Fundamentals of Chemistry Karl Kumll, D. Van Nostrand Company, New York. NY. 1980. xii 530 pp. Figs. and tables. 19.5 X 23 cm. $17.95.
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This text is designed for use in an introductory chemistry course which presumes no previous chemistry course in the student's background. Only modest skills in mathematics at the level of first-year algehra are required. Specific topics sueh as equation solving, use of exponential numbers, scientific notation, graphing, and other essentials are developed very early in the hook. Dimensional unit analysis or the faetor label method is used throughout. Chapter coverage is comparable to that in mast texts of this genre including matter and energy, atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, stoichiometry, states of matter, solutions, acids, bases, redox, and rates of reactions. b c h of rhr thirteen chaptcn mirally kgins with a list uf r,hjrctiveu. 'l'hr prdn~o6irnl r~gimefdluuedirtotell thertudent what 1s to h~ learned in the chapter, present the information, and finally remind rhe student what rhuuid haw bern lrnrned and whnt will he important to build upon in subsequent chapters. Also included is an explanation of why the topics covered are important in chemistry. Although self evident to the chemist, such significance is not obvious to beginning students. The author's making it explicit probably will provide needed motivation for some students. Numerous solved problems are provided within the chapters and a large number of questions and prohlems follow each chapter. Answers to selected problems are provided in the text and a complete set of answers is available in a separate "Solutions Manual." Proper use of terms is emphasized with a review at chapter
ends and the provided glossary. The author has kept well to his task of providing the fundamentals of chemistry. Depth of coverage is not profound although for the most part statements of chemical fact are accurate. More demanding or extended topics sueh as molecular orbitals and organic chemistry are left to later courses. As might he expected in a first edition, the text is not without flaws. Some are accidental or perhaps typographical such as "fluoride" for fluoride, "hepthanol" for heptanol and "A" rays for y rays. In certain figures Naf is shown as larger than H-, nonlinear hydrogen bonds are shown in liquid water and elements such as Be and Mg are given electron affinities of zero. In another fieure the most orohnhlc dlqtanrr of on elrrrnm from the nuclpus is equated with the 90': prohnh~lityboundary. The reprcscntntiun u i clrrcron clouds always presents something of a problem and the author's choice of a smoke ring-like representation of electrons in orbitals may instill some unfortunate mental imagery in heginning students. However, for the most part, the few deficiencies in the text could he re-
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in format, easily read, and appropriate in its scope and level of treatment. A supplemental "Study Guide" by the same author is available which provides further aid in problem solving and concept utilization. It precisely para)lels this text in chapter coverage. Donald J. Brown Western Michigan University Kalarnazoo,,MI 49008
General Chemistry, S e c o n d Edltlon Ralph S. Becker and Wayne E. Wentworth, Houghton Mifflin. Dallas, 1980. xviii 855 pp. Figs. and tables. 20 X 24 cm.
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Study Gulde for General Chemistry, S e c o n d Editlon by Becker and Wentworth Benjamin L. Carroll, Henry Shanfield, and Russell A. Geanangel. Houghton Mifflin Co., Dallas, 1981. 299 pp. 18.5 X 23 cm. Seven years separatr the fir31 and serund rdit~onsoithistext. Although s r c t i u m t r ~ m the firat edition are read~lsrrcuynired, the greater impact of the second edition is immediately discerned. The use of color for section headings and notes in the margins skillfully provide the reader with an outline of the important words and topics. The 300-page Study Guide (written by Benjamin L. Carroll, Henry Shanfield, and Russell A. Geanangel also of the University of Houston) reinforces the outline and should provide the additional drill required by some students for mastery of the required skills. Both editions of this text were written "for an introductory full-year course in chemistry, with students of chemistry, science, and engineering in mind. . . .I t is written a t a level comprehensible to beginning college students. The student needs no knowledge of calculus and no previous exposure to chemistry in order to understand the material." How can the two editions he sosimilar vet so very different? Experience of the authors may provide the answer. The text relies heavily on empiricism. The authors have changed the order in which topics are presented. They have brought together descriptive materials, observations and results of experiments to reinforce the skills required to practice chemical tethnology. The order of topics presents a convincing "logic of the discovered." Although many professors may (Continued on page A202)
