The second law: An introduction to classical and statistical

thing seems to straighten out, but many would object to the loose (but always interesting!) and naive approach to many of the topics. This type of app...
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for his serious consideration since it is a fine addition to the library of modern chemistry texts.

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Chemistry: Structure and Reactions

M i l t n K . Snyde~, Colordo College, Colordo Springs. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Ine., New York, 1966. xiii 748 pp. Figs. and tables. 17 X 24cm. 119.95.

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A new hook has been created that should answer the needs of many of us who are teaching chemistry to students with extremely varied backgrounds. This hook should he snceessful because the arrangement is so different from any text corrently on the market and so different from any currently being used a t the secondary level. This unique approach is based an energetics, shapes and properties of molecules, and eqoilihris. The need for s. different. approach arises because so many well-prepared students tend to "ride" in the beginning of a course and end in trouble. Also, a new approach to descriptive chemistry is refreshing bath to student and instntctor. Quantum phenomena. are introduced with nuclear reactions and reinforced by a detailed study of the hydrogen atom. Unlike many texts, this one, through potenlid energy and electrostatic arguments, expands these concepts to demonstrate the similarities and t,he differences between the hydrogen atom and the many-electron atom. Here, also, the concepts of degeneracy, ground states, and excited states are presented in an easily

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R. K. BIRDWHI~TELL Butler Universttg Indianapolis, Indiana

understood manner which shoi~ldhe exciting to the student. The same thoroughness is carried throughout this volume. Concepts which may he fimt introduced in theoretical terms, are reinforced by applications to chemical situations. This is done, to quote the author's preface, "because I feel that students have difficulty in seeing the relationship between theoretical concepts and actud chemical systems." Another unique feature of this text is the integration of organic reactions in a natural wsy so that the student's first impression of these types of reactions is that they fit into the scheme of things and are not an isolated phenomena. For example in Chapter 8 following a discus sion of peroxides, hydrasine, nitrogen oxides, and other catenated species, comes s, discussion of hydrocahons. I n Chapter 9,which is entitled Some Ternary snd Higher Compounds of the Nonmetals, one finds tucked in between the oxy-halogen acids and the hydroxy acids of sulfur a discussion of alcohols and ethers. The usual attributes of good modern texts are found: good problems, easily understood diagrams, caneise intmduetions to each chapter, and clearly presented problem examples. Perhaps the one major objection to this volume is that the index appears to be incomplete, hut this could he rectified by the inclusion of a formula index in the next printing. I can recommend this text to any instructor

in this Issue

Millon R . Snyder, Chemistry: Struct,ure and Reactions Henry A . Bent, The Second Law: An Introd~tct,ionto Classical and Statistical Thermodynarnia Jacob Kleinbe~g,symposium director, Mechanisms of Inorganic Reactions Robert IF'. K i m , Introduction to Mass Spectrometryand Its Applications Ronald Beleher, Suhmicro Methods of Organic Analysis I. M . Koraman. Introduction to Quantitative Ultramicroanalvsis Keniti Higasi, Hiroaki Baba, and Alan Rembaum, Quantum Organic Chemistry Andrew Streitwieser, Jr., J . I . Braurnan, and C . A . Coulson, Supplemental TablS of Moleeulzir Orbital Cdclculations with a Dictionary of 7-Electron Csleulat,ions. Volumes 1 and 2 Karl Abreseh and Ingeborg Claassen, Coulometrio Analysis Pat~ickMeares, Polymers: Structure and Bulk Properties A. R. P a t h , Biochemical Energetics and Kinetics S. Cofey, editor, Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds. Volume 1, Aliphatic Compounds, Part D, Dihydric Alcohols, Their Oxidat,ion Products and Derivatives Anthony Standen, editor, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Thlume 7, Dialysis to Electron Spin Resonance Arthur Stall, editor, From My Life: TheMemoirs of Richard Willstitter August Kekuld, CassirteKapitel aus der Ahhandlong Verlag Chemie, editon, Mixtura Mirahilis New Volumes in Continuing Series

