book reviews Properties a n d Reactions of Bonds in Organic Molecules
K . F. Reid, the Methodist College, Belfast. American Elsevier Publishing 556 Co., Inc., New York, 1968. xiii pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 25.5 cm. $9.75.
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The Preface statement, "suitable for u s e . . . first two years a t a Univenity or College of Technology" should not mislead those unfamiliar with British schools into selecting this hook for introductory organic chemistry. It is a t an intermediate level, suitable for advanced undergraduate or basic graduate organic chemistry courses. The deceptively elementary introduction contains too many undefined, unillustrated technical terms for a first organic course. On theother hand, the text reviews hasic material more extensively than would seem appropriate in an advanced book. The emphasis is an organic reactions of classes of compounds. It is neither a physical organic chemistry nor a. mechanisms text, though both of these areas are used extensively in the discussion of reactions. Quantum physics and molecular orbitals are utilized to about the same extent as in many first-year organic texts. Compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, halogens, oxygen, mlfur, and nitrogen are described in detail. A few pages cover organophosphorus compounds. The influence of such factors as resonance, induction, molecular geometry, solvent polarity, and non-honding interactions is considered to an extent roughly equivalent to Gould's "Mechanism and Structure" hut less than in 'Ingold's "Structure and Mechanism." The ample problems, though challenging, are typical organic problems. Organization ia based on classes of compoi~ndsrather than reaction types. This serves to emphasize synthetic applications of specified classes of compounds, but poorly relates the common mechanistic rationale for similar reactions of different classes. The two main defects of the hook are wordiness and insufficiency of illustrations. Tvoical old-school literarv stvle assures verb, heaw readine for &dents aecus~" t o m 4 to Amrriunn ctwriwtncss. Terhnirnl trrms nrr frrqwntl,~iutrodurrd nnd used witlalut explanation or illwtration, or separated from illustrations by several sections. Long, abstruse discourses are often unbroken hvso much as a formula or ~
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mechanimn. The hook's main asset is the thoroughness of discussion. If the student can follow the argument, many relationships are clarified which more familiar texts gloss over. Nevertheless, certain omissions may hinder enthusiastic adoption of this text for graduate study. Hammett suhstitution oonstsnts, Woodward-Hoffmnnn rules and Cram's rule of asymmetric induction are among the omissions. Principles of general and specific acid-base catalysis receive two brief and unenlightening
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Journal of Chemical Education
sentences. Though reasonably up to date, the hook is hardly novelinits approach to the suhjeet or in coverage. A student who masters this text will have thorough knowledge of the more important organic reactions and the theories which explain them, hut he will need much help. This is a reference hook valuable to any graduate student of chemistry and to any organic chemistry teacher. Indtstrial chemists who wish to brush up on organic chemistry may find the hook useful. LEWIBOLIVERSMITA Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana 46585
Thermometric Titrlmdry H . J . V . Tvwell and A . E. Beezer. bnt,h .~ -of . -the ~ n i v e k i tof~ London. chapman and Hall, Ltd., London, 1968. vii 207 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 22.5 om. $7.75.
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In the last few years there has been renewed interest in calorimetric procedures to aid in gaining information concerning difficult chemical problems. This increased interest can be traced back to the early use of thermistors for thermometric titrations by Liude, Rogers, and Hnme in 1953. Tyrrell and Beeeer, in their new book "Thermometric Titrimetry," have d e d t with five major topia: cdorimetric measurements and t,hermodvnamia:, t,be deaigu of calorimetric cquipmrnt for thr study of reactions in solu[ion; [itratiam ralurimeters-their constrllction nnrl w e ; titrations in aqueous solution; and titrations in non-aqueous solvents. A variety of applications are treated, such as Lewis acid-base reactions, oxidation-reduction titrations, biological, mineralogical, pharmaceutical, and indwtrial applications of solution titrimetry. In each of these areas, the authors give well written, current referenced treatments of their subject. This hook is well balanced and should he useful to thenovice as well as the experienced worker in this field. It does not give great detail on the use of solution calorimetry for equilibrium constant measurement; this may be its chief shortcoming. This reader was delighted to discover that the authors h w e done an outstanding job in checking the literature. The last references are for the beeinnine of 1966 and the literature has been rhhorauihly combed up through 1965. This is a well-written hook that fulfills a need in the literature. The authors have written it with a great deal of thoroughness and insight into the field of solution titrimetry. 1-am happy to recommend this text for lihrwies or for persons interestedin this expanding field. ~~
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Purification of Inorganic and Organic Materials: Techniques of Fractional Solidification Edited by Mom's Zief, J. T. Baker Chemical Co., Phillipshurg, New Jersey. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1969. xvii 318 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 om. $17.75.
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Thk book may prove to he quite useful for the non-specialist since it contains short chapters on the commonly used separation techniques, as well as some which are normally not employed by most chemists. The book is divided into two sections, the first dealing with analytical procedures for determining purity and the comparative procedures for specific inorganic and organic materials. In the analytical section, topics such as the analysis of ultra pure materials, optical-emission spectrochemical rtndysis, atomic absorption, infrared spectrometry, gas-liquid chromatography, differential thermal an?lysis and differential scanning calorimetry, and electrical-resistance-ratio measurement are treated. The preparative methods section includes chapters dealing with purification of inorganic materials, such as aluminum, indium antimonide, potassium chloride and the alkali iodides (XI, CsI, RbI). Discussion of purification procedures for organic materials, such as polystyrene, benzoic acid, aromatic amines, anthracene, and dienes, is also given. Alm included in this hook are brief chapters on concentration procedures for hnmic acid in natural waters, and flavors a t low temperature. I t is apparent from this wide range of topics treated in the 306 pages of this text that the reader will only get an overview of the topics and will be required to use the references (whichseem to be quite current) if further information is required. To my knowledge, this text bas more unusual purification techniques under one cover than any other comparable book. The contributors to this text are an impressive erouo of scientists who are snecialists in .. the field whwh they have cowrcd Tht. r h ~ p t w RPC s well written. I feel this b o ~ k r i l l t~ a wrlromc rrferwrw r y x r for I t braries of all types.
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T. R. WILLIAMS The College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio
T. R. WILLIAMS The College of Woosler Wooster, Ohio
An Introduction to Chemical Nomenclature
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R. S. Cahn, Plenum Press, New York, 1968. 3rd ed. x 117 pp. Tables. 12.5 X 18.5 cm. softbound. $3.50.
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This edition closely follows the style of its two predecessors. The few changes assist, in greater clarity or call attention to new IUPAC developments. Also, a 3page chapter has been +dded contrasting American and British names; hut there are a dozen places in the text where American practiceis cited additionally (pp. 34-36, 39, 43, .52, 64, 67, 72, 75, 79, 8.5). Somewhere Cahn was directed to believe that the grouping RCONH-, which is named amido in England, is called acylamino in USA. This same belief was expressed in the 2nd Ed., and in my review
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