General Applied Chemistry
Stanley E. Manahon, University of Missouri. Willard Grant Press, Boston, 1978. Figs. and tables. 18.5 X 25.9 cm. riii 562 PP.
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This book is intended for nonscience majars and is aimed a t a broad audience. There are seven introductory chapters describing basic chemistry concepts, followed by a chapter on water and water pollution, gases and the atmosphere, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. The remainder of the book deals with a wide range of chemical-related topics including medicine, occupational health, industrial chemistry, instrumentation, agricultural chemistry, crime, energy, household products, and fbod. In addition, all chapters contain practical examples of how chemistry relates to everyday items and events. For a general hook for nonscienee majors, this text uniquely covers the many areas of chemistry. A two-color format is used to set off subheadings and some figures. The many illustrations and photographs are a definite asset fur the bmk. Unfortunately, all the figures do nut carry titles and this omissim causes some confusion about where the figures apply. Overall the chapters are well written and readable except the chapter on chemical arithmetic. This chapter is rather hard to follow and attempts topresent too much new material; however, an instructor may easily omit parts of this chapter. The introduction of molarity in the chapter on sulutians is not very well done. Each chapter ends with a set of review questions, mostly fill in the blanks, followed by the answers. An additional set of exercises is provided with answers a t the end of the hook. These end-of-chapter exercises and questions are very good and are adequately graded as to difficulty. The book contains the usual number of typographical errors for a new book, but these errors should not detract from the usefulness
of the text. Overall the book is quite g o d . Instructors looking for a text for a nonscienee major course should consider this book. Roger 0.Bany University of Missouri Columbia, 65201
Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Second Edition Edited by Williorn H. Brown, Beloit College. Willard Grant Press, Boston, 1978. Figs. and tables. 26 X 18 cm. xiv 434 pp. $15.95.
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This hook is intended as a text for a short course in organic chemistry. It is oriented toward students interested in biological or health-related areas. In preparing the second edition, the author has retained nearly all of his previous coverage, much of it intact, but has redistributed certain topics to more appropriate places. Chapter 2 (1st edition) on chemical and physical properties has been entirely redistributed, e.g., the section on hydrogen bonding has been shifted to the chapter on alcohols. He has made some additions, notably a final chapter (16 pages) on ir, uv and nmr spectroscopy, which may he taken up a t any time, or readily omitted. He has also included an optional section on spectral analysis in each of the chapters which deal primarily with functional groups. In my opinion, the additions and rearrangements in this edition result in the improvement of an already good textbook. Distributed throughout the book are eleven "mini-essays" on biochemical or industrial subjects designed to arouse student interest. The tirar rhaplcr ic dwurrd t c , hondiny theory. including a di~cuiiionof ~ 1 . .p ~ . nnd sp l,ylrrid~zntimt o pxpimn (:-('. L O . nnd
C-N honding. Chapter 2 is on alkanes and cycloalkanes and chapter 3 covers alkenes and alkynes (the latter barely mentioned). Carbocation mechanisms are introduced here to explain orientation in electrophilic additions t o alkenes; free radicals to explain polymerization. A mini-essay on the industrial production and uses of ethylene follows. Chapter 4 is on stereoisomerism. Biological significance is introduced as early as possible, e.g., asymmetry in enzymes is discussed. An NAD oxidation of an alcohol is illustrated in chaoter 5. the chaoter on alcohols. ethers and
substitution. Chapters 7 through 10 deal with aldehydes, ketones, carhoxylic acids, and their functional derivatives, and amines. Aldol and Claisen condensations (including an acetyl CoA illustration) and alkvlations of acetoacetic and malonic esters, along with mechanisms, are included. Chapters on carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and proteins and nucleic acids follow. There has been more revision in these ehapters than in any other parts of the book. Discussions of ascorbic acid and amino sugars have been added. The Edman degradation for end-group determination replaces the Saneer method. \lini+acn)s on cl:ni
