book reviews Unlverslty Chemlslry. mlrd Edltlon
Bruce H. Mahan, University of California, Berkeley, California. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, Massachusetts, 1975. xv + 894 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 24.2 cm. $14.95. Several hundred pages of the Third Edition of this excellent text are identical with those found in the fvst two editions, and thus the- first two reviews [Tobias, R. S., J. CHEM. EDUC., 42.345 (1965)], and [Kenney, M. E., J. CHEM. EDUC., 46, A214 (1969)l must he regarded as an integral part of this updating. Six years have elapsed since the last edition, and Professor Mahan obviously feels that little change in the basic format of the tent is necessary (After all, why tinker with a winner?). While one may take issue with Mahan's position (Freshmen should now be learning of the operation of chemical systems, shouldn't they?), helshe will have t o admit that the changes made are skillfully done and do imorove the overall text. In a very ens) and clever mnnner, the author has worked into his earlier mawrtal new section.; denling w ~ elcrtrorhcm~cal h applications, units of equilibrium constants, the experimental determination of AE, nodal structure of molecular orbitals, ligand field thenrv. ~ and , .tetrahedral ~ ~ cmtal field solittine. Further. all sectiuw denling with p - I' rwrk have been rcwmtwn to rrtlrrr rhe mcrearingly cummon definiti~rnof the pusitive term in terms of work done on the system by an external pressure. The author has intentionally refrained from converting entirely to SI units, although he mentions their coming use and attempts to prepare the student for later courses by frequently (in the thermncbemieal chapters) presenting energy values in bath SI and cgs units. Included in the Appendix, however, is a masterful discussion of the concept of units and the relation between the several common systems. Unfortunately, the entropy unit (eu) is defined in terms of calories per degree, and this apparently restrictive definition will surely cause unnecessary confusion. Had this definition been made more general, and both SI and egs units heen used for comparison in the tabular displays of thermochemical properties, this would have been a very satisfying approach indeed. With an obvious need to address environ~
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mental and energy applications of chemistry, Professor Mahan uses the concept of thermodynamic efficiency in discussing fuel cells, but the teat structure established in the earlier editions precluded reference to a nrevinus definition and some backmound mformation 'l'nnt d~finitimand harkground ra lucidly presented in a new diavwsion of heat engines found inn later chapter, hut im required earlier use represents (to this reviewer) the only awkward aspect introduced into this new revision. As the reviewer of the First Edition suggested, the author is obviously happier in dealing with principles rather than descriptive chemistry, but Professor Mahan recognized the need for an enhancement of the descriptive aspects and applications of chemistry and has included significant revisions in appropriate chapters. Classes of new descriptive material are: (1)biochemical applications (e.g., chemistry of Na and K in body fluids, new section on enzyme catalysis), (2) inclusions of (now) obvious earlier omissions (e.g., chemistry of silicate minerals, ammonia, and alumina), (3) industrial applications (e.g., Solvay process, fuels, synthetic polymers), (4) environmental applications (e.g., atmospheric chemistry of oaygen and nitrogen oxides), and (5) qualifieation of previous edition statements, updating of descriptive material, etc. Also of note are two rather complete sections on transition metal csrbonyls and organometallic chemistry. In summary, this Third Edition represents a minor (though useful) change over the Second Edition, and it may therefore be expected to continue to provide an exciting challenge to highly motivated beginning science students (and more advanced students seeking an elegant review).
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Richard W . ZuehLe university of Bridgeport Eridporr. Connecticut 06602
Chemistry: The Sclence and the Scene
Ronald D. Clark and Robert L. S. Amoi, New Mexico Highlands University. Hamilton Publishing Co., California, 1975.355 ix pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 19 cm. $10.95. In the past decade there has heen a spate of chemistry textbooks intended for the
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nonnscienee student. "Chemistry, the Science and the Scene" is such a book. The works in this category run the gamut from those which would he easy for a mediocre high school student to some which would present difficulties to the average college chemistry major. This book probably falls about half way between these extremes. The authors state that "The course should be sufficiently well-founded in chemical principles so that the student would be able to get s feeling for the science of chemistry. . .and should have an introduction t o [the technology of chemistry]."The hook appears to meet these requirements quite ably. The use of green ink throughout the text was disconcerting a t first. It was observed, however, thar under an incnndescent lamp it is almost impossible to dtmngumh hemren green and black ink. The latter r d u r ii; wed where a word or phrase is to be emphasized. At the beginning of each of the 20 chapters as well as the prolog and epilog there appears a full-page illustration (also in green ink) which might be an indistinct photomicrograph of some farm of matter. None of these is labelled, hence adds little t o the value of the book. There are, however, many excellent illustrations. Had these been numbered and referred to in the text i t would have heiehtenrd the reader's interest. Urrasimally the illuitrationr art. not tu,, helpful. I t is hard r t r see the connection between the one-man rocket prupul-ion device on page 223 and biochemistry, while the'.reyrrerentati\,e rolIectimdelements" !"ace :lo, i. tn blackand white and none of the elements is reeagnizable. Reproductions of National Bureau of Standards metric equivalent charts on page 21 are of poor quality. The development seems to follow a logical order, going from fundamentals through a study of atomic structure, nuclear chemistry, periodic relationships (an interesting presentation of the various attempts t o classify the elements is eivenl. redox. ~. . eomoounds. , a< id-lure r ~ u d i rorgnni~. , and I,~whami*~ry a rnaprrr on d r u g , la,tr*.hdd c h ~ m , * t nxnd . then n eonsidemrrcm ot the ehmmiitr) of the atmosphere and of water supplies. The book ends with a look a t chemistry in the energy crisis and in space exploration. Each chapter is followed by 12 to 15 questions and three or four problems. Answers to questions and problems are not furnished. In a few places the wording is a trifle awkward. For example, a simple statement of the Law of Conservation of Energy on page 15 might be preferable to the statement, "A law of conservation similar to that for matter exists far the energy components in matter (Continued on page A3061
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Volume 53,Number 6,June 1976 / A305
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.
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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 po~nt5anddo 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 ~
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