LABORATORY EXPERlhfENTS IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS George W. Watt, Professor of Chemistry, University of Texas. Third edition. Mc. Graw-Hill Bwk Co., Inc., New York, 1958. 275 pp. 22 X 28 cm. $3.50. viii
+
THEthird edition of Watt's manual is croserefereneed with the new text "Basic Concepts in Chemistry," by Watt, and the sequence of experiments in Part One corresponds t o the order of subject matter in this text. I n addition t o rearranging the sequence, the author has eliminated some experiments, added several new ones, and revised those which remain from the second (1951) edition. Several experiments have been improved by designing them on the basis of "unknowns," and student report sheets have been shortened wherever possible. The new edition features excellent illustrations by James R. Holmes, u ~ h oalso illustrated Watt's new text. Part One includes four preliminary exercise~and 52 experiments. Among the latter are three experiments on organic chemistry, which were not contained in the previous edition. Most experiments now include an introduction sufficient t o make each experiment a self-contained unit. This enables the instructor t o choose his own sequence in assigning the experiments and renders the manual adaptable to use with other textbooks. Part Two is concerned with qualitative analysis on a macro scale. The only changes from the previous edition are minor ones. Twentv-two cations and ten anions are considered. The appendix includes a complete list of chemicals and other supplies required far each experiment. L A W R E N C E P. E B L I N Orno U ~ l v e n s l ~ r A T H D N 0x10 ~,
The expanded discussions t h a t precede the directions for performing the experiments make each experiment B selfcontained unit. The manual is illustrated by James R. Holme~. The four preliminary exercises and the first 52 experiments, whieh occupy 178 pages, are identical with what is called Part One in the manual reviewed above. Qualitative analysis occupies only 68 instead of 77 pages. (It's semimicro!) Anions precede cations. The manual is erost-referenced t o Watt'a new text, "Basic Concepts in Chemistry." LAWRENCE P. E B L I N On10 UN.VE~~,TY Armma. Onro
PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY Wallace S. Brey, J r , University of Florida' Appletan-Century-Crofts. Inc., New York, 433 pp. Many figs. and 1958. viii tables. 16 X 2 4 cm. $7.
+
THE complete title of this boak is "Principles of Physical Chemistry. An Introduction t o their Use in the Biologioal Sciences." As the author states in his preface,"This boak is intended to acquaint the biological scientist with the field of physical chemistry and t o indicate how the understanding of physieoehemioal principles sheds light an the behavior of matter. I n addition to the fundamental
of biochemical problems." The bookis intended primarily for a. onesemester course, and the author has the usual problem of deciding whether to t r y to cover the whole field of physical chemistrv in a "oncaover-liehtlv" manner or
effects. Chapter 10 deals with kinetics of chemical reactions and has a good description of ensyme-catalyeed reactions. A chapter on radiation and molecular etructure follows, and the last chapter covers nuclear chemistry. The choice of topics is thus not much different from most books in this field, and the author has done a good jab in presenting the subject matter clearly. At the end of each chapter there is a set of problems, with no answers given, and there are also numerous prohlems worked out in the text. One excellent feature of the book is a rather complete lint of books and articles t o which the student is referred for supplemental information. This boak seems t o he an excellent one for the classes which the author had in mind. Tho material covered in some chapters may correspond too closely with that covered in many courses in qualitative or quantitative analysis, especially Chapters 4 and 5, and some teachers may wish t o use calculus somewhat more extensively. Chapter 6 on oxidationreduction equilibria. is especially good, and throughout the hook biological applications are introduced in a. meaningful way and are closely related to the physicoehemical principles which they illustrate. The physical format of the hook is good, with clear type, good diagrams, and a sturdy binding. The price is rather high hut. perhaps not excessive. A R I L D J. M I L L E R C A R L ~ T OCOGLZRE N NORTHP~ M~~ D NN . EBOTA
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS: AN INTRODUCTION TO EQUILIBRIUM AND SOLUTION CHEMISTRY Therald Moeller, P~.ofessorof Inorganic Chemistry, University of Illinois. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1958. x 550 pp. 2 4 figs. 5 1 tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $6.50.
