book reviews
course as an introduction t o chemistry rather than aa a, terminus and, (3) a minimal emphasis upon hia-chemistry and nuclezr chemistry which the reviewer has found to he of the greatest interest to the projected students. Only to this degree is the text deficient.
Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Woorter
Wwtcr, Ohio
Chemistry:
An Introduction
Otto E. Nitz, Stout State University. Willard Grant Press, Boston, 1971. viii 630 pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 19.5 cm. $10.75.
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Student Self-Study Guide to Accompany Chemistry: An Introduction
Elizubelh P . Rogers, University of Illinois. Willsrd Grant Press, Boston, 1971. 203 pp. 23 X 19 cm. $2.95. Information for Instructors Using Chemistry. An Introduction
Otto W . Nitr, Stout State University. Willard Grant Press, Boston, 1971. 128 pp. 22.7 X 16.1 cm. No charge. This is still another text intended for the student partaking in a, terminal course of chemistry; i t is said by the author t o provide a sound elementary course in college chemistry. The chapter headings and contents are on the whole traditional. Chapters 1-7 include measurements, atoms, elements, compounds, stoichiometry, and the states of matter; Chapters 8-14 treat oxygen, hydrogen, water, colloids, equilibrium and solutions; Chapters 15 and 16 treat electrochemistry and redax reactions; Chapters 17-19 treat nuclear chemistry and metal technology; Chapters 20-28 cover the elementd groups; Chap-
rReviewed
JOHN C. MACDONALD Fai~fieldUnivergity Fairfield, Connedicut 06450
ters 29-33 discuss organic and biochemistry. The concluding Chzpter 34, Common Dangerous Materials, is innovative and deserves special praise; the chapter outlines the hazards associated with such chemicals as solvents, metals, insecticides and the projected audience will find this chapter most interesting. Each chapter is followed by (1) a listing of the important definitions contained in the chapter, (2) a collection of short wellselected reference articles (usually from THIS JOURNAL or SeienLifie Amwiean), and (3) exercises and problems. More importantly, the text alsa contains many diagrams and flow charts for commercial processes which will he of value to hoth student and instructor. A student guide and an instructor's manual are alsa svailable and will he of value t o some. The text and figures are attractively set in tones of blue and black with liberal margins and sufficiently frequent chapter sub-headings; no misprints were detected. The text indeed attains the intents of the author and can be recommended t o those instructors who agree with the author's view of the terminal course in chemistry. This reviewer does not have the traditional view of the terminal course and finds this as well aa similar texts deficient in mainly three aspects: (1) a minimal emphasis on the importance of energy in chemistry, (2) an emphasis upon the
Chemisehen Bindung Bmold Weissbergerand B~yantW . Rossiter, editors, Techniques of Chemistrv. Vol. 1. Phvsical Methods of Chemistrv. Part 1A: Components of Scient,ifieInst,ruments Arnold Weissbergerand B~yantW .Rossiter, editors, Techniques of Chemistry. Part 1B: Automatic Recording and Control, Computers in Chemical Research
Russell S. Drago and Theodme L. B~own, hoth of University of Illinois. Allyn and Bacon, Inc., Boston, 1970. Figs. 196 pp. 28 X 21 and tables. viii em. 53.95.
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This volume presents a, collection of basic experiments needed for a course in general chemistry. The variety of experiments will enable an instructor to make a selection to meet the needs of his course. As indicated in the title, the experiments so cnntained are quite basic for almost any general chemistry laboratory program. Some instructors may wish that a qualitative analysis scheme had been included inasmuch as many courses in general chemistry now include this aspect of chemistry. The clarity of directions make it a good hhoratory msnual far the first year course. OPEYn. JEANES Natural Sciences and Mathematics John Tyler Community College Chester, Virginia 8'851 Chemical Equilibrium:
. . A311 . . .A311
An Introduction
J . S. Coe, King's College, London. Methuen Educational Ltd., London, 1971. 64 pp. Figs. and tables. 1 6 3 X 20.5 em. Softbound, 80 p (-52.00). School edition, 50 p (-51.25).
1
in this Issue
Otto Nitr, Chemistry: An Introduction Elizabeth P. Rogers, Student Self-Study Guide t o Accompany Chemistrv: AnIntroduction Otto Nitz, ~dformationfor Instructors Using Chemistry: An Introdxtion Russell S. Drago and Theodore L. Brown, Core Experiments in General Chemistry J . S. Cop, Chemical Equilibrium: An Introduction Kenneth Denbigh, The Principles of Chemical Equilibrium. With Applications in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Robe~tB. Bates and John P . Schaefer. , , Research Technioues in Organic Chemistry Ra~mondChang, Bssic Principles of Spectroscopy E. T . Kaiser and F . J . Kezdy, editors, Progress in Bioorganic Chemistry. Vol. 1 J . Jandm and C. Laj~enz,Ionizing Solvents Ch. Sehlier, editor, Molecular Beams and Reaction Kinetics F. DonaldBioss, Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry: An Int,rodnct,ion
Core Experiments in General Chemistry
The author directs this book to "the student who is beginning his sixth-form (high school chemistry) work.. ." He reminds the student of evervdav ideas of
aqueous systems with a few passing examples of gas-phase reactions. The text, trestsboth homogeneousand heterogeneous equilibria, introducing concepts of acidity, complex formation, oxidation-reduction, solubility, and partition. There is a brief treatment of plI and potential measurement. No problems are provided and very few calculation examples are given. About 15 numerical values of constants appear in the lone table. The hook is one of Methuen's "Studies in Science" series. I t is difficult in such a short book t o balance eiarity, rigor, and level of comprehension. In the preface the nuthor expresses his desire to be non-authoritarian and apologizes for ignoring topics such as activity coefficients. Nonetheless, it seems t o this reviewer that. a more authoritarian choice of fewer topics (e.g., those related t o homogeneous equilibria) would have benefited the beginning student. The (Continued on page AS18) rme
49, Number 5, May 1972
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