binations. Various special functions may he computed. These include Bessel, spherical Bessel, Gamma, Beta, error functions, and ellintie inteersls. ~ ~ , The a w c and matrisoperationssuhmenu has matrix upwations like finding determinant of a matrix, mwrreofa matrix, simple and Kronecker matrix products, and determination of trace of a matrix. The wave operations are integration and differentiation of an array, and calculating its FFT, 2-D FFT, and inverse FFT. Power Spectrum can he computed. Various complex waveform operation options are also available. We found Asystant to he a very good equation-solving package. However, it must he painted out, that analytical differentiation and integration may he carried out with polynomials only and not with any other trigonometric or algebraic functions. This is the best waveform eenerator and analvsis software we hare seen in t h ~ sprice range. We are confident that it w~llfind numerous instructional uses. Several main menu items cannot he opened unless an array ia previously defined. We find this especially annoying. There is however a minicalculator that provides array manipulation and other features that can he activated once one of these menus is opened. There is a scope for improvement in the user interface of Agvstant. Recent versions of MathCad and Eureka come with mouse support. Asystant does not. The report generator facilities of Asystant are built intoan esailv accessible noteoad. This noteoad is a vervorimitivs text editor. and its o& real, istic function is tostore raw data, which may then be retrieved intoa regular word processor. Graphs and text cannot be comhined in this notepad. The list price of $495.00 is beyond the means of a student. Also, we are unaware of any student version of Asystont. The cost1 performance ratio demands comparison with other equation-solving packages of the same price range. TK!Soluer, MathCad and Mothematica are equivalent packages in the same price range. In our opinion, if the user is looking for acalculator-like interface, Asystant is a clear winner. If, however, you feel more comfortable with a blackboardlike interface, MathCad may he a better choice. ThemathematicalfeaturesofMathematica are much more advanced than Asystant, although its hardware requirement is rather steep (at least an IBM compatible 1.80386 machine is required). MathCad and Mothematica lack comparable waveform analysis features, and their editors are much more difficult to master. The learning curve for Mathernatica and MathCad is muchsteeper than that for Asystant. Chemistry problem-solving hooks are available for Eureka and TK! Soluer. In that sense, these packages are better supported, although they are not assophisticated Asystant. Asystant was tested on an IBM PC with an Intel-80386120 computer with an I80381120 math coprocessor, and 4 Meg memory. The minimal system configuration requires an IBM P C K T or compatible, with 640K memory. I t supports various graphics cards, although for a package this ~
~~
~~
.
~
~
~
.~~~
A196
Journal of Chemical Education
good in graphics, it ia surprising that there is no support for VGA, or enhanced VGA. A math coprocessor (8087) or higher and a hard disk are required. Overall, it was a pleasure to work with Asystant. I t compares very favorably with other number-crunching. equation-solving packages. I t is extremely easy to use, and may be easily adopted far research and advanced laboratory courses. Ajay Shah D e ~ t of . Chemi~t~ S. ~ a k s h m ~i a m a r a j ; DeDt. of Electrical Enaineerina University of Mississippi University. MS 38677
-
useful ehanees which allow the student to experience and learn chemistry. It is a readable text designed to bc a learning tool for the seriomn student. Other featured of this book include many worked problems, an excellent set of review questions and problems of varying difficulty a t the end of each ehapter, and the effective use of color in photographs and illustrations. A complete paekage of supplements accompany this text. I recommend that teachers of general chemistry carefully consider this text in their adoption review proeess. Daniel T. Haworth Marqueue University
Milwaukee. W1 53233
General Chemistry: Prlnclples a n d Structure, Fiflh Edltlon James E. Brady. Wiiey: New York. NY. 1990.x+ 921 pp. Figs.andtables. 21.2 X 26 cm. $49.95.
