General College Chemistry
book reviews Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Womer
Charles W . K e a a n and Jesse H . Wood, both of The University of Tennessee. Harper and Row, Publishers, New York, 717 pp. Figs. 1971. 4th Ed. riv and tables. 24 X 21.5 cm. $11.95.
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Woostor, Ohio
This reviewer has had the occssion to review the first edition of this book (THIS JOURNAL, 35, A2fi (1958)) and the third lntrodurtion to Chemistry 43, 620 (1966)). edition (THISJOURNAL, To this extent the objectives serve the As in the third edition the authors have reader as a pre-summary. T . R. Didcson, Orenge Coast College. fallowed the trend toward more theoretical The problems range from descriptive to John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, material but still have retained the matequantitative and encompass many levels 1971. 447 pp: Figs. ilnd tables. 26 rial not contained in most General Chemof mathematical proficiency and quantitaX 18 om. $9.95. istry books. The mathemcltiod developtive reasoning. Emphasis is placed upon ment of the theoretical principles has been This well written book is designed for a meaningful and current application9 in limited to simple algebra and does not oneaemester course for the terminal many of the problems thus allowing the require the understanding of calculus. student or the student who needs prepsrastudent to have a better understanding of Instead of the more rigorous approach, the tion for further study. Textbooks written why chemistry is necessary and useful. introduction of a useful equation is prefor this course have been relatively few in The mathematical principles are well ceded by qualitative discussion of experinumber. Although a few excellent ones handled, being introduced into the text mental procedures leading to the forms1 are currently on the market it would he when the principle is appropriate to the relationship. wise for m y instructor to examine this concept under discussion. The mrangement of the twenty-nine book in detail before making a new selecA worthwhile plus for this text is the chapters in the fourth edition is almost tion. inclusion of many laboratory techniques exactly the srtme as that in the third ediThe strong points in this book are many. and principles. This has the advantage of The author has selected several approprirelating the laboratory to the lecture in a. tion, except by rearrangement of material and condensing the material that previate analogies to explain the concepts subtle way and for those few classes in ously occurred in three chapters into two, throughout. This is of great value to the which laboratory work is not included will and an additional chapter has been added student who has difficulty in grasping present the student with some feeling for on coordination chemistry. The arrangeabstract ideas, such as probability with the way in wh'ich chemistry "works." ment of the material is quite conventional reference to electron location. Although the text is a bit lengthy to be in its sequential nature. The beginning The author has written in a style which covered in a beginning one semester chapters on measurements and concepts is lends itself to easy reading and comprehencourse, the author hss placed at the end of followed by four chapters on atomic sion, although a t times the concepts prethe book those chapters which may he structure and bonding. A discussion of sented are of sufficient rigor that only the omitted without destroying the continuity. hydrogen, oxygen, and water precedes the more capable student will grasp them. The I t is unfortunate that this practice exists chapter on kinetic theory which leads organisation of the text is good but not as it results in the terminal student getting naturally into the gas laws and calculaunique, following the general format of little or no exposure to some general biotions. The following four chapters are many general chemistry and introduotory chemistry or organic chemistry concepts. devoted to solution chemistry which inchemistry texts of the past decade. A very complete index and useful apcludes a. rather detailed discussion of the With the current emphasis and discuspendices complete this book. It is a. book colloidal state not usually found in general sion on writing of hehaviorsl objectives in not without faults, but with so many chemistry books. The placement of the all fields of education, it is of interest to strengths that it warrants a thorough innext five chapten is hard to connect to note that the author precedes each chapter vestigation and should be well accepted what has gone before. Two chapters on with a list of objectives. This is well done by both faculty and students. nuclear chemistry are fallowed by thermoand the objectives ohosen are realistic. A KENTE. BACKART chemistry, a second chapter on structure, student readine this will not onlv learn and one on electrochemistry and oxidationPalomar College whRt might beexpeoted of him d& also reduction. These may be included here to San Marcos, Calif. 