book reviews Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Woorter
Woatsr, Ohio
physics of structure, for example, spherical ~ o l a rcoordinates are presented as being "more convenient" in the solution of the hydrogen atom, with no suggestion as to why this is so. Also the section on lasers in the chapter on photochemistry includes no mention of the spectroscopic basis of laser action. Several topics of known difficulty to the average freshman chemistry student (for .~~~examole. , . Lewis dot structures) are treated almost too briefly in the early portion of the text. Thermodynam~cideas are used to a much greater extent through the latter part of the text than are bonding and structure concepts. The problems, examples, and exercises in the text are relevant in nature and present a Large amount of descriptive ehemistry while the study guide provides an adequate number of drill problems. For average ability classes, use of the study guide is recommended. The illustrations in this text are generally excellent, especially in the sections on atomic structure and phase diagrams, and do not resemble the stock illustrations found in most texts. The authors carefully designed a unqiue set of teaching illustrations and failed in only a few instances to produce just that (the problem in the exceptional cases, such as Figure 6-5, p. 175, appears to have been with the non-scientific art staff). Very few typographical errors were noted, and only one which seriously alters the sense of the text: The magnitude of the k values on the ordinate of the plot.of page 549 (Figure 5-4) should be scaled up by a factor of 10S to make the figure agree with the text. This text, then, hears consideration by teachers looking for a physically oriented general chemistry tent a t the non-calculus level. The illustrations and the treatment of thermodynamics and kinetics are strong, hut the prospective adopter would do well to examine the section on bonding and structure carefully. ~~
General Chemistry
Ralph S. Beeker and Wayne E Wentworth, both of the University of Houston. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1973. xiii 779 pp. Figs. and tshles. 24 X 19.5 cm. $12.95.
+
"General Chemistry" belongs to that class of first-year texts (which began to appear some ten years ago) with a heavy orientation towards physical chemistry. According to the authors, it is aimed at the full-year course for science (and chem. istry) majors, some of whom may not have had high school chemistry. That small amount of calculus which is included appears only in the appendices. Keeping the service aspect of the general chemistry course in mind, the authors chose topics 'for inclusion after consultation with engineering, biology, physics, and geology faculty. The text can be accompanied with a 250 page study guide for students (written hy R. A. Geanangel and B. L. Carroll). There is a 1W page instructor's guide available which includes sample multiple choice and subjective exam questions for which answers are available from the authors. The first three chapters comprise an overview of chemistry with special emphasis on stoiehiometry, and the following section (six chapters) is devoted to handing and structure. After a six-chapter section on thermodynamics and kinetics, the final four chapters cover transition metal and nuclear chemistry, biochemistry, and photochemistry. The seventy pages of appendices contain supplementary textual material, data tables (an index to the numerous tables would have been useful), and answers to all of the problems and exercis-
es in the text. The chapter on molecular structure and bonding in polyatomic molecules contains about 20 pages of descriptive orgsnic chemistry, and there is one chapter of descriptive inorganic chemistry of the representative elements in addition to the chapters on transition metal ehemistry and biochemistry mentioned earlier. Although there are only a few references to outside reading, the text contains a number of optional sections end chapters (identified with asterisks) on topics such as liquid crystals, corrosion, air pollution, and the ehemistry of vision, which the authors claim can he omitted without harming continuity. The authors have done an extensive cross-referencing throughout. In the opinion of the reviewer, the strongest section of the text is the section on thermodynamics and kinetics, written clearly and with what seems to have been much enthusiasm on the part of the authors. Material developed in this section is used extensively throughout the remainder of the text. The section devoted to strueture and bonding is not as strong. Since this material occurs towards the beginning of the text the authors have pitched the general level of presentation relatively low, hut the presentation abounds with written and pictorial hints that bonding is really not as simple as the authors are letting on. For example, the figures on pages 169 and 171 illustrating dissaeiation energy also depict the potential minimum characteristic of the quantum mechanical zero-point energy, although zem-paint energy is mentioned neither in the caption nor the teat. It would seem that student curiosity will force the instructor to cover zero-point energy extensively with no support from the text. The authors also miss opportunities to point out the simplicity of the basic
