book reviews als, (2) water pdllution, (3) air pollution, (4) foods, (5) medicines, (6) beauty aids, (7) cleaning agents, (8) surface coatings and polymers, and (9) photography. Perhaps some of the flavor of this new material can be sensed by listing the contents of two chapters. Chapter 13, Useful Materials From The Earth, Sea and Air, contains both descriptions and structural treatments of: the metals-ion, aluminum, copper and magnesium; the derivatives of silieon-the silicates, glass, ceramics, cement and silicones; and some important compoundssulfuric acid, ammonia, sodium hydroxide, chlorine (sic), hydrogen chloride, and phosphoric acid. In chapter 16, Man-Made Giant Molecules-The Synthetic Polymers, not only are the types
of polymers and their chemistry treated, hut there is also included a n unique description of polymer processing. Briefly illustrated descriptions are given for: extension, rotational molding, blow molding, injection molding, and expansion molding. The authors in their treatment of applied chemistry have collected many fsscinating facts chemists often came across hut do not bather to collect or sort out. A few examples are: the lethal properties of fluomacetic acid found in the gilfbaar plant (p. 407), the role of lanolin in moisturizing skin (p. 547). the past use of toxic p-phenylenediamine to dye eyelashes which resulted in 17 known eases of blindness (p. %I), and the explanation of why salting meat acts to preserve it (p. 507). This type of information is not only interesting, but it also illustrates good and bad uses of chemistry. Often the discussions are brief or superficial, as with the ehem-
istry of birth control pills (p. 532), but the approach is one of variety rather than detail. In the opinion of this reviewer, to cover this h w k in class would require two quarters or semesters. To use it for only one semester would necessitate the omission of considerable portions of the text. Either the instructor might assume that the students already understand basics as covered in the first 11 chapters, and devote most of his class time to the practical ap.plications in the last 14 chapters, or he might chwse to cover the first 11 chapters an general principles and organic ehemistry, and suggest that the students read for themselves the remaining ones. Chemistry majors could certainly benefit from studying the latter chapters in this hook. Much of this applied chemistry is not included in the usual chemistry curriculum, hut it really should be. The laboratory manual with instruetorb guide is available for use with the authors "Chemistry Man And Society." Of the 44 experiments, a dozen or so are of a tvoe not usuallv found in the eeneral chemistry laboratory. These include: preparation of aluminum from aluminum cans, isolation of nicotine from cigarettes, emulsion polymerization of styrene, enzymatic hydrolysis of starch, protein isolation, magnesium in hard water, chemical oxygen demand (COD) of polluted water, preparation of face powder, analysis of face powder, photography, and trace metal (mercury) analysis.
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Kenneth E. Kolb Bradley University Peoria, Illinois 61606
Chemistry: A Basic Approach
B. Richard Siebring and Mary Ellen Schaff, both of University of Wisconsin. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1972. viii 272 pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 16.5 cm. $8.95.
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The objective of the authors was to write a comprehensible textbook of general chemistry for a one-semester or two-quarter terminal course for nonscience majors. They have indeed written a comprehensible textbook; however, the level and contents of the book are probably more suitable for students fulfilling science requirements in their major than for those fulfilling general education requirements. The authors have done a very good job in the organization of their hook. In the first eight chapters they construct the structure of matter starting from the fundamental particles, proceeding to atoms, chemical bonding, ions, molecules, intermolecular forces, and finally ending with gases, liquids, and solids. The last five chapters are devoted to the transformations of matter. The authors classify these transformations as ion exchange, proton exchange, electron exchange, hreaking and forming covalent bonds and finally loss or
(Continued on pageA48) A46 /Journal of Chemical Education
book reviews gain of nucleons. Included are some interesting "relevant" and historical items to make the hasic material more meaningful. In the appendix, exponents, significant figures and nomenclature are discussed. The chapters are short and concise hut well written. They contain about the right amount and depth of material (241 pages of text material) so that the student will obtain the basics hut not be buried. There is very good continuity and progression throughout the book which makes it very readable. The majority of the problems at the end of each chapter allow the student to apply what he has learned. The mathematics is kept to a minimum; however, no answers are listed in the book. There is an aecompanying student worktext available containing more problems. There are a few typographical and information errors. Three of the information errors concern the length of silicon chains (page 108). the unit cell of sodium chloride (page 156), and one of the half-reactions in a dry cell (page 203). As with mast bwks, there are some confusing areas. Using some simple mathematics in areas such as the gas laws prohably would reduce some of the confusion. Also, a few of the illustrations could be imoroved hv usine better color contrast and sparral relatrons. An example of pour illustrations is stating t h n t SF6 is oclnhedrnl and then giving a 1.ewis dot sfrucrure
A48 /Journal of Chemical Education
with all the atoms pictured as though they were in one plane. Overall, the hook is indeed worth considering for a terminal course keeping in mind the ahovelimitations. DouglaSS. Rustad Calitornia State Coiiege, Sanorna Rohnert Park. California 94928
Environmental Chemistry: Air and Water Pollution
H. Stephen Stoker and Spencer L. Seager, Scott, Foreman and Co., Glenview, Ill. 1972. v + 186 pp. Figs. and tables. i5.5 X 23.5 em. $2.95.
Relief has finally arrived for thwe of us who have been teaching non-scientists about the chemistry of the environment by using collections of essays, Scientific American offprints, and Environmental Science and Technology articles as reading material. Stoker and Seager have written a coherent, readable text which is ideal for students with little or no chemistry hackground. The reviewer has had the opportunity to use this text in a course, and his students were unanimous in their praise. The book's 14 chapters are divided into two sections: Under "Air Pollution" are chapters on CO, NO,, Hydrocarbons and Photochemical Oxidants, Sulfur Oxides, Particulates, and Temperature Inversions and the Greenhouse Effect. The "Water
Pollution" half includes chapters about Hg, Ph, Detergents, Insecticides, Oil, and Waste Water Treatment. The students were very grateful that the subheadings in each chapter followed the same Logical formet: the basic chemistry of one pollutant; its sources; its concentration and distribution; its fate in the environment; its effects on plants, humans, and materials; and methods of controlling its emission. Unlike most books in the area, this one starts by discussing units (i.e., "01% versus wt% versus ppm) and the general importance of each pollutant. It then introduces chemical concepts as needed. The chapter on nitrogen oxides, for example, has a section which introduces the idea of kinetic versus thermodynamic control of t h e products of a chemical reaction (as it relates to the production of NO in an internal combustion engine). In similar ways the students are made to think about other kinetic phenomena, equilibrium, free-radical chemistry, photochemistry, and some organic and biochemistry. Students' questions led naturally to active classroom discussions about the nature and relevance of these areas of chemistry. The abundance of graphs and tables enabled the student to develop a real proficiency in translating graphs into predictions about how dependent variables (such as the pollutants emitted by an internalcombustion engine) would change with an independent one (like the air/fuel ratio). The references at the end of each chapter provide an opportunity for further reading, (Continued on pageA5O)
