ing the Chemical Education community, and one of the most difficult. I t resembles the writing of children's hooks in that i t must be lively hut not silly, accurate hut not pedantic, straightforward hut not patronizing. Above all, i t requires that the author have a sharply targeted audience in mind and demonstrate resuect for that audience. Becauae of this difficulty one must respect the c r u a g e of a serious sc~entistwho nttempts thir genre in good faith, w e n if, as in this case, his success is not complete. And one has an obligation t o point out in what respects he has fallen short. Let's face it--chemistry doesn't have the grandeur of astronomy, the purity of mathematics, the mysticism of modern physics or the visceral immediacy of much of modern biology. Our work daes not involve us in adventures like those of Roy Chapman Andrews. We have no Carl Sagan or Stephen Jay Gauld. James Watson and Primo Levi write more about people than about chemistry. Experimental chemistry is more like the activity of the watchmaker or the small shookeeuer. The deliehts of chemical theorv are remote fmm ordinary experrenre and hidden in thickets of "jnrgon" and rymhds. Despite this, 1.ionel Snlem does well in what he saysahout that partlrularareaof modern organic chemistry that interests him mostthe mdecular orbital model of bonding. But it is hard for a chemist to iudge his success because one learns nothing new from it--other than that "jargon" is easy t o sneer a t but almost impossible t o do without. The use of terms like "zone of calm" (for nodal surface) or "friendly" and "hostile" (for honding and antihonding interactions) are as off-putting as the use of baby talk for the parts and function of the adult hady. (One notes the inconsistent retention of a term like "antisymmetric".) I do think teachers could henefit from reading this hook and that would-be writers in this genre could gain a lot of insight in what t o do and what not to do. The book cannot he recommended, however, for the classroom nor for "lay readers." Indeed, the use of the latter term by Roald Hoffmann in his somewhat burbly introduction provides an instant early warning of its chief fault-an element of condescension that may derive from attempts to avoid "jargon", from the translation, from the cute headings for the (onepage) chapters or from a few of the numerous drawings (many of which are quite good and apropos). I discovered, by experiment, that a readily available geologist (whose involvement with organic chemistry ended more than 30 years ago) and a couple of handy Peruvian archaeologists (who had had the most eeneral of General Chemistrv courses) found it intelligible throughout, charming in places and informative about a lrmited area uf chem:stry. 'They got a vague awareness of the aesthetics of modern organic chemistry hut were not persuaded that even the simplest form of the Woodward-Hoffmann Rules had any relevance t d the real world chemical problems that they are most aware of-pollution and scarcity. I t was made clear that chemists are excited by their work, hut not why. In the end, the main problem is that the author, and his helpers, do not seem to have had a well-defined target audience. Perhaps someday someone will take aim a t the hig audience that would welcome a book that
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was broader in scope and more mature in tone hut still as clear, concise, and generally delightful as this one is. I am glad to have read it, but I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it, and I doubt that I will make a place for i t on my bookshelf. However, the book would make an excellent gift for a chemistry secretary, or any nonchemist working in a chemistry-related context. James H. Brewster Purdue University West Lafayene. IN 47907
Physlcal Chemistry, Seventh Edltlon Robeti A. Alberty. Wiley: New York. NY. 1987. x 934 pp. 16.7 X 23.9 cm. $49.21.
