book reviews Chemistry-A
Modern lntroduction
Frank Breseia, City College of New York, Stanley Mehlman and Fmnk C. Pellegrini, SUNY at Farmingdale, and Sqvrnour Stambler, Staten Island Community College. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1974. xvii + 644 pp. + xxii index. Figs. and tables. 18.5 x 26.5 cm. $14.50. I have two different shelves full of general chemistry texts-] keep and use the books on one shelf, and periodically give away those on the other. "Chemistry-A Modern Introduction" will be kept. It is a book devoted to teaching chemical principles a t an intermediate level, light on descriptive chemistry (about 20% of the total pages), and includes those physically oriented topics now taught to beginning students. To give you a better feel for the book, I place it a t a slightly higher level than Saunders' big seller, Masterton and Slowinski's "Chemical Principles," 3rd edition, but considerably less mathematical and rigorous than Brescia's other general text, "Fundamentals of Chemistry," written with Professors Arents, Meislich, and Turk. As 1 read through the book, I noted first that the ideal gas law was missing from the chapter on gases, but then I found it as part of a later chapter, in a context where it actually made more sense. The same was true for d u b i l i t y concepts, found in three different places. The authors have managed to treat several other topics without exhausting either them or the students, by spreading the topics out over parts of several chapters. Continuity of topics is maintained by extensive references to other portions of the book. There are copious marginal notes and footnotes
orbitals without any rationale far legitimacy (p. 262 ff.). Ammonium hydroxide, NH,OH, is used throughout to describe aqueous ammonia solutions, and carbonic acid, HzC03, is referred to until debunked in a footnote on p. 381. U half-reactions are assumed to occur in acid only (p. 3741, a t least a bisulfate solution is neutral (p. 384). And what modern text would not refer to "tobacco or weed smokers" (p.
explaining everything from origins of words to the bases of scientific logic; there are footnote references as recent as 1973. The examples that are presented are from a wide range of disciplines, though it seemed to me that examples from hiological systems were in the majority. There are plenty of problems for students, both during the chapters themselves and a t the end of each chapter; all answers are found a t the chapter's end. Also, I was happy to find "library" assignments in each chapter, referring students t o this Journal, Science, Nature, and so on for further reading on general topics a t a non-technieal level. Students are expected to work hard, and they are given help, like instructionsfar model making (p. 258). Sometimes a topic or two will be used by an instructor t o decide about a hook's usability. Those discussions and sections that seemed lovingly developed and very clear were: 0°K (p. 56). Avogadro's law (p. 611, periodicity (chapter 7), a simple but satisfying discussion of molecular orbitals (sections 9.2-9.5). deloealization (p. 271), a largely nonthermodynamic chapter on chemical equilibrium (chapter 11) that includes some very useful diagrams (Figs. 11.2 and 11.41, descriptive chemistry of nonmetals (chapter 19) and representative metals (chapter 201, and a bare-bones introduction to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (section 24.4). Lest you think I take no issue with the authors, allow me to express the opinion that several of the nonehemical examples were oversimplified and misleading. I found the discussion of Fahrenheit versus Celsius confusing (p. 21), as confusing as the use of dl, dz, do d b and d5 to denote the 3d orbitals (p. 155) while standard natation is used later (p. 561). or the heavy use of "imaginary" hybrid atomic
-Reviewed in this Issue Frank Breseio, Stanley Mehlrnan, Frank C. Pelegrini, and Sqvmour Stornbler, Chemistry-A Modern Introduction Turn R. Thornson. Chemistry: Introduction to Matter Miehell J Sienko and Robert A. Plane, Chemical Principles and Pmperties Karl F Komli, Introductory Chemistry: A Survey of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry Jerry D. Wilson, An Environmental Approach to Physical Science J. T Ge%, Introductory Organic Chemistry Richard S. M o n a n and John C. Shelton. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry J. A . Jouleand G. F. Smith, Heterocyclic Chemistry H. J Emeleus and A. G. Shorpe, Modern Aspects of Inorganic Chemistry John O'M. Bockris and Amulyo K. N. Reddy, ModernEleetrochemistry Basil H. Vassos and Golen W. E ~ u i w Analoa . .and Digital Electronics for Scientists G. M. Bancroft, Mossbauer Spectroscopy: An lntroduction far Inorganic Chemists and Geochemists General Chemistrv. Readinesfmm Scientific American D. H. Hw,editor: MTP lniernational ~ e b i e wof Science. Organic Chemistry Series One: Volumes 1-10 New Volumes in Continuing Series
A38
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Journal 01 Chemical Education
I . . . A38 . . . A38
m .., i 7
The publishers have done a good job of graphics, a muddy orange being the color of choice. I thought the italics did not s t a n d out well from the regular print. There were misprints an pages 168, 263, 521 (2), 551, 554, 558, 592, and 593, as well as a footnote omitted on page 439. There is a n Instructor's Manual, containing all problems from the text, worked out, but little else. What I have listed above as disagreement is very specific. In general, the book can be described as "comfortable," and as such, very adequate for teaching and learning. It is obvious from the authors' attention to detail that a lot of work went into making this book a very strong entry in the field. Robert M. Kren
University of Michigan-Fiiot Flint, Michigan 48503
Chemistry: Introductionto Maner
Tom R. Thornson, Arizona State University. Addison-Wesley Publishing Comoanv. Inc.. Readine. Massachusetts. 1973:xi 704pp. Fig&nd tables. 24 x 19.5 em. $7.96.
