A Reference Book of Chemistry
J . H . White, Lstymer Upper School, England. 3rd ed. Philosophical Library, New York, 1967. 307 pp. 14 X 22 em. $10, This convenient sized volume contains Though composed primarily for teachers of chemistry and their upper class students it will be of much value to chemists in general who either do not have availddle or who do not wish to spend the time in consulting the more extensive and more costly dictionaries of chemistry. I n addition, these latter works frequently present too much about a topic t~ndso confuse rather than enlighten a student or run-of-the-mill chemist. The text is presented in ten sections in which the subjeots are listed alphabetically. For the most part, the desired information is found without diflioulty. Spot checks have revealed that most items are included though the specialist may sometimes be disappointed. The book will he especially useful to students preparing for examinations. The definitions and discussions are couched in concise clear fashion. The only mathematical presentations are in reference to certain laws, and the use of struct,urd fomulas ie quiterestricted. The titles of the sections are given here to show the scope of the book; the figures in parentheses are the number of pages devoted to each section. I. Important Terms (127); 11. Laws, Principles and Rules (18); 111. Named Organic Reactions and Processes (13); IV. Named Organic Reagents and Tests (8); V. Named Inorganic Reactions and Processes (30); VI. Named Inorganic Reagents and Tests (4); VII. Those Odd Names (67); VIII. Ores and Mineral Substances (23); IX. Common Alloys (10); Appendix I. First Aid in the Laboratory (5); A p pendix 11. Useful Data (4). This book deserves a wide circulation and would he an excellent addition to school and private libraries. I t doubtless would be consulted often and can he recommended for casual reading. It is rather unfortunate that the price is not more in line with the first line of the author's Preface: "It is hoped that this book will be of use to all teachers of chemistry, and to their senior pupils." s. wealth of information.
RALPEE. OESPER University of Cincinnati Cincinnati. Ohio
Elements of Organic Chemistry: Revealed by the Scienliflc Method
As
Alsoph H. Carwin, Johns Hopkins, University, Baltimore, Maryland, and Maurice M. Bursey, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, Massachusetts, 1966. xviii 746 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 24.5 em. $12.50.
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The teacher and/or scholar who is seekingan unusual textbook or reference covering the material normally prezented in
undergradut~teorganic chemistry will lind this textbook by Professors Corwin and Bursey a. "must" in their search. I n fine print this book is subtitled "Elements of Organic Chemistry-as revealed by the Scientific Method," and in using their novel approach, these authors rely heavily on experimental evidence in presenting the subject. In their foreword to the student, the authors state "it is the purpose of this hook to concern itself with the application, to the field of organic chemistry, of the central theme of science, the scientific method of reasoning." In place of the traditional organization by classification of substances, or some of the newer arrangements, the textbook has been organized according to ideas, with emphasis on the great ideas of structure and mechanism. The textbook is divided into two books. Book One asks and answers the questions, "How are organic chemical structures determined?" and, "How do we know what we know about organic chemical structures?" In an interesting, hut sometimes complex, series of chapters, the answers are pursued. The titles of the parts, which are further subdivided into Chapters, give clues to their approach. I n Book one, the parts are titled: The Structural Problem of Organic Chemistry; The Basic Reasaning Underlining Organic Structures; Elements of Chemical Geometry; Some Basic Methods for Structural Determination; and Structures of Some Natural Products. After one gets used to the idea of beginning an undergraduate study of organic chemistry with the complex structures of chlorophyll and hemoglobin, one finds in this book much of the traditional content of organic chemistry, although ins. greatly modified form of presentation, Book Two rtsks and answers the questions, "How do we know what we know about organic chemical reaction mecbanisms, and how do we learn ahout the processes which take place between the disappearance of the reagent and the formation of the product in an organic chemical reaction?" The titles of the parts in Book Two are: Elements of Chemical Bonding; Chemical Tools for the Investige tion of Reaction Mechanism; Some Specific Mechanisms in the Aliphatic Series; Some S~ecificMechanisms in the Aromatic Seriu; Sonw .\lwluir\~.nlr .\pplvng to Uorh Aliphnricnnd Arou~aticSydems; and Further Applirnriona of Speetru~cnpy. There then follows an interesting and speculative ten-page Epilogue, as the authors look into the future. The authors have recogniaed the problems faced by some readers in utilizing the book, and have written two summaries or indexes. One is concerned with synthetic methods for the preparation of organic compounds, traditiondly classified as acetals, anhydrides, ete. The other summary is concerned with the reactions of functionel .. eronos. Both summaries are indexed to the r c ~ lA, ~ inI t h i r manner, rhc autl~orsilidthe render in l:ndi~.gtr?diriuteri.,l i l l 811 itntvnditi..~~nl text. Like most new approaches, on first glance, the book appears overwhelming. However, as one reads it several times, it slowly begins to have it,s o m appeal.
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I t is a hook for the student with a good background, who has time to read, and who wishes and needs mental exercise. For these students, it would make a very challenging text. For the traditional student and/or teacher, this is definitely not the text. This well-written hook is a worthy addition to the literature of organic chemistry. Like other trail-blssers, the authors have done a, tremendous service in focusing atr t n t w t 11lxm il new qpproach. For rhk for rhe lilmrir< reuson, it is r~wrnmntrl~rl S of all who love lean~my.~ t t t lC P P I X ~ ~fur all who seek new pathways of 1ea;ning organic chemistry.
Chemical Kinetics
Gordon M. Harris, State University of
New York at Buffalo. Topics in Modern Chemistry. D. C. Heath and Co., Boston, 1966. 123 pp. Figs. and tables. 13.5 X 21.5 cm. Paperbound. $1.95. The Metalloids
Eugene G. R o c h , Harvard University. Topics in Modern Chemistry. D. C. Heath and Co., Boston, 1966. vii I l l pp. Figs. and tables. 13.5 X 21.5 cm. Paperbound. $1.95.
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The Noble Gases
H m r d H . Claassen, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, Topics in Modern Chemistry. D. C. Heath and Co., Boston, 1966. vii 117 pp. Figs. and tables. 13.5 X 21.5 om. Paperbound. $1.95.
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The firs rhree uf n =eripsof topical books for t he undergrsduate have been publiihd and are part of a growing trend of giving to the undergraduate a t a reasonable cost and at a reasonable level a way to increase his depth of understanding. These three are different in content and deuth. and all three have few errors. The prkting, layout, and scope of these texts are as described in the publishers' literature and the authors' prefaces. "Chemical Kinetics" is one of the finest introductions to kinetics available and is s very welcome volume. After a very short historical introduction, in simple language, the state of the art. the . nroblems faeine- an understanding of rate processes, and an outline of how a reaction mechanism can be deduced are described in Chapter I. Rapidly the concept of the activated state and collision theory is outlined in sufficient detail and with good references so that a student can pursue it to the depth that he desires. In Chapter 111, the transition state theory is presented in such a way that a student should be so intrigued that he will want to further explore the topic. The rest of the volume continues to present problems and some of their solutions. For example, some of the topics covered are: reactions in flow systems, relaxation kinetics, isotope effects, solvent effects, and
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(Catinued an page A666)
Volume 44, Number 8, August 7 967
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A663
