book reviews "ant prohlema, then to develop the science needed to discuss these pmhlems. This is, therefore, not a text that uses energy and environmental pmhlems as examples, but, rather a text that looks a t environmental problems and the science relevant to them." T h e book is directed to the non-science major. This should not he interpreted as heing directed to the student who is functionally illiterate in science but rather to the post-secondary student who is not taking science courses a t the university level although the student has adequate high school preparation in physics, chemistry, and hiology to pursue additional courses. I t is the refreshing experience of reviewing a text on these themes written to the literate reader that has prevented this reviewer from concluding that this is just another text, among a proliferating number of texts, about science and more specifically the sociology of science many of which emphasize energy, environmental, and population problems. The first 36 pages contain a review of the concepts of energy, atomic structure, and the concept of functional groups in organic chemistry. If this reviewer were using the text, Chapter 2, Population, Resources, and the Quality of Life, would he omitted or used preceding the last chapter, Chapter 9, 1,eealities. Polities. and the Future. Althoueh energy and environmental problems, this reviewer felt a knowledge of the biology of reproduction was assumed and the reader for which the text was intended would be lost in the mechanics of contraception. In Chanter 3. Air Pollution. Professor M'nde contlnws the deeelupm~nrof thp scnptwe rhrmiarrv of rplerlcrl molwulei and the several facets of energy development. Beginning in this chapter and continuing through Chapters 4 and 5 is found a balanced discussion of the problems, polities, and policies related to energy balances and transportation. These discussions form a basis for consideration of future energy sources and policies including nuclear power. Chapter 6, Water Pollution, Chapter 7, Solid Waste and Recycling, and Chapter 8, Pesticides, are done in a style representing the best qualities of the book. Chapter 9, Legalities, Politicsand the Future. contains a wealth of information. As
ace, "In several instances I have applied my own value judgements and argued for a particular solution or a particular policy." This reviewer differs on some of these positions, others will accept, and still others will differ with other opinions. These differences of opinion may well influence the use of this text. For example rather than e h ~ o s efrom Forrester's work the example shown as Fiwre 9.2 that emphasizes collapse if current physical, economic, and social relationships continue unchaneed. a curve from the same
is the section a t the end of each chapter following questions and preceding the Suggested Outside Reading list entitled Questions Requiring Outside Reading. Here references are emphasized by means of a thought provoking question. Through these questions the scope of the book is enlarged and many term papers suitable for introducing relevancy into any science course are found. Since the hook is about science, rather than heing a presentation of science, many of us will not have an opportunity t o consider the use of this text for the chemistry courses we teach. However, I was impressed by the presentation and would suggest any instructor, whose objectives and students may he reached through the described approach, should give serious consideration to this text. W. F. Arendals The University of Alabama in Huntsville Hunhviile. Alabama 35801
General Chemistry Laboratory Operations. Thlrd Edition
Lawrence E. Conroy and Robprt C. Rrosted, University of Minnesota: R. Stuart Tobias, Purdue University. Macmillan Publishing Co., h.,New York, 1977. vii 258 pp. Figs. end tables. 2 1 5 X 28 cm. $6.95.
