmrc structure and chemicnl Irmdinc. The latter toprca then would he incorporated into the seeond-semester coursc along with redox rt.actiuns/electrochemistry, o iairly detailed 1rQatment of rlnssienl thermodynamirr, kinrtirs, radioactivity, coordination compounds, ionic crystalline solids, and carbon chemistry. Topics are organized in this way in order to provide an early experience in more descriptive material. These examples then are important in the development of principles of structure and reactivity in the second half of the hook. While the choice and presentation of descriptive material is excellent, the more unique feature of this hook, at this time, is the thoroughness with which it treats the usual chemical principles a t this level, particularly those of classical thermodynamics. To the extent that is possible with the tools of highschool algebraand physics, there are clear derivations to support conclusions. At several points Segal momentarily picks up the calculus and shows it as the way to the desired goal hut then emphasizes the eonclusion and eoes on. There 18 an mtroductory chapter in which units of measurement are defined, dimensional analysis is presented as the recommended way to solve quantitative problems, and significant figure convention for representing experimental uncertainty is described and illustrated. This text is one of very few, which having paid homage to experimental uncertainty, actually then presents the reported uncertainty for each of the fundamental physical constants given in it. Uncertainties are also occasionally given explicity at several other points when experimental data is presented. I welcome this, since most freshman texts treat experimental uncertainty as if only freshman data were uncertain. All chapters provide many wen-selected and well-stated problems. A novel feature is a section of questions in a multiple choice format accompanying each chapter, oatensihly to improve student skills prior to the inevitahle GRE, MCAT, etc. Answers are provided a t the end of the teat for the even numbered problems, questions, and exercises. The text refers to a Solutions Manual and a Study Guide that are available to accompany it, hut this reviewer has not seen either. In short, this hook will sewe well. It reads well; the content is appropriate for the intended audience; and the material is presented with integrity. Robert W. Suter
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Chemistry
In t h e Modern World
Frank L. Wjseman, McGraw-Hill Boor Company, New York.NY. 1985. xxii 594 pp. Figs ana taoles. 19.2 X 24 cm.
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