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The seventh edition of Physical Chemistry is an improvement over the sixth edition. Several chapters have been split t o facilitate introduction of the material as well as to permit inclusion of new material. At least 32 mistakes, many of which were typographical, have been corrected. Some mistakes have persisted, and there are a t least 18 mistakes in the seventh edition. Overall, this edition is comparable to other textbooks on physical chemistry, such as P. W. Atkins's third edition or Ira N. Levine's second edition. Each of these textbooks has its strength and weaknesses, and this review will point out some of them. Alherty, unlike the two other aforementioned authors, treads on pedagogically unsound ground when he ignores the distinction between extensive and intensive thermodynamic variables in most of the early chapters. But he can also he very precise, as in his discussion of the effect of pressure changes on an equilibrium mixture of gases (see "Effect of Inert Gases.") Alherty and Atkins are equally terse when they introduce Helmholtz and Gihhs energies, although Atkins is more thorough than Alberty. Levine eliminates this mysteriousness without resorting to Legendre transforms. Alherty, and Levine to a lesser extent, bury the interpretation of -AGm = -AHiT AS, or AS, = AS,,, AS,,,, in the text after introducing the Gibbs energy. Atkins alludes t o this interpretation quickly, but waits until five chapters later to articulate it. Alherty, Atkins, and Walter J. Moore (fourth edition) discuss irreversible and reversible P-V work, unlike Levine who restricts himself to reversible work. Alherty and Atkins introduce fugacity and nonideal mixtures a t about the same time, whereas Levine tarries too long in the opinion of this reviewer. Alberty's chapter on chemical equilibrium is especially well written. Atkins introduces the chemical potential, confuses the issue by quickly introducing another new concept, fugacity, and stumbles through to make a complete story. Levine also presents the chemical potential in a somewhat awkward manner. All three authors present the phase rule and the Clapeyron equation similarly. Alberty and Atkins discuss higher-order phase transitions in detail; Levine is much less detailed. All three authors give a mathematical discussion of colligative properties. Atkins and Levine, unlike Alherty, interpret the math.
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Volume 65
Atkins discusses changes in chemical potential in different phases; Levine gives a malecular interpretation. Alberty and Atkins provide strong motivation for developing quantum mechanics, emphasizing black body radiation and line soeetra. hut Levine does the best iob in makine the Sehriidineer eouation ola;sible. Alhert)~omitsthe cnseof a free particle, tails tc, discuss tunneling, and is unnecessarily terse when discussing a particle in a boa. But he daes discuss atomic structure thoroughly, and his presentation of vibrational and rotational spectroscopy is appropriate for the amount of times that most instructors will have. Alberty is to be commended for his integration of polymer examples, such as "thermodynamics of rubberlike elasticity" and kinetics of polymerization. In addition, he has a whole chapter on equilibria of hiochemical reactions, making this hook a useful text for biochemistry as well as for chemistry majors. In summary, none of the most recent textbooks on physical chemistry by Alherty, Atkins, and Levine were clearly superior to the others. The books by Alberty and Atkinsare very similar with regard to organization of topics. Alberty's book has many strengths, as this reviewer learned while making the review. This hook would henefit the student if it were to include either a list of objectives or a summary of each chapter. Vauahan Pultz Northeast MlosoLrl Stale Unlvers ty r(rrKsv e, MO 63501
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Polymer Ploneers: A Popular History of the Sclence and Technology of Large Molecules Peter J. T. Morris. Center for History of Chemistry: Philadelphia. PA. 1986. 88 pp. 17.5 X 22.7 cm. $7.50.
Polymer science is one of the leading areas of chemistry as witnessed by the fact
that polymer processing accounts for almost $100 billion of value added to American manufacturing every year. Recently the Journal of Chemical Educotion ran a series of articles on polymers (May, 1986,63(5)). This cooiauslv illustrated "oooular histl.ry,"wrrttenfm high schooland unrveralty students whu may he consirlerint: R career in some branch of polymer science or technology, will also he of interest t o anyone wanting to know more about this important branch of chemistry and chemical industry. T h e first publication t o emerge from CHOC's Polymer Project, it was written "to meet the " erowine " need for a oooular account of the development of polymers, based on recent scholarly activity." In this relatively short book, Morris tells the story of the evolution of our knowledge of macromolecules from prehistoric times to the latest developments in academic and industrial research. He has woven together three approaches. He provides (1) 3 4 page bioeraohical sketches of a dozen kev indi,. vidunls,groupd hy pmrs intu s ~ chnmolog. x irnl ircrms: 21 trme charts to plnre each
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(Continued on page A302)
Number 11
November 1988
A301
