suggests the few modifications which are needed for running on APPLE, PETICBM, or TRSBO computers, as well as those changes needed for use with eathode-ray terminals. The hook's few drawbacks are mechanical: a binding that may not survive extensive student use and reproductions of computer printout that are occasionally difficult t o read. In summary, this hookshould hevaluahle to any chemistry teacher who has access to amino- or micro~computer.Use of its programs, and at" programs which it may inspire the individual teacher to write, can he expected to produce a positive response from students as they ohtain immediate feedhack to their answers. Teachers who mav he
particles i n t h e new version is considerably improved comnared t o the 1968version of t h i s film. T h e new version of t h e h r n c a n b e r e n t e d for five-day periods for $15 plus r e t u r n postage a n d insurance from: Herman Miller, Inc. Resource Center-Film Library 8500 Byron Road Zeeland, MI 49464 616-772-3284
for almost all of the commonly used classroom computers.
C. FRANCIS EGAN Kimball Union Academy Meriden. NH 03770
D€ LlRRlf JUDICIA Inside Chemistry Compton, Charles, McGraw-Hill. New York, NY, 1979
Chemistry with a Computer Paul Cauchon, Programs for Learning. New Milford, CT., 1980 184 pp. $14.95 (soft cover)
Instructor's Manual-$4.95
1 I t isunusual to find computer software with afarmofBASIC that is sn comoatihle that it can he run as is in nearlv.anvmicrocom~uter. . The hrond ranee of trmics from electronic confieuratian. and densitv ..~ ..-.-.-~~~o~ t o gas laws, KSP, pH, solubility, periodicity, to mention a few, cover alevel of difficulty which ranges from basic high school chemistry to advanced classes. In addition, the material can he used for independent study. The simplicity of the haok should make i t attractive to those just getting started in computer chemistry. The few differences in available forms of BASIC are also considered and directions are eiven to ~~
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gram materials available for a camputer-aided chemistry course. The
.oroerams are hiehlv .. . interactive and nacked with instructions. Several desirable features include a math help section and extensive error nreventinn. =.-. ...... Roth of ~- these characteristics helo toreduce student difficulties in using the material. Also included are sample runs of each program including a detailed output, which is a big help in determining and finding errors. This text should find a place on the shelf of anyone, beginner or experienced programmer, using computers in chemisry. The clarity and accuracy as well as the cost per program make this book worth serious consideration as a teaching reference work. ~~~~~~
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Central H.S. Route 50 West Breese. IL 62230
Chemistry with a Computer is a very useful collection of 28 instructional computer programs written in the BASIC language. These programs should prove valuable both t o the computer neophyte, far direct use, and ta the teacher experienced in using a mini- or m m o computer as an instructional tool, to whom they will suggest the kinds of programs which can he written and utilized in an introductory chemistry course. More than half the programs are in the style of a tutorial or drill session, offering the student the advantage of immediate error car rection. Most of these tutorials ~ncludea nkth routine which provides the student with help in calculations when needed. The oroerams ~. are remarkahlv free from "bues" - and are well-documented. each withabstract. oreliminarv orenarations. deserintion.
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Flexibility and general interest are my first thoughts to best describe "Inside Chemistry." It is a general text written for use with the non-science oriented student. The approach relates chemistry to everyday interests and concerns. A background of basic chemistry facts and principles are given a t a rapid-fire pace in the first eight chanters. Formulas.. eauations. and math relationshins are briefly ----r--~ exnlained. hjit little emnhasia isolaced uoon extensive Jse. Structural ...r......-, ~~~~-~ formulas are used throughout the text,not somuchfor memory as for illustration of the nature and interaction of chemical compounds. Only simple atomic structure is explained. Each chapter allows flexibility t o the depth of topics and some are reinforced with supplements a t the end of the book. Theunits conclude with self-study questions with answers, practice exercises, and suggsted readings. Why is ice slippery? What is antifreeze? The case of the dipping bird! Why does a pond freeze from the topdown? These are just afew of the short essays dispersed throughout the book-a definite plus, hoth mteresting and informative. The remainder of the hook seems valuahle for high school use. Included topics are: nuclear reactions; chemistry and food, chemistry and medicine; chemical industry; future energy sources; and environmental orahlems. These are extremelv interestine and well explained to&, and could he considered for an optiard high school course. Specific topics could he assigned to students for class pre-
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hieh school co&. I have enjoyed perusing the book and recommend iticonsideration
MARVINR. COLLINS Anderson High School Cincinnati, Ohio 45230
This text is well-written for its intended audience-the university non-science student. Since the reading level is for the mature student, comprehension should be easy for students who have had a year of highschool chemistry. Chapters are well-illustrated with generous use of tahles and figures. Chapters end with a cartoon related to its content, a List of Key Words, Summarizing Questions for Self Study, Practice Exercises, and Suggestions for Further Reading. The last pages contain supplementary sections for the student, a well-organized glossary keyed to sections of the text, and a comprehensive index. The text is essentially non-quantitative. The lack of mathematical rigor has not detracted from the clarity of material presented in the text. S.I. units are not stressed while old metric and same Enelish units
language systems. They appear, far example, to be completely compatible with all PDP-11 BASIC dialects. An appendix to the haok Volume 59
Number 2
February 1982
167
chapter serves to introduce the student to the meaning of chemistry by discussing the search for improved pain relieving agents. To illustrate the nature of chemistry, the discussion describes how more questions are generated than are answered in this search. Although chapters two through eight are devoted to chemical orinciules. most current secondarv texts would be more suitable for the high school student. he remajnder of the chapters are independent of one another. "Inside Chemistr~"has a place among a high school chemistry
168
Journal of Chemical Education
teacher's reference texts. For students having completed one year of high school chemistry, the text could well be used as aone or two semester non-laboratory course, especially if supplemented by outside readings from magazines such as SciQuest, Diseouery, and Science 80 and 81.
CLEMZIDICK Wasilla High School Wasilla, Alaska 99687
