Chernistty Henry I. Abrash and Kenneth I. Hardcastle. Glencoe Publishing Company. Inc., Encino. CA. 1981. xxvi 4- 676 pp. Figs. and tables. 22 X 28 cm. The stated eoals of the authors of this texthonk for qcience majors are "m emphasile the experimrntnl natare of chemistry, to present rhr phgs~ralbasis for molecular behavior, to show the conceptual framework chemists use to organize their observations, and to give students a foundation for more advanced chemistry courses." For the most nart thev have accomolished these eoals. Neverthtde~s.1 have an uneaqy feelmi: thar t h tmnk ~ is nut one that student* will find easy to read. The small print and rather formal style give it an aura of difficulty that may be more illusion than fact. The hook has a number of positive features. There is an early discussion of stoichiometry (chapter 2) and a preliminary treatment of acids and bases prior to the chapter on aqueous equilibria. There are approximately fifty problems at the end of mast chapters, about half of which contain answers. Experimental data have been used extensively throughout, thereby giving students a feel for the laboratory basis of chemistrv. Finsllv. the descrintive chanters a comparison is made of the corrosive effects of hydrochloric acid versus nitric acid on aluminum, the chemiluminescence of the P, Oz reaction is mentioned, and the biochemical significance of singlet oxygen is discussed. I do not care for the hodgepodge of topics covered in the chapter on The Symbolic Representation of Moleculesand Ions. Lewis
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structures, VSEPR theory, hybridization, oxidatian-reduction reactions and nomenelatufe are all included in this chapter. In addition, hybrid orbitals are discussed prior to VSEPR theory, an ordering which I consider to be unnatural. I alsodislike the use of general formulas to solve aeid-base equilibrium problems. Generally, the authors have been careful to use precise terminology. However, they refer to the "molecular mass" of KI03, KI, and FeaOd on pp. 39 and 41. They also make the misleading statement: "We can avoid balancing equations and using stoichiometric ratios in titrations hyusingnormality (N)as the concentration system."Thestoichiometry must be known in order to establish the normality. I would place this h k in the middle range of current general chemistry texts. One could do better, but one could also do worse. Wayne P. Anderson Bioomsburg State College Blaamsburg. PA 17815
Prep C h e m John Sirohl. Harper 8 Row, New York. NY. 1982. 531 pp. Figs. and tables. Cun~rntulationsto the ~ulh~r!'L.he text is ideally suivd lor a ~ u r s which e is preparatory to grnpral chemistry. '.. . . This hook is dpsigned to provide practice in problem solving and organization .... (It) begins with very simple problems and works up to a level of difficultv . eoual . to that usuallv found in gentrd chenristry cours~a."Because uf its length (%I1 pp.) it would he an inapprupriate
choice as a supplement to a general chemistry course textbook. The hook is not just a collection of problems to be solved, combined with e few worked out examples, hut it is more of a self-help manual for a beginning student. The use of an electronic calculator is assumed, and set-ups for calculators that use algebraic logic are given throughout the text. Initially, detailed steps (instructions) are given for using the calculators, but detail is soon dropped. Presumably the students have learned how to operate their particular calculatars. Significant figures are discussed in the first chapter and continue to he emphasized throughout the text. The factor-label technique is presented in Chapter 2 and always is used subsequently. Sometimes there was a redundancy in methods for solving the same problem, hut the author carefully explains to the users that the method easiest for them to understand should be chosen for solving the following problems. The style and level of presentation are very appropriate for the expected users. A friendly, familiar, conversational manner of expression is chosen, with occasional nontechnical words used, e.g., "let's," "alas!," "aha!," "yucky," etc., along with numerous negative contractions, such as "don't," "can't," "won't," "doesn't," etc. The reviewer noted many places where contractions could have been used but were not, therefore, the users should not be "turned off" by the familiar tone. In many of the balanced chemical equations the coefficient, l, is printed to emphasize that it belones there. It is hoped that the student will learn that this is not common (Continued on page A368)
