book reviews
Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry
D a a l d I. Hamm, Soubhwestern State College, Weatherford, Oklahoma. Appleton-Century-Croft New York, 1969. x 811 pp. Figs. and tables. 19.5 X 26cm. 8 . 9 5 .
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Edjtor: W . F. KIEFFER Collage of Wmtsr Wooater, Ohio The Development of Chemical Principles
Cooper H. Langford, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, and Ralph A. Beebe, Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, Massachusetts, 1969. 384 pp. Figs. and t,ables. 17 X 24 cm.. $7.95. This is a modern text with versatile applicability; well organised and thoughtfully written. I t is suitable as the basic text on the development of principles within the new currieulae wherein the content of the first courses reflect those gemeral areas of structure, synthesis, and dynamics. I t can also be used as a. fint semester text or supplemental reference for those stillusing the so called traditional curriculum. The authors have been successful in their development of principles by beginning each section with empirical observations and then guiding the reader through the building of theories pertaining to those observations. Throughout this kind of development the historical sequence of events is deftly utilized. Especially appreciated are tables and figures such as Way-Lussac's Summary of Volume Relations. ," p. 24, "Illustrations of Cannisaaro's Analysis . . . ," p. 30, and "Le Bel'sExamples of Structures. . ," p. 94. The format is smooth and flowing. The authors have made sound use of an appen-
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dix, or as appropriate, a seminar at the end of nearly all of the chapters. In the appendices current methods for treatment of points developed in the chapter are set forth in asuccinct manner. The seminars hold discussions on various ideas that are used to explain and to correlate the pieces of information given in that chapter. Although the book begins with the very basic idem, it will not be boring to the wellprepared freshman student. The adept student will not only be challenged, but will appreciate to some greater degree those basics to which he has already been introduced. The exercises and problems me, indeed a challenge; considerable thought was given to the details of the problems as presented to the student. Although a number of the problems are worked in the seminars, the omission of at least short answersto the other exercises detracts from the utility of some of the better problems. The book is in excellent physical condition. I t is free of mistakes and mechanical errors. Generow use has been made of tables, diagrams and figures; all me well labeled and lucid. I t is difficult to fully evaluate a text without putting it to use with one's own students. I would recommend this text begiven that chance. DWIGHT A. PAYNE, JR. Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana
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Cwper H. Langford and Ralph A . Beebc, The Development of Chemical Prindples Donald I. Hamm, Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry K. M. Mackay and R. Ann Maekay Introduction to Modern Inorganic Chemistry D. Bmson, Mechanisms of Inorganic Reactions in Solution: An Introduction Daniel R. Stull, Edgar F. Westrum, Jr. and Gmad C. Sinke, The Chemical Thermodynamics of Organic Compounds Harris 0. Van Orden and Garth L. Lee. Elementaw Oreanie Chemistry: ABrief Course S. Coffey,editor, Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds. Volume 11, Alicyclic Compounds; Part C, Polyoyclio Compounds, Excluding Steroids D. Brennan and C. F. H. Tipper, A Laboratory Manual of Experiments in Physical Chemistry Douglas Henderson, editor, Physical Chemistry: An Advanced Treatise. Volume 3, Electronic Structure of Atoms m d Molecules D. R. Broumina, .. editor. Chromdoera~hv . DurenldE. S a ~ t d s Introdurtis,ll , t~,Cry~rallc*mpttv Franl. Glorkiny, The Chculislry of1;rrmnrtium H'ollrr . I . .'irhronlrr,'l'h~ l'rimnry?rruc t u r c d l'nrtci~u. Principles and Practices for the Determination of Amino Acid Sequence F . D. Gunslone, An Introduction to the Chemistry and Biochemistry of Fatt,y Acids and their Glycerides Leopold Gmclin, Handbuch der bheoretischen Chemie E u p c P . Laczari, editor, Dental Biochemistry New Volumes in Continuing Series
An earlier text by this same author, "Chemistry: An Introduction to Matter and Energy" has received an extensive, favorable review in a nrevious issue of TIIIJ Jor.nn.rr. (42. (33 (l!Li . \l'hilc rhi. is not the same I,rmk, itidcrivutiwa ic olwiI . \\'ha1 Pn,lcisor 1I.lmm has done i i to prepare a, faster-moving text from the same outline, using the same ihapter headings and paragraph headings in much the same order. The greater part of the compression (thirty-six chapters are now twenty-nine) occurs at the beginning, but rewriting and condensation are evident. throughout. Because the earlier text way intended for the beginning ~tudent,and this one is not, a. number of the features that drew frworable comment before have been deleted or sharply cnhiled. For example, the slow, detailed start, and the special chapter an Laws, Theories and Hypotheses, have been dispensed with. The early introduction of ihe descriptive chemistry of t,he alkali metals has been eliminated. That topic has been moved from Chapter 5 to Chapter 15, where it becomes an effective part of a larger aeqoence. Because the old text wa? as complete ss one could want, t,his new one does not penetrate any deeper. Neither does it use any more sophist,icated mat,hematics. What it does do is to permit the serious student with somescientific background to get about his business more quickly. With so much to be learned, and so little time to spend a t learning, a forthright approach like this should commend itself to R. great many students and their teachers. Certainly, this text is a worthy companion to the earlier book. The author is to be congratulated upon this intelligent and conscientious daptat,ion: his publishers should be congrntulated on their share in the preparation of a readable, attractive volume. ROBERT D. EDDY Tzcfls Universily Medford, Massachusetts 02166
Introduction to Modern Inorganic Chemistry
K. M. Mackay, University of Nottingham, England, and R. Ann Mackay. Intertext Books, London, 1968. (Available from International Textbook Co., Scranton, Pennsylvanis.) 258 pp. Figs. and tables. 22.5 X 28.3 cm. $8.50.
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This new text is intended far use in the British schools. The husband and wife team who wrote it are qualified respectively in inorganic chemistry and eduesi tion. The question of interest to domestic readers of THIS JOURNILis whether the bookissuitilble for the onesemester nndel; graduate inorganic courses now taught at the junior or senior year at most places in Volume
47,
Number
4, April 1970
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A299