+
COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY MANUAL George W. Watt, Professor of Chemistry, and L. 0. Morgan, Associate Professor of Chemihy, University of Texas. McGrawHill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1958. 262 pp. 21 X 34 cm. $3.50. "COLLEGEChemistry Laboratory Manual" differs from Watt's "Laboratory Exoeriments in General Chemistnr and
ternate procedures involving the use of hydrogen sulfide or thioacetamide are provided for sulfide precipitations. This manual was produced by the thoroughgoing revision of e . similar one by the. same anthors -published urrder another title in 1953. Several experiments have been added, including three on organic chemistry. Many experimentaare now set up on the basis of "unknowns," and student report sheets have been shortened wherever possible. 530
compromise between these extremes. The first chapter on states of matter is followed by one on solutions of nonelectrolytes which includes a good discussion of liquid-vapor and liquid-liquid phase equilibria in binary systems. Chapter 3 deals with thermodynamics and energy relations. In the application of the first law t o physical changes, the fact t h a t calculus is not presupposed makes necessary the presentation of some equations without derivation, hut the discussion of the ideas involved is clear and accurate. I n the discussion of the second law, entropy is also introduced as a definition, a procedure whieh will not make the concept clear to moat students without further work. Chapter 4 on solutions of electrolytes includes sections an the Dohye-Huokel theory, solubility product, complex ion stability constants, and conductance. Chapter 5 deals with acid-base eqhilibria and has a section on physi* logical applications. Next is a chapter on oxidation-reduction equilibria., with an interesting section on biochemical oxidation reactions, followed by chapters on adsorption and surface effects, colloidal dispersions, and osmosis and membrane
TKERE are awerail distinguishing features of Professor Moeller's new hook on qualitative analysis whioh will place it among the two or three most popular texts on the subject. Immediately one is impressed with the unusually clean format. The large type relieved sufficiently with some boldface and the use of generous margins may enoourage students to read the assignments. The author has included in the theoretical section only those topics essential to the teachiny of qualitative analysis for the purpose of integrating descriptive material with ohemical equilibrium and solution theory. Extensive eross-referencing is used to keep the student aware of the relationships among the various topics and of their applications to practical laboratory operations. This text departs from the usual order of laboratory study. Anions are treated first, and in the preliminary experiments involving cations the more simple alkali and alkaline earth ions precede those whose chemistry is more complicated. There are several advantages of this order, most important being that the student has time t o acquire a JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
knowledge of the principles necessary for a propel. appreciation of the problems involved in cation analysis before encoune ering them in the laboratory. Furthermore, anion chemistry is less routine, hence the student will be trained early t o interpret observations made from logical experiments. There is no reason inherent in the writing, however, that would prohibit the laboratory work from being as flexible as the teacher wishes. More significant than the order is the fact that more sttention is given to anion analysis in this text than is usually done. At least 24 anions are included. The ions are grouped acoording t o gross similarities hut chemical properties and chmacteristic reactions are given for each ion separately with a ~ ~ r o ~ r i aeuuations. te Twentvceduns are written for semimicro work using either hydrogen sulfide or thioitcetamide as the sulfide precipitant. The usual schematic outlines and notes are incorporated in the text. Included among the numerous problems a t the end of the chapters are many "whytype" questions to stimulate the student's imagination as well as t o test his knowledge of factual material. Answers to numerical prohlems are in an Instructor's Manual. I n keeping with the author's emphasis on a logical approaoh t o the snbject, all illustrative problems in the text are solved usine dimensional analvsis. A
finds in textbooks. The author's industrial and engineering education experience has been used to advantage in developing the design approach to report writing. The chapter on Investigation is particularly worth while because it covers the searching of the literature (books, journal articles, and reports) as sources of background information; young scientists and engineers must be impressed with the need for preceding laboratory research with library search. However, i t would have been helpful if the author had included some bibliography in his own text; he could not hope to exhaust the field of technical report writing in seventy pages. Some references to texts on literature searching, tabulation, and graphs would be helpful t o bath teachers and students of technical report writing. The chapter on Analysis is especially well handled; it should convince the reluctant engineer or scientist of the need to write reports while i t instructs him in deciding the kind of a. report to write. The classification of roports by purpose (to inform, to initiate action, to coordinate projeots, to recommend, and to provide a. record) is excellent. This book should be recommended to teachers of technical report writing, engineering and scientific students, and t o those about to write their first technical reports; it is too brief to be useful as a reference hook for experienced writ,ers and editors. ETHALINE CORTELYOU
for a. one-semester course in qualitative analysis and i t can be adapted easily t o s. one-term course or t o s. course in general chemistry in which qualitative analysis is a part of the laboratory work. The book is clearly written and free of errors. In eom~srisonwith other books on t,hn eubjeet' this reviewer finds Moeller's "Qualitative Analysis" generally superior t o most. ~~~~
ARMOUR REBEARC" FOUND*T,ON C n r c ~ o o Immors .