Reviewed in this Issue Karl Kumli, Fundamentals of Chemistry Ralph S. Becker and Wayne E. Wentworth, General Chemistry. Second Edition Benjamin L. Carroll, Henry Shanfield, and Russell A. Geanangel, Study Guide for General Chemistry. Second Edition John Daintith, Editor, The Facts on File Dictionary of Chemistry David J. Malcolm-Lawes, Introduction t o Radiochemistry William R. Stine. Applied Chemistry, Second Edition Paolo Manifto, Biosynthesis of Natural Products Howard T. Odum and Elisabeth C. Odum, Energy Basis for Man and Nature Jamal T. Manassah, Alternative Energy Sources, Part A and Part B Ian M. Cambell, An Examples Course in Reaction Kinetics. An International C a s e Studies Approach Sconish Schools Science Equipment Research Centre, Editors, Hazardous Chemicals: A Manual for Schools and Colleges Albert Hofmann, LSD: My Problem Child Richard Evans Schultes and Albert Hofmann, Plants of t h e Gods: Origins of Hallucinogenic Use New Volumes in Continuing Series Titles of Interest
Reviewer Donald J. Brown W. F. Arendale W. F. Arendale George B. Kauffman Gregory R. Choppin Robert S. Cichowski Tom J. Mabry Susan Helms Buddhadev S e n Norman C. Peterson Malcolm M. Renfrew George B. Kauffman George 6. Kauffman
Volume 59
Number 6
June 1982
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ROOH REVIEWS prefer to include more of the "logic of discovery" in their presentations, at the same time they recognize that students do not enter beeinnine colleee " courses knowledee~~" able eoncernine matter and chcmirnl rhnnee. "-Since previous experience in chemistry is not required, the text begins with the development of skills that support early laboratory experimentation and builds to a crescendo at Chapter 16, Chemical Thermodynamics. Nine excellent chapters follow this chapter: Phase Transitions and Equilibria; Solutions-Two Component Systems; Chemical Equilihrium: Thermodynamic Basis for Chemical Equilibrium, Electrochemistry; Chemical Kinetics, Transition Elements; Industrial Processes; and Nuclear Reactions and Their Application. Two optional descriptive chapters, Biological Molecules and Reactions and Photochemistry complete the text. Descriptive organic and inorganic chemistry are woven skillfully together throughout the text. The reviewer believes that the authors have reached their goal of providing "material actually needed by all students of general chemistry," and that they have presented "it a t a level comprehensible to the student." The inclusion of large amounts of descriptive chemistry together with the forty pages of Appendices and a Table has provided a reference book thatthestudents will find useful throughout their college careers. Although this text does not include some topics that many texts provide for the chemistry major, a student thoroughly familiar with this material and who has mastered the selected he skills oresented in this text should ~-~~~~~~~ - - orepared for additional courses in chemistry. The gains related to the integration of ideas within and between disciplines should more than compensate for any loss. This text could become a classic among empirical texts. Where "service requirements" represent a majority of the students, this text deserves consideration for adoption. W. F. Arendale The Universihl of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville. AL 35899
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The F a c t s on File Dlctlonary of Chemistry John Daintith, (Editor). Facts on File, Inc.. New York, NY. 1981.233 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22 cm. $14.95. This relatively short volume is one in a continuing series of dictionaries of the sciences. (The other volumes now available deal with astronomy, biology, mathematics, and physics). Consisting of some 2,200 concise and cross-refermeed entries explaining the most important and commonly used chemical terms from absolute alcohol to zwitterion as well as some 45 line drawings illustrating chemical structures, this hook is intended for students, researchers, pharmacists, technicians, and "anyone who uses chemistry in evervdav life." Entries include the elements.
