CHEMICAL CALCULATIONS Bernard Jaffe, James Madison High School, Brooklyn, New Ymk. Third edition. World Book Co., Yonkers-onHudson. New York, 1958. xii 180 pp. 14.5 X 20 cm. $2.00
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THE newest edition of this old standby of the high school chemistry teacher represents little more than a reprinting of the original text, now more than 30 years old. The major changes involve new exerpts from the Regents and College Board exsmin~titions. With the exception of these two revisions and minor ohanges in the tables of chemical prices, atomic weights, and in the discunsion of suhatomic particles, this third edition is almost identical to the second edition. No changes could be found in any of the 1000 problems. As s. matter of fact, the third edition is only very slightly changed from the original editionof 1926. This book emphasizes the mechanical approach to chomioal arithmetic. The student is given a. series of steps to follow in achieving the solution to problems. He is told only quite briefly, if a t all, why the following of these steps will result in the right answer. It would appear that this emphasis is wrongly plxeed. There is, for the high school student, no inherent virtue in being ahle to salvo chemi~tryproblems per ne. If ehemioal arithmetic has any value, as most of us beliwe it does, this value lies in emphasizing the reasoning process, in showing exact application of laws and principles, and in underlining the predictahility of matter. Tho author of
this book appears to feel that it is much more important that the student be able t,osolve problems than know why problems are solved the way they are. Most of the unuslly-taught types of problems are covered. Notable enceptians to this include equilibrium constant, pH, electrochemical equivalent, molality, and an adequate treatment of titration problems. Summing up, a student who studies thifi book d l doubtless be ahle to work most t,ypes of dement,ary rh~mistry problems. Nevertheless, he will probably not have the faintest idea of why that which he has done gives him the right answer. FRED B. EISEIIIN,JR. J O ~ N BURRODBHS Scarom
ST.LOULB, MI~ROGRI
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CHEMISTRY
I. R a e Schwenk and Raymond M. Martin, Department of Chemistry, Sacramento Junior College. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 1958. xi 400 pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $6.75.
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"Basrc Principles of Chemistry" is a rather unique presentation of chemistry for above average college students. Although it assumes a rather extensive lmkground in high ~choolchemistry, i t is well-written in a clear and undomtanding way. If students do not have an adequate baekground, the hook should be accompanied by other elementary texts; instntct,ors could easily assign selerted readinga
REVIEWED IN THIS ISSUE Bernard Jafe, Chemical Calculations J . Rae Schwsnk and Raymond M. Martin, Basic Principles of Chemistry W . Summer, Photosemitors George W . Watt, Laboratory Erpe~imentfiin General Chcmistry and Qualitative A&lysis George W . Watt, College Chemistry Laborat,ory Manual Wallace S . Bmy, Jr., Principles of Physical Chemistry l'herald Moeller, Qualitxtive Analysis, An Intmdnct,ian to Equilibrium and Solution Chemistry James W . Souther, Technical Report Writing Robert 8 . Casey, Oral Communication of Technical Information .4lan H. Mehlm, Introduction to Enzymology Joseph Needham, Seienre and Civilization in China. Volume 1: Introductory Orientntions. Volume 2: History of Scientifio Thought Willis Conwav P i e m , Donald Turner Saw!,&, and Edtuard Lmtth Haeniseh, Quantitative Analysis Henry C. Sped, Textile Chemicals and Auxiliaries Maz S . Peters, Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers R . J . Clarke, Process Engineering in the Food Industries John G. E~ickson,Paul F . Wiley, and V.P . Wgstrach. Edited by Arnold Weisabmger, Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds. Volume 10: The 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-Triaziner, Tetrazines, and Pentssines. G. A. Swan and D. G. I. Felson. Edited by Arnold Wa'ssbwger, Phenazines Editorial Cadilla, Castilla's Spanish and English Technical Dictionary
VOLUME 35, NO. 10, OCTOBER. 1958
The book starts logically uith an explanation of the structure of matter. Chapters 1 through 5 discuss the structure of atoms, ions, and molecules, chemical bonds, and the periodicity and intorrelationship of the elements. The chapters are short, but few teats present this elementary material in a more syst,ematic and orderly fashion. In Chapters 6 through 13, the "tools of chemistry" are disalssed. The basic requirements for understanding what happens when one substance is converted t o mother are presented, namely, measorements, chemieel symbols and formulas, naming, equations, laws of chemical r e actions, stst,es of matter, chemical eqnilibrium, and chemical literature. This last is most often neglected in other elementary chemistry t e r t ~ . The three states of matter-solids, liquids, and g a s e s a r e discussed in sew arate parts of the text. The part conoerning liquids discusses well solutions, concentration, electrolytes, pH, solubility product, complex ions, and other applied enuilihrin. Oxidation-reduction is discussed in two chapters. Balancing of equations by t h common ~ methods (oxidation numbers, electron transfer, and half-reactions) is presented ~onrisoly but elenrly. Basic principles of rlectrochemistr.~, nuclear chemistry, and organic chemistry are likewiso presented. Although the discussion of organic chemistry is brief as compared t o many tents, it is given wfficicnt attention. The questions at, the end of each chapter are given in the same sequence as t h e m a t e d is presented in the text. They are thought provoking and tend t o emphasize tho application of fundamental principles. Every instructor looking for a. text that will stimulate and inspire students t o original, creative thinking should consider this text, which h a s. labaratory manual in which laboratory assignments are developed in the same sequence as the textbook material. CARL WEATHERBEE M I ~ I X I NUNTVERB~TY DEC*T"R,
ILL~NO,~
PHOTOSENSITORS
W. Summer, Consulting Physicist, The Physiotherapists Association. The Macmillan Co., New Y a k , 1958. xvi 675 pp. 14.5 X 22.5 cm. $21.
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THE title, coined b y the author, implies that this volume deals with all the devices which are activated b y light. I t is comprehensive in its coverage of industrial applications. Extensive bibliography and list ofpstents. W.F. K.
