book reviews
". . .
Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Wooster Womter, Ohio
Atoms, Molecules, and Chemical Reactions: Chemistry from a Mdarular Point of View
Sidney W . Renson, Stanford Research Institute. Addison-Wesley Publishing 196 Co., Reading, Mass. 1970. ix pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 16 cm. 63.93. This book is not an introductory text. The author's principle motive in wfiting this book was to provide high school teachers of chemistry and serious high school 6s well as beginning college students with a deeper view of the theoretical basesunderlying modern chemistry. The author assumes the reader has already had an exposure to the usual chemistry text and thus assumes wide latitude in re-exploring and re-integrating the material of chemistry from the point of view of the most basic aspects of atomie and molecular theory. For his intended audience the author has wisely and realistically developed theoretical principles, starting with classical physics and following through with a n intuitive and semiquantibtive treatment of atoms and molecules, within an algebraic framework. The results of the wave mechanical treatment of the hydrogen atom are presented with only a reference to the msthematical sophistication required to obtain them. Briefly, the chapter coverage is as follows: 1. Introduction, a. perspective on facts, laws, theories and a. molecular view of matter; 2. Some Elementary Facts of Chemistry, a review of basic concepts, equations, stoiehiametry, e t a ; 3. Atoms, Electrons, and Nuclei, a n excursion inta
+
atomic structure; 4. Chemical Bonding; 5. States of Matter; 6. Itates of Chemical Reactions. The text is characterized by well ordered and concise development of concepts and sequences. The author makes excellent use of models, theorems, and approximations to rstionalize the behavior of electrons in atoms and molecules. Correlation of theory and observed properties and transformations of matter is emphasized. The range of examples spans odd-electron bonds to semiconductors and branching chain reactions. The choice of material is judicious. By design, the length of discussion per topic is minimized. Thus, the text requires careful reading and thoughtful contemplation to abstract its full value. I n contrast to the assets mentioned above, there are liabilities encountered, the most significant being the following. Chapter 4: in presenting and discussing the results of the wave mechanical t r e a t ment of the hydrogen atom, the terms "orbit" and "orbital motion of the electron" are used in connection with a wave function, thus implying a trajectory connotation rather than probabilistic interpretation; the distinction is made between a "spatial orbital," defined by the principle, angular momentum and magnetic quantum numbers and a simple "orbital," which is defined by the author in terms of the principle, angular momentum, magnetic and spin quantum numbers-the latter is used by the author in discussing covalent bonding, whereas the farmer is the interpretation used by most other introductory texts (students
-Reviewed in this Issue Sidney W . Renson, Atoms, Molecules, and Chemical Reactions: Chemistry from s. Molecolw Point of View Wilma L. White, Marilyn M. Erickson, and Sue C . Stevens, Chemistry for Medical Technologists John H. Woodbum, Opportunities in the Chemical Sciences John E. Arnoore, Molecular Basis of Odor Robert I . Gclb, Elementary Quantitative Chemidry: A Laboratory Text and 1Manual Russell McCorrnmach, editor, Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences, Volume I A. J . B. Robertson, Catalysis of Gas Reactions by Metals Ionel Haidue, The Chemistry of Inorganic Ring Systems. Parts I and 11, Interscience Monographs on Chemistry Eugen Miiller, editor, Methoden der Organischen Chemie. Houben-Weyl. Band XIII14. Metallorganische Verbindugen, Al, Ga, In, TI Maurice Crosland, The Society of Arcueil. A View of Science a t the Time of Napoleon I James D. Morrison and Harry S . Moshw, Asymmetric Organic Reactions George Odian, Principles of Polymerization Ernest I. Becker and Minoru Tsutsui, editors, Organometallic Reactions. Volume 1 Anthony M . Trozzolo, editor, International Conference on Singlet Moleeulrtr Oxygen and I t s Role in Environmental Sciences. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Val. 171 New Volumes in Continuing Series
will be confused by this point since it forms the basis for such phrases as SIX p-type orbitals.. ."); ligand binding to metal ions is categorized into chemical and physical (1) binding (question mark mine); hybridization as a model for shapes of molecules is omitted. Chapter 6: the term ""on bonding orbital" is used, yet nowhere in the text is there a development of the concept of molecular orbitals via linear combinations of atomic orbitals. I n conclusion, this reviewer feels the assets of the text are not significantly campromired by the liabilities encountered. The text e m he recommended as valuable not only to the intended audience but to every inlroductory chemistry instructor searchmg for ditlerent points of view. Personal classroom use of ldeas obtained from the text has already been implemented.
