book reviews Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Woorter W-ter,
The History of Valence
C. A. Russell. The Humanities Press, Inc., New York, 1971. xii 373 pp. Figs. and tables. 22.5 x 14.5 em. $16.50.
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"Of all the concepts used in modem chemistry, atomism apart, that of valency is one of the most fundamental." Most chemists or historians of science would agree with this evaluation by Colin Russell. Yet, despite studies of various limited aspects of the topic, virtually no full-scale attempt has been made to chronicle the development of the valency concept as a whale. Aside from the perfunctory introductory "historical" chapters found in many of the standard monographs on valency, only a few short and limited books come readily t o mind. The work under review here, based upon a 1962 University of London doctoral dissertation, constitutes the first fully documented study in a broad context of the development and evolution of the theory of valency from its earliest origins to its contemporary status. As such, it is not likely t o be superseded for same time. Russell's four-part hook is well planned and arranged. Although not biographical in approach, much biographical data are provided wherever pertinent. The concept of valency gradually "underwent suceessive modifications and refinements as it became incorporated within the changing fabric of nineteenth-century chemical theory." The volume aptly illustrates the evolutionary nature of the theory and emphasizes the close interrelationship of the various events snddiseoveries involved. In the first and longest part of his book, The Origins of Valency (131 pp.), the author emphasizes the international character of science by tracing the historical background of the theory in the three countries with which it is generally assaciated, England, Germany, and France. In this "pre-history," he considers the two rival theories, the radical theory and the
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type theory, and shows how these two temporary expedients eventually became reconciled in the theory of valency. The assignment of priority for the valency concept constitutes one of the great perennial controversies in the history of chemistry. In a carefully balanced and documented treatment, Russell sets forth the reasons for the uncertainties and difficulties inherent in the problem, reviews the claims of the main contestants-Williamson, Odling, Kolhe, Frankland, Couper, and Kekulk-and assesses their influence on the early growth and acceptance of valency theory. By use of a remarkably logical and effective technique that he uses in dealing with a number of other cases in the book, Russell unravels what is a t first sight a n apparently simple issue and then proceeds to examine minutely eachof the resultant strands. The second, and shortest part of the volume, Early Applications of Valency (30 pp.), considers the relationship of valency t o the classification of the elements, the periodic table, structural theory, and the then new field of stereochemistry. Part Ill, Variations in Valency (86 pp.), deals with the problem of whether or not s given element could possess mare than one valeney. The fourth and last part of the book, Valency and Electricity (63 pp.), describes how Berzelius' dualistic electrochemical theory, although in disrepute between 1850 and 1880, was ultimately reinstated in 1916 by Kossel and Lewis' recognition of two types of valency-electrovalency and covalency. Russell continues his tale of the vicissitudes of the valency theory through the rise of wave mechanics and matrix mechanics, the resonance concept, and the alternative approaches of valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory, and crystal (ligand) field theory. Russell emphasizes that "none of these approaches can claim to be final, or even inherently better than any other." A cautious historian, he is careful, here as throughout the book, to maintain a balanced sense of historical perspective.
Reviewed in this Issue
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C. A. Russell, The History of Valence William W. Porterfield, Concepts of Chemistry Gunner Hogg, General and Inorganic Chemistry A. P. Vinogradou, editor, Analytical Chemistry of the Elements Roland E. Lehr and Alan P. Marchand, Orbital Symmetry, A Problem Solving Approach William G. Douies, Introduction to Chemical Thermodynamics John E. Wertz and James R. Bolton, Electron Spin ReSonance: Elementary Theory and Practieal Applications Ortec Incorporated, Expeiiments in Nuclear Science New Volumes in Continuing Series
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The book deals with not only the expected major luminaries but also with a number of lesser figures. As such, i t is a gold mine of little known curious facts that may serve t o enliven any instructor's lectures. However, in using it as a reference book for this purpose, the instructor should beware of taking items out of context and oversimplifying issues that are often complex and interrelated. The technical aspects of the bwk leave little to be desired. It abounds with numerous detailed tables, figures, charts, diagrams, equations, and formulas (both "old" and "modern"). It is abundantly cross-referenced, and the many references include same as recent as 1971. For a hook of this scope and detail, the number of errors is minimal. Although reading the book is tough going a t times, this is because of complexities inherent in the material rather than because of Russell's style, which is scholarly hut lucid. The volume is unreservedly recommended not only to historians of chemistry but t o all chemists interested in the history of their science. George 8.Kauffman California Slate University
Concepts of Chemistry