9?2069 gives him an insight into what is to follow. provide 8. break in continuity of perhaps a. natural place to stop with solution chem-Reviewed in this /sue istry a t the end of the first semester and to T . It. Diekson, Introduction to Chemistry start with nuclear chemistry at the beginCharles W.Keaan and JesseH. Wood, General College Chemistry ning of the second. Elementary Principles and Harvey Diehl, Quantitative Analy~is: The ten chapters following electroPractice chemistry are evenly divided between C. T . Kaner, Analytical Determinations and Separations: descriptive inorganic chemistry end orA Textbook in Quantitative Analysis ganic chemistry, and the final chapter disC. T . Kenner, Laboratory Directions for Analytical Separations and cusses the total chemical nature of our Ileterminations: A Manual for Quantitative Analysis world. J. Rez Goates and J. Beuen Olt, Chemical Thermodynamics: This fourth edition contains almost 100 An Inbroduet~ion pages less than the third edition. But by Calvin A . Ruehler and DonaldE. Pearson, Survey of Organic Syntheses increasing the size of the pages and putting Frederick A . DetteIheirn, Experimental Physical Chemistry the illustrations in the margin of the text, Eugen Mullel; editor, Methoden der Orgmischen Chemie. Band the fourth edition still contains as much if 5/1C Teil 3. Kohlenwasserstoff. Conjugated Dienes, Diehlsnot more material than the third edition. Alder lleaction However, the new arrangement makes the John T . Stock, 1)evelupment of the Chemical Balance book more attractive than the old. The Marlin Karplus and Richard N . Po~ler,Atoms and Molecules: An illustrations are now almost completely in Introduction for Students of Physical Chemistry two-color format and 21 full color photoGunther Tdg, Ult,ramicroElemental Analysis graphs showing fundamental phenomena Sir HaroldHartley, Studies in the IIist,ory of Chemistry are included. Ilalph G. Pearson, Modern Theory of Acidsand Bases The subject matter covered in this book Fmler D. Snell ilnd Leslie S. Ettre, Encyclopedia.of Industrial is in general more complete than that Chemical Analysis. Vol. 10 R. J . Reynolds and I f . Aldous, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy New Volumes in Continuing Series (Continued m page A38) Volume 49, Number 1 , January 1972
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A37
book reviews
throughout all phases of the text does make for interestine and informative resdine:
found in most general chemistry textbooks, since industrial processes are described rather in detail wherever it is possible throughout the book. In fact; the instructor using the hook will have to pick and choose some of the material and perticulmly only portions of the exercises since over a thousand are available at the end of the chapters. Teachers of beginning college chemistry who are concerned with the problems of accepting average students into a program which is destined to serve as a science requirement and in preparation for more chemistry should find this book very helpful. The explanations me clear and concise, and the illustrations are particularly well done. The separation of the problem exsmples from the text by a colored line, emphasizes the importance of the quantitative nature of chemistry and can be used extensively, or left out by choice. The inchion of the features mentioned above, plus the absence of typographical errors and misstatements makes it easier for the student and the teacher to select an adequate program for general chemistry.
presentation. There has been considerable reorganiaation in the presentation of material. C h a p ters have been shifted around, and some topics have been placed in new and s e p arate chaoters. The text now consists
in the earlier text. Major changes are found in the following chapters: Density and Specific Gravity (material now in a separate chapter), Spectrophotometry (formerly, Colorimetry), Theory and Praetice of Titrimetry Based on the Formation of a Precipitate, Theory and Practice of Titrimetry Based on the Formation of a Slightly Dissociated Compound (material on precipitates and slightly dissociated compounds was previously found in a single chapter). The remaining chapters include revisions of various degrees; such revisions including the deletion of some topics (for example, titrstions with bromate and indirect analysis), plus the inclusion of new topics (for example, single-pan balances and relative standard deviation). JAMESF. CORWIN As in the earlier hook, answers to the numerical problems are not included. Antioch College The book includes brief, but valuable, Yellow Springs, Ohio 46387 passages celled Notes at the end of a number of chapters. New laboratory experiments include the determination of aluminum in brass, using EDTA, and determination of calcium and magnesium in the analysis of limestone, using EDTA. Quantitative Analysis: Elementary The laboratory procedures throughout the Principles and Practice book appear to be quite good. In the revision process some attempts H a w q Diehl, Iowa State University. have been made to update the descriptive Oakland Street Science Press, Ames, material by using modern terms and 454 pp. Figs. Iows, 1970. vii phrases; for example the use of titrimetric and tables. 