.. .A727 . . .A727 .. .A728 .. .A728 . . .A728 . . .A730 .. .A730 .. .A730 . . .A732 .. .A732 '. . .A732 . . .A734 .. .A734
.. .A735 .. .A737 Volume
LUDWIG A. ~ ~ Y San Jose Slate College San Jose, Calif. 95114
Chemistry for Medical Technologists
Wilma L. White, Mwilyn M . Evickson, both of Barnes Hospital, St. Loois, Mo., and Sue C. Slevcns, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo. The C. V. hlosby Company, St. Louis, 1970. xii 710 pp. Figs. and tables. 18.2 X 26 em. $1.5.
+
This book has been rewritten, reorganized, and expanded, running approximately 300 pages longer then the second edition. This expansion has added a great deal to the book. (See THIS JouaN.1L 36, 421 (1959) and 43, A918 (1966).) Theri,are new chapters on aeidbase metabolism, atomic absorption, harmones, radio immunoassay, chromstography, electrophoresis and immono-eleetrophoresis, the AutoAnslyner, and the Robot Chemist,. These new chapters are complete enough for this type of text. Thev exolsin the basic techniaues utilized. more use of contribut,ions by experts in their special areas than in the previous editions. There are reasonable lists of references (up to 1969) at. the end of each chapter. The procedures are printed in bold type, and have large margins so that notes can he easily added. The list of needed reagents and equipment premed, and sample calculations follow each method. The chapter on qmlity control has been greatly expanded. I t emphasizes basic distribution patterns, calculntion of the standard deviation, and heavy usage of control charts. I t does not include much material relst,ing to hypothesis testing (less than one page of the twenty-four of this chapter) and none on discordant data treatment. Part I of t,he second edition, which consisted of four chapters dealing mainly with elementary chemistry, has been deleted. Some of the more important discussion formerly in these chapters has been included in an appendix. The reorganization of the remsining chaptern around body function is most welcome, making the entire volume subst,antially easier to use. (Cmtinmd on page A7S8)
48, Number 11, November 1971
/
A727
B
R
book reviews The major failing of this work is its lack of any mention of the role of computers in controlling, evaluating, and storing the clinical data. Although s. thorough treatment is not necessary, it is the reviewer's belief that the technologist should a t least be introduced to the subject in view of the increasing use and importance of computers, pilrticularly in hospital situations. The treat,ment, of the antomated methods utilizing the AntoAnalyser and the Robot Chemist is reasonably complete. Hawever, it is imfortunate that so much of the space is devot,ed to material taken directly from the instmction manuals. Some newer methods of analysis, such as isotopic dilution for blood volume and high pressure liquid chromatography are not mentioned. While t,hcqe omissions do not appear to be serious, they do reduce the usefidne8s of the hook. More serious is the failure to include any mention of the expected precision and accuracy of the tests discussed or the instruments used. This becomes particnlady significant when test results are near the accepted limits of normal values. As an example of this the authors indicate that "great care must he used in doing a blood pH determination, for an error of 0.02 unit can mean an error of about 1.8 mm H g in the Pco. value" (p. 187). Yet no mention is made that most pH meters used in clinical laboratories have a n accuracy of J;O.O.5 pH units or less, and a reproducibility of zt0.02 pH unit3 or less. The text appears to he reawnably free of m y significant m~mberof typographical errors; some of those made ~houldhave been caught before publication, i.e., p. 34 the ordinate of the graph is not labeled. The 30 page list of normal values would be better placed a t the end of the book rather than so soon aft,er the beginning. The quality of the paper and the binding are quite good. The authors should consider changing the title as it does not really denote the contents. The book can serve as a reference handbook for specific clinical methods.
and calculus. A broad base in high school sciences is recommended: biology, physics, and chemistry. Taking two foreign languages is recommended: German, French, or Russian. Strong training is necessary in hoth written and spoken English, along with the social sciences. A scientist must be able to communicate well with fellow citizens who lack technical knowledge. The main key to collegiate 8ueCess will depend on initiative and dedication to hard work. Scholarships are available. It is wise to visit with alumni who majored in chemistry. Helpful suggestions are given on Securing Employment (reference is made to the A.C.S. Employment Clearing House). Any chemistry graduate should expect to learn on the job. Any career plan should include a look into the future to anticipate problems which need to he solved: keeping people fed, housed, and clothed. Engineering in pollution control prohably will have high priority. RAYMOND T. BYRNE Batavia High School Batavia, N . Y. 140S0 Molecular Basis of Odor
John E. Amoore, Western Regional Resezrch Laboratory United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, California. Charles C. Thomas, Puhlisher, Springfield, Illinois, 1970. xiii 200 pp. Figs. and tahles. 25.3 X 17.5 cm. 816.50.
