Concepts and Models of Inorganic Chemistry, Second Edition

Jun 1, 1984 - Book and Media Review. Previous Article · Next Article · Table of Contents. Concepts and Models of Inorganic Chemistry, Second Edition ...
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As I read the preface and the introductory pages on "The C h e m i d View of Matter," I wished that I were teaching a course for liberal arts students so I could use this hook. "The Personal Side" adds insights into the personalities of Lavoisier, Proust, Dalton, and Bohr. (Why not Mendeleev and some contemporary chemists?) The nonchemical examples of periodic behavior (p. 53) should help students understand this fundamental concept. Figure 4-23, which illustrates hybrids, could benefit chemistry majors too. "Chemistry and Technology as a New Philosophy" (Chapter 13) is an interesting, idealized presentation which overlooks the f a d that the people who operate the scientific enterprise sometimes see what they are lwking for rather than what really happens or exists. I hope teachem whouse this text will utilize the list of topics for themes in this chapter. Many of the 43 questions and statements are worth serious consideration bv students and other citizens of Earth. 'l'hc paycheck analogy (p. 3091 to u m l energy and the part that is available filr useful work in hrlyhi. (.'hapur 15 nu toxic mawriak is well done. Unfortunately there are some errors. Tahle 4-1 (p. 67) has asecond ionization energy for hydrogen! According to Table 6-3 (p. 134),Fis a stroneer reducine aeent than N a The text (p. 150) uses a pyro;e& structure (Fig. 1-11 (b)) to illustrate the structure of quartz. Petroleum was "diseovered" in 1859 (p. 186). Table 18-10 (p. 465) has the formula of ethylene glycol hut not those of any of the compounds named. I would plead for current electronegativity values. (See, for example, J. E. Huheey, Inorganic Chemistry, Third Edition, pp. 146148. I think that students who we this texthook will suffer mental indigestion over the amount of detail included in the chapters on organic and biochemistry. In spite of the preceding, and the implication that atoms have been told about the orincioles of coulomhie attraction and electron pairing (p. 65). I like the hwk. I enjoyed readitlg must ofir and renmmend it for liberal arts rhcmistry cuuriei. Kenneth M. Long Westminster College New Wilmington. PA 16172

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The text is divided into three main sections: Basic Information, Equilibrium Electroanalytieal Techniques, and Nonequilibrium Electroanalytical Techniques. The first section is a mixed bag with an introduction to SI units (which are adhered to faithfully throughout the text), a review of electrical concepts, the measurement of electrical quantities, the structure of electroanalytical cells, conductance, electrodeelectrolyte interphases and electrochemical stoichiometry. The chapter reviewing electrical concepts begins with resistors and capacitors and ends with computers. It includes sections an operational amplifiers, digital logic, gates, data buses, and serial versus parallel digital data transfer all within the span of twenty-nine pages of text. This illustrates a major shortcoming of the book; ie., an attempt to cover too much material in too little space such that no one topic is given a comprehensive treatment. Most of the above-mentioned topics are superfluous in that there is neither sufficient coverage for them to stand on their own nor are they associated with other topics discussed later. The chapter on eleetroanalytical cells is reasonably well done but could be helped with a picture of a real cell instead of the schematic drawing given. The next one on conductance is one of the best in the hook. It gives a rather detailed mathematical analysis of ionic mobility. Equally well presented was the ehapter on electrode-electrolyte interphases, with a good balance between description and mathematical derivation. However, the section on conduetometric titrations was very brief and difficult to follow. The second major section on equilibrium techniques is very well done and features chapters on thermodynamics, the origin of potential differences and ion specific electrodes including pH measurement. The third major section covers the dynamic measurement techniques of polarography, voltammetry, and coulometry. I t provides an adequate presentation of diffusion theory and a good introduction to classical d.c. polarography. However, not enough text is devoted to the modern electroanalyti d techniaues. Cvclic voltammetrv. .. s t r b.ping, voltammetry, and normal pulse, differential pulse, square wave and d.c. polar-

Concepts and Models of Inorganic Chemistry, Second Edition B d i e Douglas. Darl H. McDaniel, and John J. Alexander, John Wiley 8 Sons. 800 pp. Inc., Somerset, NJ, 1983. xii Figs and tables. 19.5 X 24 cm.

Chemistry, Man and Society Mark M. Jones, Saunders College Pub., New York. NY. 1982. xi 513 pp. Figs. and tables. 20.5 X 26 cm.

The growth of inorganic chemistry from 1965 (first edition) to the present has been imoressive. and this is reflected in a second edirim that is ahrut fiOL: longer than thc first. Thus, addithmal material i l pruvided in the form of descriptive chemistry, a new chapter on arganometallic chemistry, a thoroughly rewritten chapter on reaction mechanisms, and the treatment of bonding is considerably more sophisticated. Chapter 3, symmetry, orovides the basis far future aoolications that are rwered in ('haper 7 in a more detailed treatment of hmdmg and Apectra ufcwrdination entities. 'l'hc fine featurcs in rha first edirion-ample problem sets, a crisp, unclurrcred look, depth wlthc,ut encycluprdic covcrme.arrentmn to theliurature, without 0verab;"danee of detailed papers-have been retained, and indeed improved. (There are points over which one might carp, but these are minor.) The hook is timely considering the change in inorganic chemistry requirements by the ACS Committee on Professional Training. Those who liked the first edition should be pleased with the second; those who missed the first me in luck with the second. Dean F. Martin University of South Florida Tampa. FL 33620

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Electroanalytlcal Chemistry: Basic Principles and Applications James A. Plambeck, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Somerset, NJ, 1982. xix 404 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 24 cm. $35.00.

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The author's stated purpose in this book is to " . . cover the full scope of modern eleetroanalvtieal chemistrv at an introductory level &d to guide the student to further reading at the advanced monograph and review level in specific areas."

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Reviewed in this Issue Mark M. Jones, Chemistry, Man, and Society Bodie Douglas, Darl H McDaniel, and John J. Alexander, Concepts and Models of lnoroanic ., Chemistrv. Second Edition James A. Plambeck, Electroanalytical Chemistry: Basic Principles and A.~.~ l i c a t i o n s New Volumes in Continuing Series Monographs Titles of Interest

Reviewer Kenneth M. Long

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Dean F. Martin

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Wayne H. Smith

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