book reviews n a m e forms for simple ions, benzene and benzenoid hydrocarbons, substituted benzenes. and neutral molecules which oossess reqonanre strurturea w ~ t hrhnrge sep&xion. 'l'tw final chapwr deal* with electronic redistributions which occur in a seriea of typical organic reactions involving heterolytic bond breaking and formation. Included are reactions illustrating sigma bond breaking, sigma bond makine. . .. simultaneous bond makine and breaking, complex mechanisms, and rearmngcmanla. ,\BI excellent c d l e c l ~ m of mcchnni$rie cxnmplei hnr heen r o m p h d ,n this chapter. T h e text is definitely student oriented, with 244 programmed exercises and answers. During the course of working a representative number of exercises and checking answers, no tvooeraohical errors were noted. .. A m m g supplemrntnry texts currently a\ndahle for n hegrnnmg orgnntc course, the present text is unique in content. I t should prove valuable t o instructors who wish to establish in their students a good understanding of electronic principles which are now a n integral part of all modern organic chemistry courses.
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computational method. The consequences of these results with respect to the conservation of orbital symmetry is pointed out but not developed further. The Hiickel treatment is then justified by a more complete development of LCAO-MO theory. Acidity functions and acid-base catalysis are discussed in detail in the following chapters. Boltzmann distributions and absolute reaction rate theory arc developed and the results applied to equlibrium and kinetic isotope effects, with numerical examples. Finally, the stereochemistry and kinetics of carbanionic reactions are discussed. This boak provides the lecturer with extensive room for outside reading and for extensionsand examples based on the research interests of the students and the department. It is not designed to serve as a reference source or as an unsupplemcnted text. Kenner A. Christensen
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J a m F. Wolte Virginia Polylechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, 24061
Physical Organlc Chemistry: The Fundamental Concepts
Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois 60201
Chemistry Cassettes. CC1: Heavy Metals a s Contaminants of the Human Environment, 100 minutes CC2: Some Aspects of the Electrochemistry of Solutions, 34 minutes CC3: Some Organic Reaction Pathways, 68 minutes
Peter Grouer, General Editor, Chemistry Caiuin D. Rilchie, State University of New York-Buffalo. Marcel Dekker, Ine., New York, 1975. vii 283 pages. Figures and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. No price given.
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This book has been written as a textbook to accompany a well-lectured course in physical organic chemistry far seniors and first-year graduate students. It places its emphasis on a thorough understanding ofthe most important aspects of physical organic chemistry, rather than attempting to provide a survey of the field. There are relatively few examples, and theseare chosen to illustrate the theory, rather than to provide a body of data. The discussion remains on the principles, and experimental methods and treatment of data are not covered. The derivations of equations are carried out in sufficient detail so that a student should be able to follow them with the aid of pencil and paper. Problems are given at the end of each chapter, along with a list of references to more specialized texts and review articles. Matrix algebra is introduced early in the treatment of the kinetics of consecutive reactions, rather than being relegated solely to molecular orbital theo(y. The first chapter covers rate laws and the trcatment of simultaneous and consecutive reactions, including the development of matrix algebra. Further chapters discuss the use of kinetic information in the elucidation of reaction mechanisms. Thevarious empirical relationships between structure and reactivity are then introduced. The chaoter on molecular orbital I h a q begin, uilh the prewnlntmn of Huckcl MO thmr) ac a ,tepu ,be recipc Severd exampltr rcrvc to lliurlrdlc lrnportanl drpecls about r-electron systems as well as illustrating the ~~~~
A322 / Journal of Chemical Education
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Cassettes, University of Aston, Birmingham, England. CCI by Derek BryceSmith, University of Reading; CC2 by Graham Hills, University of Southamptan: and CC3 hv Peter Svkes. Christ's C'oIIegr. ~ d u c a t i < h a~echi&,uis l Suhlert Gruup of the C'hrmiral Scmety.' I Y f , . C C l , f l ?5 CC'Af'l.80 & CC:I. N.25. Accompanying booklets: CC1: Heavy Metals as Contaminants of the Human Environment by D. BryceSmith, iii 38 pp. CC2: Some Aspects of the Electrochemistry of Solutions by Graham Hills. 20 pp. CC3: Some Organic Reaction Pathways by P Sykes. 28 pp. All booklets published by Educational Techniques Subject Group,* 1975. Figs. and tables. Additional copies of aeeampanying booklets cast 50p each or E4.00110. * Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, Herts, SG6 l H N , England.
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T h e three instructional modules under hrrr earh wnsist "fa tape cassette and a prmtrd bwklet, intended to be used together by the student. Bryce-Smith (contrasted to the much more encompassing title) treats t h e toxicology of three heavy metals, mercury, cadmium, and lead in detail with adiscussion of the sources of contamination and the nutritional and physiological and biochemical aspects of their ingestion by humans either directly or through plant products. T h e style of presentation is not unlike a lecture, with the lecture notes supplied by the lecturer and t o which there has been appended a n extensive set of further comments. The effect resembles ~~
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