Reviewed in this Issue Henry I. Abrash and Kenneth I. Hardcastle. Chemistry John Strohl, Prep Chem Ralph H. Petrucci, General Chemistry. Principles and Modern Applications, Third Edition Robert K. Wismer, Student Study Guide (to accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry, Third Edition) Ralph H. Petrucci. Solutions Manual (to accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry. Third Edition) Gerald S. Weiss, Robert K. Wisrner, and T h o r n s G. Greco, Instructor's Manual. Experiments in General Chemistry (a Laboratory Program t o accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry, Third Edition Gerald S. Weiss, Robert K. Wismer, and Thomas G. Greco, Experiments in General Chemistry (a Laboratory Program to accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry, Third Edition) William S. Seese and Guido H. Daub, Basic Chemistry, Third Edition J a c k E. Fernandez, Organic Chemistry, An Introduction Ira N. Levine. Physical Chemistry 6. P. Clarke, Safety and Laboratory Practice, Level i D. Ainley, J. N. Lazonby and A. J. Mason. Chemistry in Today's World Titles of Interest
Volume 59
Reviewer Wayne P. Anderson Milton E. Fuller Gerald W. Gibson Gerald W. Gibson Gerald W. Gibson Gerald W. Gibson Gerald W. Gibson J. Michael Conner Marjorie C. Caserio Dewey K. Carpenter Malcolm M. Renfrew Quintus Fernando
Number 11 November 1982
A367
ROOK REVIEWf practice for future work hut is strictly a learning technique. A few typographical errors were noted. The more serious ones include: (1) Example 3.3, p. 74, (2) problems 1and 2 of Exercises, p. 21, and (3) the conversion factor between inches and centimeters, p. 51. The latter should have been 2.540005 cm, or 0.0254 meters in S.I. units (by definition). The printing and formatting is of excellent quality and yields maximum clarity t o the user. Many appropriate diagrams and graphs are shown in two colors to help illustrate the material. This is a text that is well worth considering for adoption.
Milton E. Fuller California State University. Hayward Hayward. CA 94542
General Chemistry, Principles and Modern Applications, Third Edltion Ralph H. Petrucci. MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, NY. 1982. v 764 pp. Figs. and tables. 20.5 X 26 cm.
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Student Study Guide (to accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry, Third Edition) Robert K. Wismer, MacMillan Publishing Co.. New York, NY. 1982. i Figs. and tables. 21 X 28 cm.
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Solutions Manual (to accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry, Thlrd Edition) Ralph H. Petrucci. MacMiflan Publishing Co., New York, NY. 1982. iii 326 pp. Figs. and tables. 21.5 X 28 cm.
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Instructor's Manual, Experiments In General Chemistry (a Laboratory Program to accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry, Third Edition) Gerald S. Weiss, Robert K. Wismer, and Thomas G. Greco. MacMillan Publishing Co., New York. NY, 1982. iii 36 pp. 21.5 X 27.5 cm.
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A368
Journal of Chemical Education
Experiments in General Chemistry (a Laboratory Program to accompany Petrucci's General Chemistry, Third Edition) Gerald S. Weiss, Robert K. Wismer, and Thomas G. Greco, MacMillan Publishing Co.. New York. NY, 1982. v 350 pp. Figs. and tables. 21 X 28 cm.