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Dr. Tom R. Thomson of Arizona State University has, as a result of same 25 years of teaching chemistry, put together a beautiful book. Although he does not identify it specifically far the secondary student, it is for beginners; they might be in general education college or university COUIWS.
Excellent, well-labelled diagrams and illustrations are most informative as are the esthetically pleasing, numerous, attractive color plates depicting numerous things that any well-educated citizen should have a t least seen. A series of "self-help" questions, a modification of programmed learning are seattered through the 33 chapters that should focus the attention of readers on applicable terms, definitions, and vocabulary. Suggestions for further reading in other texts, journals, and paperbacks could be a real asset to the inquisitive. The editor uses a somewhat historical approach emphasizing the pertinence of individual men and women in creating and developing the fabric that is ehemistry. Teachers who like succinct summaries and who had the "old" qualitative analysis and maybe some chemical engineering will like the follow-up for each chapter as a "Flaw Sheet" effectively tying nebulous concepts into some more apparent interrelationships. Chapters 28, 29, 30, and 31, discuss the deseri~tive chemistry of the families of (Continued & ~ p o g e ~ 4 0 ~ ~
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book reviews non-metals, metals, transition metals, and the metalloids, as well as the noble gas. These chapters also describe numerous plant operations and chemical process industries that are essential to our economy and employ 80-95% of all chemists. Many chemistry teachers have hemoaned the "swing" that left these out and submitted numerous abstractions that are certainly essential to the practicing chemist, but only confuse and confound thme non-mathematically oriented. Only three items this reviewer could find fault with: (1) The Dimensional Analysis idea, the metric, S.I., or I.S.U. systems are in the appendices which, like their own appendix, is a n afterthought or obsolete to most average and under students who are unaware of the utility of such pages. In a similar view in my opinion is the "Glossary" informative but definitely not all inclusive; (2) Very little, maybe it has been overdone, is found in this text on ecology and pollution; (3) "Textbook Errors," [J. CHEM. EDUC., 38, 480 (196111 by .I. Art Campbell points out that in the beautiful illustration many of us have used (as described on p. 194 in the text), the paddle wheel turns not due to the stream of electrons in a cathode ray tube but tu the light; so it really acts like a radiometer. As for the accompanying lab manual, the objectives as stated for this publication are 1) An attempt by experiment to show the early historical development as it leads to a real understanding of the field of chemistry. 21 Experiments to confirm theories, with hope for further explorative and inventive ideas. 3 ) To observe chemically related phenomena. 4) Same emphasis on desirable techniques. 5) Exercises and problems. Clever, humorous and definitely educational cartoons are scattered through the experiments; they are the most unique feature of the manual. Descriptive, well-illustrated procedures are quite adequate and direction should not be difficult tu follow. Experiment 12, Entropy, is not a common one for this level, although it is a clear, well-defined, useful idea. Few manuals include. as this one does in Experiment 14, Spectroscopy; that should be intriguing toall. The teacher's guide is a standard at^ tempt to correlate the lab experiments, the text, and the teacher. It provides a n swers to all questions and problems both in the text and lab manual-a real assist for the beginner or even the old pro. Finally, this is a well written, readable, interesting book, which is highly recammended by this reviewer. Try it: you misht like it too. William G. Kessel Indiana State University Terra Haute, indiana 47809
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Journal ot Chemical Education
Chemical Principles and Properties
MirheN J. Sienho, Cornell University and Kobert A. Plane, Cornell University. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1974. xi + 788 pp. Figs. and tables. 