General Chemistry Laboratory Manual J. Baoer, et al., Stipes Publishing Co., 1980.
This manual consists of 24 basic laboratory experiments designed for edueationallv disadvantaeed colleee students. The manual's aim
the prmeiple in question. I have done mast of the evperments in this manual with my Regents level (average to ahove average) h ~ g hschool students for years, hut mostly as "verification" labs. This manual has given me a great deal of insieht as t o how I could imorove the "mileaee" .. mv . students f i t t in m r h w rrpcrtmrnt* Kt r t wmplc, mrhc.r than .a!. 'Hrrr is .irulrc (11 h m - . ~rnt;mlrr itidrrlcit\ ," the m - i n u n l d ~ rrhc ~ ~.tuutnts t~ t ,mca-"re rhr inn%% and ~ A ~ r.,i-+cral nr brass suys, rhen r u d ~ ~ r i v e empirically the mathematical formula for density. I found that the majority of the experiments are suited for average to ahove average first year high school chemistry students. A few experiments (on density, elassiftcation of elements, formulas of comno~lnds.solutions. and acids-bases) are suitable. with minor modifi~, cations, far below average students, and a couple (on freezing-point depression and cation identification) are suitable for AP chemistry. The only major drawback I found was that the time required to perform mast of the experimentswould exceed that which is normally allotted for laboratorv work in most high schools (one and a half A
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terial for students doing similar experiments. The directions for procedures are clear and precise. A student following this manual would gain experience in all the standard lab skills except filtration. The setups that are complex and time consuming are well illustrated and explained in detail. The labs themselves conform t o all the new OSHA guidelines. Safety precautions are stressed and warnings are given where problems could arise. The worksheets enforce good recording procedure, i.e., requiring that all calculations he shown. All labels that are given through the worksheets make grading easier; however, this may be a crutch for the student, because i t fosters cookbook processing instead of allowing the student toorganize his/ her own data and thoughts. The appendix has a concise but thorough description on the treatment of data including experimental errors, uncertainty, and significant figures. It also includes all the tables that the student might need. The "Introduction" and "First Day Instruction" sections alone make the hook worth the price. Here the authors set the tone for the laboratory work. Equipment and its use is illustrated. Techniques for handling and transferring chemicals is discussed and illustrated. There is muehadviee on how to have themost success in the lahand how t o avoid simple errors.
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MIRIAMR. WHITE Chestnut Hill Acadamv 500 West Willow Grove Philadelphia, PA 19119
Clinical Chemistry six brass slugs-two or three would suffice). Overall, I found this lab manual to be very well written and to contain an abundance of excellent questions and formula derivations. I think it is an excellent source of ideas for those teaching a traditional high school chemistry course to average or ahove average students. RICHARD HERBERT Nyack Hlgh School Nyack, NY 10960
FrantzlMalm's Chemistry in the Lab James B. M f f and Julian T. R o b e ~ s W. , H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, CA, 3rd ed., 1975, $9.95. This is a paper-hound laboratory manual designed t o supplement a general college text but could be a useful reference for any high school student or teacher. I t could be used as the lab manual for an accelerated, AP, or Chem I1 class. Individual experiments or portions of them could be used in a chemistry lab. (Each experiment in the manual is available as a Freeman Laboratory Separate). I recommend this book for any high school teacher's library reference shelf. I t consists of 24 experiments, beginning with simple measurements, covering all general chemistry topics, and ending with a redox titration of Vitamin C. Although the experiments are designed far three-hour lab periods, most of them could be conveniently divided to fit into high school length lab periods. For example, the experiment on volumetric analysis consists of preparing a standard oxalie acid solution, standardizing a sodium hydroxide solution, and then determining the acetic acid in vinegar, the citric acid in citric juices, the purity of baking soda, and the molecular weight of an ammonium salt. Each lab consists of a pre-study review of chemical concepts introduced in the experiment, report forms for the student's data and calculations, and a section of questions and problems which test the student's understanding of the concepts covered. The pre-study sections are succinct but well done and would he goad reference ma-
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Journal of Chemical Education
John Scimone and Robert Rofhstein, AVI Publishing Company. Westport. CT 06881. 1978, 148 pp.. $11.50. The manual, written primarily for the medical technology student on a college level, provides details of laboratory procedures, their rationale, and interpretations. The exercises have been classroom tested and utilize currently accepted automatic and manual techniques. Most of the reagents required are available as kits from various supply houses. The exercises involve the performance of qualitative andquantitative determinations of body fluids, especially serum, plasma, and whale blood. The text is well illustrated with 50 labelled line drawings of equipment and approximately 10 black-and-white photographs, 10 data tables, and 10 graphs. Each of the 14 chapters is followed by a set of 10multiple choice questions, with the correct answers given a t the end of the set. The usefulness of the manual on the secondan level will be limited hy I W U ~ t m sthe : IIUIIIIICIVI adv-inced student- w r h nn i n r r m r i n cim.nI i~~Im,,tury prt~vedure., and tht ~va.labilirvur a c c c s ~ i b ~ l i ~ v ot rhr rrlwlrrnrnt 2.ed tor $ w w irf rhe s p w d u r d ilnalyta mcthc,ds such as spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, chromatography, osometry, coulometric analysis, and autoanalytic methods. Some of the exercises usme a Bausch and Lomh "Soectronic 20" which could be incorporated into a secondary level mediEalteehnology course for capable students include the determination of nonprotein nitrogenous compounds, uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, inorganic phosphates and bilirubin. There is also a chapter covering the aperation of a Gilman electrophoresis cell. In summary, the manual has limlted application for use an the high school level. Difficulties in obtaining hlood samples, reagents, and a well equipped working area will pose major difficulties for some high school teachers.
JIMMCPARTLAND Manhasset High School Manhasset, NY 11030
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