BOOK
REVIEWS
College Chemistry
H a q H. Sisler, University of Florida, C. A . VanderWerf, Hope College, and Arthuv W . Dauidson, The University of Kansas. Assisted by Richard D. Dresdner, University of Florida. 3rd ed. The Macmillan Company, New York, 915 pp. Figs. and July 1967. x tables. 18.5 X 26 om. $9.95.
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Two previous editions of the highly regarded Sisler, VanderWerf, and Dsvidson general chemistry texts have made their reputation in large measure because of their straightforward, systematic, clearexposition of chemical principles. The 3rd edition, entitled "College Chemistry," maintains the high level of the earlier editions while drawing heavily upon the topics currently regarded as essential to the training of the modem chemist. In the opinion of the reviewer the authors have done an exceptional job of selecting the highly significant, from the mountainous emptians of the "knowledge explosion." To make space for the broad sampling of principles and concepts chosen, a considerable amount of pruning has obviously been necessam. ", iust to keeo the volume within the rather generous proportions of this latest and physically largest edition. Principles and concepts are skillfully interspersed with descriptive chemistry thus avoiding the booby trap of the monotony which results when the properties of the elements are discussed in a block, family after family. The first 9 chapters fo-
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cus principally on states of matter, atomic structure and chemicsl bonding. An attractive feature of chepter 6 is the excellent delineation of the differing approaches of the valence bond and malecular orbital theories to the study of bond formation. The discussion is concise and to the point, with clear contrasts; enough detail hut not so much as to he cumbersome. In chapter 9, only 3 or 4 pages are devoted to quantitative volume and mass relations in chemical equations, an illustration of how mrtterials usually covered adequately in the secondary school program have been p a d down so as to provide needed space. The descriptive chemistry starts essentially with chapters 10 and 11, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. Following these two chapters which serve to illustrate the application of principles just studied, a second group of 8 "principles chapters" is initiated. These include, oxidation-reduction, rates of reaction, thermodynamics (an excellent interpretation of entropy and free energy), then 5 chapters centering about solution chemistry, including quite a comprehensive treatment of acid-base theory. Chapter 20 starts another &chapter Bequence of descriptive chemistry beginning with the halogens and working backwards in the periodic table from group 'ia to 4a, carbon-silicon. The latter chapter pravides m appropriate opportunity for introducing organic chemistry, a treatment which is lengthy (53 pages), but well-conceived. It includes such important topics as ir and nmr spectroscopy, bonding in or-
in this Issue
Hamy H. Sisler, C. A. VanderWerf, and Arthur W . Davidsm, College Chemistry Charles H . DePuy and Kaneth L. Rinehart, Jr., Introduction to Organic Chemistry Robert W . Lenz, Organic Chemistry of Synthetic High Polymers Klaus J. Vetter, Electrochemical Kinetics, Theoretical and Experimental Aspects
Fred Basolo and Ralph 0. Pearson, Mechanisms of Inorganic Reactiom-A Study of Metal Complexes in Solution
E. H. E. Pietsch and the Gmelin Institute, editors, Gmelins Handhuch der Anorganischen Chemie. 8. AuEage, System Nummer 16,Phosphor. Formel-und Schlagwartregister New Volumes in Continuing Series
ganic molecules, conformations of cyclohexane, isomerism, functional groups, etc. For those who feel that biochemistry has a greater than average student appeal, the chapter The Chemistry of Life Processes will he an added feature. Topics include: Proteins, DNA-RNA and the genetic code, nucleotides and cellular energy transfer, hormones and chemotherapy. Once again capitalizing on the ourrent interest in macromolecules is the chapter entitled The Realm of the Giant Molecule, which includes polymerization, stereochemical control, silicones, etc. The group of 4 chaptern dealing with "special topics" closes with an excellent chapter on Non-Aqueous Systems which among other things, effectively brings out acid-base analogies in liquid ammonia and anhydrous sulfuric acid solvent systems. After s. one-chapter interlude on the alkali and alkaline earth metals, comes another outstanding chapter, the transition elements. The careful delineation of crystal field, valence bond and ligand field theories is particularly appealing. Fonr more descriptive chapters fallow, dealing with transition and sub-group elements. Completing the text are chapters on noble gas compounds and finally nuclear chemistry. All in all, this is an impressive list. The preface states, "A background in One calculus . . . is not assumed!, should hasten to add, however, that differentials and integrals are much in evidence in several chapters. These should not uresent a serious orohlem to the surprisingly large number of secondary school students now pursuing an introduction to calculus. At the end of each chapter is a list of suggested readings. Answers to selected problems are found in an appendix. There is a generous selection of good questions and problems. The illustrations are numerous and well executed. While the style of writing is mare orderly and logical than sparkling and glittering, there is throughout, evidence of careful selection m d elimination of the peripheral. This should prove to be a vahiable addition to the excellent texts now available. I t will undoubtedly prove to he a popular text.
DONALD S. ALLEN State University of New York at Albany Introduction to Owonic Chemistry
Charles H. DePuy, University of Colorado, Boulder, and Kenneth L. Rinehart, Jr., University of Illinois, Urbana. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1967. xii 392 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 24. 5 cm. $8.95.
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This introductory text is designed for a one semester college course in organio chemistry a t the sophomore or second semester freshman level. The authors utiliee the unified aliphatic-aromatic approach to explain organic chemical principles. A background in the nature and behavior of organic compounds is presented with a minimum treatment of mechanism. Practical applications of bath
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