DECEMBER, 1951
oollege education feels that these students do need texts more clearly written but not less meaty. To this end "Basic Organic J. R a e Scbwenck and Raymond M. Martin, Sacramento Junior Chemistry" can be justified. Yet many students in all types College, Sacramento, California. The Blakiston Co., Philadel- of universities and colleges, as the preface states, are frustrated phia, 1951. ix 323 pp. 44 figs. 14 tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. by the newness of the field and their inability to correlate princi$4.50. ples of general and organic chemistry; above all they are disconcerted by the "Babel-like confusion of language arising from A NEW book in elementary organic chemistry must certainly the indiscriminate use of different systems of nomenclature." be justified in this day. For the teacher can select almost any "Basic Organic Chemistry" is mitten for a one-semeeter course; typc of text from the large number presently available, and most ". . . it is not a 'baileddown' edition of a text prepared for chem. likely he will find one that neatly fits hia idea of how the subject istry majors." In fact it caters to the periphery fields of home matter should be presented. When an instructor believes that economics, engineering, medicine, etc. Practically all hsndthis is not the case, or if he feels he is in a unique situation, he b w k data are omitted. Each chapter has its "Chapter proinevitably becomes an author. Although Sehwenck and Martin logue," major discussion, and then where applicable a "Reaction do not offer a new organization-their order of topics is conven- summary," a chart covering about half a page. tianal-they do write with the junior college student in mind. Six types of formulas are given in the first chapter on carbon. This reviewer with many gears of experience in the field of junior This is followed by chapters on alkanes, alkenes and slkynes, BASIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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.', haloslkanes, alcohols, etc. In the eleventh chapter, the carhohydrates, a very useful feature is noted, every mono- and disaccharide has both the straight-chain and ring formula. side by side. Now the authors feel the student is ready for nomenclature, which is the title of chapter twelve. Aromatic chemistry is covered in the next four chapters. The hook concludes with: "Heteroc,yclie oompaunds," "Industrial developments in organic ehemisbry," "Biological developments in organic chemist,ry," and "Organic reactions in vital processes.'' What is in chmte1.. realitv,, a twmtv-first " ~, for it f0hw6 the format of mevious ones but is included in the appendix, is "Warfare developments in organic chemistry." The index completes the hook. 0 0 are used in the I t is of interest to note that S) and N) Nn Qn n first part of the book, hut in aromatic compounds s/*- and n I n " x