+
Of the various theories of the relationship of odor to chemical structure presently being investigated, the stereochemical theory proposed by John E . Amoore in 1952 is considered by many scientists to be the most promising. The information contained in Amoore's 21 papers on odor is presented in this book "in a literary, narrative style," secordiug to the editor, which "can easily be read by anyone with a high school science background.'' To anyone familiar with Amoore's papers, the sole advantage of the book is the convenience of having the information all in one volume, for there are few, if any, E. JONES new ideas or data. Since most of Amoore's DONALD papers have been ~ublishedin symposia. Westen. Ma~ylandCollege volumes or in uncommon journals, this Westminster, Md. $1167 book will make his writings readily accessible for the first time. As such, the book Oppmiunitias in the Chemical will he of interest to many scientists. Sciences Despite the editor's opinion, however, the layman will not be attracted to this book John X. Woodbu~n,Charles W. Woodnor can i t be recommended to him. ward High School, Rockville, Maryland. In one brief chapter Amoore describes Universsl Publishing and Distributing the main queslion of odor research: tho Corporation, New York, 1971. x relationship between odor and chemical 108pp. 20 X 13.5cm. $1.95. structure. The other six chapters present This Vocational Guidance Manual came his stereochemical theory of odor, details of how he derived the theory, data. to out in 1971 and is directed to helping support the theory, and details of young people understand the scope of the techniques used to obtain the data. There field of chemical sciences. Realistic counis only brief mention of other theories of seling is based upon telling accurately the odor. nature of training required, the scope of In the 18 years since Amoore first pubthe work encountered, and whether lished his stereochemical theory of odor, chemistry offers the kinds of satisfactions his work on odor seems to have involved which can really he enjoyed. Reference mainly refinements in measuring the is made to the ACS booklet on "Chemistry shapes of molecules. The only major and Your Career." This emohasizes. change in the theory itself is that instead of the originally ~roposedseven primary
+
A728
/
Journal o f Chemical Education
odors, he now speaks of 20-30. His last and most interesting chapter (Breaking the Olfactory Code) is a proposal for research to identify these primary odors. To date, only one primary odor, the sweaty odor of isoveleric acid and its congeners, has been identified; its identification by Amoore is described in the book. The "literary style" leaves much to be desired. Scientists would probably prefer t u r ~ a da die< liwz of .\m~mr3:ptpw-i. L~iyntrt.will wr,ir.ly find thv Iwok r w o v : ~ lrrndin~. h O n e of detniled for r ~.t i " the chief criticisms, in fact, is the excessive detsil. What detracts from the presentation is not the careful detail characteristic of scientific publications but rather excessive details of methodology which are almost always out of place, in conventional scientific papers as well as in scientific writing for the non-scientist. Chapter 4 provides a good example of such extravagant detail, as Amoore describes each of the methods he has used to obtain qusntitative data on molecular shapes. The other main criticism concerns the attempt, unsuccessful in the opinion of this reviewer, to write a hook encompassing the reading interests of non-scientists as well as scientists. Such coverage is difficult to achieve and possibly undesirable. I t is not likely that the lay reader will be interested in details of one theory of odor to the exclusion of a consideration of alternative theories. Hence, Amoore's book is by its nature limited to scientists. A few years ago, R. H. Wright, proponent of the vibration theory of odor, published s. book on odor also written for hoth scientists and laymen (It. H. Wright, "The Science of Smell," Basic Books, Inc., New York, 1964). Wright's hook makes considerably more interesting reading than does Amoore's and presents mare general information on odor including the various theories. ~
~
WILLIAMR. R o o l r n l c ~ Abbott Labovatories North Chicago, Illinois Elementary Quantitative Chemistry: A Laboratory Text and Manual
Robert I. Gelb, University of Massachusetts, Boston. Harper & Raw, Publishers, New York, 1971. viii 301 pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 17.5 cm. $6.95.
+
The author states in his preface that this text is "the result of a n effort.. .to integrate general and analytical chemistry." One searches in vain thereafter to find any sign of integration. I t can only he called watered down quantitative analysis text!' The unfortunate result is predictable: the unique contribution that analytical chemistry could make to chemical education is hsdlv orostituted. What little thrre k in the wxy nf the irnp