Edward K . Mellon Florida State University Tallahassee. Florida 32306
Preliminary College Chemistry
Stanley M. Cherim. Delaware County
-Reviewed
in this Issue
~ a l p S. h Becker and WnyneE. Wentworth. General Chemistry
. . .A299
Stnnley M. Cherim, Preliminary College Chemistry
. . . A299
J G . Dauber and A. T. Moore, Chemistry for theLife Sciences
. . .A300
C. T. Kenner, Instrumental and Separation Analysis
. . . A300
Community College, Media, Pennsylvania. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1973. xv + 386 pp. Figs. and tables. 26 X 18 cm. $8.95. "Preliminary College Chemistry'' is a one-semester text designed to meet the needs of beginning college chemistry students who lack the fundamental hackground necessary to cope successfully with
(Continued on page A3W)
NOTICE TO PUBLISHERS
Albert Zlatkis, Eberhard Breitmnier, and GuntherJung, A Concise Intmduction to Organic Chemistry
. . .A301
P. C. Hnnawolt sndR. H. Hnynes. The Chemical Basisof Life: An Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology
. . .A301
Beginning June 1, 1974, all books for review should be sent to: Journal of Chemical Education, W. T. Lippincott, Editor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721.
Volume 51, Number 5, M a y 1974
/
A299
more advanced chemistry courses. This book assumes no chemistry background. It differs from texts for nonseience majors in that its aim is to present fundamental principles of chemistry rather than to place major emphasis an the relevance of ehemistry to society. Its straightforward presentation leaves little question as to what students are expected to know. Supplementary texts could he used to expand the scope of this text hut if relevance is the major goal in a course, the choice of a nonmajor's text would be more appropriate. One primary aim of the text is to help students gain proficiency in problem solving. Dimensional analysis is firmly emphasized and students are encouraged to estimate the results of their calculations. Many examples whieh have been solved in step by step detail are included. In the study of the periodic table and chemical equations, students are encouraged to make predictions hased on useful generalizations obtainable from the periodic chart. The general topics of the text are: measurement, matter and energy, atomic structure, chemical bonding and equations, gas behavior, solutions, acids and bases, equilibrium concepts, and oxidation and reduction. The extent of topic coverage may he determined by the instructor to fit the needs of his students and of his college. Appendices include a review of the use ifexponents, significant figures, basic algebra, logarithms, and graphing. Answers to all numerical nroblems in the text provided. The up-to-date Systeme International d'unites, SI, is consistently used throughout the text. Energy units such as joules and electron-volts are introduced to make students aware of the variety of ways in which energy can he measured. The basic units of electrical measurement are carefully explained. The reviewer feels this topic is an important addition to a fundamental text because mueh of chemistry and laboratory technology is based on the electrical nature of matter and the use of electronic instrumentation. The author has shown mueh insight into recognizing the problems which beginning chemistry students face. He has chosen topics which are indeed fundamental prerequisites to continuation of the study of chemistry. The text is written in a sincere, readable end enthusiastic manner. Although the book is of typical one-semester length, it contains almost 200 solved examples and 69 tables of data. It could therefore be helpful to students as a reference text. Over 180 explanatory figures and diagrams simplify the concepts being discussed. Technical terms stand out in hold face print. Each chapter is prefaced with an excellent list of behavioral ohjectives which make clear exactly what the student should be able to do (calculate, list, define, sketch, etc.) after mastering the chapter. There is a good supply of questions and problems a t the end of each chapter. The text is given an artistic flavor through facial sketches of famous scientists. Thought-provoking quotations which are related to the nature of science begin each ehapter. I think this text is worthy of serious consideration because of its successful attempt to present in the clearest possible way A300
/
Journal of Chemical Education
the fundamental principles which students who wish to continue their study in college chemistry must know. It is up-to-date (specifically promotes SI Units), tells students what they must learn (lists behavioral objectives for each topic) and clearly portrays Dr. Cherim's sincere desire to help students to understand and appreciate chemistry. Katherine E. Weissrnann C. S. Mott Community College
Flint, Michigan 48503
Chemistry for the Life Sciences
J. G. Dowber and A. T. Moore, North Staffordshire Polytechnic. McGraw-Hill 426 pp. Book Co., London, 1973. xiii Figs. and tables. 23 x 15 cm. $11.95.