ORAL COMMUNlCATlON OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION
~~
JAMES L. HALL MIORLOAN STATEUNIVERBITP EMT LANBINO. MIOBX~AN
TECHNICAL REPORT WRITING
James W. Souther, Assistant Dean, College of Engineering, University of Washington. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1957. xi 70 pp. 2 5 figs. 2 X 27 cm. $2.95.
+
Tnrs brief, letter-size, paper bound book should be excellent for the purpose for which i t was written, a text for a college course in technical report writing. However, i t has the common failing of its p r e d e c e s s o r ~ i tneglects the subject of reporting data. in tables and graphs which, after all, is the characteristic that distinguishes technical report writing from other expository writing. Teachers should find i t s. very effective text because the exercises a t the end of each chapter approach "reel-life engineering situations" and me not the usual artificial "make-work" assignment one VOLUME 35, NO. 10, OCTOBER, 1938
Roberts. Casey, Chemist, W. A. Sheaffer Pen Co., Fort Madison, Iowa. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 1958. vii 199 pp. 20 figs. 13 X 19.5 cm. $4.50.
+
THIS is a detailed, informative, and instructional guide for all who are eancemed with preparation of topics for oral presentation. Although primarily intended for the presentation of technical material, those interested in non-technical subject matter should profit materially from the many basic ideas and suggestions offered. I t is organized into 12 chapters containing detailed discussion of all phases of oral oommunication varying from initial plans, outlines, preparation and use of nates, formal and informal veaking guides, as well as suggestions on presentation. Detailed coverages of the topics "audio and visual aids" and "presiding a t meetings" are included as separate chapters. Illustrations include proper forms for tabular data as well as examples of satisfactory and overcrowded lantern slides. Each chapter contains a rather complete bibliography. Although directed to the industrial worker (many references to "the boss"), it is firmly believed that many academio speakers could profit materially hy applying many of
the common-sense ideas postulated in this book. Some of the author's gems are: "Style is verbal personality," and "You can't learn to swim or make speeches hy reading books." The experienced speaker may consider certain of the topics and their thorough development too elementary in nature. One must remember that many who may he authorities in their fields me inexperienoed novices in the presentation of subject matter before an audience. Even experienced academic friends could (and should) improve their presentation by adopting certain of the principles and common sense practices which are covered. DOUGLAS G. NICHOLSON EABTT E N N M ~ E STATE E COLLEGE J O H N ~ DCITT, N TENNEBBEE
INTRODUCTION TO ENZYMOLOGY A l a n H. Mehler, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Academic Press, hc,,New York, 1957. viii 425 pp. 37 figs. 16 X 23.5 cm. $10.80.
+
THISrelatively thin (400 text pages plus introduction and subject index), lucidly written, and concise volume is a credit t o its author and a wclcome relief for a reader, constantly swamped with and inured t o voluminous treatises and Handhooher of heterogeneous parentage. I t provides him with a vdluahle, and in some ways a unique, addition to his groaning baok-shelf, be he a. gatherer or dispenser of enaymological lore. Far the former, the book is a. wellorganized, brief, yet adequately detailed summary of intermediary metabolism on the eneymtttio level-and what more fundamental approach is there today? The text is written in a lucid, sparse manner, the factual information is up-to-date (or a t least as up-to-date as a volume not provided with loose-leaf arrangement in this rapidly moving field can be--references go up to 1956, and to early 1957 in some instances), a fair number of relatively simple and clear schemes, diagrams, and struotural formulas are provided, and there is a goodly number of well-selected references both general and particular. The extensive subject index is of help, even though it has its idiosyncrasies: there are eight references to "lipolic aeid." but none to "cholesterol," "steroid," or "lipid." It is a pity also that no author index was provided. Perhapa a more regrettable omission is the complete absence of m y systematic discussion of the multi-enzyme sequences involved in cholesterol, terpene, and carotene biosynthesesneither squalene nor mevsr Ionic aeid are as much as mentioned. If space limitation was the overridink consideration, then surely 90 pages devoted t o amino acid metabolism seelrs excessive for a subject matter so frequently and so completely covered in general and speeialieed textbooks, symposium volumes, etc. These objeotions me still only minor ones and do not detract in any real sense from either the author's courage or his
