Inside Chemistry
book reviews
Charles Compton, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1979. xix 569pp. Figs. and tables. 24 X 19.5 cm. $16.95.
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is misleading. Further, the "almost" implies that orncesses exist which do not involve the
though thisis implied. T h e remaining chapters of the text are conventional. Electrochemical Cells and Chemical Kinetics frdlow the material an Thermodynamics, with Kinetics introducing the first use of calculus notation. T h e text concludes with particularly relevant chapters on Nuclear Chemistry, and Molecules in Living Systems and with treatments of Spectra and Structure of Atoms and Molecules, and Metals. Overall this is a worthy addition to the well-populated ranks of general chemistry texts. Complexity is largely avoided, though at times the quest for simplicity creates misleading impressions. T h e treatment of atomic and molecular structure has uriginal elements. T h e support material is sound. While I do have some criticisms these are no more than I would make of almost any text, and its virtues will clearly outweigh its drawbacks for those students whom it is designed to serve, students in other than honors o r advanced sections. Teachers with sueh classes should give it serious consideration. Colin MacKay Haverford College Haverford. PA 1904 1
T h e author of this new text for nonscience students has obviously put much effort into providing learning helps for the reader. Writing the prose is a small part of what has been done, as evidenced by the following: wide margins for generous inclusion of figures, formulas, equations etc., frequent Notes to Students, Special Short Essays of less than a pagesuchas "Black Gald,""What is Water Fluoridation?" "What is Life?" A olethora of tables, formulas, graphs, pictures, &toms, and thoroughly labelled equations are all within the body of the chapters. At the end of each chapter are: Key Words, Summarizing Questions for Self-Study (answers in text), Practice Exercises (answers in Instructor's Manual) and Suggestions for Further Resding. Seven Supplements and a Glossary a t the end of the book make it almost certain that nothing is overlooked. Only learning ohjectives or a syllabus are missing, andone hopes that the intended audience will not feel averwhelmed with learnine aids.
medicinal agents, nuclear energy, polymers, etc.), has become reasonably standard for nonmajurs' texts. However, this one has same differences. Chapters 9 through 15, approximately 60% of the text, are written to be freestanding and thus to permit omission or altering of the order of presentation. T h e Preface suggests ways to package these
chapters in order to give a n environmental, or a life science, or an economic emphasis to t h e course offered. Chapter 7, titled "How Are Chemical Reactions Classified and Organized?" cuvers an area not usually dealt with in similar texts. Five reactions are identified: ion-combination, proton-transfer, decomposition, polymerization, and electnm-transfer. Nearly all chapter titles, incidentally, are in the form of question. A design for course flexibility and several new approaches, thus, characterize the overall organization of materials. T h e author has a tendency to use large, complex chemical structures rather early, as well as frequently, throughout the text. T h e formula for morphine appears on p. 6, followed by structures for its antagonists and mention of agonist-antagonist relationships on p. 11. Chapler 3, on bonding, begins with t h e formula for novocain and a dozen pages later the author states that he has tried to keep formulas as simple as possible. Organic structures sueh as acetic acid and ethyl alcohol appear in this early chapter, together with other organic compounds in the problem set, long before the chapter on organic chemistry. T h e experience of most teachers is that numerous technical details may impress but also frighten nonseience students. A slow and orderly development of complex material is essential. T o be fair, optional sections and optional Practice Exercises are clearly labelled in this book, so that one can omit materials that do not serve the instructor's general aims. I t is certain that what is selected for mastery from a book such as "Inside Chemistry" will havemuch t o d o with haw it is received by varying groups of nonscience students. A definite strength of this book is the accurate and generally favorable treatment of the chemical industry and its chemists. I t is obvious that the author has done his homework on selected developments and on individual chemist's contributions to research on new drugs, hormones, and other chemicals. I t is refreshing to note an upbeat approach to the chemical industry as a contrast to much of the current pessimism about chemical compounds, many of which are alleged to be carcinogenic. T h e writing is very smooth, with a style that is efficient yet interesting. Print is not large so that the five hundred pages, excluding supplements etc.. contains a wealth of material. I t is set in a very readable type, however. Literally every page one opens will have illustrations, formulas, or drawings added to the written word. If you like to have a text for your nonscience students from which you may select-as one may choose favorites in an art gallery or choice specimens in a museumthis is the text for you. I t is thorough, aceurate, original, and will hold the attention of your best students Roger E. Beyler Southern lllinois University Carbondale, 11 62901
Basic College Chemistry Don Roach, E d m u n d Leddy, Jr., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1979. viii 636 pp. Figs. & tables. 24.5 X 19.5 em. $16.95.
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