William W . Porterfield, Hampden-Sydney College. W. W. Norton & Ca., h e . , New York, 1972. rii + 948 pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 16.5 cm. $12.95. This excellent general chemistry textbook may not get the wide distribution it deserves simply because the author does not come from a widely known institution and has chosen to publish with one of the smaller, less aggressive publishing houses. This is unfortunate, because this is one of the best general chemistry textbooks I have ever run across. While the emphasis is on conceptual understanding, the book is so clearly written that mast students will not have difficulty in following it. By the same token this hook is in no way a substitute for goad teaching; rather it will force the instructor to sharpen up his own thinking an the subject so that he can effectively use all the material that is presented and make it clear to his class. The tone of the book is set in the second chapter, which is entirely devoted to mathematical functions, differentiation, integration and statistics. There are a number of features which I was extremely pleased to see. The nature of the assumptions implicit in describing the electronic structure of many-electron atoms is honestly discussed, and the student is definitely not left with the impression, common in most other textbooks, that the one-electron orbitals drawn for the hydrogen atom are equally valid in uranium or even helium. The chapter on chemical kinetics begins with a discussion of trajee-
(Continued onpageA106) Volume 50. Number 2. February 1973
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book reviews tories across potential surfaces and molec-ular beam scattering. This fundamental material is then skillfully interwoven with the mare traditional subject matter of chemical kinetics. There are three ehspters on thermodynamics. Only in the last of these chapters, after the concept of free energy is introduced and defined, is the subject of equilibrium calculations brought up. This, of course, is the only proper way to handle this material. The last part of the hook is a very good section on descriptive chemistry including a survey of organic chemistry beginning with methane and ending with DNA. Speaking of DNA, this book does resist the currently fashionable trend of bringing up biological applications a t every possible opportunity. I would think that after a two-semester course using this text, students should be quite ready to go on to a physical ehemistry course using, for example, Moore's textbook. I would tend to prefer Porterfield's text even to the phenomenally successful book by Mahan, and most certainly to the often glih superficialities inflicted on freshman chemistry students by some colorful, highly publicized texts. Jeffrey I. Steinfeld MassachusetCi instifute of Technoiogy Cambridge, Mass. 02139
General and Inorganic Chemistry
PhClr with the help of the lucid deseription given of lead compounds, or chromium (II) acetate, or Ag2F. This descriptive section is packed with information which is made more palatable by frequent mention of modern uses of the compounds described, and by interesting uses, e.g., the hottest flame produced by combustion of cyanogen, how to make blueprint paper, or "explosive antimony." The only flaws noted are very minor ones indeed: the role of the kinetic energy of the electrons in bond formation is not mentioned nor is the reason explained why an outer s electron is lost more easily even though i t takes precedence in the order of filline.. (as in transition metals). The verv . simple and useid b'nuling-Slnter ruler arc not n w n t i m c d in a hnli-page d l i r u i o u of the screening of nuclear charge. The occasional reader will value the excellent index. This reviewer has been exasperated by some current texts whose index says "See group IV" when one is looking for titanium. Haggh index lists hoth titanium trichloride and its hexahydrate! There is also an index of chemists' names with dates and country of origin. This book may not suit the American freshman hecause it does not contain the usual number of glih oversimplifications such as ligand field theory, nor is it cancerned with "the environment" (although there is a short chapter on the distribution of the elements). It does succeed, however, in covering a great deal of chemistry in 775 pages, and it is hoth readable and authoritative. Teachers who want their students to know the facts of chemistry will enjoy teaching from this text. They will need a companion prohlem-book however. ~
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Thomas R. P. Gibb, Jr. Tufts UOiverSiiy Medford. Mass.
Gunnor Hogg, University of Uppsala, Sweden. Translated by Howard T. Euans, JT., U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1969. 814 pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 16 cm. $23. The author's preface notes that this is a translation from the fourth (1966) Swedish edition, and acknowledges the excellent translation by Howard T. Evans. The first half is devoted to fundamental theory, including a thirty page very elementary introduction to quantum mechanics followed hy a conventional treatment of the sequence of electrons in atoms and its relation to the periodic table. The rest of this first part of the hook is typical of standard freshman texts, e.g., bonding, structure, various kinds of equilibria, kinetics, electrochemistry, etc.. but there are also two chapters whieh are not standard, one on the solid state which is extremely well handled (as might be expected from the predilections of both author and translator) and a brief chapter on surface chemistry and colloids. Part I1 is good old-fashioned descriptive chemistry, with a modern twist and frequent reference back to the principles of part I. In the latter respect this hook is superior t o many competitors. It is also authoritative and a t a slightly more advanced level than most American freshman texts. For instance, one can make
Analytical Chemistry of the Elements
A. P Vinogradou, editor. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Ann Arbor, London. Available from International Scholarly Book Services, Inc., Box 4347, Portland, Oregon 97208. 150-450 pp. Figs, and tables. 24.5 X 17.5 cm. Each volume $20. This series is being compiled by the Vernadskii Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, USSR Academy of Sciences. The English translations are done by the Israel Program for Scientific Translations in Jerusalem. Each monograph contains a brief survey of general information and extensive examination of the reactions suitable for analytical purposes. These include procedures involving all aspects of the element's chemistry, from analysis of ores to trace impurities in the refined material. Extensive bibliographies, especially citing the Russian literature are valuable. (Continued on page A1 10)
