BOOK
REVIEWS
Principles of Chemistry: An Introduction to Theoretical Concepts
Paul Ander, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, and Ant h y J. Sonnessa. Msemillan Co., 777 pp. Figs. New York, 1965. xix and tables. 16.5 X 24 cm. S8.95.
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All college chemistry teachers who feel that a systematic treatment of inorganic (and/or organic) chemistry should not he a part of their freshman chemistry course for science majors should welcome this new, well-written text and should consider this book as a possible text for their course. In fact, numerous other chemistry teachers may also wish to consider using t h i ~text in conjunction with a more standard freshman text since the authors have done a fairly thorough job of writing a physical chemist,ry book for freshmen who possess sound high school background in physics and chemistry. However, it is not a hook for average wllege freshmen. The reviewer was favorably impressed with the t m t m e n t given most of the contents, with the vivid illustrations, and with the smooth style of writing. Another favorable point is the answers to d l odd numbered numerical problems in the back of the book. This eliminates the necessity of checking the hack of the hook to see if answers are given before problems are assigned. The unit cancellation method of
problem solving is used throughout. By excluding traditional descriptive chemistry the authors have been able to include a review of math and physics (36 pp.); a detailed discussion of atomic structure with a. large stress on the Bohr theory of one electron atoms (63 pp.); valence bond theory, including large doses of electron-pair repulsion and resonance indootrination (35 pp.); and a molecular orbital theory of diatomic? (10 pp.). Other topics covered more than adequately by Ander and Sonnesss. include gas nonideality (16 pp.); heat capacities and equipartitiou-af-energy (10 pp.); physical properties of liquids and solutions (a well illustrated 68 pp.); thermodynamics (73 pp.); kinetics (50 pp.); polymers and other macromolecules (40 pp.); as well as a detailed section on metals, alloys, and phase rules (57 pp.). Standard treatments of nuclear chemisty and equilibrium are also a part of this text. On the negative side, s number of errors were noted that hopefully will be removed in later printings. The rounding off of the molecular weights of CuO (79.54) and CunO (143.08) to 79 and 143.0 respectively prior to use in a unit cancellsr tion operation in Example 2 7 will not aid in student comprehension of either the use of precision or the rounding off of numbers. The authors apparently feel that mereury(I1) only forms a. few complexes (p. 225tactually mercury is a strong class B complexing metal. A
Lewis acid as an electron pair donor ([3] on p. 278) needs explaining, and the calculations in Example 8-18 do not agree with the chemical equation given. Why do some textbook writers, present authors included, insist on oxidation potentials ten years after leading American chemists agreed that reduction potentials should he used as the standard? And, why do they use "skinny," well-separated p orbitals for illustrating r overlaps (pp. 134, 278-9, 625) after indicating "plump" p orbitals, which might overlap, earlier (p. 75) in the book? of the text is As far as the concerned, chemistry majors could benefit from the use of such a text if s. full year of morganio chemktry is included later in the curriculum. I am sure all chemistry professors agree that freshman chemistry majors should learn that chemistry is considerably more than just descriptive facts. On the other hand, what is our responribility to students majoring in other science disciplines? The users of this text will only have a vague notion concerning chemicals themselves, unless the laboratory adequately covers this deficiency. However, as the lecture hecomes less chemically oriented so will the laboratorylogical consequence of attempted congruity between leoture and laboratory. Therefore, should not some "chemistry of the elements" be included for the sake of students who are not continuing in chemistry? RONALD D. ARCHER Tulane Univemity New Orleans, Louisiana
Chemistry: An lntrodurlion to Matter and Energy
D m l d I . Hamm, Southwestern State College, Weatherford, Oklahoma. Appleton-Century-Crofts (division of Meredith Publishing Co.), New York, 1000 pp. Figs. and 1965. xxiii tables. 16 X 24 cm. $8.95.
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-Reviewed
in this Issue
Paul Andw and Anthony Sonnessa, Principles of Chemistry: An Introduction to Theoretical Concepts Dmald I . Hamm: Chemistry:
An Introduetion t o Matter and Energy
Russel H. Johnson and Ern& Grunwald, Atoms, Molecules, and Chemical Change Douglas A. Skoog and Donald M , West, Analytical Chemistry: An Introduction B. J. Aylett andB. C . Smith, Problems in Inorganic Chemistry H. 0.House, Modern Synthetic Reactions Ernest L. Eliel, el el. Conformational Analysis Wolfgang Finkelnburg, Structure of Matter H e m n A . Szymanski, editor, Infrared Band Handbook.
Supplements 1 and 2
Edvin L. Goldurassw, Optics, Waves, Atoms, and Nuclei: An Introduction A . A. Balandin, etal., Catalysis and ChemicalKinetics Edwad F. Cleene and J . Peter Toennies, Chemical Reactions in Shock Waves Robert F. Steiner, The Chemical Foundetions of Molecular Biology Cmelin Institute, editors, Die Alchemie des Lihavius: Ein Lehrhuch der Chemie ans dem J a h ~ e1597
Here is a new introductory chemistry text covering modern principles that will appeal to d l teachers of chemistry and will be welcomed especially by those who emphasize the integration of chemistry and physics. Although the text covers the usual topics for freshman chemistry, particular emphasis is placed on the development af the atomic-molecular theory with inclusion of such topics as heat, electricity, and light. The author has devoted more space than usual in order to present these topics chronologically. Of the first six chapters, five are devoted to the development of atomic theory in a rather detailed and logical manner. The level of these early chapters is geared to the beginning chemistry student; thus classes with more advanced students could omit this material and devote more time to later topics. The alkali metals are introduced in Chapter 5 in order to acquaint the student with some examples of chemical change and to illustrate some of the theoretical concepts introduced earlier. Chapter 7 is unique in first-year chemistry textbooks for its discussion of the nature of laws, theories, and hy-
Volume 42, Number
I I, November 1965
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633