29.2 X 22.5 cm. $12.50. in place of volumetric and the use of nanometer. I t is unfortunate that not all This introductory textbook presents a striking appearance. The book is exsuch changes were made; for example A F is still used in place of AG and molar extremely well bound, rests flat when opened tinction coefficient is still used. Much of to any page, contains wide margins for the material is still presented in a. very making notes, and contains well presented elementary form. The reviewer questions figures and tables. After the initial exthe statement that the activity of elecamination of the book, the reviewer looked trolytes "is properly a subject for the for the Preface. There is no Preface to course in physical chemistry" (p. 131). explain the author's "purpose or philosIntroductory courses can introduce such a ophy." An examination was then made concept, and it is misleading to introduce of the book, "Quantitative Analysis," by H. Diehl and G. F. Smith (THIS the discussion of the Nernst equation by defining and using only molar concentra30, 321 (1953)) in order to comJOURNAL, tions (p. 196). The passages on rtcids and pare the two texts. It became apparent immediately that, although modifications bases do not make use of the Bronstedhad been made, the two texts were very Lowry concept. The subject presentasimilar. Much of the written descriptive tions in the chapters are generally written material, including many numerical prohwith clarity. More literature references lems, figures, lab experiments, tables, plus could have been given. Although the much of the Appendix, and the Glossary, organization of material is quite good, has been taken from the 1952 text. This some orders of presentation might have book, therefore, becomes essentially a been improved. Thus, peptieation is revision of an earlier ane-a revision with mentioned in Chapter 7 (General Operathe following major change: "A fair tions of Quantitative Andysis), graviamount of the history of chemistry has metric determinations are presented in been incorporated into the text. This is Chapter 8, and separation by precipitation a, distinct departure from American praeis discussed in Chapter 21. This text will he recogniaed as a revision lice and places this text in the forefront by those familiar with the 1952 book. of the trend in undergraduate education For those not familiar with the earlier text, away from the premature presentation of it should be noted that the present text advanced technical material and toward contains the traditional material presented a more humanistic and cultural approach." in an elementary form. The criticisms The inclusion of much such material
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A38
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Journal o f Chemical Education
mentioned above are not serious ones; the present hook does not differ markedly from the trsditional texts currently available and compares well with them. The book contains sufficient material for a onesemester or two-quarter course in quantitative analysis for freshmen or sophomores (it is used a t Iowa State University as s. text for a two-quarter course giien to freshmen students majoring in chemistry), but does not contain sufficientmaterial for a. second or more advanced course, such as "instrumental analysis."
J. M. PAPPENHAQEN Kenyon College Uambier, Ohio @OB
Analytical Determinations and Separations: A Textbook in Quantitative Analysis
C. T. Kenner, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Assisted by Richad E. O'Brien, El Centro Junior College, Dallas, Texas. The Macmillan 395 pp. Co., New York, 1971. xx Figs. and tables. 26.2 X 18.5 em. $9.95.
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Laboratory Directions for Analytical Separations and Determinationr: A Manual for Quantitative Analysis
C. T . Kelzner, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. The Macmillan 216 pp. Co., New York, 1971. vii Figs. and tables. 25.5 X 17.8 cm. $3.95.
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As Professor Kenner states in his Preface to "Analytical Determinations and Separations," the chemistry curriculum is in a. state of flux. In addition, he is absolutelv correct in that the ouantitative
ate chemistry courses. Here yesterday, gone today, back in another spot tomorrow. No one can say with certainty what the sndytical course will he or where it will settle down in the "newer" chemistry curricula being developed at this time. This uncertainty is one of the causes for the somewhat unsatisfactory nature of the books (or book) being reviewed. In discussions with various people, one acquires the feeling that the economio difficulties of the publishing industry have led many publishers to try to make sure that every text-hook is suitable for all possible markets. Professor Kenner correctly indicates that there is a need for a lower level quantitative analysis book than some of those presently available. Hawever, a. book of this sort naturally would have a limited market. Therefore, somewhere along the l i ~Professor , Kenner has been prevailed upon to add sections an several of the more sophisticated analytical techniques and we are back to ground zero again. We now have a book covering the elementary principles in a really excellent manner, with chspters on spectrophotom(Continued on page A4O)