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The t h ~ r d e d i t i o n o f t hgeneral ~r rhcmi-try Inhuratoq book ir ngfl radicall~diffwrnt than the recnnd edition. The book apprnr- ro hp desiped for a science majors laboratory class meeting oncea week and contains 22experiments. A number of the experiments are open-ended and would allow some time adjustment t o the laboratory period by having students perform more in-depth studies. Most of the experiments require the student t o calculate a yield or analyze en unknown which allows the instructor to more accurately determine the student's expertise. The manual retains a number of useful Appendices such as Units and Conversion Factors and Reagent Concentrations and contains many helpful illustrations of laboratory technique and calculation. Experiments are available t o cover most of the important topics such as kinetics, thermochemistry, equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry, oxidation-reduction, gas laws, colligative properties, coordination chemistry, and qualitative analysis. The major changes in the third edition are the deletion of three experiments from the second edition and the substitution of three new experiments. The deletions are "Atomic Weight of a Metal," "Thermal Analysis: Phase Diagram for a Binary System," and "Determination of a Solubility Product." The titles of the new experiments are "The Chemistry of Covalent Compounds," "The Preparation of Aspirin," and "Wet-Bench Analytical Chemistry." These changes illustrate theswing t o a more balanced approach in presenting descriptive and quantitative material a t the freshman level. The third edition is also much less bulky than the 8eCond due to the use of liehter weieht .. omer . . and such thlngsasthe nnrluc~onof three p ~ r t e i u f ~ r a p hpnper rather than nineteen. Dr. Carl J. Popp
a more appropriate conclusion for thescientific literate. Probably the strongest feature of the text A106 / Journal of Chemical Education
New Mexico h s t n m of Mining and Technology S m m . New Mexico 87801
An Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Williorn H. Reuseh, Michigan State Universitv. Holden-Dav. -. Ine... San Francisco. 1977. xavii 817 pp. Figuresand tables. 18 X 25.4 cm. $19.95
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This volume may set an entirely new direction in the development of organiechemistry texts. It is short! In only 680 pages, the author covers essentially the same material that competitive texts do in 1200 or more pages. Very few shortcuts were taken to achieve this length. The book is designed for the mainline organic course, not the honors1 accelerated course or the abbreviated (one semester) course. Topics are arranged according to the functional group approach, hut mechanism and stereochemistry are handled early and comprehensively. We have completed one quarter of our organic sequence with this text and found that Chapters 1-8 (244 pages. covering aliphatic hydrocarbon chrnmtry, s p w t r w ~ u ~- t~c~r .e o ~ h ~ n ~ ~ t q , nlkvl h n l ~ d ~alr~,hds. r, and ~ h t r r nrr l msd) ,wnnImed. \VP anticiuatc that Ch~nwrs')-I4 and bnrts of 15-16 (ahout another 240 pages, with aromatic chemistry, amines, earbonyl compounds, and some special topics) will be covered in the second quarter, and the remainder of Chapters 15-16 plus Chapters 17-19 (about 200 pages, with polyfunctional compounds, rearrangements, free radicals, periryclic reactions, amino acids and derivatives, carbohydrates, and synthetic methodolnev) will be covered in the third auarter that we actually can cover more material comfortably in a quarter, because there ir less oppmtunity to become sidetracked or bogged dawn in details, and overall perspective is mare easily maintained. This text offers a number of advantaees uthrr than i 7 e . .%nsw~rs 10 a11 the pml>lems wlthin the c h a p t ~ r are s given i n il IIIO-PRY(. ~ u ~ p l e m e at n t the hark of the I,wk An-ucra to questions a t the end of the chapters are available in a separate study guide. The complete package (text and study guide) currently costs the student under $25. Because so many current undergraduates feel obliged to purchase an entire package, the publishers have done them a service by keeping the packagestreamlined.The problemsin the text are generally quite goad. The quantity is reasonable, so that a professor would not overly burden the student by assigning all the problems. Proliferation to a numher far beyond the capability of most undergraduates, as has occurred in some other texts, does not really help the student. I find thearrangement of material verygmd. Theauthor has chosen totreat a given subject within a single chapter or in contiguous chapters, rather than to divide topics up. Thus all of stereochemistry is in Chapter 7, all of aromatic chemistry in Chapters 9-11, and all of carbonyl chemistry (including condensation reactions) in Chapters 12-14. Treatment of these topics can be more effective when done a t once. Although several specific areas were given outstanding treatment, 1 will single out only one for mention. The reactions of alkenes (Chapter 5) masterfully combines synthetic considerations with stereoehemistryand mechanism, so that the student can appreciate all aspects of the (Continued on page A108)
