"on-ideal systems is most thorough and mnthemnticnllv eleeant. ..... ~~.~~~~ In chapter(s) that often "make or break" a hook on structure and bonding, King continue. his quest tur precision and mathe. ~natiralr1g1,r.Pn,feswr Schr6dingw is grven hi, iull doc. It isohviouu rhnt those ~ t u d e n u continuing on after this course in the major field with the usual physical chemistry courses will be incredibly well founded. I t is a fact that many of them do not so proceed and they probably would not even need to. Only about two and a half pages are devoted to the periodic table and trends in periodicity in the chapter on bonding. There is, of course, much of periodicity found elsewhere covering such items as size, charge, EN, IE, EA, and certain other quantities. Unusual restraint is exhibited by King in the useof MO theory as part of his bonding chapter. VSEPR is brief but adequate with hybridization included. For those who like a treatment of Carbon Chemistry as part of, or a t the end of a first term, this book will find favor. An example of his incorporation of thermodynamics throughout the text is found in a little used explanation of the high melting points for symmetric non-polar organic molecules in terms of entropy increase. The single hydrogen-nitrogen-ammonia (synthetic) system is used t o introduce much of the chemical reactions and equilibrium before finally entering solution equilibrium and equilibria of acid-base systems. Hydrogen chemistry in all of its ramifications is found in this chapter as part of the equilihrium section (hydrogen bonding, proton affinity, Brbnsted theory, horohydrides including three center honds). The high intensity and level of presentation continues in acid-base equilibria with frequent use of pK-PC, pK-activity diagrams, mass and charge balance and their application t o polyprotic systems. The calculus-based student will he a t a n advantage in the treatment of rates and mechanisms. T-jump and stopped-flow experiments are given mare than a passing show. Electrochemistry is presented in one allinclusive chapter. theoretical and applied. E-pC diagrams a;e used. A variety of equation balancing systems are illustrated, alge(Continued on page A3201 ~~~
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Edward L. King, Painter Hapkins Puhlisher, Sausalito, 1919. v 1101 pp. Figs. and tables. 26 X 20 em.
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I t is tempting (at the risk of receiving but a fraction of the usual honorarium) to simply lift a number of paragraphs from King's preface and use them as the book review. The preface is an honest picture of what to look for in the text. The author is trying t o reach a n obviously very well prepared student clientele. He must assume the same preparation and background for the person on the other side of the lecture table. One is given a feeling for what is to follow from the very first chapter. I t is essentially a "hearcat" of 46 pages. It is always tempting t o try to teach all of the course in the first chapter. There is found, for instance, a very patient treatment, more so than other texts, for the balancing of relatively simple equations. Most, essentially, leave this process to the student's "instinc&" 1 like an early estnhlishment of what is meant hv "a stable sperrri." A term thnr is used far t w luoielv in mo,t texts. Anurher of King's attentimi 18, drtnd is an early attempt to diifcrrnrmte, though not very successfully, between isotopes and nuclides. The problems in the early chapters, and essentially throughout, are more than adequate hut not particularly numerous. If the term "classic" can be used without a negative implication, I would so refer them. Thus, empirical formulas are not approached by using such esoteric molecules as DNA, LSD, and "pot." It is necessary, but unfortunate that so many pages must be devoted t o the ~
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mechanics of the physical conversions for our chemistry students. If the students are as well prepared as they are thought to he by King, he could have abbreviated this treatment. King, himself, has said that "there is no chapter entitled thermodynamics.. .;"however, starting with Chapter 3 there will be found as rigorous a treatment of the first and second laws as I have seen in any intmductory text. This is a chapter on "energy," but it might as well have h&n called "Thermodynamics." In this chapter there is a well-documented and up-to-date treatment of the very important energy process of gasification of coal as well as the traditional energy concepts. Again, thermodynamics crops up in the fifth chapter with a very thorough presentation of the third law. Simply because there is no chapter designatimoertainly does not mean that the subject has been neglected. The second (of six major subdivisions of chapters) is entitled "States of Matter; Solutions." The logic of such a title is perhaps descriptive, hut not consistent in terms of punctuation. In this section, kinetic molecular theory, heat capacity, molecules "in a box3'are treated with, as throughout, all the rigor one could wish, perhaps more than even the Kine's "well-oreoared" student and teacher will need. This reviewer, for illstancc. Itel, that the flril year student ran 4 l l n l V Q without any kn