One Hundred Years of Chemlcal Englneerlng: From Lewis M. Norton (M.I.T. 1888) t o Present Nikolaos A. Peppas (Editor). Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The NetherlandslBoston1London. 1969. vIii+ 414 pp. Figs. & tables. 14.6 X 22.2 cm. $99.00.
This hook, now in its Fifth Edition, remains an interesting and easily understood text for the student and is up-to-date with respect to trends for teachers of chemistry. These objectives, as indicated by the author, have been fully met in this edition. This edition consists of six parts: a basic introduction to chemistry, theory of electronic structure and bonding, physical properties of substances, factors that control chemical reactions, descriptive chemistry, and nuclear reactions. The chapters have been written to accommodate a flexibility of piesentation that will satisfy most individual preferences to teachers of chemistry. Substantial changes have been made in the presentation of topics. Some of these changes were suggested by this reviewer of the Fourth Edition (J. Chem. Educ. 65, 1988, A25). Some of these changes are the introduction of thermochemistry early in Part 11. The bonding chapter has been rewritten and the discussion of molecular orbital theory is now in the Appendix. The chapter on the gas laws has been shortened and a good hlend of theory and practice is presented in the chapter on thermodynamics. The Bransted-Lowry theory underlines the acid-base equilibria chapter. Cell diagrams are now included for galvanic cells. Of particular interest is the addition of tables of thermodynamic data collected in the Apoendir. I t would he amiss for this reviewer rake credit for any of these changes: however, it is pleasmg to know that authors do seriously conslder thoughtful re\,iewa and comments from rolleegues. The elimination of selective precipitation of metal sulfides has heen replaced by using metal hydroxides and carbonates. This omission, while justified due to the complexity of the topic, represents a blow to those of the teachers who have long taught the theory of qualitative analysia using hydrogen sulfide for metal sulfide separation. Also deleted are the chapters on organic chemistry and biochemistry; however, sufficient elementary organic chemistry is included in Chapter 22, along with a section on inorganic and organic polymers in Chapter 23. Other eliminations have reduced the ..~ size of t h i ~hook by 50 pages from its previousedition. I hope this trend will continue. This Fifth 14:dition has incorporated many
In September 1888 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Prof. Lewis Mills h'ortun (1855-1.393) introduced a cuurse on industrial chemistry-the first structured course in chemical engineering in the United States. Other chemistry departments soon introduced four-year programs in this s u b j e e e t h e University of Pennsylvania and Tulane University in 1894 and the University of Michigan and Tufts University in 1898. In 1893, on Norton's death, his successor, Frank H. Thorpe (1864-1932), took over his course and in 1898 published Outlines of industrial Chemistry-the first texthook of chemical engineering. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers was founded in 1908 with 40 members. (The current membership of the A I C ~ Eis 55,000.) Since these early beginnings as a simple induotrial chemical analysis uf processes, chemical engineering has developed into a mature field. To commemorate the centenary of Norton's course an American Chemical Society symposium was held at the Third Chemical Coneress of North America (Toronto. June 5-10. 1988). The hook under revipw. a volume in Kluwer'~Chemists and Chemistry series, includes 18 of the symposium papers, ranging in length from 8 to 69 pages, by 22 contributors (some authoring more than one paper) from the United States, England, Austria, the Netherlands, and India. The subtitle gives a false impression of the time coverage of the book, for some of the essays consider developments much earlier than Norton's course (the one on India deals with events as early as 2500 BC). The volume presents a thorough historical analysis of the origins of chemical engineering, theevolution of industrial chemistry, unit operations. thermodvnamics. reaction eneineering, ;ransport phenomena, mathematical analysis, and the modern interdisciplinary approach. Chapters are dwoted to the field as shown in its texts and journals, especially Chemical Engineering Science (Pergamon Press). One of the editor's four contributions examines the academic connections of 20thcpntury Amerrcnn chemical engineers, with emphasiron the influenceof 1Rth-and 19thcentury Swedmh, French, and German
~
~
~~~~~
~
