For the teacher who found some faults with the first edition, a look a t this new book is well worth the time.
book reviews Editor: W .
F. KIEFFER
College of Woorter Wowter,
L)ONILD A. TARK Sl. Olaf College Norlhjicld, Minnesota 66057
Ohio General Chemistry Laboratory Text
General Chemistry
Theodom I,. Brown, University of Illinois. 2nd ed. Charles E. Iterrill Publishing Company, Colnmbns, Ohio, 1968. xx 668 pp. Figs. and tables. 18.5 X 24.5 em. W.95.
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hl this new edition, the changes are described quite accurately by t,he author in his preface. From n good, relatively high level book written very concixely and wit,h a m m h e r of imaginaiive and difficnlt problems but r e r y few mutine calenlations, he has made ~nat,hergood book which is written "in 8. mare ruminative st,yleH and with more exercises; still requiring considerable thought and insight. At the same time, he hits enlarged the material on "descriptive" chemistry, t h e solid state, and especially the sections on chemical bonding and the malecr~lar orbital approach. The appearaitce of tlw book has heen improved by new figures, t,ypography, m d a striking cover (Cortisone in polarized light). On examination, it seems that the criticisms of t h e first edition have been met sqnsrely and very soccessfolly. I n many sections, the trest,ment is identical, bnt where there are changes it is obvious that they are not simply minor addit,ions. Topics have been regrouped t o bring out interrelationships whieh could easily have been overlooked in t,he first edition, and t,he old and new material, have been blended together smoothly so that t,here is no feeling of transition between the t,wo. The approach to bonding is now clearly oriented to molecular orbitals, with t h e t,reatment carefully leading the student from the hydrogen molwole through other diatomic molecules and on t o benzene and a few ot,her polyat,omic cases. The linenr combination of wave functions is int,roduced with the approach a t a level whieh would allow the inutrnctor t o go
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readily into more detail if he wishes t o do SO.
Thermodynamics has been moved t o a n earlier position, and entropy is now introduced in terms of statistics and probahilities. Akhoogh not as extensive as the coverage in some other general chemistry texts, the chapt,ers cover the topics which bear most strongly on chemical phenomena and the results are used in the later chapters on equilibrium, electroebemist,ry, and descriptive chemistly. I t is st,ated bhst the student will need skill in algebra, hut not calcdus, and t,hat, no previous physics or chemistry is assumed. On the whole, I would agree with these ~ t a t e m e n t swit,h t h e usual qoalificsi tion t h a t the student who has previous experience in physics, chemistry, and calculus is obviously better prepared for t,he study of the subject regardless of the text used. The instructor using this hook with a class which includes strtdents wilh minimal preparation in these areas will have t o spend some time making the connections between the t,ext and their previous experience, hut this should not rule out its use with such classes. The writing is clear, complete enough t o satisfy all but the most advanced student,, and the level is reasonable. The one t,opic which is still treated very concisely (eight pages in one chapt,er, 3-4 pages scattered in others) is stoichiomet,ry. All the necessary information is included, hut, many classes will need extra drill beyond t h a t provided. A separate problem msnnsl may he needed for this and for drill generally. An appendix on balancing oxidation-reduction equations is also brief, but complete and with enough exercises t,o serve most purposes. Far the teacher looking for a consistently readable, thorough treatment of the t,opics usmlly covered in a first course in chemistry, this hook is highly recommended.
in this Issue
Thedore L. B w m , General Chemirtry Wilberf Hutton, General Chemistry Labomtory Text
. . .402 . . ,402
Olaf Runpist, CliffordJ . Cmslr>eli,and J . Thomas Head, Chemical Principles: . . .A443 A Programmed Text, Parts I and I1 John C. Slater, Quantttm Theory of Matter
C. J . H . Schutle, The Wave I\lechanics of Atoms, Molecules, and Ions. An Introduction for Chemistry Strtdents
D . A . Johnson, Some Thermodynamic Aspects of Inorganic Chemistry
G . D. Palges, editor., Rlellor's Modern Inorganic Chemistry C. A . Parker, Phot,oluminescence of Sahttions With Applications tn Photochemistry and Analytical Chemistty
. . .A447
. . .A447 . . .A448 . . .A449 . . .A449
Wilbert Hufton, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. 2nd ed. Charles B. Merrill Publishins Co.. 565 pp: Columbus, Ohio, 1968. xiv Figs. and tables. 23 X 27.5 em. $4.95, paperbound spiral.
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R e a d e r who are familiar with the first edition of this text need not pursue this review further. The second edition is similar to the first, though indeed improved. Professor Hutton asserts t h a t we onght to "more fully utiliee the laboratory for the learning of new material rather
which preceae many of the experiment directions, and has included provocative exercises and questions, fallowing the directions, for the student t o answer in his writ,ten report. The experiments have a physical chemistry flavor: vapor pressure of a solvent and a solution, effect of temperature on the rate of a reaction, determination of the ionization constant of a weak acid. ~otentiometricmeasure-
of the two new experiments added is in this category), determination of atomic weight from combining weight, and a study of the stoichiometry of permanganate ion reactions are among the twentyfive experiments now presented. I t is common knowledge t h a t only a few laboratory manuals among the many which are available present a viable challenge t o the student; too many merely enable the student t o demonstrate a phenomenon or a principle t,o himself by going through the manipulations. Indeed, such s. demonstration is probably needed, in most instances. However, a laboratory manual can go further (though few are available which do so). Huttan presents a thoiough discussion of t h e pertinent ideas to the student in the pages whieh precede the experimental directions. As a result, questions about the chemistry involved are raised in t h e mind of the student. At the laboratory bench, some of these, a t least, are answered by the self-demonstratian which the student carries ont. They are further considered by the student when he sttends t o the challenging question5 t h a t follow the directions. As was stated in the review of the 42,689 (1965)) first edition (THISJOURNAL, this is a viable way t o teach chemistry in the 1a.horatory when the logistics of the locd situation requires the ~iseof graduate teaching assistants. This laboratory text is highly recommended for serious consideration. Jnu A. YOUNG King's College
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
402
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lovrnol o f Chemical Education
