Chemistry Handbook (Summers, Donald B.) - ACS Publications

It requires at least high school level knowledge of general chemistry. With the exception of chapter four, the first ten chapters are a survey of'orea...
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that approach each subject discussed from various directions. The "Study Guide" that accompanies the text consists solely of answers to the orablems. These answers are clearlv stated and anv material

Invitation t o Chemical R e s e a r c h E. E Reid, Franklin Publishing Co., 1970

The author of this book succeeded in communicatine in a rather satisfaction. In this sense, his miting is inspiring. One can sense his t m z > > i ! nr i , lm t-.+~ $ 1 1 The 111-1 irn chaptt r l rl I jrlng t t j SIM h g t l w r . d t IIH,..n; the hi.. ltr\.and lhc very nature of research would be interesting to anyone considering a career in research. Two excellent chapters are entitled "Finding Problems" and "Attacking a Problem." Practical information regarding such matters as publications, technological libraries, and use of the chemical literature is thoroughly discussed. However, the absence of any discussion regarding the kinds of computer-assisted literature searches which can he conducted in modern libraries tends t o date the book. Reid's target audience was somewhat difficult to discern. Apparentlv. his remarks were directed to a number of different cateeories ,. 5 i . I .I U I I ~ ~ C ~ ; ~ _IIt II-~hUwl , , Ituinmwm (~-. tltitt . m .nth\ ~ I I I U ~ I51,411 1 11114., I.w,!~ trl. 1 1 111 I l l l r IMII L w e i d t l r per1 1 1 1 ~111. \',! I ; I W I . I ~ I 11 , I I IkvCI ~ n h ,i , , ~ I ~ I ~ I . . ~ > ~ : ~ I I ~ ? ~rt:vir:ll '~I)IJIE ~ . . 1111111 d l.lt.,:ll l ~ r t . ..,tit nr.(l~uI. 1 7 I..d~,uhtiulrh tlw ztv. r.3:~ h ~ g h.. II.J,,Ir v w I N r WII< n.,nv I L $ ~ Chi- I I I ~ I I, I1 1 1 m i llllllrv d w t u 1 1 il>.mltl ~ (~n.lderih,. . I C I I I I I + tion of this reference work a t o p piiarity. Secondary school students would he likely to think it as a bit verbose and fail t o appreciate what more mature chemists might regard as cogent advice or distilled wisdom. However, the teacher who regularly sponsors students on projects of an original nature might find i t a useful reference if he would be willing to direct them t o appropriate sections of this book.

further study in each chapter. Furthermore, the discussion of hydrogen bonding is confusing and belowthe level of the other discussion of the text. This textbook would have considerable use a t the high school level. I t would he an excellent addition to a high school library. Besides being used as a reference book, the "Mini-Essays" which contain references would he good starting points for student research papers. Because of its clear discussions on major organic ehem~strytopics, the hook would be valuable in a high school teacher's personal lihrary. It could easily he used t o review basic organic chemistry. Biology teachers could use this text as a sourcehook for enrichment lectures. The book could be used for a second-year high school chemistry course in organic chemistry and biochemistry.

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THOMASH. LONGFIELD Marist High School BOX10047 Atlanta, GA 30329

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FRANKS. QUIRING Clayton High School 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton. MO 63105 Introduction t o Organic Chemistry WiiliamH Brown, Willard Grant Press, Boston, MA, 1979, 2nd edition, 434 pp., with an accompanying "Study Guide"

This hook is intended for a one-term college course in organic chemistry and biochemistry, and therefore, is short for a textbook in this field. I t requires a t least high school level knowledge of general chemistry. With the exception of chapter four, the first ten chapters are a survey of'oreanic chemistrv. outlined accord in^ to maior func> : 1 11. 111I . I .r , 7 1 , I ( l'.lt .lnd 1.1 m m . , I I I , 1~1 I~.lor, p l l \ & l . l,r I ~ C I I I C . in, I U ~ I I I ! ~ : ~ t 1 ' 1-~ . chemistry and spectroscopy, typical reactions, common reaction mechanisms, and industrial and biochemical sources and applications. Chapters eleven through fourteen cover the biochemicals, including the experimental background for the determination of structure of these biachemicals, their biological functions, and the significance of their stereochemistry. The use of NMR, IR, and UVspectroscopy for structure illucidation is included. The author additionally includes eleven informative discussions called "Mini-Essays." In these, important chemicals or groups of chemicals, for example, ethylene, insect pheromones, and alkaloids, are considered in regard to chemistry, industrial andlor biochemical importance, and historical perspective. As an aid to the reader, new and important terms are underlined, defined in context and indexed. At the end of each chapter, the author includes largesets of problems

Chemistry Handbook Donald 6.Summers, Willard Grant Press, Boston, MA, 1979, 2nd

edition T h e "Chemistry Handhook" provides many values, units, canversion tables, definitions, symbols and equations. The material is divided into seven sections: general information, atomic relations, bonding, states of matter, solutions, kinetics and equilibria, and thermodynamics. I t provides a good outline of many general topics as well as most of the specific information that would he needed by both students and teachers of a general chemistry course. It has been especially valuable for me when I needed a value with plenty of significant figures, and when I needed extra information for problems on worksheets, quizzes, and tests. Students who are inclined to search for one correct symbol or an absolute value may he surprised t o find that Summers is willing to include more than one possibility and quick to point out the uncertainties of various experimental values. One example is that both Lw and Lr are used to represent lawrencium. Both students and teachers are likely to find hits of information in this handbook that are enjoyable, as well as useful and accurate. Some of my students were particularly interested in the equations which showed haw values for electronegativity and far the degree of ionic character were determined.

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252

Journal of Chemical Education

economical than most chemistry handbooks.

JAMES S. BOCK,JR. Gateway High School MOSS Side Boulevard Monroeville. PA 15146

This featurecovers all instructional aids (e.9..games, models, kits, charts. booklets, brochures, and. of course, the standard audiovisual items). With the laroe volume of mint and A-V materials availnhl~and ~~.~ the limited budgets i f most chem& departments. Ulis exchange oilers a valuable service. If you are interested in assisting in this process, send Your name and address to the feature editor. ~~~

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