BOOK
This book would not be appropriate as a text for our own chemistry majors. I t is, however, competitive with books currently in use by many of the secondary schools of high quality, and competitive with books used by many large sectioas of collegiate level general chemistry classes.
REVIEWS
JR. DWIGHTA. PAYNE, Tulane U n w m i l y New Orleans, Lmisiana Chemistry: A Structural View
D. R . Stranks, University of Adelaide, Australia, el al. Cambridge, st the 475 pp. University Press, 1965. x Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 cm. $9.50.
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If d l sophomore students of chemistry were fluent in all aspects of chemistry covered in "Chemistry: A Structural View," teachers of chemist~ywould be more than pleased. Coverage of the essentials of introductory chemistry is excellent except for the lack of a cohesive introduction to chemical thermodynamics and some subsequent relation of this subject to equilibrium, oxidation-reduction, etc.
to the level bf the novice of more than enough material; (2) straightforward, workable problems and exercises at the chapter endings with answers given at the back of the hook; (3) coverage of banding and structure (and the authors do, indeed, give their chemical view as explained by the book's title) in modern terms and with just enough sophistication to maintain student interest and to provide him with an accurate conceptual baekground; end (4) figures, especially those depicting molecules, electron charge density, and crystal structures, which are all very well done. I n addition, the presentation of stoichiometry is methodical and thorough. The chapters on reaction rates, equilibrium principles, and acid-base treatment (12, 13, and 14) are especially concise. I t is,
indeed, a. treat to find the care these authors have taken in the separation of rate and equilibrium principles, yet making use of them together as is appropriate. Also appreciated is theshort chapter which covers reaction mechanisms (No. 20). I t war well arritnged to follow the introduction of the neoessary basics of rate, stoichiometry, and equilibrium. The examples far this chapter were well chosen. Chspters oovering the periodic table and descriptive chemist~y (21 through 30) are perhaps skimpy. The traditional descriptive material is covered, however, e.g., the oxyacids of the representative nonmetals. Since descriptive aspects are more readily supplemented by other readings and lectures, it is no doubt better to skimp on descriptive material rather than basics. Although Chapter 5 on energy relationships is well done in view of the material it intends to convey, it is inadequate. This chapter, and a subsequent one covering relationships, should hsve been used to introduce thermodynamics. An introductory treatment of chemical thermodynamics can be rtccomplished consistent with the level of other portions of this hook. I n fact, it seems rather ineonsistent to present bonding and structure at this level and omit the fundamentals of macroscopic treatment of the chemical world. A less serious omission. nerhsns. is the
have been presented in the second chapter without any undue lengthening of the chapter.
Reviewed in this Issue I D. R. Stmnks, Chemistry: AStroctural View Cad R. Noller, Textbook of Organic Chemistry R. T. Mowism and R. N . Boyd, Organic Chemistry Irvin E. Liener, Organic m d Biological Chemistry Bianco Tchouhar,Reaction Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry F. Alhert Cotton and Geoffrey Wilkinson, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry George B. Kauffman,Alfred Werner: Founder of Coordination Chemistry A. F. Alahyshev, M . F . Lantratov, and A. G. Moracheuskii, Reference Electrodes for Fused Salts V .I . V e h e y e v , et al., Bond Energies, Ionization Potentials, and Electron Affinities James J . Brophy, Basic Electronics for Scientists Enrico Femi, Molecules, Crystals, and QuantumStatistics Walter Kauzmann, Kinetic Theory of Cases James W . Robinson, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Lewis La~more,Introduction to PhotographiePrineiples George L. C l a ~ keditor, , The Encyclopedia of Chemistry D m l d E. H . Frear, editor, Pesticide Handbook-Entoma, 1966 E. A. Guggenheirn,Applications of Statisticnl Mechanics
New Volumes in Continuing Series
Texlbook of Organic Chemistry
Carl R . Noller, Stanford University, Stanford, California. W. B. Saunders 760 pp. Co., Philadelphia, 1966. vii Figs. and tables. 18.5 X 25.5 em. $10.
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The first, quick examination of the third edition of this text gave a distinct favorable impression, contrasted with previous editions, regerding its format, quality of paper, and ease of reading. The author has retained the fundamental outline of its predecessors with its emphasis on functional group chemistry and the separation of the aliphatic and a m matic series. However, much of the text has been rewritten to accommodate the impact of physical chemical concepts upon organic chemistry. Thermodynamic p r o p erties, thennochemical data, ionization potentials, electronegstivities, and solvent participation are interwoven into the text to give meaning and understanding where most desirable. Three new chapters have been introduced. Chapter 2 deals with chemical bonding, atomic and molecular orhitals, bond energies end distances, and intermolecular forces. Chanter 3 discusses vhemiv~lnwt:vity, cquil~brium,rcnctnon kinetivs, ewrgv changes nnd briefly rcnclion iuechnnisrom Thwe two chnptrri nre primarily for review or introduction to these concepts, which me recalled and amplified as the student progresses. Chapter 31 emphasiaes the characterieatian of organic structures through the molication of modern instrumentation:
frared absorption spectra. is taken up separstely and introduced early for use throughout the text. The extensive reorganization has given better integration and emphasis among related topics. Geometric isomerism is now included with the rtlkenes. The organametdie compounds have been brought together i n s section in the chapter on alkyl halides. The metalloid elements are considered in a section by themselves. The alicyclic compounds have their own chapter with greater depth. Mechanistic discussions, formerly in small print, are now part of the main text. Some descrip tive material, such as sources and commercial preparations, are set aside in finer print. The reorganiaation har also included the deletion of duplicating chemical equations with wide use of cross references; B replitcement of the term "Geneva System" by "International System" for nomenelaVolume 44, Number 3, March 1967
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