Quantitative analysis: Elementary principles and practice (Diehl, Harvey)

Quantitative analysis: Elementary principles and practice (Diehl, Harvey). J. M. Pappenhagen. J. Chem. Educ. , 1972, 49 (1), p A38. DOI: 10.1021/ed049...
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throughout all phases of the text does make for interestine and informative resdine:

found in most general chemistry textbooks, since industrial processes are described rather in detail wherever it is possible throughout the book. In fact; the instructor using the hook will have to pick and choose some of the material and perticulmly only portions of the exercises since over a thousand are available at the end of the chapters. Teachers of beginning college chemistry who are concerned with the problems of accepting average students into a program which is destined to serve as a science requirement and in preparation for more chemistry should find this book very helpful. The explanations me clear and concise, and the illustrations are particularly well done. The separation of the problem exsmples from the text by a colored line, emphasizes the importance of the quantitative nature of chemistry and can be used extensively, or left out by choice. The inchion of the features mentioned above, plus the absence of typographical errors and misstatements makes it easier for the student and the teacher to select an adequate program for general chemistry.

presentation. There has been considerable reorganiaation in the presentation of material. C h a p ters have been shifted around, and some topics have been placed in new and s e p arate chaoters. The text now consists

in the earlier text. Major changes are found in the following chapters: Density and Specific Gravity (material now in a separate chapter), Spectrophotometry (formerly, Colorimetry), Theory and Praetice of Titrimetry Based on the Formation of a Precipitate, Theory and Practice of Titrimetry Based on the Formation of a Slightly Dissociated Compound (material on precipitates and slightly dissociated compounds was previously found in a single chapter). The remaining chapters include revisions of various degrees; such revisions including the deletion of some topics (for example, titrstions with bromate and indirect analysis), plus the inclusion of new topics (for example, single-pan balances and relative standard deviation). JAMESF. CORWIN As in the earlier hook, answers to the numerical problems are not included. Antioch College The book includes brief, but valuable, Yellow Springs, Ohio 46387 passages celled Notes at the end of a number of chapters. New laboratory experiments include the determination of aluminum in brass, using EDTA, and determination of calcium and magnesium in the analysis of limestone, using EDTA. Quantitative Analysis: Elementary The laboratory procedures throughout the Principles and Practice book appear to be quite good. In the revision process some attempts H a w q Diehl, Iowa State University. have been made to update the descriptive Oakland Street Science Press, Ames, material by using modern terms and 454 pp. Figs. Iows, 1970. vii phrases; for example the use of titrimetric and tables. 29.2 X 22.5 cm. $12.50. in place of volumetric and the use of nanometer. I t is unfortunate that not all This introductory textbook presents a striking appearance. The book is exsuch changes were made; for example A F is still used in place of AG and molar extremely well bound, rests flat when opened tinction coefficient is still used. Much of to any page, contains wide margins for the material is still presented in a. very making notes, and contains well presented elementary form. The reviewer questions figures and tables. After the initial exthe statement that the activity of elecamination of the book, the reviewer looked trolytes "is properly a subject for the for the Preface. There is no Preface to course in physical chemistry" (p. 131). explain the author's "purpose or philosIntroductory courses can introduce such a ophy." An examination was then made concept, and it is misleading to introduce of the book, "Quantitative Analysis," by H. Diehl and G. F. Smith (THIS the discussion of the Nernst equation by defining and using only molar concentra30, 321 (1953)) in order to comJOURNAL, tions (p. 196). The passages on rtcids and pare the two texts. It became apparent immediately that, although modifications bases do not make use of the Bronstedhad been made, the two texts were very Lowry concept. The subject presentasimilar. Much of the written descriptive tions in the chapters are generally written material, including many numerical prohwith clarity. More literature references lems, figures, lab experiments, tables, plus could have been given. Although the much of the Appendix, and the Glossary, organization of material is quite good, has been taken from the 1952 text. This some orders of presentation might have book, therefore, becomes essentially a been improved. Thus, peptieation is revision of an earlier ane-a revision with mentioned in Chapter 7 (General Operathe following major change: "A fair tions of Quantitative Andysis), graviamount of the history of chemistry has metric determinations are presented in been incorporated into the text. This is Chapter 8, and separation by precipitation a, distinct departure from American praeis discussed in Chapter 21. This text will he recogniaed as a revision lice and places this text in the forefront by those familiar with the 1952 book. of the trend in undergraduate education For those not familiar with the earlier text, away from the premature presentation of it should be noted that the present text advanced technical material and toward contains the traditional material presented a more humanistic and cultural approach." in an elementary form. The criticisms The inclusion of much such material

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Journal o f Chemical Education

mentioned above are not serious ones; the present hook does not differ markedly from the trsditional texts currently available and compares well with them. The book contains sufficient material for a onesemester or two-quarter course in quantitative analysis for freshmen or sophomores (it is used a t Iowa State University as s. text for a two-quarter course giien to freshmen students majoring in chemistry), but does not contain sufficientmaterial for a. second or more advanced course, such as "instrumental analysis."

J. M. PAPPENHAQEN Kenyon College Uambier, Ohio @OB

Analytical Determinations and Separations: A Textbook in Quantitative Analysis

C. T. Kenner, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Assisted by Richad E. O'Brien, El Centro Junior College, Dallas, Texas. The Macmillan 395 pp. Co., New York, 1971. xx Figs. and tables. 26.2 X 18.5 em. $9.95.

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Laboratory Directions for Analytical Separations and Determinationr: A Manual for Quantitative Analysis

C. T . Kelzner, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. The Macmillan 216 pp. Co., New York, 1971. vii Figs. and tables. 25.5 X 17.8 cm. $3.95.

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As Professor Kenner states in his Preface to "Analytical Determinations and Separations," the chemistry curriculum is in a. state of flux. In addition, he is absolutelv correct in that the ouantitative

ate chemistry courses. Here yesterday, gone today, back in another spot tomorrow. No one can say with certainty what the sndytical course will he or where it will settle down in the "newer" chemistry curricula being developed at this time. This uncertainty is one of the causes for the somewhat unsatisfactory nature of the books (or book) being reviewed. In discussions with various people, one acquires the feeling that the economio difficulties of the publishing industry have led many publishers to try to make sure that every text-hook is suitable for all possible markets. Professor Kenner correctly indicates that there is a need for a lower level quantitative analysis book than some of those presently available. Hawever, a. book of this sort naturally would have a limited market. Therefore, somewhere along the l i ~Professor , Kenner has been prevailed upon to add sections an several of the more sophisticated analytical techniques and we are back to ground zero again. We now have a book covering the elementary principles in a really excellent manner, with chspters on spectrophotom(Continued on page A4O)