Elements of chemistry (Boikess,R.; Breslauer,K.; Edelson,E.) - Journal

Jan 1, 1988 - Elements of chemistry (Boikess,R.; Breslauer,K.; Edelson,E.) Williwam D. Schulz. J. Chem. Educ. , 1988, 65 (1), p A25...
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cause execution of the program to halt. The user can also readily change data values a t repeated cheek points. Data files are created for later retrieval and can he password protected. During the program the student is asked to supply the experimental factor level names, units, boundary conditions, starting values. and steo size. In the tutorial these vnlues are all displayed by thr donrmentat i m for the user to input. The tutorial then generates a sample data set of respm5ed. For a real experiment the responses would be supplied by the student. The program rapidly performs the necessary calculations to project the cwrdinates of the new vertex of the simplex which corresponds to the next set of factor levels t o he tried. Uo t o 12 faetzr levels can be handled in any optimization stratrgy using this pro. gram. Even with 12 factors the mlculationu areperformed very rapidly,withina fewseconds. A menu provides the user with the choices of inputting responses, displaying data and results in tabular or graphic form, or halting the program. Students wishing t o learn about simplex with no prior knowledge will find the program of some pedagogical value. To those with prior knowledge the true learning that takes place comes from the output of the program as i t generates the next set of factor levels and in the way that i t stores and presents data. Students were pleased to have a painless way of determining the new factor levels instead of having to calculate them by hand. The documentation is ouite eood in 19 enablmg the student to under;tand;hat gem: on and what are the o b p ~ vcs t of the program. James P. Deavor College of Charleston Charleston, SC 29407 Foundations of College Chemlstry Morris Hein. BrookslCole: Monterey, CA, 1986. xvi 567 pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 24 cm.

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This textbook intends to instruct students in the basic conceots of chemistw and qualify students ior courses in general college chemistry. It rrmains o revt lor beginning o r preparatory chemistry and srrws its purpose well. I t is difficult not to he enthusiastic about this new edition that begins with eight pages ~of color pictures showing chemistry and chemists a t work. Illustrative tables, graphs, and figures give variety to each page; the text is not tiresome or tedious t o read. Important terms are printed in the margin and two shades of brown highlight section headings, figures, and tables. Precedingeach chapter is a list of learning ohjeetives far that chapter. More than sufficient questions and problems with selected answers in an appendix follow each chapter. Review exercises covering preceding ehapters and interspersed through the hook. At least 20 percent of the book consists of questions, problems, and review exercises. Where quantitative concepts are discussed in the text, clearly worked examples are shown. Significant figures, rounding-off, scientific natation, and S I units are introduced early. Separate sections on how to study chemistry and solve problems will as-

throughout the book makes for a very attractive textbook. The problems a t the end of the chapter are listed by chapter subheadings and are a good mix both in number and difficulty. Opinions differ in the order of treatment of topics in a general chemistrytext. I would prefer to see balancing of redox equations reviewed briefly a t the start of the electrochemistry chapter (Chap. 17). Chapter 9, Properties of Gases might have been placed earlier in the teat because one usuallv encounters eas law erneriments earl", in the ,, lahuratory program. I a l ~ prefer o tu have the Erst law ofthermud~namicsto be pre~ented earlier than in Chapter 12, as the concept of enthalpy change for chemical reactions is very useful through theentirecourse in general chemistry. Sections 16.3 and 16.4 dealing with complex ion equilibria is better placed in the chapter on transition metals and after the section on coordination compounds (Chapter 21.11). Equivalent aelghts and nurmality can be omitted from Chapter 8 and a section on acid-base reacrions using mole and molarity concepts should have been included. It is good to note that the authors have dropped the Kh constant from this version of the text and have treated all ionic equilibria from a K, or Kb standpoint. They do, however, continue to discuss the topics of buffers as either acid buffers or basic buffers. A buffer solution is either acid or basic depending on the K. value and the eoncentrations of the acid and its conjugate base. I would also have derived the HendersonHasselhalch equation (eq 15.9) and showed that i t can be used far any buffer solution regardless of whether i t is either an acid or a basic solution. Energy changes in nuclear reactions could have been expanded t o include not only binding energy but also alpha decay. Binding energy while calculated in MeV per particle (p 826) should also he given in units of kJ per particle. I find i t also convenient t o list in the appendix tables of data such as thermodynamic values, equilibrium constants, and bond energies. New to this text is a software package, The Chemistry Tutor, consisting of six units keyed to the first eight chapters of the hook. Other supplements include a study guide, solutions manual, lecture outline, test file, transparencies, and a microeomputerized testing system. The specific things that I have listed should not discouraee from adoot" anvone , ing this rexr. In general the bwk can be deserihed as "comtortable" and au such, very adequate for trnching and learning. It is obvious that the authors have gone to great lengths to make their book attractive. Many teachers will want to examine it closely. Daniel T. Haworth Marquette University Milwaukee, WI 53233

