Chemical Education Today
book & media reviews Foundations of College Chemistry, 9th ed. Morris Hein and Susan Arena. Brooks/Cole: Pacific Grove, CA, 1996. xxii + 626 pp. Figs., tables, and photos. 21.1 × 26.2 cm. $61. In addition to being suited for a preparatory chemistry course, the broad acceptance of previous editions indicates that this text can be used for one-semester general-purpose chemistry courses, such as those for applied health fields, and in courses for non–science majors. This is a paraphrase of part of the preface to the 9th edition of Foundations of College Chemistry, and I concur. The level of treatment makes the text suitable for students having limited or no background in chemistry. Principal differences from the last edition are in the introductory and organic chemistry chapters. It is said that the latter has been revised to emphasize the connection between molecular structure and function; however, structural formulas and nomenclature retain considerable emphasis. Other changes are improved explanations throughout, problem-solving assistance, and design features such as photographs and visual effects through color. Key terms by alphabet and paired exercises (one of each pair has the answer provided) are among chapter-end new features. A glossary and a dozen new Chemistry in Action features have been added. As expected, a text that has been refined though several editions has its contents presented clearly and well organized, and in a conventional sequence of topics. Explanations of principles are generally excellent, and the methods of solving numerical problems are thoroughly explained. However, some of the preliminary narrative at the beginning of chapters (9, 11, and 13, for example) seems out of place in
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a chemistry text, and should be omitted or rewritten in any future revision. There is a wealth of types of questions and problems at the end of each chapter, providing an instructor with an ample and flexible selection of both fact reinforcement and calculation exercises. The color schemes and margin notes are a little fussy, but overall the presentation of the book will probably be attractive to students. There are a few errors. For example, in Chapter 10 Faraday and Arrhenius are credited with contributions to Dalton’s theory of the atom. Throughout Chapter 16, molar concentrations of species are frequently unitless. In more than one place the hydrolysis of ions is unrecognized. A few cross references would be helpful. The activity series of metals is invoked in three contexts without such reference. The shapes of some organic molecules (Chapter 19) are explained as if there had been no initial discussion of molecular geometry (Chapter 11). In a review of the 5th edition (J. Chem. Educ. 1983, 60, A203), I noted that chemical kinetics was scarcely treated and amines were not introduced. These shortcomings persist—the latter curiously so, as amino acids are described, and there is scope to include them in both acid–base theory and organic chemistry. The mostly excellent Chemistry in Action features surely increase the need for some references to other scientific literature throughout the text. Most of the reservations are minor, and I recommend that this text be considered for adoption in the courses for which it is intended. A text surviving through eight editions has obviously been favorably received. The current edition should continue the tradition.
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 74 No. 8 August 1997
Colin D. Hubbard Institut für Anorganisch Chemie, Erlangen, Germany
