General College Chemistry
BOOK
REVIEWS
Chemistry
Michell J . Sienlo and Robert A . Plane, both of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1966. xii f 654 pp. Figs. and tables. 18 X 24 em. $8.95.
In the third edition of this widely used textbook the authors have made few changes of significance. They suggest that the book is intended for students with no previous training in chemistry, or for students with a less than good preparation. For students with a good background in chemistry the authorj recommend their new book "Chemistry: Principles and Properties." While the content of the hook has been altered very little and no change has been made inorder of presentation,somechanges in format have been made. The book is wider and carries a wide margin which is used for section headings and "footnotes!' The wide margins should also serve for marginal notations by the student. Printing is clear and easier to read than in the previous edition. All diagrsms have been redrawn and, in many eases, significantly improved in clarity. I n general, the diagrams are excellent. The cover is gray-black with design in white and old gold. The latter mlor is also used in the diagrams and in the decorative designs and symbols occurring throughout the hook.
-Reviewed
Most of the numerical problems and many of the questions have been changed, and the total number of exercises has been somewhat increased. Other changes noted include the following: The terms "mass" and "atomic mass" have been substituted far "weight" and "atomic weight," respedivdy; all atomic masses are based on the Cl2 isotope; Avogadro's Number is slightly different; the section on heats of reaction in Chapter 5 has been amplified and the AH notation is used. In line with the authors' intent to make the haok more suitable than the previous editions as an introductory text, they have omitted most of the desrriptions of el* ments of lesser importance, such as Cd, Au, Git, In, TI, Ge, As, Sh, Bi, Se, Te, Po, At. The description of the mechanism of the corrosion of iron has also been dropped. A significant addition is a two-page section at. the end of Chapter 9 introducing and entropy free energy (G), enthalpy (H) (S), and their inte.r-relationships. No exercise treating this area has been added to the questions at the end of the chapter, however. I t should be apparent from the above description thst the book has been changed very little. The changes which have been made have been designed to "modernize" the hook, to simplify its content, and to introduce new exercises to replace the old "no*
in this Issue
Michell J . Sienko and Robert A . Plane, Chemistry Charles W . Keenan and Jesse H. Wood, General College Chemistry Bruce H.Mahan, College Chemistry E. Russell Hardwick, Chemistry William L. Mastertm and Emil J . Slowinski, Chemical Principles Norman L. Allingw and Janet Allingw, Structures of Organic Molecules Ross Stewart, The Investigation of Organic Reactions William H . S a ~ n d e ~Jr., 8 , Ionic Aliphatic Reactions Cordon M . Barnmu, Physical Chemistry JWg Waser, Basic Chemical Thermodynamics
M. H. Everdell, Introduction to Chemical Thermodynamics J . J. Kipling, Adsorption from Solutions of Non-Electrolytes R. Wiringer-Aust, J . B. Gillis, B. Helferich, and C. Wurstel; Kekule und seine Benzolformel
Charles W . K e m n and Jesse H. Wood, both of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 3rd ed. Harper and Row, Publishers, New York, 1966. x f 814 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 25 cm. $8.95. This reviewer had the occasion to review the first edition of this PUBLI THIS JOURNAL, 35, A26 [19581). The authors have followed the trend toward mme theoretical and less descriptive material, hut have not gone over completely. The mathematicd development of theoretical principles has been limited to simple algebra and does not require an understanding of calculus. Instead of the more rieorous a ~ ~ r o a c the h.
relationship. The 29 chapters, each of which is approximately 30 pages long, are arranged in almost the conventional way. A beginning chapter on measurements and concepts is followed by four chapters on atomic a h c t u r e and bonding. A discussion of hydrogen, oxygen, and water precedes a chapter on the kinetic theory, which leads naturally into the gas laws and cdculations. The following four chaptern are devoted to solution chemistry, which includes a rather detailed discussion of the colloidal state not usually found in general chemistry books. The placement of the next five chapters is hard to connect to what has gone before. Two chapters on nuclear chemistry are fallowed by thermochemistw, a sewnd chapter on structure, and one on electrochemistry and oxidation-reduction. These may he included here to provide a break in continuity or perhaps rr natural place to stop with solution chemistry a t the end of the first semester and to start with nuclear chemistry a t the beginning of the second. The ten chapters following electrochemistry are evenly divided between descriptive inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. The final chapter is a diseuasion of geochemistry. This third edition contains approximately 100 pages more than the first edition. The suhject matter covered is quite complete when compared with other general chemistry books. Like most, the instructor must choose the portions to emphasize and select the exercises from over one thousand which are offered. One-third of these involve calculations. The book has some features not usortlly found in general chemistry textbooks. The second chapter on structure does a good qualitative job on associating spectrographic data with bonding. The chapters on nuclear chemistly are quite extensive for this level of study. Industrial processes are described and more detailed descriptions of the processes are given wherever possible throughout the book. In comparing this haok with the earlier edition, the elimination of the chapters called Perspectives, which dealt with the philosophy and history of chemistry is disturbing. The judicious plaoement of these in thst edition added a feature ,(Continued on page A990)
BOOK REVIEWS which seems to he lacking in modem chemistry textbooks. On the other hand, the condensation of the discussion of metallic elements and the reorganization of the chapter order is a distinct improvement. Teachers of beginning college chemistry who are wnfronted with the problem of accepting average students into a program which is destined to serve as a soience requirement and a preparation for more chemistry should find this hook very helpful. The explanations artre clear and concise, and the illustrations are particularly well done. The placement of illustretions in the margin adjacent to the explanation should he very effective in contributing to understanding. These features plus the absence of typographical errors and misstatements will make it easier for both the student and teacher.
JAMES F. CORNIN Antioeh College, Yellow Springs, Ohio
College Chemistry
B m e H. Mahan, University of California, Berkeley. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., Reading, Massachusetts, 1966. xiv 666 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 24 cm. $9.50.
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Last year Professor Mahan (and Addison-Wesley) published "University Chemistry." This text hook was reviewed (J. CHEM.ED.42, 345 [1965]) by Professor R. Stuart Tobiss s t some length. The only differences between "College Chemistry" and "University Chemistry" are the cover, the preface, the addition of six pages to the beginning of the fimt chapter presumably to justify statements made in the preface, and some modifications in the treatment of the calculus in Chapter 8 which treats the topic of chemical thermodynanics. We agree with Professor Tohias that the first 11 chapters are well mitten. These chapters and Chapter 17 on the nucleus along with those sections of Chapter 15 that deal with crystal field theory and handing in transition metal complexes cover the physical chemical aspects in "College Chemistry." Thus those portions of Chapters 12 to 16 not excluded in the previous statement cover with adequate emphasis the so-called descriptive chemistry of the elements including organic chemistry. Continued reference is made to chemical principlw in discussing this material. Less than 20 per cent of the text emohasiaes the reaction chemistrv.
ness, i t is the paucity of questions and prohlems a t the end of some chapters particulaxly those relating to the chemistry of the families of theelements. The use of "College Chemistry" as the (Continued on page A9.94)
A990
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Journal o f Chemical Education
