provements are as follows: 1. A more pleasing, larger type hut compact format. 2. Recognition (in parenthesis, since this is a thorny issue) of the IUPAC Periodic Numbering Scheme that puts Ga in Group 13. 3. A better Study Guide consisting of the following sections a t the end of each chapter: a. A brief statement of Scope and Purpose: h. More extensive Study Questions for review and as additional Exercises. For example, on p. 542 we are now asked for three different preparations of MoC4 and on p. 596 for that of Mn(C0)dI)py~; and c. Questions from the Literature in accessible and recent journal articles.
The expanded Supplementary Reading list includes sources as recent as 1986 and the hook now includes a Glossary of terms and a better index. Reworking of the text and expansion of the teaching aids has added 129 pages t o an excellent book in a very beneficial manner. The facts of chemistry are learned and accumulated throughout one's career. Putting a book like this in the hands of young students and encouraging them to return continually to it is a w r y good idea. Authority shines from every page and the hook will have lasting value because the basic facts of chemistry will never change. The reviewer thanks William J. Hagen, Jr. (St. Anselm's College, Manchester, NH, who has taught from this text) for his comments. Geoffrey Davies Nanheastern University Boston. MA 02115
Micnael Freemantle Macmi Ian: London. 1987.x t 8 8 2 pp Ffgs.and tab.es 21.7 X
Because the cover of Chemistry in Action contains a quote from the New Scientist"One day, maybe all chemistry textbooks will be written like it," I leafed through i t with high expectations and was pleased. I'd never seen a text (this one designed far Alevel in Great Britain) with photos showing chemistry being applied throughout the world, especially in developing countries. On p. 224 I saw one of the very few correct cooling curve diagrams. Supercooling was shown a t the formation of each new phase. Unfortunately, the next figure of cooling curves did not show the supercooling. Next I read the front material. There was no mention uf Michael Freemantle d h e r than his namr The preface gavr no thanks 11, ally pnripssimals for cummenti. and help
other than the initial inspirer and the puhlishing staff, I hadn't seen such a limited authorship in years. I was impressed that material from almost all British examining hoards had been used to structure and provide emphasis in the writing. I soon found that essentially all the questions a t chapter endings were attributed t o one of the boards. Unfortunately, the plan appears to be better than the execution. Problem 3 of Chapter 1 is from the UCLES hoard. The problem involves evaluating mle peaks in a mass spectrum. The text has no mention of mle peaks, though i t does discuss elm in Thomson's experiments on electrons. The writing style is good. I t has direct, generally short clear sentences. But there are chemical errors written on over half the pages I read. Similar errors appear in a large number of the figures. Here are some examples. (1) Figure 1.1 gives 1500 volts for Thomson's apparatus; the text gives 15,000 volts. (2) "Anti-particles have the same mass (if any) but the apposite electrical charge to particles." Whet about neutrons? (3)"We have seen that when electrons in an excited state fall back to lower energy levels, they release photons of characteristic wavelength. This is called stimulated emission." Not so. ( 4 ) In discussing atomic spectra, "We have seen that for hydrogen there are three series and thus three convergence limits."Figure 1.14actually showsfour series. (5) Aufbau principle, "The lowest energy orbitals are always filled first." Pair repulsionoften violates this rule as in Mn and Cu. (6) "For nuclear reactions to occur, the bombarding particles must have a high kinetic energy." Not true in slow neutron reactors. (7) In the Figure 1.31 design ofthecyclotron no mention is made of the magnet that causes the aeclerated particles to circle. (8) "Graphite is a covalent compound." Even more seiious than the many errors in itatelnenr ore the continual inrn,ductims of ~ n d r f i n e dwurds and ideas. The periodic table is de\,elo~)ed after I). 395, hut Grows and Periods aie referred to by name and number from p. 18 on. There is no periodic table printed inside the covers, nor any list of elements. Avogadro's constant is discussed on p. 91 hut is used on p. 72. Terms such as endothermic, enthalpy, supernova, black hole, frequency (of light), kJ, and many others are used without definition or clarification a t the point of introduction. The text has no discussion I could find of significant figures, the need for dimensional agreement in equations, and the evaluation of experimental uncertainties in terms of arrurnry nnd prrri5ion. &, I gave up reading in d e t a ~ i,n l p 84 ar the end of C'haprw '2. The dcficiencirs mentimed abuvr seem to carry throughout the text. The whole book is full of imaginative, appropriate, and educational material. It is often novel to the extent of being remarkat,l, atrentim getting. and evrn ~xrltinc.But the lark t,f efficirnr editingofhurh the wricin~~ n thtfisurrsir d so serious to me that I can only recommend that teachers may wish to look through the photos, the problems, and any areas where the teacher has had trouble being novel. Such a search might be of professional profit. ~
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E a s l c Ofganlc Chemistry J. M. Tedderand A. Nechvatal. Wiley: New York. NY. 1987. xii 303 pp. Figs. and tables. 15. X 22.5 cm. $19.95.
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The first edition of Basic Organic Chemistry appeared some 20 years ago. In this second edition, the major change the authors have made is to introduce spectroscopy, including ultraviolet, infrared, proton and carbon NMR, and mass spectra, in the second chapter. As new functional groups are introduced in succeeding chapters, a short discussion of the spectral characteristics of the group begins each chapter. Of the 20 chapters, 13 cover the mast important functional groups. In addition to an introduction and the chapter on spectroscopy, there are chapters on stereochemistry; natural products; industrial sources of organic compounds; synthesis; and molecular orbital theory (also new to the second edition). Characteristic infrared absorptions and proton and carbon chemical shifts are tabulated in an appendix. A few questions follow all of the chapters except those on spectroscopy and molecular orbital theory. Allafthe questionsare answered a t the back of the baok. In this concise text the student will find no lists of key concepts, new words introduced,or learningobjectives; nomini-essays of topical content; no second-color highlights or comments printed in the margin. This approach is sufficiently unusual today that I found it refreshing; others may miss some of these common features. The text is generally quite readable, although occasionally unnecessarily complex in sentence structure. For example, on p. 129 we find: "The term resononee is derived from the quantum mechanical theory from which resonance theory is derived." A minor complaint I had was withsome of the figures: many of these apparently date from the first edition, and the subscripts in the formulas are difficult to read. A further annoyance was in the assignment of carbon NMRspectra. Resonances are not labeled in a systematic way, nor are structures laheled to identify the carbon assigned to a given resonance in a clear and consistent manner. For example, on pp. 17 and 78 most carbons of 2-heaene are identified by both a letter and a number, although the carbon NMR absorbances are identified only by letter. The only major flaw I found in this book was the small number of questions. Ranging from one to a handful per chapter, there are simply far fewer problems than are necessary to give students the required practice. This text would be suitable for a one-semester introduction to organic chemistry. Many such courses, however, specify both organic and biochemistry. As this baok devotes only 14 pages total to lipids, earbohydrates, proteins, terpenes, alkaloids and nucleicacids, it would not, by itself, besuitable for such a course. William L. Bell Red Rocks Community College
Golden. C0 80401
J. A. Campbell Harvey Mudd College Claremont. CA 9171 1 Volume 65
(Continued on page A244)
Number 9
September 1986
A243
