General Chemistry
Roland M . Whittaker, Queens College, Flushing, New York. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 1959. 751 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $12.50. The rapidity of the changes that have occurred in the teaching of college general chemistry is indicated by the large number of new general chemistry texts that have appeared during the last decade. These are now reported to exceed 75 in number. There is justification for these many new volumes as long as they present new points of view, and compel continuous orientation by teachers t o new developments, thus preventing chemistry courses from beFoming stereotyped. The author states that "this book is intended as 8, text for the customary first course in chemistry a t the college level." In the opinion of this reviewer, "the customary first course in chemistry" that the author mentions was the rallege course in chemistry of a generation ago. The material is traditional of that era. Lip service is paid to some of the newer developments in chemistry by adding a paragraph here and there. The chapter on ionic equilibria, for example, ends with a few lines on the activities of ions-though nothing is said about ion atmospheresand the chapter on the determination of atomic and molecular weights includes lines on the mass spectrograph. The reviewer looked in win for evidence of the use of concepts and ideas commonly presented today in general chemistry. Thus atomic and molecular weights are presented as relative weights instead of being given inatomic mass units; the mole concept is not stressed; there is no presentation of the meaning and types of unit cells as determined by the use of x-rays; the distinction between ideal and real gases is not discussed; the significance of s, p, d and f sub-levels of electrons in connection with the transition metals is nowhere mentioned; the Brhsted-Lawry concept of acids and bases is mentioned but not stressed; the spatial arrangements of such common molecules as methane, ammonia, are not presented, etc. There is much evidence of a lack of precision in the employment of many common working concepts of general chemistry of this era. Thus on page 303, water is shown with an angular formula but hydrogen peroxide has a linear formula; on page 120 there is confusion over the terms mass number and atomic weight; on page 304 there is no distinction in usage hetween the terms valence and ozidotion stote. The physical form of the book is not attractive. I t is printed on heavy glossy paper; the figures are few in number and very inadequate. The price of this volume 1812.50) is excessive in terms of many competing general chemistry texts now available.
reminiscent of the "Annual Reports to The Chemical Society!' The subject of each cbapter is discussed from three points of view: theory, experimental Uliek R. Euam, King's College, Camtechnique, and recent advances. bridge University. St. Martin's Press, I t may be regarded as certain that each Inc., New York, 1960. xi 1094 pp. subject is treated by an outstanding Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. 525. worker in the field. F. J. C. Rossotti wrote The Thermodynamics of Complex The hook is divided into a qualitative Ion Formation. The chapter on Kinetics section of 18 chapters and a quantitative was written by D. R. Stranke, and Isomersection of four chapters. Appendixes on ism by M. J. G. Williams and R. G . chemistry and physical chemistry conclude Wilkins. T. M. Dunn is the author of the book. Kvery chapter is preceded the chapter on Visible and Ultra-Violet by a synopsis summarizing the content of Spectra, and Infra-Red Spectra. r e s the chapter and showing the relation to covered by F. A. Cotton. B. N. Figgi~ other chapters. Noteworthy is the great and J. Lewis wrote the Isst chapter, an amount of literature references with an Magnetochemistry. In the opinion of author index containing ahout 3000 this reviewer the book is a mature treatnorno= ment of several approaches to modern The subject of corrosion and oxidation coordination chemistry. The depth of is broadly interpreted so that the hook is theory varies greatly from chapter to almost encyclopedic in nature. In only chapter. However without exception the a few instances would a broader coverage experimental sections of the several be desirable. The acid resistance of chapters are clear and concise. For such an important metal as niobium and example, detailed directions (including its dloys is mentioned in one short paraample calculations) are given for the graph and only one reference is given. determination of pert of a transition metal Also tantalum and its corrosion resistant ion in a complex by the Gouy method. alloys should receive more prominence. Under recent advances representative In the chapter on flaky pigments no results are selected from the literature, mention is made of the bronze metal tabulated, and discussed thoronghly. powders. Describing the various methods No attempt is made to exhaust the literaof metal ddeosition from vanors no refture of data, however. erence is made of the well-known van Extensive reference is made to the Arkel process. original literature, and a list of citations However these shortcomings are more follows each, chapter (total-1391). In than compensated by a wealth of informaaddition t o the usual subject index, there tion on many subjects such as protection is a n extensive meta-ligand index which of steel structures, corrosion inhibitors, includes all metal-ligand systems s p e d and treatment of boiler water. cally mentioned in the book, and also The content of the whole book is exan author index which includes all authors tremely well organized. I t is safe to of the references cited. say that everybody working in the field The book will be invaluable to workers of metal corrosion will be glad to have in coordination chemistry and allied this hook on his shelf for reference purfields. It is too advanced to be used as poses. a text for a course in inorganic chemistry ERNSTM. GOLDSTEIN a t the undergraduate level. However, Metal and Thennit Corporation i t would form an excellent text for a Research Laboratories graduate course in Coordination ChemisRahwoy, Neu Jersey try or the subject of a. seminar course involving students who have had the usual senior-graduate sequence in "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry." The Corrosion and Oxiddion of Metols ScientiRc Principles and Procticol Applications
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Modern Coordination Chemistry
Edited by J . Lewis, University College, London, and R. G. Wilkins, University of Sheffield. Interscience Pnblishers, 487 pp. Inc., New York, 1960. xvi Figs. and tables. 16.5 X 23.5 cm. $12.50.
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The title of the book is well chosen. As stipulated in the forward by J. Chatt, "the book is concerned particularly with the newer applications of physical methods to coordination chemistry." In addition, sound backgrounds in both classical coordination chemistry (pre-1940) and physical chemistry are prerequisites to comprehension of its subject matter. For example the author of the chapter on isomerism presumes that the reader has had the classical introduction to isomerism in inorganic compounds. There are six chapters (subjects), E. RONNEBERG treated by as many authors, with the CONRAD Denison University collabaration of the editors in two of the Ganville, Ohio six chpters. The organization is thus
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Journal of Chemical Education
JR. S. YOUNGTYREE, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Lipide Chemistry
Donald J. Hanahan, University of Washington, with contributing chapters by Frank R. N. Curd and Iruing Zabin. John Wiley 61 Sons, Inc., New York, 330 pp. Figs. and tables. 1960. ix 15 X 23 em. $10.
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This book reviews the chemistry of the simple and complex lipids, and in addition reviews the methodology which has been primarily responsible for the recent surge of researoh in this field. Limited in scope to the lipids found in mammalian systems, and not including discussions of fatty acid or steroid chemistry, the book presents a thorough analysis of the current status of the field. (Continued a page ASSO)
