GENERAL CHEMISTRY: A LABORATORY MANUAL OF SEMI-MICRO METHODS
John F. Boxter, Professor The University of Florida. lishina Co.. Minneaoolis. 129 pp. 21 X 27.5 cm: 53.50.
of Chemistry, Burgess Pub1956. ix t Paper bound.
THISm m u d waii mitten exprensly for the aut,hor's onm course. Instead of drawings oi apparat,us, one finds, "Spt up an apparat,ns like the snmplc appamt,us on the stock shelf." I t is written, however, in such a manner and the experments arc so chosen t,hat anyone xvodd find it readily ndapt,able. The existencr of so few mnnnals for ~cmimierogeneral d~rmiatry raperimentntion makes it. worthy of note by nll who attempt this type of instruct,ion. Howrv~r,t,he semimicro character does not stand out. It, could just a8 easily be used by those not, having changed to semimicro methods. Therr are 19 assignments for a t,wo-semestcr course with one t,hree-hour laborat,nry ~ m i o d cneh weck. Initial instnxtions are given t,o the student in some detail, with a n emphasis an technique and safety. The anthor believes firmly that it ia better to do s few things well and in depth, rather than to attempt such a wide coverage as is nsnslly stt,empted. I n nceortlanec with this, many of the erperiments are quantitative or else illne trativo of theory. Much of the first mnester's assignment is in the a r m of acid-base relationship and equilibrium theory. The second semester continltcs in this vein with applications to qualitative analysis. This work, however, is not intended to he a regular course in qualitative analysis. Only a limited number of cations and anions are studied. The student is expected to use a good deal of initiative in developing his awn analytical scheme in the light of previous observations and theory. Oxidation-re-
duction and complex ion behavior are included. The manual closes with an assignment on the chemistry of the halogens. But even here i t is not the l~sualpreparative and descriptive type of experiment. Rather, the artt,har once more puts to work principles of oxidat,ion and of complex ions. G L E N R. MILLER
C.osnru C ~ ~ , , B O E Goannx. INDI*N*
LABORATORY STUDIES IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Williom F. Ehret, New York University, New York. Second edition, the Century Sex.ies. Appleton-Century-Crofts. Inc., New York, 1955. viii 295 pp. 3 6 figs. 21.5 X 26 cm. Paper bound. $2.75.
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T r r ~second edition of this popular Inborntory manual maintains the basic approach of the first edition but repre8ent.s u. drastic lrvision in content stimulated hy went developments in chemistry and by t,he experience of the i n t w vening yems. This mamtal eonbnins fifty-one experiments and ten appendixes. About eight experiments might be rlassified as inorganic preparations, about nine deal with analytical chemistry, approximately n i n e tern with what might be termed "chemical principles." The remaining are descript,ive inorganic msterial. Crratev emphasis has b ~ e nplaced on the critical evaluation of experimental result,s, and the use of "unknowns" has been eontinued. The appendixes include "much information of general value to t,he student as he proceeds with the course," such a8 exponential notation, significant figures, and the use of logarithms. Of interest t.o instructors is the sobdivision of experiments into units of
operation which make assigning pnrts of experiments casier. Moreover, the rise of apparatus, quantity, and number of chemicals consumed has been materially reduced. Most of the question^ and problems appmded to the experiments are new. A double-column format, many more illustrations, and single report shwts for each enperimrnt we fewtnres of the second edition. This mnnual represents a solid, ranventional approach to general chemistry lzboretary inst,rurtion and reflects t h r experience derived from training many t,hooasnds of st,udenta. W I L L I 4 M T. LIPPINCOTT MIC~CA STATE N UU~YERPITT EAST T.nssr~o,Mrcrnohn
GENERAL CHEMISTRY
J. A. Timm, Professor of Chemistry, Simmons College. Third edition. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1956. viii 636 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 23.5 cm. $6.
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T ~ r i~ s the third edition of a popolar textbook by Professor Timm. RIoat readers will applaud his success in trimming the number of chapters and pages. This is, indeed, a rare nccomplishmmt. I t is probably the one exreption that was needed to prove the rule that revisions are always bigger and "better." The author has attempted a conve1.sstional ~ t y l eand is fairly sucressful in the theoretical disrursions. Descriptive seetions, however, tend to be reminiscent of the reference book. There are chapters where same users would wish for less descriptive detail and more structural enlightenment. Instructors seeking a, stimulating frcslr approach are going to be disappointed. This author is yielding ground slowly, fighting a. delaying action all the way. (Continzted on page AlZ4)
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
