Understanding Chemlslq
Robert J. Ouellette, The Ohio State University. Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1976. xiv 441 pp. Figs. and tables. 19 X 24 cm.
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The Prlnclples of lnorganlc Chemlslry William L. Jolly, University of California-Berkeley. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1976. Figs. and tables. viii + 376 pp. 17 X 24 cm. $16. The stated purpose of rhis short text is to provide an outline of the "few simple principles" which serve as the foundatim of modern inorganic chemistry. In keeping with this purpose, descriptive material is avoided, although most of the principles are presented in the context of soecific chemical examnles. he selection of tdpics is quite similar to'that found in other recent inorganic chemistry textbooks. The treatment of each topic is generally good, although not always along traditional lines. For example, it is rather startling to read through the chapter titled "The Solid State" without once encountering the term unit cell. While the author demonstrates that the solid state can be discussed at the introductory level without unit cells, it is still not clear that this is the way in which it should be done. The concept of the unit cell is so important in solid state chemistry that it should be afforded at least a brief mention. The related term asymmetric unit is used once in the chapter, but it is not defined. In spite of a few such problems, the departures from traditional pathways represent improvements over the standard methods for discussing inorganic principles. The treatments of metals and semiconductors (chapters 11 and 12) are especially good. This book is designed for students who have had one year each of general and organic chemistry. It should not present such students with grave difficulties, except possibly for Chapter 3, "Molecular Orbital Theory." Some af the techniques employed in this chapter will be over the heads of those students whose general chemistry experience
was not heavily laced with quantum mechanics. The most unique feature of this text is the concise manner in which the subjects are presented. The book is less than a third of the size of the widely used "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry" by F. A. Cotton and G. Wilkinson, and about half the size of the popular "Inorganic Chemistry: Principles of Structure and Reactivity" by J. E. Huheey. If words per page are considered, these fractions are even smaller. The author has produced a collection of important inorganic principles in a format having the convenience of a catalog. Each subject is described briefly with examples, and sources of further information are noted. Professor Jolly's writing is first-rate as slwavs. The onlvdifficultv arises from the fact that some top& are juit not well served by brevity. For example, the short outline of symmetry will probably not enlighten the beginning inorganic chemist unless a considerable amount of time is spent by the instructor in connecting loose ends. Although adequate references are provided, it is unrelaistic to expect that the average student will take advantaee of them. The oroblemsat the p n d uf carh chapter are challengmg and 11l~~srrate wrll the mort lmponnnt pomw uf the chapter. This book ought to be adopted by those instructors in inorganic chemistry who feel that a text should not overwhelm a student with an excess of material that he cannot be expected to absorb. Unless a supplementary descriptive text is employed, this book is not advisable far courses in descriptive inorganic chemistry. It should be possible to cover the 19 chapters in one semester, even if the instructor wishes to spend extra time on some of the topics. Donald D. Titus
Temple University PhMadelphia. Pennsyivania 19122
The primary purpose of this book is to "provide an approach to learning chemistry for students whose science background isvery limited." The material is oresented in "sufficient detail and a t a leveion which thestudent may study and learn without the need of a lecturer to provide additional or clarifying material." The text is designed for one semester. The subject matter is that expected for a book of this type in addition to a chapter on nuclear chemistry. Appendices include a short mathematical review, electronic configurations of the elements, vapor pressure of water at various temoeratures. solubilitv of salts, naturally occurring isotopes, and answers to selected problems. In general the text is clearly written. After a brief introduction measurement and mathematical operations are considered before taking up elements and compounds, the atomic theory, and bonding. In my opinion chapter 8 on the periodic table should appear earlier in the text for use in the preceding chapters on atoms, compounds, and chemical bonds. In solving problems the factor unit method is used. In the opinion of the reviewer this is unfortunate as this method seems more designed to provide an answer than to contribute to an understanding of chemistry. Interconversion of Centimade and Fahrenheit trmperatures, not very useful ~ a I c ~ ~ I a t i o n ~ . a l , ~are included. Throughout the text there are many eraniples t,t pnhlrms complrtrly worked out and numerous exercises at the end of each chapter which one could reasanably expect the student to do. Probably the least effectively written chapter in the hook is the chapter on bonding. Several analogies used do not seem to be helpful in understanding the chemistry involved, and could justifiably be omitted. Formula writing is presented in considerable detail, hut the method of writing formulas is unnecessarily complex. The statement that "every pure substance is composed (Continued on page A4281
Volume 54, Number 10, October 1977 1 A427
