Prerequisites for College Chemistry
Russell S . Drago, University of Illinoia, Urhana. Harcourt, Brace, and World, Inc., New York, 1966. viii 149 p. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 23 cm. $2.95.
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As ever more high schools adopt chemistry programs that emphasize the physical chemistry aspects of the subject, a new complication faces the teachers of firsbyear college chemistry. The increasing use of the CHEM atudy, CBA, and approaches of a similar caliber is producing a. variation in the backgrounds of entering college students that requires major consideration in planning any introductory college course. For the alumnus of such high school programs, the early weeks of the typical freahman course can he a deadly bore because he encounters little that is new or challenging. When only a few students in any clam were in this situation, they could he handled on an informal bask by providing them with outside reading, special recitations, and similar adjuncts to the regular program. Now, however, we are faced with beginning chemistry classes of which a large fraction has experienced such superior high school programs. "Prerequisites for College Chemistry" is one attack on this problem of diverse high school backgrounds among entering college students. I t s aim, as I judge it, is to provide both the student and the instructor with some common basis for the chemistry background that is assumed for a student a t the heginning of the college course. The sectiun contents indicate the topics that the author considers to he p~.ubable high school background these days. Seetion 1, Mathematics Review, briefly snrveys problem solving techniques, exponents and significant figores, the metric system, and simple algebra. Section 2 reviews some basic definitions, the concepts of force, energy, and the male, and the methods of calculating percent eompusition and empirical formulas. Section 3 treats simple chemical equations (no oxidation-reduetian) and stoichiometry. Section 4 comprises the kinetic themy of gases and the gas laws. Section 5 deals with atomic structure to the extent of the Bohr atom (qualitative), the Aufhau concept, and descriptions of s and p orbitals. Section 6 describes the concepts of ionic and covalent bonding. Section 7 lists the rules far oxidation state determination and some simple nomenclature. The appendix contains conversion factors, geometry form!~las, logarithms, and hasic instrr~ctiouon the slide rule. A glossmy of ehernicd terms precedes an adequate index. No descriptive chemistry is included. The coverage of each topic is defiuitely that of a review, heing too condensed to serve as an introducto~y presentatiou. Nevertheless, the expusitinn is well ordered and lucid. Where appropriate, sample problem solr~tionsare presented. A feature of each section is a small gl.oup of self-testing exercises presented in the pmgrammed instruction format. The test questions are well chosen and ilseful, although they are too few in number to a* complish mueh programmed instruction as
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such. The author has choseti his "Prerequisites" carefully, heing neither too conservative nor too all-inclusive. Few teachers would disagree that the topics covered in this booklet constitute the minimum chemistry background that we would like to he able to assume for our entering students, and I feel that one could reasonably insist upon such a background as prerequisite for an introductory course. The use of such a review-summary as this haoklet may be a more humane method far establishing a minimum background than the usual olaaement test. in t h a t i t is less
I n general the text is lucidly written; the exercises a t the conelusion of the c h a p ters have been chosen to illustrate and emphasize the importaot principles of the chapter, and a selected bibliography of more advanced texts and review xrtides is provided a t the end of each chapter to aid the student who desires to study a partieular topic in greater depth. Five chaptern are devoted to the exposition of quantum mechanics aecol.ding to the Schrddinger method; problems surh as the particle in a box, the penet,ratiau of potential harriers, the harmonic oscill&x and the hydrogen-like atom are adequately treated. Approximate methods for aolving the Schriidinger equation are introopportunity to make up his deficiencies duced; in particular the variatiou technique is ampliiied through t,he applicstion early in the course and not he relegated to of the Hiickel approximation to oonjugated another course that is below his true intelsystems. lectual level. The organiaatiorx and proTwo chapters are devoted to spectmsgression of topics in this booklet are logical and useful; ttn instructor can choose to use copy. Atomic spectra are interpreted using the vector model of the multi-electron any or d l of the sections as prereqnisite stom. This treatmeut should he espematerial without mueh difficulty. cially valuable to the student since the exThe format and typogmphy are clear planations of RussellSaunden mnpliig, and attractive. The only error I found is j-j coupling, and the meaning of atomic a. misp1,inted electronic charge on page 61. spectroscopic term symbols m e concisely All in all, a very commendable and worthand clearly written. The discussion of while job. I like it. molecular spectra includes ml introduction LAWRENCE E. CONROY to the theory of infrared, microwave, University of Minnesota Ilaman, and unalear magnetic resonance Minneapolis spectroscopy. A weakness is that the selection rules for allowed transitions xre simply stated rather thsa netnally justified. Advanced Concepts in Physical Four chapters deal with statistical meChemistry chanics. Beginning with simple atntistical considerations, the Bultamarrn distribuErnest D. Kaujman, St. Mary's College, tion equation is deduced. The equation is McGraw-Hill Book Co., Ine., New employed to cdcleulrtte the molecular partiYark, 1966. xii 271 pp. Figs. and tion functions that are associated with the tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $9.95. various degrees of freedom p o s s e s d by a molecule. The cunnect,ions between staPhysical chemistry has emerged as s tistical mechanics and classical thermojunior-level course within the chemistry dvnamies are iutrodueed and the results eurriculom; consequently, the undergrad-" are applied to simple chemical systems. uate chemistry major has the appurtunity Two chapters specifically deal with the to elect a third semester or possibly a secMaxwell distrihutiuu equation as it applies ond year of physical chemistry a t many to gas behavior. Collision theory, meauinstitutions. "Advanced Concepts in free path and tmnsport properties are disPhvsical Chemiutrv" can he readilv cussed. The final chapter is devoted to a semi-quantitative introduction to ahsolnte rate theory. Pn,fessm a ~ d m a nhas wt.itlen a text - .. ~ ~~.K ~ tical mechanics and thermodynamics, and that can he profitably used to i n t r o d u c e theoretical chemical kinetics including gas and I emphasize introduce--the chemistry phase transport properties. The most student quantitatively to the modem nssalient features of this text are that it is pects of some of the many facets of physiwritten to give each and every chemistry cal chemistry. Nut only will it be adopted strident-not specifically the physical far the advanced rodergmdnate physical chemistry major--a sound introduction to chemistry course hut also for many first the more modern aspects of physical ebemyear graduate physical chemistry ceutmes. istry and the spectrum of subjects treated. I n the Preface Professor Kaufmm presnmes that the background of the titudent includes three semesters of physics, mitthematics through ddierential equations, and one year of physical chemistry. He assumes the reader has a firm grasp of eancepts such as angular mornenttmn, the Kinetics of Inorganic Reactions method of Froberrius for solving differA. G. Sykes, University of Leed~,Engential equations, and the relationships that land. PergamunPress, Inc., New York, exist between different a,ordinste systems. 1966. viii 310 pp. Figs. aud tables. I strongly doubt whether these topics form 13 X 19.5 em. Paperboulid. 54.95. part of the repertoire of the average undergraduate chemistry major. ConseIt is not difficult in reading this huuk to quently, tin instructor who selects this text spot three types of chapters: those in which should he prepared to provide supplementary material in certain areas. (Continued on page d5.2)
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