sist the new chemistry student. Dimensional analvsis is stressed and illustrated in countless solved nrohlems ~~-~ Expanded discussions of pH and solubilit y product and related ralculatimr correct shortcomings of an earlier edition. Joules with the calorie equivalent in parentheses, liters, and tom find general use. As a long-time teacher I was particularly impressed by the 38 pages of appendices. A mathematical review with a worthwhile discussion of graphing and using graphs takes up about one-half of this last section. Other appendices present an interesting solubility table and the periodic table with the new group numbering. Few factual and typographicalerrors were discovered, but a few comments seem necessary about some implications of Lewis dot structures. I t is misleading a t best t o show molecular oxveen with all electrons oaired. ," Cwing the apparent structure would illur. mate one exception to the octet rule. Furthermore, it certainly isn't wrre tc, rhow the dot structure of molecular nitrogen with two three-electron bonds instead of the usual three-electron pairs between the atoms. With over seven pages for discussion of nucleic acids and DNA, i t seems strange that there is nothing on thermodynamics. Although there is discussion of the law of conservation of mass i t is not connected to thermodynamics. There is a reasonable discussion of heat in chemical reactions, but the terms enthalpy, entropy, or free energy are not included. A text like this could describe the idea of a spontaneous chemical reaction in simple thermodynamic jargon. Good sections on water purification and oollutian are included:.however. ~.~~~the current topic i,f acid rain is omitted. Other air pollutants and ph~,tuchem~ral smog likewise are not considered. In spite of the few minor deficiencies, this Sixth Edition incorporates useful changes and additions. I t should attract a wide audience of both students and teachers. Ward Knockemus h~ntmgdonCollege Monlgomery. AL 36 106 ~

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General Chemlstry Principles a n d Structures, Fourth Edltlon James E. Brady and Gerard E. Humiston. Wiley: New York, NY, 1986.xxil+ 972pp. Figs. and tables. 21.5 X 26 cm. $39.95. This well-received general chemistry textbook, now in its fourth edition, has been significantly upgraded with each succeeding edition over the past 11 years. The current edition contains 24 chapters of which three chapters are directed exclusively t o deseriptive chemistry and the other 21 chapters to the discussion of principles with good mix of "chemical" (descriptive) chemistry in these latter chapters. Several major changes are to he noted in this edition as compared t o the previous edition. Atomic structure and the periodic table is now two chapters (Chapters 3, 4), the material on chemical reactions is also two chapters (Chapters 7, a), a n d a new section has been added t o We chapter on chemical honding (Chapter 5) which serves as a prelude to the discussions on ionic and covalent bonding. The black print with blue print subheadings along with a large number of full color photographs distributed

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Elements of Chemlstry R. Boikess. K. Breslauer, and E. Edelson. Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs. NJ, 1986. xxiii 768 pp. Figs. and tables. 21 X 26 cm. $35.95.

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The authors of this text state that it is intended for "students of the allied health (Continued on page A26)

Volume 65

Number 1 January 1988

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dlsaplines as well as for students in several other [named] career areas who require a knowledge of chemistrythat isas broad, but not necessarily as deep, as that provided by the traditional sequence of courses for the basic sciences". The text does, indeed, display a n incredible breadth for its 776 pages. This breadth encompasses subjects as esoteric as zone refining and El Nina and as recent as enzymatic RNA. Comparison to a leading "Allied Health Science" text does not indicate any deletion of material t o achieve this broad scope. The amazing range of material in this text seems t o he possible mainly hecause of its terse style. In addition, many fundamental concepts are simply presented, without derivation or explanation. Unfortunate examples of simple presentation without derivation include ''Kh = Kw/Kc and the Henderson-Hasselhach equation. The obligatory first chapter on units of measurement has a better than average discussion of errors and precision of measurement hut, in common with most texts, does not use the intensity and quantity factors of energy in definition or explanation of temperature, work or energy. The spartan style extends to definitions. The use of brackets to denote molarity is given in one line about 30 pages before its use in acid-base equilibrium and is not repeated. In spite of these criticisms, and in addition t o the hroad coverage in a reasonable number of pages, this text has some very appealing features. The first, to this reviewer, is the use of the "old form" of the periodictahle. The organization of 43% hiochemistry and 57%general and organic chemistryis more appropriate than the 3 3 7 6 6 % that seems to he the target for texts of this type. This text is extraordinarily error free and, terse as the style may he, historical credit is ..eiven oeoole such as Rosalind Yslow (radiormmunmrsay). Rosalmd Franklin and Maurice Wilkinr (DNA strurturr) that are almost never mentioned in other texts of