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Journal of Chemical Education
of evervdav , , terms. Enelish. rather than Americnn, ryrlling is used. The prridir rnhle and r a l h listin{: the rhrrnical demmts. physical constants, elementary particles, and the Greek alphabet appear in an appendix at the hack of the hook. In keeping with its brevity, a number of terms related to included termsare omitted. For example, there is an entry for "muriate" but not for "muriatic acid;" one for "dehye" hut not for "Dehye-Hlickel theory;" ones for "coordinate hond," "coordination number," and "complex" but none for "coordination compound." "Br#nsted acid" is mentioned under "Lewis acid" hut is not cross-refereneed; an entry appears for "LowryBr#nsted theory" hut not for the more common term "Br#nsted-Lowry theory." The eauation for the hvdrolvsis of sodium ear, , hlmare (p. 19'2, incorrerfls shows carbon~r acld as a pnduct rathrr than the hyrlnamcarbonate ion. Other currently available chemical dictionaries with smaller print and larger pages provide much more extensive coverage and will he found more useful to chemists and chemical educators. For example, "Hackh's Chemical Dictionary" (4th Ed., McGrawHill, 1969, vii + 738 pp., $49.50, "55,000 entries), "Glossary of Chemical Terms," C. A. Hampel and G. G. Hawley, (Editors),Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1976, vi 281 pp., $17.95 HB, $8.95 PB), and "The Condensed Chemical Dictionary," revised by G. G. Hawley (Van Nostrand Reinhold. 1981, xi + 1135 pp., $42.50) all contain brief biographies of scientists, more extensive cross-referencing,and far many more entries than the volume under review. The up-to-date "Condensed Chemical Dictionary" also contains information about American technical societies as well as source or occurrence, chemical and physical urouerties. commerical erades. hazards. ;hipping r&lations, proprietary names, and mnnufacturer's names for numerous chemical twnpounds. I.'m the perion rrqumnr: a s h m chemival dictionary t h c ' F a r u on Filp" \rJ. ume may he of some value, hut hefare purchase it should be compared with other available dictionaries with respect to coverage and price. Georae B. Kauffman California State University. Fresna ~~~~~~~~~
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provides names and addresses'of "rniscellaneous sunolien." Since all these s u ~ ~ l i eare rs British r;;mr. 11 in unlikely [hat [hey will he of intcrear to Amrricau readers. It IS uncertain wl~ere[hi\ I ~ b miaht k find application in the chemistry curriculum. Perhaps it might serve as a supplement to a senior-level laboratory course in radiochemistry, but given the rather superficial coverage of the topics and the high price, it cannot be recommended. Gregory R. Choppin Florida State University Tallahassee. FL 32306
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Applied Chemistry, Second Edltlon WilliarnR. Stine. Allyn 8 Bacon, inc., Boston, 1981. xvi 576 pp. Figs. and tables. 19.5 X 24 cm.
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This hook of 134 oaees .. has 11 chanters mwring t,asic I,svkgn,und I mrepti, men surernpnt of radivactivity, r a d w h r m ~ r a l trrhnqups, and health aspects of the [use uf radioactivity. The first three chapters contain very brief, elementary discussions of some basic material relating to radioactive decay and the preparation and detection of radionuclides. Unfortunatelv. the brevitv of the text does not allow preparation of the~studentto do anything in connection with the material covered. For example, after the study of Chapter ~
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Introduction t o Radiochemistry David J. Malcolme-Lawes, John Wiley 8 Sons. Somerset, NJ. 1980. v 145 pp. Figs. and tables. 16.8 X 24.3 cm. $24.95.
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by a far too sketchy description of gamma spectrometry. The coverage in Chapters 7-10 of radiochemical techniques, the preparation of labeled compounds and the storage of the latter, is well done although, again, the length of the book imposes rather severe constraints on the number of techniques described and the examples provided. The author does include several examples of the calculations involved
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Fresno,CA 93740
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2 the student would be incapable from this text alone of calculating the length of time required for an irradiation to obtain a desired amaunt of a certain radioactivity. To cite another example, the author describes secular equilibrium although he does not use the term, hut he fails to describe transient equilibrium which is commonly encountered in the preparation of radionuclides in reactors or accelerators. Chapters 3 4 are concerned with aspects of counting and measurement of radioactivity. Again, the rather superficial coverage does not e a u i ~the student to ouerate in a
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"Applied Chemistry, Second Edition" is a new title for the second edition of Stine's "Chemistry for the Consumer." The author has written this as an alternative to texts currently marked far general chemistry courses for nonscienee students. Stine reasons that these students do not require a solid analytical foundation in the traditional areas of chemistry hut instead would benefit from an understanding of chemistry encountered in everyday life. So, for example, rather than begin with a measurement review or a detailed description of current atomic theory, found in many general chemistry texts, Stine succinctly defines an atom and radioactivity in Chapter 1 and then spends the next three chapters discussing nuclear and radioehemistry including diagnostic and therapeutic
