B a s k C o n c e p t s of Chemlstry, Computerized verslon, S e c o n d editlon Leo J. Malone. Wiley: New York. NY. 1985. xviii 603 pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 24 cm.
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Basic Concepts of Chemistry contains 15 chapters (435 pp) of general ehemistry topics, one chapter (32 pp) of organic chemistry, six appendices (70 pp), a glossary, answers to the problems, and a n index. The first edition of Basic Concepts of Chemistry was reviewed in this Journal, June 1982,59(6), 536535 by John A. Varine and James T. Martino. Both reviewers agreed that Basic Concepts of Chemistry was well written, appropriate for the target group (college students who have little knowledge of chemistry) and could be used as a supplementary text for high school chemistry classes. These statements apply to the second edition. The author states in the preface that his book is designed to prepare students t o "pursue a main sequence chemistry course". Far his stated purpose Malone has written an excellent chemistry textbook. Its secondary purpose is t o be used for the "general chemistry portion of a course for the allied health professions or for a one-time course in chemistry". Since the book contains only one chapter of organic chemistry, the adoption of this book for a traditional health science ehemistry course will require an additional text or supplementary materials to deal with oreanic chemistrv and bioehemisliberal education ehemistry courses. The glossary will prove to be a very vsluable self study tool. The appendixes provide a review of basic mathematics, basic algebra, scientific notation, problem solving by the unit factor method, logarithms, and graphs. Each appendix is written so that it can be used as an independent teaching unit. In addition the basic mathematics, the basic algebra, and the scientific notation sections have pretests, which will enable an instructor to evaluate a class prior t o beginning study of these topics. An Apple II+/IIe disc entitled "The Chemistrv Tutor-Balancine Eouations
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Each segment is programmed to assist the student who has difficulty with a given problem. A knowledge of significant figures would be helpful for the Simple Stoichiometry and Limiting Reagents segments. Since balancing equations is a difficult concept for most beginning chemistry students, the "Chemistry Tutor" disc will be of cansiderable value. New additions t o the second edition include chapter objectives, chapter summaries which frequently include tables, diagrams, flow charts, and three comprehensive review tests covering a number of related chapters. Many more questions and nrohlems have been added. and the classifiraticm 131 lprohlems lr) type alfordi the in~ t r u c t the ~ r c'nwnrence 01 dsigning addit~onalprvhlrms r o itudentr \rho are hnvmg trouble with a particular concept. Answers are provided for the majority of the questions and problems. Finally, the second edition enjoys the benefit of extensive rewriting and topic reorganization. In summary Malone has written an excellent book t o prepare college students for the main sequence ehemistry course. It is well written and contains many excellent examples. As stated in Martino's review: "For the first time in over 40 years, significant digits have been made intelligible". Finally, this book would be an excellent addition to high school libraries as a reference book. Richard E. Beitzel
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Bemidji State University Bemidii. MN 56601
Chemlstry a n d Chemlcal Reactlvlty John C. Kotz and Keith F. PurceN. CBS Cbllege Publishing: New York. NY, 1987. xx 1134 pp. Figs. and tables. 25.1 X 26.3 cm.
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The authors are t o be congratulated far having written a fine, "reader-friendly" textbook for beginning chemistry students. The colored illustrations are truly magnificent. The authors state in the preface that "one of the objectives of this book is t o provide the tools needed t o function as achemically literate citizen". I think they have indeed accomplished their objective. Any student knowle@eeable of the content of this book will surely have the necessary chemical literacy to cope with the role of chemistry and the quality of life in our industrialized world.
The book is divided into five Darts. The first four parts (744 pp) cover the now traditional topics of atoms and molecules, stoiehiometry, gas laws, bonding through molecular orbital theory, states of matter, equilibria, acid-base reactions, redox reactions, kinetics including rate laws and mechanisms of reactions, and thermodynamics through AG = AH - TAS. The fifth part (216 pp) discusses the ehemistry of "all" the elements and their compounds, organic chemistry, polymers including natural macromolecules, coordination chemistry, and nuclear ehemistry. There are many example problems and questions posed and answered throughout the book. Each of the problems is followed immediately by a corresponding exercise for the students to work. Answers are given in the appendix. Also, a t the end of each chapter there are many study questions for students, and answers to some of the questions are given in the appendix. Dispersed throughout the book are many one or two-page special sections (on tan colored paper) on interesting topics such as the essential elements, chemistrv' of interstellar soace.. and metals and srn>icunducrors.Finnlly, the 8'2 pages o l a p pvtdir 1rat.e no stone unturned and cuntain all of the usual necessary information. The content of the first four parts of the book need no comment, because the material here is that currently found in textbooks on beginning chemistry. However, I should repeat that the book is well written with interesting examples used in the text and in the problems and questions. For instance, one of the problems has t o do with the calculation of the pounds of Teflon required to coat a pan of given dimensions. Near the problem is a colored picture of some Teflon coated pans t o remind students that they are familiar with such pans and that this is but one of many things that chemistry does dailyfor mankind. The fifth part of the book is different from most such current teatbooks. Here the authors approach, with some success, the almost impossible task of discussing the reaction and synthesis chemistry of "all" the elements and some of their compounds. The elements are divided into chanters on main erouo metals and metallhd, p t r i d c groups IA-IVA,, n
