book reviews transformations." Again, might not "welding fuel" (page 185) be termed "fuel for welding torches," or "swimming pool chlorine" (page 195) be called "chlorine used in swimming pools?" Equations are clearly written throughout. In a few eases catalysts are omitted. In the synthesis of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen (page 191) and of acetic acid from carbon monoxide and methanol (page 193) failure to show catalysts might lead t o erroneous impressions on the part of the reader. A few errors need to he corrected. The statement (page 192), "When the carbonyl is on the end of aearhon chain, the molecule is a ketone" obviously describes an aldehyde. Or, in discussing the production of aluminum (page 155), "Enough heat is liberated by the electrolysis [of A1204 to maintain the temperature . . . without external heating." Actually the prduction of a pound of aluminum consumes ten kilowatt-hoursof energy. The heat is due to the high resistance of the alumina-cryolite bath. A few other minor errors were noted: The term complex ions (page 130) was applied t o nitrate, sulfate, ammonium ion, etc. "A typical fat is glycerol stearate. . . " (page 2l0and 250) whereas natural fats are normally mixed glycerides. Sodium hydroxide is referred to as "soda lye" (page 167) rather than caustic soda or lye. "Isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol" (page 191) should read ". . .or 2-propanol." For the most part the h k is very readable and should hold the interest of the student to whom it is directed. Certainly i t comes a t a time when everything possible should he done t o "turn on" the nonseiencestudent t o the importance of chemistry. Carl R. Meloy Grand Valley State Coilege AllenddeleMlchipn 4940 1
Energy: From Source to Use
H. Steuen Stoker, Spencer L. Seager, Robert L. Capener, Weher State College. Scott, Foresman, and Co., Illinois, 1975. 337 pp. Figs. and tables. 23 X 16 cm. $3.95.
+
Despite much discussion of energy prohlems in recent years, few books specifically concerned with energy have appeared. This has proven problematical far those of us who teach freshman-level courses with an emphasis on energyconsiderations. The present hook is clearly intended to fill this gap and t o a large measure succeeds. The approach is largely nonmathematieal, and the intent seems to he to inform rather than to persuade. The approach is dispassionate hut not disinterested. The first three chapters deal with the meaning of the t e r n "energy crisis," the nature of energy, and the uses of energy. The discussion of thermodynamics is very rudimentary, largely in English units, and prohablv the weakest section of the hook. The magic formula for thermal efficiency is presented without explanation of its origins or limitations. While these are all shortcomings, they are perhaps not serious in a book a t this level. Chapter 4 constitutes a hrief considerA306 / Journal of Chemical Education
ation of energy sources. There are a few oversimplifications and the statement on page 54 that the atom is the fundamental building block for the materials of the universe is certainly debatable. The next three chapters contain reasonably thorough discussions of petroleum, natural gas, and coal. The origins, proven reserves, means of obtainine..and ourifvine. related , ,.. uses.. oroblems , to use. and meanr of increasing production are all discusued. There ore w e n brief discussions concerning obtainment of petroleum from wastes, oil shale, and tar sands as well as methods of mining coal, coal liquefaction, and coal gasification. Chapter 8 is a discussion of nuclear enerw.. both fission and fusion. The varmus t).pes of fisamn reactors, fuetq, wasredispmal.mfety, and praspccu for itmion reactors arr all discussed in a dispassionate and seemingly knowledgeable manner. Chapter 9 considers in a hrief but adequate fashion some of the alternative sources of energy such as the sun, water, winds, tides, geothermal, and ocean thermal gradients. There is also a discussion of hydrogen as a secondary chemical fuel, fuel cells, and magnetohydrodynamics. Chapter 10, the final chapter, is a plea for energy conservation on both a large scale and a personal basis. I t includes many suggestions for short-term, midterm, and long-term measures. The writing style is clear and reasonably unbiased, although occasionally a hit choppy, and should be easily understood by the average freshman. The discussions of chemistry and mathematics are very minimal. There are a few errors: for example, butyl mercaptain is not the essence of skunk odor (p. 74) and olutonium has been found in nature (0.2021. Hut thew are mmor pormand do nut detract from theoverall usefulnrsr of the hook The book is attractively produced, reasonably priced, and free from obvious printing errors. I t is a convenient sourcehook of facts and numbers about current energy usage and historical patterns of energy use. Although there are no references to the original literature, each chapter contains a list of suggested readings. Most of these are quite recent and in sources not commonly used by chemists, such as "Technology Review" an$ "Natural Historv." There are c o ~ i o u seraohs. maDS. rnhles, and figures. w h ~ greatly h aid in the preirnrstion ~oirnatrrinl.The index I; hrief bur coupled with the itomned table of contents appears adequate. The book would be excellent supplemental reading for freshman chemistry courses, either for maiors or noumaiors. It would also prow helpful for any persun who wmhei tu become better informed nhout energy probImns I recommend it and plan to use it ft,r my nanmajor's course this spring. Wayne L. Smith
.~
..,
chemistry text. In addition there are nine interesting vignettes which present descriptive material related to the topics of Nudesr Energy, Diamonds, Noble Gases, Glass, The Sea, The Solvay Process, Copper, Synthetic Fibers, and Food Additives. This text contains 365 pages so the coverage of each topic is generally brief. The material is covered a t a level of the average sttrdenr of general chemistry. The evsentiat aspect9 of each topic are presented with a minimum of eramplrsor details. For example covalent bonding, shapes of molecules (electron-pair repulsion theory), polar bonds, eleetronegativity, bond strength, and intermolecular bonding (mostly hydrogen bonding) are covered in ten pages. In spite of the brevity the topics are covered clearly and are fairly readable. The text is well illustrated. Worked example problems are minimal and the selection of problems a t the end of the chapters is varied hut there are not very many problems of any given type to provide the student with practice in any area. It is difficult to know what course this text might he suited for. I t is too hrief for any student in any area of natural science and the level is not appropriate for most students in Health Science or similar woerams which . . might require a short course in general chemistrv. It is not a t all aonrooriate for most , ot the ccmrses in chemiqrn. for nonsrience mnjors. Huwever if one musr reach general chemistry in one semester this text is worthy of consideration, The text is quite free of printing errors. Its major weakness is the coverage of many topics, some of which are difficult for students, in a few pages. Its major strength is the interesting chemistry presented in vignettes in a style which might he copied by the authors of the one year General Chemistry texts.
..
~
~
Herbert L. Smith Slippry Rock State College Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania 16057
Introductory, Organic, and Blochemistry: A New View. Long Edition Peter Hamlet, University of Rhode Island. D. C. Heath and Co., Lexington, Mass., 1975. vii 367 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 24 cm. $10.95.
+
lntroduclory Chemlary: A New View. Short Edltion Peter Hamlet. Universitv of Rhode Island.
Coiby College WatewiIIe,Maine 04901
perbaek. $5.95. Chemistry Lewis F Hatch andMarie S. Hatch. Wil. lard Grant Press,Massachusetts, 1975. ix 422 pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 16.5 cm.
+
This text was written for a one semester course either as preparation far other courses in chemistry or as a student's only course in chemistry. I t consists of 14 chapters covering the topics found in almost any general
The long edition contains 26 chapters, an extensive "Facts and Figures" section that tabulates oroduction and sales data for chrmirnl mdustrirs through 1 9 7 ~ .awl a t h r ~ n q h:-page . subject index Th,. furit lo rhnpreri, plus appendices, index. and prefwe. are available as the shorter, paperback edition. The first 12 chapters give a concise introduction t o basic chemical concepts. Three short chapters (28 pp.) set the background in ~
~