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The format of this text is the near standard "two-color. highlrghtq hy type font" with "hmed" examples and exercises throughout each chapter. There are chapter summaries and from 60 to80 end-of-chapter questions and problems. There is an extensive glossary and the answers t o in-chapter but not end-of-chapter "exercises" are given a t the end of the book. There are no appendices. "Chapter goals" are dispensed within this text hut there is a "preview" paragraph under a photograph a t the beginning of each chapter. The photographs are fun! They can be somethine" of a n intellectual challenee " as to as~ociation01 even actual content10 veteran proiewurs. In addition there m e 67 eneellent "chemirtry at work" hoxed esaays spread throughout the text. In summary, this text is different. I t should be welcomed by instructors who wish to concentrate dass time on an understanding of problem-solving methods while using the text for its meanineful hackmound reading and useful enerukes. It will not find tavur with thost wht, prefer to use the"tcaching machine for fundamentals" type of text and t o supply their own historical or anecdotal material. I t would, however, make a

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Journal of Chemlcal Education

very useful quick reference for such material for any instructor of courses of the nature for which i t is intended. Wlliam D. Schuiz Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY 40475 From Protyle to Proton: William Prout a n d t h e Nature of Matter 1785-1985 W. H Brock. Adam Hilger Lid. Boston, MA, 1985. xii 252 pp. 15.5 X 23.3 cm.

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This scholarly but readable bicentennial study is the result of more than a quarter century of research on William Prout (17851850) and chemical atomic theory by Bill Brock, Director of the Victorian Studies Centre a t the Universitv of Leieester and former editor of Amhtr Prout is chlefly re. membered, uf eoume, for his proposals that all theso-ralledelemenwsnd therr cunutituent atoms are actually compounds of one basic homogeneous material (which he called protyle, from proto hyle or primary matter, identified with hydrogen, the ligbtest known element) and that the atomic weights of all the elements are whole numbers (integers) if the atomic weight of hydrogen is expressed as unity. The great Swedish chemist J6ns Jacob Berzelius christened these reductionist, simplifying proposals as "Prout's hypothesis," the name by which they are still known. Prout was an English physician, who carried out his chemical research before breakfast since he devoted the rest of his day to his patients, and his contributions to what is now called biochemistry include his identification of hydrochloric acid in human and animal gastric juices and his classification of foodstuffs into the still-accepted categories of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. His biochemical speculations were based on and intimately connected with his theory of the unitv and simolicitv of matter. In fact. his work exhiluted a unified theme-his constant searrh fur the laws that he was rerrain governed "not only the operations of the animal economy, but the whole material world.'' Broek's nine-chapter h w k is divided into three sections. The first (60 pp) consists of three chapters, beginning with a biography (necessarilv brief because of the scantv doc"mentation available), foliowcd b; two rhapcers concerned with his rontributions to rxperimental science by way of organic analysis-wine chemistry and the pruhlema of digestion and sensation. The second and longest sertim (119 pp), which also illustrates Prout's strong speculative streak, consists of four chapters concerned with his more theoretical work-his Bridgewater Treatise (1834). . his suooort for natural theolugy and wtnlism, Prout's hyputhexra and its reception up w 1860, his molecular theory, and his attempt to link hii theoretical ideas to his experimental research on animal chemistry and human pathology. The third and shortest section (41 UP)is an epilogue of two chapters, which biiefly examine the steps leading to a deeper understanding of the actual basis for Prout's hypothesis in the 1920's through the emergence of the concepts of isotopes, protons, and the structured atom as well as the idea of simplicity which has continued to motivate particle

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physicirts since the 1930's as they have diocovered additional subatomic constituents. Adetailed bibliography (20 pp) and index (7 pp) conclude this highly recommended volume, which demonstrates the historical continuity between 19th-century chemical speculations and those of modem nuclear physicists. George B. Kauffman California Slate University. Fresno Fresno. CA 93740

Titles of Interest

D1sti11at1on Tray Fundamentals M. J. Lockett. Cambridge University Wess: New York. NY. 1986. ix 226 pp. Flgs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.4 cm. $54.50.

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Mathematical C o n c e p t s In Organic Chemistry Ivan Gutman and Oskar Polansky. Springer-Verlag: New York, NY, 1986. x 212 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.25 X 24.8 cm. $71.00.

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The mathematical coneents of organic chemistm. ....maoh theom. eroun theow. topology as well as numerous interrelation% are presented in a simply but in a mathematically rigorous fashion. ~

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Practical Experimental Designs a n d Ootlmizatlon Methods for Chemists Charles K. Bayne and Ira 6.Rubin. VCH Publishers: New York, NY. 1986. vlli 205 pp. Flgs. and tables. 15.8 X 24.2 cm. $39.50.

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The purpose of this hook is to introduce statistically designed experiments to chemists who conduct experiments for the purpose of making inferences from data. The book presents the view that a major part of planning for experiments should be consideration of appropriate statistical analysis before any data are gathered. The role of statisticallv desiened exoeriments is to make the &alysis"of data'as efficient and informative as possible. Although methods for analyzing data are the foundation for constructing statistically designed eaperiments, this book does not give statistical analysis methods.

Principles of Electrochemical Engineering; Extended Version of a DECHEMA Experimental Course Ewald Heitz and Gerhard Krevsa. VCH Publishers: New York. NY. 1966. xiii 294 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.8 X 21.1 cm. $40.00.

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