19.5 X 24cm. $13.95. "Outstanding." This adjective applies to the overall quality of this second edition of "Chemical Principles and Properties," a textbook written for first-year college chemistry students. The authors, who have written excellent general chemistry textbooks in the past, have produced a thoroughly revised and well-mitten book. They recognize the fact that our first-year chemistry students are not as sophistieated in training as once anticipated and thus have more gradually developed the more theoretical topics such as atomic structure, chemical banding, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Descriptive chemistry has been reemphasized and new topics added: wave functions, symmetry, molecular vibrations, and chain reactions. The text is divided into three parts: Part I, "Principles of Chemistry," Part 11, "Properties of the Elements and Their Compounds," and Part 111, "Man and His Chemical Environment." Same calculus is introduced but only where needed. There are numerous worked out examples throughout the text and over 800 new excercises are a t the end of the chapters. The problems are arranged in order of increasing difficulty and answers are given for about half of the problems. An instructor's manual is available that includes all of the answers as well as worked-out solutions. Part I1 includes a chapter on hydrogen, oxygen, and water and four chapters on the transition metals. Separate chapters are also included covering Group 111, IV, V, VI, and VII elements. Organic chemistry is covered in some depth, not in breadth, but mainly as an aspect of carbon chemistry. Equilibrium computations and thermodynamic applications are included frequently in Part 11, especially in the problem sets. Of interest to most chemistry instructors, the authors have emphasized the applications of qualitative analysis by including considerable information for detection of the common elements. Part 111 of the text, an entirely new seetion, deals with man and his chemical em vironment. Chapter 28, entitled "Limits to Growth," examines the material and energy demands an the environment, population control, and the prediction of limits to growth. Chapter 27 reviews the effects of drugs and radiation on mankind-both the good and bad effects. Finally, Chapter 26 deals with the problems generated by pollutants and additives in relation to air, water, and food. The authors have largely adopted the system of SI units, as recommended by the International Committee on Weights and Measures. The unit of Torr is eliminated, the joule is used, and atmosphere is retained. The sign of the reduction patential has been used for electrode potentials. An excellent feature of the book is the placement of useful conversion units, definitions of units, and physical quantities on the inside cover of the hook for the easy
use of the student. This text is well-organized and clearly written and will he widely used; it is useful for all students requiring a goad grounding in the elements of chemistry. Besides chemistry majors, this text will serve for medical students, engineers, molecular biologists, and agronomists.
P.Calvin Maybury University 01 South Florida Tampa. Florida 33620
IntroductoryChemislry: A Survey of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
Karl F. Kumli, California State University, Chico. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1914. xviii + 667 pp. Figs. and tables. 18.5 x 24 cm. 512.95. This textbook is divided about equally into the three areas mentioned in the title. The first 11 chapters are in the area of general chemistry, the next 11 in organic and the last 10 are in biochemistry. The chapters conclude with a brief summary of salient points and a moderate number of problems. The book concludes with two appendices, a goad intmduetary mathematical review, and a discussion of inorganic nomenclature. The weakest of the three sections of the hook is the first part dealing with general chemistry. Same of the writing here lacks clarity and sharpness of definition; i.e., molecules are defined as "the small particles of compounds," the phrase "in eleetron volts which is a very small unit of energy" is used, and an indicator is defined as "a substance that will change color a t a certain pH due to its own acidity or basieity." The content of these 11 chapters matches that of most general chemistry texts with the one exception of thermodynamics. The concept of energy is defined an page 1, but the concepts of enthalpy, entropy, and free energy are never discussed. Thus when the ward energy is used in the seberal dozen reaction coordinate diagrams, the student has no indication as to what this energy means. The level of quantitative rigor is rather low. The most difficult computation is the use of the equation PV = n R T The phenomenon of osmosis is discussed but the van't Hoff equation is not given. This level of presentation may be satisfactory for the intended audience of students of nutrition, agriculture, and the paramedical disciplines. The most serious flaw in the book is the poor quality of the figum and of the mathematical and chemistry display material. Equations such as 2H 2em Hze, p. 153, Zn -- Zn' 2ee, p. 163, and [H.Of][OH-] = 1 X p. 194, will leave the student either depressed or canfused. Either errors, omissions, or lack of clarity plague a number of figures such as 2-5, 2-6, 2-11, 3-6, and 6-19, The display material an pages 135 and 474 is an example of poorly done typography. It appears that the directions given to the compositor (Continued on page A441
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