Chemistry of the carbonyl group: A programmed approach to organic

Chemistry of the carbonyl group: A programmed approach to organic reaction mechanisms (Warren, Stuart). James O. Schreck. J. Chem. Educ. , 1975, 52 (9...
0 downloads 0 Views 1MB Size
book reviews spectra, conductance measurements, magnetic moments, potentiometric titratians, and polarimetry. Under each identification technique is given the theory, sample preparation, and example compounds to be tested for each method. There is even a section on separation techniques sueh as ion-exchange, solid ehromatography and gas chromatography. This section is a bit short, however, several references are given so that more detailed information can be obtained. Pass and Sutcliff have presented more than a book of diverse topics. There is a feeling one obtains upon reading this book that one can handle chemical problems and master any concept or technique. This is the first hook that I have seen that unites synthesis, separation techniques, physical theory, and problems of compound identification in a simple hut complete enough way. The first edition of this text was reviewed in this Journal in 1968 and appears to have remained essentially the same in content and quality. The book is highly recommended for both undergraduate and graduate laboratory with other texts in lecture to complement it. The 225-page volume of material has suffered little from the effects of inflation. A rise in price from $6.50 in 1968 to its present price of $7.95 seems very reasonable. E. J. L w k &hen H. Lehman CoIIsgs the City university of New YOI* Bmnx. New Yo* 10468 Of

Chemistry ol the Carbonyl Group: A Programmed Approach to Organlc Reaction Mechanisms

Stuart Warren, Cambridge University, Cambridge. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1974. 104 pp. 14 X 21.5. (Paperhack) $4.95. This programmed text consists of 106 unnumbered pages. There is a preface, table of contents, a list of useful reference books, a comment on the necessary background material needed to use the program, several paragraphs on how to use the program, the core material in the program, and an index. There are five chapters of programmed material and each chapter consists of a table of contents, concepts assumed, concepts introduced, concepts reinforced, and the programmed frames. Nucleophilic addition consists of 65 frames; nueleophilie substitution, 54 frames: removal of earbonyl oxygen, 47 frames; carbanions and enolization, 47 frames; and building organic molecules, 113 frames. I t is designed for the sophomore organic chemistry student or for anyone reviewing for an exam on their organic chemistry. Published programmed teats in organic chemistry are rare. In addition to this title, there is Rundquist's "Programmed Review of Organic Chemistry" (1965), Traynham's "Organic Nomenclature: A Programmed Introduction (1966), and Bank's "Naming Organic Compounds: A Programmed IntroA434 / Joumal of Chemical Education

duction to Organic Chemistry" (1967). This programmed text on the "Chemistry of the Carbonyl Group" is the least useful of these texts to the student. I t fails for several reasons. There are at least 20 typographical errors. These errors include incomplete structures with omissions of bonds (frame 3, 51, and 60), atoms (frame 39 and 1581, or charges (frames 31, 46, 114, and 122), and incomplete or incorrect equations (e.g., in frame 60 the reactant cyclohexanone should be specified to give the product and in frame 87 the first product is incorrect). Two of the hooks listed as useful for hackground material are not commonly used in the U S . (Norman and Tedder), whereas two of the most commonly used books in the U.S. (Morrison and Boyd and Allinger, e t al.) are not recommended. In general, I felt that the concepts the author chose to include in the program were good. However, for the reasons of incomplete or incorrect structures and equations, the lack of clarity, such as failure to fallow through with the "eudy" arrows, and no references to the literature, especially in section five where larger organic molecules of natural origin are discussed, I feel that this hook will he of little use to the undergraduate student. James 0. Schreck Universityof Northern Colorado Oreeley. C o h d o 80639

Experiments in Physlcal Chemistry. 3rd Edition

Douid P. Shoemaker, Oregon State University, Carl W . Garland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, JeffreyI. Steinfeld, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1974. r 725 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 23.5 em. $12.95.

+

This volume, like a number of similar ones, attempts to provide theoretical background and experimental instruction for physical chemistry laboratory students, undergraduates working on special research projects, and graduate students beginning their research activities. The authors succeed rather well in this attempt uith clear and concise disrussions of theoretical concepts and comprehensive instructions on methods for experimentation. Compared to the previous edition, one-third of the erperiments are either new or extensively revised, another third are slightly revised, and the remaining third are unchanged. Five experiments, some of which can be treated with less sophistication on the general chemistry level, have been deleted. The organization of the book has 50 experiments included in 12 chapters which identify the traditional areas of physical chemistry such as solutions, electrochemistry, phase equilibria, chemical kinetics, and others. Some of the exoeriments reouire oqulpment that might he lnekmg in pre dommarely undergraduate inmtutrons hut the large number and variety of experiments should allow for the volume's use even in these places. There are eight additional chapters that

include information of a reference nature regarding experimental procedures and treatment of data. With the exception of the ehapter on computers, these serve as a valuable source of information for the experimental chemist. In the preface, the authors make note of the importance of the addition of the ehapter on computers. Unfortunately, this chapter adds little to the knowledge of someone who is reasonably familiar with computers and fails to shed light on the subject for the novice. This is because the chapter is short and rich in jargon sueh as "batched-process job," "timesharing mode," and "free-format input." Attempts to explain such terms with short, inserted clauses fall short of being instructive to the beginner and merely reaffirm what the experienced user already knows. The intent of this ehapter is never really made clear. If it is to provide instruction on computer usage, this is better left to other, readily availahle and more comprehensive sources. If it is to provide basic programs for analyzing data, the available supplement mentioned in the preface or an appendix with program listings and brief eaplanations would he sufficient. The revised chapter on treatment of data is very well done. The essentials of mathematical treatment of data are included with examples of both ealculational and graphical procedures. One curious inclusion in this chapter is mention of uncertainties in measurements associated with the uncertainty principle. It cannor be denied that the principle is operatrve in any experimental procedure hut, aa the authors themselves point out, students need not concern themselves with this uncertainty unless they are doing experiments in particle physics, which they are not in most physical chemistry laboratories. The admonition to "keep it in mind" for future erperiments is rather vague. Perhaps it would have been better to include mention of the principle in the context of the experiment on the emission spectrum of hydrogen atoms where a real manifestation of it in the form of line broadening might he more meanrngful. Otherwise, the data rrentment ehapter is quite satisfactory. Compared to other books in the field, the theoretical discussions appear to he somewhat more comprehensive. They are wellwritten and pertinent to the particular experiment. The contention of the authors that the depth of these discussions rivals that of some classroom textbooks is disputable. For some of the discussions this may be true but a strength of the discussions, in general, is that they deal with a summary of information associated with the experiment of interest without exhaustively deriving every detail. For the student with experiences in the physical chemistry classroom, the discussions are a meaningful supplement to other available sources of information. In conclusion, this edition of the hook accomplishes its major objectives and is certainly worthy of the serious consideration that the book has enjoyed in its previous editions. Paul E. Rider University of Norihem lows CedarFalEs,lows 506i3

(Continued on pageA436)