BOOK REVIEWS acetanilide-water system since wat,er is generally not a. good solvent for organic compounds and acet,anilide frequently melts and perplexes the st,udent who has not added sufficient water. I n the dehydration of cyolohexanol to eyclohexene, the use of a column and chaser would give a narrower boiling diitillste. Finally, electrophilic substitution in benzene is more safely illustrated by a. nitration or Friedel-Craft,s react,ion than t,he bromination with 40 grams of elementary bromine in the hands of a novice with a limited hackground in organic chemistry taking a short course. I n general, the experiments are competently ohosen and presented to pravide a conscientious student with an elementary understanding of the rationale and met,hods of organic chemical experimentation.
can concurrently fill the needs of 8. science major and challenge the non-science major has been the author's guiding premise for this text." The reviewer agrees. The author then continues, "With supplementary readings, it may be used for The reviewer finds the honors coumes!' last statement to he an exaggeration. The basic problem in this text appears to be one of balance, for there is little well chosen or well used msterial which would slant it toward a science major. For example, the decomposition of nitric oxide is used as an example to show that although a reaction may be thermodynsmically favored, for kinetic reasons it does not occur. Fallowing thii, one would expect t,o see an extensive discussion of chemical kinetics, however, this does not mnterialize. The onlv discussions of k i n d c s
irrelevant two page appendix. A potential science major is certain J:ICOBG. SEAREFKIN also to he confused by parts of the section on chemical bonding. The valence band Brooklyn College approach is used exclusively, dthough the Cily University of New York molecular orbital approach is mentioned Rmoklyn frequently enough to make one wonder just what it is. Again, molecular orbital Chemistry theory is treated in a. two page appendix! Although no serious errors were found in Theodore P. Perms, George Washington the section on bonding,astudent is likely to University, Washington, D.C. Amermeet with diffioulty in trying to read and ican Book Co.. New York. 1967. x comprehend the section on hybrid orbitals. 676 pp. Figs.' and tahles: 16.5 X 24 Gross errors were iound, however, in cm. $8.95. other sections of the text. For instance, The author's prefatory remark begins, the definition of the freesing point on page "That a course in introductory chemistry 290 is really an exact definition of t,he
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triple point. T h e dicursions of thermodynamics are plagued by a mare or less random appearance of nuperscript zeros (the standard state notation), when, in fact, t,here are specific rules governing the use of t h k notat,ian. While the textual arrangement is really a matter of personal choice, it does introduce one prohlem in this case. The technique and uses of tit,rations are discussed in Chapter 16, while the properties of solutions are found in Chapter 17, and ionic equilibrium is dihcussed in Chapter 18. Consequently, no explanation of how or why a t,itratian works is given, and the author never returns to the concept again (except briefly at the end of Chapter 20, t,he redax chapter). This arrangement hardly seems justifiable when the text is designed to serve the needs of soience majors. The author makes irequent and enlightening use of historical data and anecdotes. While this reviewer is generally unqualified to pass judgement on the accuracy of these topics, he confesses surprise s t seeing /he valence hand theory attributed to Linus Pnuling! The text is not without its high points, however. Electron clouds around atoms are described as verypliahle systems which oan be perturbed by other atoms, ions, or charged particles. This description is alluded to many times in the text, and shonld provide student; with some genuine insight into the effects of polariaability on (.he nature of the chemical bond.
(Continued on page AlOliO)
BOOK REVIEWS Another positive feature is t,he ditributian of molecular speeds as a function of temperature which ir used very skillfully to illustrate the effect of temperature on reaction rates. Chapter 19, The Periodic Table, takes the reader on a rapid tour through the periodic table prior to a detailed study of selected sections of it,. Akhough the chapter is somewhat uneven in quality, it is nevertheless qnite clear and serves a very u~efulpurpose. In spite of these severd good points, the assets of the test are ootltweighedby its liabilities, and this reviewer cannot escape the conelwion that this is another freshman chernist1.y text whose effectiveness has been diluted by the awkward and ineffective inclusion of several "advanoed topics." RICHARD W. ZUEHLKE Lawrence Uniuel-siLy Appletn, Wisconsin
New Volumes in Continuing Seria The following t i t h are those of volvmm in edinuing swim. Many of t h e aeries are familiar to rendera, who are beat sewed by prompt annmcmmnt of the appearawe of the nmo titles. The policy of T H I S JOURNAL will be to pvblish full rev& a l y of inouwral volums in new aeries.
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lournal of Chemical Education
Electrochemistry of Molten and Solid Electrolvles. Volume 4. Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Electrode Proceses
Edited by A . N. Baraboshkin and S. F. Pal'puev, Sverdlovsk, USSR. Translated by Halina Wroblowa, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Consultants Bureau, New York. 196i. viii 165 pp. Figs. and tables. 21 X 27.5 cm. Paperbound. $19.30.
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Techniques in Protein Biosynthesis. Volume 1
Edited by P . AT. Campbell, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, and J. R. Sargenl, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Academic Press, Ine., New 336 pp. Figs. York, 1967. xii and tables. 16 X 23.3 cm. $15.
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Cont7Wutors: M. S. Bretscher; P. N. Campbell; A. von der Decken; 0. W. Jones; K. S. Kirby; J. R. Sargent. Magnetism. and Metals
Handbook of the Engineering Sciences. Volume 1, The Basic Sciences
Edited by James H. Potter. D . Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, N. J., 1967. xv 1347 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $37.50.
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Regulation of Nueleie Acid and Protein Bioryntheris
Edited by V . V. Koningsberger, University of Utreeht, and L. Bosch, University of Leiden. The Netherlands. American Elsevier Publishing Ca., Ine., New York, 1967. B.B.A. Library, Volume 10. Proceedings of an International Symposium on "Regulatory Mechanisms in Nucleic Acid and Protein Biosynthesis," held rtt Lunteren, The Netherlands, June &lo, 1966. 412 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 2.5 em. $23.50.
Volume 28, Interactions
Edited by George T. Rado, U S . Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C., and Harry Suhl, University of California a t 8sn Diego. La. Jalla. Academic Press. Inc.. New York. 1966. xi" 428 pp. Pigs.'and tables. ' 16 X 23.5cm. $16.
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Contributors: Anthony Arrott; Conyers Herring; M. A. Jensen; T. Kasuya; H. Sllhl.
Residue Reviews.
Volume 17
Edited by Francis A. Gunther, UniCalifornia, Riverside. versity of Springer-Yerleg New York, Ine., New 184 pp. Figs. and York, 1967. vi tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $8.50.
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Contributors: M. C. B a w m n and hl. Beroza; B. L. Samuel and H. K. Hodges; S. Dorml-van den Bruel; F. A. Gunther, F. Buzzetti, and W. E. Westlake; D. G. Rowlands.
