book reviews Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry
Samuel H. Maron and Jerome B. Lando, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Macmillan Publishing Co., Ine., New York, 1974. vii 853 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24.5 cm. $13.95.
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This text is a lineal descendent of "Principles of Physical Chemistry," by Maron and Prutton, which appeared in four editions between 1944 and 1965. While the authors state in the preface that "the present volume is considered t o be the first edition of a new book." the fact is that s t least 90% of the new text has been adopted verhatim from the fourth edition of the old. Accordingly, those teachers who have liked the approach of Maron and Prutton in the past will find that the new text retains much of the flavor of the old. The most noticeable change is e rearrangement of topics. Chapters 14-17 of the fourth edition, on atomic, molecular, and nuclear structure, have been moved t o become Chapters 3-6 of the present text, immediately preceding the chapters on thermodynamics. The discussion on statistical mechanics has also been moved forward so as to immediately follow the classical thermodynamics chapters. These changes are in line with the order of presentation preferred by many physical chemistry teachers a t the present time. In the latter half of the text, topics are arranged much as they were in the fourth edition. There is one new chapter, an macramolecules. The various mechanisms of polymer formation are discussed, along with a brief account of polymerization kinetics. Methods of defining and measuring molecular weights of polymers are described. Qualitative descriptions of same physical properties of polymers, such as melt viscosity and stress-strain curves, are given. This chapter would benefit by the additian of a more detailed discussion of condensed-phase polymer structure, perhaps hy making comparisons with the structure of ionic crystals, which is covered in chapter 2.
The strongest chapters in the text are those an thermodynamics, where the treatment is straightforward, detailed, and understandable, with many illustrative examples of thermodynamic and thermachemical calculations. The chapters on atomic and molecular structure are also good. Probably the weakest chapter is that on kinetics. It is short-at 47 pages, shorter than the preceding chapter on the phase rule-and is also confusing to students. Order and molecularity of reactions are not clearly distinguished, and students are led to believe, a t first, that the rate law of a reaction can be written down from the chemical equation. The text continues to use centimeters, grams, and calories, no mention being made of the International System of Units. While this reviewer would he unhappy to see these older units banished entirely from our textbooks, since they form the basis of most of the extant literature of physical chemistry, the almost complete absence of the newer units seems to reflect an overly conservative point of view. At least, some of the problems could have been rewritten using SI units. Gordon 6.Skinner Wright State University Daytoo. Ohio 45431
Solving Problems in Chemistry (With Emphasis on Stoichiometry and Equilibrium)
Rod O'Connor and Charles Mickey, University. Harper and Row, New York, 1914. Figs and tables. x 402pp. 27.5 X 21 cm. $4.95.
Texas A&M
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This problem book is not just a "book of problems." It is a learning experience for any student who will read the, sometimes too lengthy, informative material to which the actual mathematical problem is related.
Reviewed in this Issue r S a m u e l H.Moron and Jerome B. Londo, Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry Rod O'Connor and Charles Mickey, Solving Problems in Chemistry (With Emphasis on Stoichiometry and Equilibrium) Richard E. Boznk, Solving Organic Chemistry Problems Charles H. Douis and James E. Rush, Information Retrieval and Documentation in Chemistry Robert M Siluerstein, G. Clayton Bossler, and Terrence C. Morrill, Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds. Third Edition F. W. McLofferty, Interpretation of Mass Spectra, Second Edition N. S. I.macs, Reactive Intermediates in Organic Chemistry Howard V. Malmstodt. Christie G. Enke. Stonlev R. Crouch. and Garv ~-~ Horlick., ~nstrurnen&tion for ~eientist$~ e r i e s . ~ o d u1. l e~ l e e t r o n i c ~~.~~~~~~ Analog Measurements and Transducers.