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This atttactive third edition of Petrucci's text has much to recommend it and stands in sharp contrast t o the other three members of this "teaching package." The skillful organization of the textual material allows the chapters t o he used in numbered order by instructors who are "text followers," or used in altered order hy those who are "syllabus followers." Moreover, the presentation of large topics in judiciously arranged multiole-chanter format enhances the adoution of the Iwok fur use in cuur3t.s d i t r r w in h t h level of instruction and inilructimal gusli. There are, for example, two chapters on bonding, the first dealing with elementary concepts and VSEPR theory; the second presenting valence bond and molecular orhital theory. There are also two chapters on bonding, two on acids and bases, and several in which chemical equilibrium is treated. The book is lucidly written, with analogies often used brilliantly to convey abstract concepts. The graphics are pleasing and are kept sufficiently subdued t o avoid overwhelming the written material. Extensive use is made of marginal comments, examples, tables, and figures. The initial end-of-chapter problems are grouped helpfully by topic, with brief answers given in the back of the hook, and are followed by a shorter set with neither headings nor answers. Finally, there is a self-test with answers. A feature which will weaken the text for some is that of encouraging problem solving by the conversion factor method, an approach which reinforces student tendencies to assume that all natural relatimihip5 are direct pruportimalities. while diiwuraging analytical thinking. Espwisily in it&himwtry. cunversion lacturs divert the student from the chem~strypinl: on and fail to drvtlup his ahilrtv 1%)derive avvnwrinte mathematical .. . relationships from fundamental chemical relationships. Instructors who stress understanding over memorization will prefer to teach their own brand of problem solving. The author introduces stoichiometry early in the text, following a useful trend which others have discovered assists in catching students' interest and preparing them for laboratory. Strangely, however, the inherently dull (to most students) topic of gases has been moved uo to an unneeessarilv, earl". point and is separated by six chapters frum a trratment uf liquidsand ididr. Equilibrium runsiderations d w slighted in ~xidutiow reduction and complex ion treatment. Descriptive chemistry fits so logically with periodic trends that it seems a mistake not to connect these topics proximately. Indeed, descriptive chemistry is given short shrift, desoite current renewed emohasis in introenergy would help also The supplementary solutions manual gives a thorough explication of problems from the text, but i t suffers aesthetically from using typed and hand-drawn manuscript in photo
offsrt. The rtudy guide giws practirr quines that ran he gmd learning tools hut mivrs w n w svund rtudy suggestions with pour ndvice on preparation for and use of lecture time, and its admonitions concerning how to accomplish objectives from the text seem inappropriate for students in whom one hopes to inculcate intellectual independence. The aceomoanvine , ,.unimoressive laboratow manual takes s tot, typwal fill.m.the-blank appwach and is r p a r 4 y illustrated. The pro~nisinginclusion ui a prrlsb report turns out t o require no more than responding t o a few questions and problems, while many items in the final lab report belong in the prelab report, if the intent is to assist the student in comprehending the experiment to he undertaken. Petrucci's versatile text is, then, commendable for courses not requiring a deep penetration of the theoretical underpinnings of introductory chemistry. The "package" appears, however, to have been unfortunately completed with material far less carefully crafted.
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Gerald W. Gibson College of Charleston Charleston. SC 29401
Basic Chemistry, Third Edition William S. Seese and Guido H. Daub. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs. NJ. 1981. 596 pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 24 cm. The first two editions of this textbook in 1973 and were reviewed in THIS JOURNAL 1978. Those who liked either of those will doubtless like this edition, because the chanees are not extensive. The chaoter on organic chemistry ~n the wrond editivn has been expanded to twu chaptrrs, and the chapter on nuclear chemistry that was deleted from the second edition has been restored, for a total of twenty chapters. S.I. units are mentioned in a footnote and treated in more depth in an appendix. The hook was written t o be used in non-maiors chemistn, courser whose students haw had little or no preparation in sciencp or mathematics heymd rnultiplirati~nand division.'l'hus, a f k r an introductory chapter it appropriately spends most of the second chapter on basic mathematical calculations, including measurements. The other chapters come in the expected order: concepts of matter, atomic and molecular structure, and inorganic nomenclature. Then follow three chapters on chemical calculations, two on states of matter and one devoted almost entirely to water. The next four cover solutions, acids and bases, redox, and kinetics. Last are the two chapters on organic chemistry and the one on nuclear chemistry. There nre eight appendices including answers to most of the problems, and a glossary. The greatest strengths continue to be the extensive use of the factor-unit method of calculations, the relaxed writing style, and the large number of example problems worked out in detail. Overall, both the quantity and variety of the problems a t the ends of the chapters are excellent and seem exceptionally ~
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(Continued on page A370)
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