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media exchange Group IA Elements: Chemical Properties (a) Group VllA Elements: Chemical Properties (b) Time: Format: Cat. No.: Price: Supplier:
3 min, 42 sec (each) F ~ l mloop 7300-8 (a) 9300-8 (b) $29.95 each Kalmia Company Department C 8 Concord, MA 01742
HARRIET G. FRIEDSTEIN Rochester lnstltute of Technology 50 West Main Street Rochester. NY 14623
DE LlRRlf JUDICIA Many times we p u t books on the top shelves and allow them t o collect dust. O n a rare occasion, you will find t h a t t h a t dust h a d not collected o n a book so placed, for i t h a s become a classic. T h i s is t r u e for T h e N a t u r e of t h e Chemical Bond b y Linus Pauling.
The Nature of the Chemical Bond Linus Pauling, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1960, 3rd ed., 644 pp. $27.50 Students can b e directed t o record observations while watching t h e film loops, later writing halanced equations for t h e reactions. T h e film loo^ container orovides notes for additional information. KATHLEENJ. DOMERINK
QuantumChemistry Time: Format: Price: Cat. No.: Supplier:
3 0 min Videocassette $137.50 VCTd E.M.E. Science 46 Lafayette Ave. New Rochelle, NY 10801
A good film on quantum numbers would certainly h e useful for advanced high school a n d general college chemistry courses. Unfortunately, this tape does not meet this need. T h e film topics are q u a n t u m numhers, electronic configuration, a n d t h e periodic table. T h e approach t o these topics is n o t unique a n d could b e covered equally well i n t h e classroom. T h e visual aids are not much better than those generally found i n most textbooks. CAPTAINRICHARD P. DAVENPORT
This is the classic book on the valency-hand theory of chemical bonding. This edition represents an attempt to update the second edition which was published in 1938. Pauling uses valence-bond theory ideas exclusively to interpret a variety of experimental data. The concept of resonance is used repeatedly. Pauling dekribes structures resonating from one form to another, yet, he explainsthat resonance structures do not exist in the usual sense. In addition, he uses the concept of resonance to account for the stabilization of structures and to obtain additional terms to improve the VB functions needed for theoretical computations of structural properties. I t is unfortunate that this concept has often been incorrectly interpreted and misused. However, this book is a good source of information on bond energies, electronegativity, bond angles, ionic and covalent radii, crystal structure. and related thermochemical and structural data. ~ e a d e rwith i some hackground in quantum chemistry may well enjoy trying to follow Pauling's detailed explanations of how valence-bond theory is used to correlate the structures and properties of a number of substances. Readers with an interest in the history of chemical bonding theory may well enjoy becoming familiar, if they are not already, with the work af one of this country's Nobel Prize winners and one of the world's greatest chemists. It is particularly interestine to read Pauline's hondine. One who " discussion of hvdroeen " reads this section cannot fail to he irnnrersed with the rontrihotinna
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bonding theory in predicting chemical reactivity and reaction intermediates are also interesting in view of the progress made in these areas during the past decade. The major deficiencies of this hook are the omission or inadequate treatment of molecular orbital theory, the band theory of semiconductors. and lieand field theorv. There is also a lack of references to
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This feature allows for extended coverage which will include all instructional aids (eg., games, models, kits, cham, booklets. brochures. and. of course. the standard audio visual items). With the largevolume of ~ r i n and t A-V materials available and the limited budoets of most
to the feature editor
260
Journal of Chemical Education
are serious.) There are many general chemistry hooks with adequate sections an chemical bonding, Many of these hooks as well as specialized hooks
on chemical handing suitable for bright high school students have been reviewed hv THIS JOURNAL. It is doubtful that this hook will be a favorite source of information far high school students and their teachers. ROBERT ROE, JR. Skyline High School Dallas. TX 75227