The methods of salving the many types of problems encountered in the general areas of staichiometry and equilibrium are adequately covered. The theme of relevance presented by the authors should leave little doubt in the mind of the student that the problems have practical application in the area of their interest. In the efforts of the authors to establish relevance in certain areas, some of the background material appears to be excessively lengthy and includes some structures which may be understood only by the better students of a n average class in general chemistry. The format of this problem workbook appears especially appropriate far selfpaced courses hut its easy readability and relevant problems warrant its consideration as an auxiliary self-study book to aecompany any text. Harold L. Bird. Jr. College 01 the Desert Palm Desert. Caiitornia
Solving Organic Chemistry Problems
Richard E. Bazah, California State University, Hayward. Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co., Columbus, Ohio, 1974. ix + 342 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24.5 cm. $5.95. The hook by Bazak is yet another valient effort to respond to the age-old problems encountered hy first-year organic chemistry students. Many students will find "Solving Organic Chemistry Problems" helpful as a supplementary source of problems. A very brief description of textual material is given in each chapter. However, it is understood-and so stated in the prefaee-that the book should be used in conjunction with another text. Answers are provided right after the prohlems. This may be a had feature in so far as some students may merely "see" the answer without really working a t it and thus may he lulled into a false sense of security. Although the preface states that "answers with detail on how to do most problems" are provided, the "haw" may not be sufficient nor so obvious to a struggling student. One may wonder about the pedagogical value of some of the problems. In some cases, the student has to "know" the answer. In other instances, the answers are given with no explanation. Perhaps, it would have been preferable to limit the scope of the problems to the illustration of fundamental concepts which the student would learn to understand by working out the problems. The commendable effort to explain eertain concepts as simply as possible sometimes may result in confusion for the student. A quick perusal of the book indicates some typographical errors. Again to a good student, this will not matter; to a struggling student, . . . . Nonetheless the present manual does explain what the solutions to many of the problems are or how they can be arrived at. Perhaps it is unrealistic to expect a problem solving text to he a hook
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(Continued on page A334) Volume 52, Number 6, June 1975 / A333
book reviews for all students a s this may be an impossihle task. Lest the comments above be misunderstood, the hook is valuable and may he recommended. One nice feature is the rather "stiff" final exam a t the end (about one minute per question). A student scoring 85 or better will know his organic chemistry. J.-P. Anselme University ot M ~ ~ s a c h u ~ satt tBoston s Boston, Massachmetts 02125
Information Retrieval and Documentation In Chemistry
Charles H . Dnuis and James E. Rush, Drummond Island, Michigan. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 1974. a 284 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 X 21.5cm. $12.95.
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This hook is the eighth in a series dealing with Librarianship and information science. The authors' stated objective is to explicate and popularize major aspects of information storage and retrieval. It is written for chemists, information specialists, and individuals interested in scientific documentation. Although considering only chemical documentation the authors are quick t o point out that the principles and techniques presented can equally well be applied to other disciplines. The first six ehapters, approximately 100 pages, present an overall description of concepts associated with searching for and finding needed items of information. In order these are: (1) introduction, (2) the human factor, (3) indexing systems, (4) abstracts and abstracting, (5) general principles of retrieval systems, and (6) retrieval systems evaluation. The remaining three chapters, approximately 160 pages, are devoted to examples of chemical structure representation. Chapter 7 discusses nomenclature of organic compounds. Chapter 8 describes five systems of linear notation for organic compounds. These are the IUPAC, Wiswesser, Hayward, Skolnik, and GREMAS systems. Chapter 9 considers topological systems, that is the machine storage and retrieval of chemical compounds by structure rather t h a n , name. This is a commendable book, well written and well documentated with some references as recent a s 1973. The librarian's vocabulary pertaining t o information storage and retrieval may be unfamiliar to chemists but each term is defined as i t is introduced and its meaning clearly stated. For the research chemist accustomed to finding reference material and with a well developed filing system adopted t o his/her needs there may he little new information in this hook, although the approach, from the librarian's point of view, is not the same as that of the library user. The chemistry instructor looking for a text from which to teach fundamentals of various linear notation systems will likewise be disappointed. This is not a textbook in the usual sense. There are no ordered listings of rules depicting, for example, representation of organic eompounds by the Wiswesser line notation, and there are no