+
This is a book which is designed by its authors for the student who is in a British program that is equivalent to an American Life Science or Paramedical Program. It is a survey text (it covers physical, analytical, organic, and biochemistry in nine chapters) which is designed to give the student s qualitative and quantitative view of chemistry in a one-quarter or onesemester course. It is assumed that the student has had no previous college chem: istry; however, the authors do presume that the student has had a fairly rigorous introductory chemistry course on what would he equivalent to the American high school level. The text is organized into four main areas: physical chemistry (atomic structure, thermodynamics, kinetics, liquids and solutions); analytical chemistry (chromatography and spectroscopy): organic chemistry (structure and reactions); and biochemistry (small molecules, macromolecule structure, and metabolism). There is also a reading list for each ehapter a t the end of the book. Some of the hooks listed occur in newer editions than is shown in the reading list. The index is of proper length. On the positive side it can be said that a great amount of relevant chemistry is covered in very few pages. The text includes sufficient information an the S ~ N C ture of organic molecules; the chapter on thermodynamics and kinetics covers the topics necessary.for s life science student; and the analytical ehapter gives useful information on the separation of marcromolecules. In addition, the biochemistry chapters present an adequate description of the structure and function of macromolecules. This is not to say that the book is without fault for there are many problems with it. First, the hook contains no exercises. This makes a quantitative treatment of chemistry virtually impossible. It is difficult to imagine teaching thermodynamics, kinetics, or any of the other topics without some exercises for the student. The level of the text also seems questionable. For example, it is doubtful that many paramedical students will have had calculus; yet,
the authors use derivatives, integrals, and partial derivatives in one of the chapters. In addition, somewhat difficult topics are covered which might he best left out. Such .topics are partial molar quantities, electrical conductivity, optical rotatory dispersion, circular dichroism, weight versus number average molecular weights, and enzyme kinetics. In some sections topics were treated much too briefly. This is seen in the first chapter where in two and one-half pages the authors cover the electronic structure of the atom by quickly progressing from Rutherford and Bohr to quantum numbers. A vast amount of information is given on organic reactions and metaholism. However, this coverage is spread out aver many subtopics and the authors would have been better off to decrease the number of subtopics and concentrate on a few of the main ideas. The hook seems to have few major errors except for the hint that amylose twists into a helix and the statement that "each is hydrogen-bonded amino-acid residue to residues five positions hack and five positions forward in the chain." In summary it is the reviewer's belief that the hook which .was written for a British audience daes not meet the needs of the American paramedical student. The treatment of the many important topics is t m brief and condensed, the level is too high, and there are no exercises for the student to work on.
...
Marvin L. Kientr Calitornia Sfate College, Sonoma, Caiitornia 94928
lnslrumental and Separation Analysls
C. T. Kenner, Southern Methodist University. C. E. Merrill Publishing Com338 pany, Columhus, Ohio. 1973. xii pp. Figs. and tables. 25.5 x 17.5 cm. $11.95.
+
Those of us that have bad to teach instrumental analysis to nonehemists are well aware of the textbook problem. Existing texts for the traditional courses are t m difficult for nonehemists to comprehend, and to take the instrumental sections from existing quantitative analysis hooks proves to he inadequate. This text by Kenner is an attempt to fullfill this need. The bmk contains 15 chapters, 13 of which are on instrumentation and two on separations. The instrumentation section covers the instruments most likely to be used by nonmajors: uv and visible spectroscopy, ir, fluorescence, flame photometry and A.A., emission spectroscopy, Xray, potentiometry (coulometry, polarography, electrogravimetry), nmr, mass spectrometry, radioactive methods, and a fairly well done chapter on automated analysis. This is followed by a chapter on solid state microelectronics which is a very simple description of transistors, rectifiers, and amplifiers, and haw they work. The find 65 pages of this hook consist of two chapters, one on solvent extraction
