BOOK REVIEWS p n d , hut ir is n useful v m i w of tlrp wh 11 is nut as c8nnplere rind ilrtnilrd as King's recent text on molecular spectroscopy, for example. An especially interesting feature is the set of exercises at the end of the book. It is deliberately not classified by chapter in order to make the student recognize for himself the area from which the problem arises. References to data. needed in the problem are given in full in the earlier problems, hut they become more cryptic until the student is finally left with the realistic task of finding in the literature all the data required. This book is a. useful reference for seniors and a good review of the subject for the teacher of undergraduates.
With the terminal student especially in mind. the authors have nlaeed strone em-
jert.
ous exposure to chemistry on the part of the student. Reversing the trend, common in many modern texts for freshmen, toward zealous preoccupation with p h y s i d chemistry, the Seorist-Powers book offers a "bird's-eye view" of physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and the history of chemistry. The book consists of 61 short chapters (usually lC-20 pages), grouped into five main sections: History (5 chapters), Theoretical Chemistry (18 chapters), Inorganic Chemistry (14 chapters), Organic Chemistry (14 chapters), and Biochemis try (7 chapters). The historical section is much more thorough than in most comparROBERTROSENBERG able texts, end a useful asset of the book is an appendix "Memorable. Names in ChemLawenee University istry," which lists information on over 200 Appleton, W i m ' n . chemkta mentioned by name throughout the text. At the end of each chapter or General Chemistry seotion there is an extensive list of books and articles for further reading. John 8.Secrist and Wendell R. Pourers, The book emphasizes the historical and both of Wayne State University, DB descriptive approach common in books of a troit. D. Van Nostrrtnd Co., Inc., generation ago, rather than the interpre932 pp. Princeton, N. J., 1966. viii tive treatment of principles that is the Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. vogue in most contemporary books. The $9.95. section entitled Theoretical Chemistry inThis text is intended to nrovide an urn cludes chapters on atomic structure, bondto-dnrr, broacl rlratmenr of chemirtry suiring, states of matter, solutions, acids and x t h (UP the f i n - p a r rollege srmlrnt in 8 bases, ohemid equilibrium, colloids, and twr-mmriter or rhrcr-q~lnrtcr wurse. nuclear chemistry. Stoichiometry is de-
+
A994
/
Journal of Chemical Education
veloped from a historical viewpoint and emphasizes terms such 8s gram equivalent weight; the t e r n mole is defined but is little used. Kinetic molecular theory is treated qualitatively. Simple calcuhtions on the gas laws, freeling-point depression, ionization constant, pH, and solubility product, are presented. No attempt is made to introduce the idem of thermodynamics. Qualitative discussions on fundamental particles, atomic spectra and the Bohr atom are presented, together with the Aufhau principle, but the contributions of Scbrodinger are not mentioned, and the text conveys no real feeling for the forces between atoms and molecules. The historiod development of the periodic table is given in some detail, and the descriptive chemistry of hydrogen and oxygen is also incorporated into this section. The inorganic seotion is organized much as it was in the older texts; it is rich in the descriptive chemintry of the principal metals and nonmetals, and it relates extensively to practical aspects. Typicdy, groups of related metals are compared under the headings: history, group characteristics, occurrence and metallurgy, properties and uses, important compounds. Elementary electrochemistry and redu* tion-oxidation processes are also included in this part of the book. Modern s t m e turd inorganic ohemistry is dmost completely lacking. Organic chemistry is discussed mainly in terms of principal classes of compounds. This section relates on the one hand, to
(Continued on page A096)
BOOK REVIEWS petroleum chemistry and synthetic polymers. and to biochemlstrv on the other.
such as the assertion that the cyclobutane molecule is planar, are rather prevalent. Amino acids! proteins, and enzymes are the first topics in the section on biochemistry, and the functions of the coenzymes FAD and NAD (the obsolete term DPN + is used) are discussed. Vitamins and hormones are treated a s separate tesections, mainly from a descriptive standpoint. The steps of glycolysis, the tricmboxylic acid cycle, and the poxidation of fatty acids, are outlined. Surprisingly, there is little or no discussion of bioenergetics, or of nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis. This book achieves its objective of breadth and historical perspective. It bas a wealth of material on chemical technology and the implicatiom of chemistry in everyday lie, and it provides good r e sources for further reading. I t is well produced and illustr~ted,and is relatively free from typographical errors. However, organized as it is along static, descriptive lines, it failils to convey the dynamics of chemistry and the interpretive approach that characterize the better modern texts. The study questions and problems are not +
book will he best suited for use in a terninal course with students who have limited mathemtttiod ability and little or no high school preparation in chemistry.
DEREKHORTON The Ohio State University C o l u m h &$I0 Chemistry:
A Conceptual Approach
Charles E. Mwtimer, Muhlenherg Callege, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Reinhold Publishing Cop., New York, 1967. xii 692 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $8.95.
+
Here is s new book, gotten up in an a t tractive open format. The print is readably large, with copious diagrams done in two shades of blue and black and white. I t is written in a direct and loaical - orose. . . and whereas it concerns itself with underlvine orincioles. there is extensive use of c.hernical examples and nupportiug WpQrimental evidence. It assumes the r ~ ~ d e r ha.+ IN, more hackpound than the awrage high school graduate. I t opens with sections on stomic struoture, chemical bonding, and chemical equations and quantitative relstionshilhs. After sectionson the states of matter; it takes up oxygen and hydrogen, along with the concept of oxidation and reduction. There is a well integrated section on the descriptive chemistry of the non-metals (100 pages). Chapter8 on solutions and electrochemistry precede the chapter on non-metals and chapters on chemical thermodynamiea
-.
. .
(Catinued on page A998)
A996 / Journal of Chemical Education
