Guide to the Chemical Industry (Emerson, William S.) - Journal of

Guide to the Chemical Industry (Emerson, William S.) Harold A. Wittcoff. J. Chem. Educ. , 1984, 61 (11), p A302. DOI: 10.1021/ed061pA302. Publication ...
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use of computers in the educational setting. The ereatest value of this book is that i t will assist the novice hy giving invlght to the type, of applmtionr of micnmmputers. It will also enhance the instructors' ability to ask the "right questions" a3 they move ro integrate the use of computers in heir curriculum. The booklet speciticnlly address~af w r twiuu: ( I ) how computers can enhance instruction; (2) the features that are of special interest t o science teachers; (3) some ways computers can be used in the laboratory; and (4) resources that are available. As these topics are discussed, the reader is introduced t o much ofthe key jargon of computing. Sevrral dffrrent pvtential applications arp discussed. Each 1VDC is illusrrated bv r e f ~ r enee t o a eouole bT commerciallv available software packages. The pros and cons of each applwation are also discussed.'l'he softnare programs featured are drawn not only from chemistry but also from other sciences including astronomy, biology, and physics. Criteria are suggested to aid the teacher in selecting appropriate software. These criteria will he especially useful for the beginning user and .. ereatlv assist them in the evaluation of software. Them is a summary irf imporrnnt features for science teachers to nmrirler when purchasing the computer such as languages available, graphin capability, and the ahility to interface the computer t o instruments. Different approaches t o microcomputer laboratory interfacing are also described. Summarizine. this hrief hooklet will eet " the neophyte in ciksroom computing off to a good start. I t is a succinct, ta-the-point puhlicatian, and it includes references t o books, articles, periodicals, and organizations that the teacher can turn t o formore detailed information. Jerry L. Sarquis Miaml University

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to give insight into the "frame of referenre" of industry. There are excellent wmmarien a t the end of the chapters which in a few sentences emphasize what the chapter is about usually in terms of a n industrial orientation. Part 1is devoted to technology with most of the emphasis on the organic chemical industry. The coverage, which was obviously intended only t o provide a broad overview, is adequate. In a discussion of tetraethyl lead (p. 51, however, there is no indication that the compound is rapidly being phased out of gasoline. The inference (p. 17) that automabiles are finished with water-borne acrvlics is misleading, and the statement rp. 18, that epoxy resin* can ul,viuusly be cured "with almost anything" id at best imprerise. Similarly, there are seriuuv errors in the chapter in chemicals from petroleum. The of inference (D. .(:I) that thedehvdrmanatiun . . ethane is now competitive for the production of ethvlene with the refiner" crackine of propane is clearly in error. Ethane &hydrogenation as distinct from cracking ir not practiced, and the only source of ethylene is the so-called steam or non-catalytic cracking of saturated hydrocarbons. The statement that the ethylene can he recovered hy use of carbon is certainly not representative of industrial practice. Unfortunately, many more such errors appear in the hook. This is not an unusual problem in books that cover a broad area. We must not take the author to task t o much for these errors, for overall his book achieves the objectives that he set for himself Perhaps a later edition will be more accurate. I'm 2 deals with managing and marketing. Here theauthor isobviously at homeaith the topics he has chusen tu divruss. The chapter on patents is gwd. How industrial research and development is evaluated, how companies are organized, the impartanee of g o d report writing, and what marketing does all orovide imoortant insiehts. The hook ends k i t h a disc;ssion of a n industrial career and how to get a joh. The author i- to be commended for indicating carefully the w u r c e d hrs data and rdeas. The rndex appear3 tu be carefully done. Harold A. Wittcoff Chem Systems, lnc. 303 South Broadway

Tamown. NY 10591

Guide To The Chemical Industry William S. Emerson. John Wiley 8 Sons, 330 pp. Inc., Somerset. W , 1983. xvi Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 24 cm. $35.00.

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This is one of several books now availahle t o helo the student as well an the workine rhem& and engineer to learn more atxnlt the rhemiral industry. The author discusses the rhemiral indurtry in terms of technology. research and development, marketing, and employment. An important objective of the book is t o give the reader a "feel" for industrial chemistry. By a variety of techniques the author accomolishes this admirablv. He stresses key poinu in theselection of agivcn process. puint* out how industrial and arademir chemistry differ, and continually tries

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Journal of Chemical Education