exercises for student drill. This is, however, a book worth reading by student and instructor alike if they are uninformed about modern practices of information storage and retrieval. Both will find a thorough presentation, in general terms, of the problems and solutions encountered in obtaining information from the vast amount of available literature. Regarding nomenclature and the linear and topalogical systems for representing chemical campounds, here, in one source, is a comprehensive introduction with numerous worked examples and extensive references describing material that should be known by rhem~stry students and instructc,rs alike. Lastly, the fledgling researcher. who ha, not yet fully developed hrr own techniques for liteiature searching and for whom Chemical Abstracts indices are still unclear, will find here an ordered comprehensive work intended, again in the author's words, to create more understanding of the processes involved in information storage, retrieval, and dissemination. Gordon A. Parker University of Toiedo Toiedo, Ohio 43506
Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds. Third Edition
Robert M Siloerstein, G. Clayton Bassler, and Terence C . Morrill. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1974. x + 340pp. $13.95. The first edition of "Spectrametric Identification Organic Compounds" by Silverstein and Bassler appeared in 1963. It eonstituted one of the first attempts to present a n integrated course suitable for advanced organic chemistry students in which the four main spectroscopic methods, uv, ir, nmr, and mass spectrometry. were used far the identification of organic compounds. The book provided models for procedures to coordinate information fram the four spectral classes that led the student through a series of logical steps to the solution of the problems. The first edition proved quite successful and in 1967 it was reedited and expanded to incorporate advances in nmr spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In the present edition a third author, a former student of the other two, was added. The major changes in the third edition are in a chapter on nuclear magnetic resonance which has been expanded to bring it up to date and cope with recent developments in that field. Another change in this edition is the omission of a chapter on spectral problems which were offered without hints or references. The solved prohlems and the exercises with Beilstein references have been retained and supplemented. The hook has been also expanded to include additional reference tables, charts and soectra.. maenetie chemical .. chift equnalentr. and a dvcus\im of thr. u i r "f lanthan~deehift rmgmt:, 8 - \\ell na a mow drtailed ennrnrreriralion hy infrared spectra ~~
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A useful innovation in rhir third edi~ion is the availahil~tyof an inaructur's manual that includes a drtailed diicussiun and answers to problems and gives same additional problems for use in the class or for testing. Two minor criticisms come to mind: one is the quality of the paper, which has deteriorated since the second edition. The decision to da that was probably dictated by the paper shortage and the desire to keep the price down. Another is the format of the infrared spectra, which is not uniform throughout the hook. Thus in the prablems a t the end of the book the wave lengths are linear whereas in the early chapters they are not. In the present reviewer's opinion the third edition of "Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds" is well up to the standards one has come to expect fram its authors. It will probably continue to find the same success the earlier editions have had. and will remain one of the best texts available for a spectrometric identification of organic compounds. Hassan S. EI Khadem Michigan Technical University Houghton, 49931
Interpretation of Mass Spectra, Second Edlion
F W. McLofferty, Cornell University. W. A. Benjamin, Inc., Reading, Massachusetts, 1973. xix + 278 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23 cm. $7.50 Paper, $15. Cloth. It is a pleasure to find that a goad texth w k is being kept up-to-date. There have been great advances in mass spectrometry during the last seven years and these are reflected in this timely new edition. Its scope is much more ambitious than that of the first edition although the basic approach is the same. Complete chapters have been added an the mass spectra of common functional group classes, theories of unimolecular ion decomposition reaetians, and auxiliary ms techniques. Other chapters, tables in the appendix, and a good set of references have been revised and expanded. The goal of Prof. McLafferty's hook is implicit in its title; the emphasis is on the priictical interpretation of mass spectra. Over 100 problems of graded difficulty are included throughout the book. These problems are a n extremely effective aid to learning. Only a very few "unknowns" in the book's early chapters are so difficult as to cause frustration. The problem solutions in the back are generally complete and well written. "Interpretation of Mass Spectra" is an excellent supplementary teat for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. It will also he useful as an introductory selfstudy far those already familiar with organic chemistry, although its effective use demands a substantial amount of time. The author's writing style adds to the book's teaching effectiveness. His enthusiasm for the present utility and future im-