The Second Law: An Introduction to Classical ond St~tirticol Thermodynamics

H a r y A . Bent, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Oxford Univenity Press, New York, 1965. 450 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23 cm. .W. "The Second Law" is a highly individualistic text. The characteristic of such texts is that they usually make very interesting reading and contain many useful sections, but are quite restricted as to the courses where they may be used. This is certainly the caye with "The Second Law," which was presumably prepared for a freshman honors course which the author teaches. I t should prove to be quite useful for such a course and, indeed, I would lave to teach an honors course with a small class of liberal arts students using this text. However, I would not recommend it for students who will be taking additional chemistry COUTSeG. The book begins brilliantly with a fmnt,&pieee by Steinberg (of the New Yorker maeazinel showine a boulder chasing a. m i n uphill. ~ h i s & ? s the stage for applying the second law consistently throughout t,he text to a vast variety of problems. I n form, the hook almost resembles a programmed text and it may find extensive use as a problem hook or a supplement. The actual textual material is quite short, and fully one-half of the book is used for problems and the very extensive and detailed answers to these problems. The devotion of such a large portion of the hook to worked out answers i.one of its strongest features. Averitable wealth of historical and biographical information is appended to the ends of man?. of the chapters and this also enhances the value of the book. The appendices contain & tzseful and extensive compilation of thermodynamic data. The development is far from rigorous, depending too much an clarifying footnotes and addends. Eventually, e v e w thing seems to straighten out, but many would object to the loose (hut always

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it requires too many parenthetical eomments to yield a disciplined introduction t,o classical and statistical thermodynamics. The hook is divided into five major parts: I. Introduotion to Classical Thermodynamies; 11. Free Energy and Phase Stability; 111. An Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics; IV. Applications: and V. The Role of Mathematics in Thermodvnamics. The first four Darts do not,

Volume 43, Number 7, July 1966

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in the text, footnotes, addenda, and even interspersed in the answers to the problems, cover a widevariety of topicsfromBr0nsted acid-base theory of dimensional analysis to the thermodyanrtmics of rubber ela.ticity. In summary, this is a mast interesting text which should find its widest use a s a supplement or problem book, or as the perfect text in a liberal arts honors course.

Introduction to Mars Spectrometry and Its Applications

The submioromethods dmrribed represent a scaling-dawn operation of one-hundredth of the microscale. The advantages of Rob& W . Kiser, Kansas State Unisuch ultramicro methods are obvious to versity, Manhattan. Prentice-Hall, those who have only an extremely limited Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, sample size for characteriastion. 1965. xii 356 pp. Figs. and tables. The author describes the Oertling Q 01 16 X 23.5 em. $10.50. balance which was especially developed for submicro assay. This is the cornerAccording to its preface the purpose of stone of all of the techniques described in this book is to teach mass spectrometry to the text. From all appearances the balRUBINBATTINO those who know very little or nothing ance should sewe its purpose admirably. about it. The background expected of Illinois Institute of Technology Since gravimetric methods are generally the reader is a basic course in physics, Chicago unsuitable, the balance is used exchrsively rudimentary preparation in mstheto weigh the original sample. mstics, and freshman chemistry. This Because most of the methods are titriis an exceedingly difficult assignment and metric (for greater precision), a goodly the author has not succeeded. remainder of the foundation of the techThe hook is organized into three a p Mechanisms of Inorganic Reactions nique is dependent upon the burette proximately equal sections dealing with employed. Professor Belcher recommends instrumentation, chemical physics of ionJacob Kleinbwg, qmposium director. the use of a modified Agla micrometer ization phenomena, and analytical and R. K a t M u m n n , University of syringe burette with a total capacity of application. Although each miacellaneous Missouri, Columbiq R. T . M. Fraser, 0.6 ml. with graduations of 0.2 "1. section contains many items of interestand John Bauman, editorial committee. Usually, visual indicators are used ing information, welkeferenced, there is Advances in Chemistry Series, No. 40. wherever possible as opposed to potentiovery little systematic exposition of parACS, Washington, D. C., 1965. vii metric measurements. Where no suitable ticular topics. Many equations are pre266 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 titrimetric method was available, ss in the sented without any derivation which might em. $8. arsenic and fluoride determinations, speomake them meaningful to readers having trophotometric procedures were employed. This volume contains the proceedings the expected background. Further, the The oxygen-flask combustion was utilized of the 1964 Summer Symposium of the hook is filled to an irritating extent with for 8ulfur and halogen determinations, Division of Inorganic Chemistry (ACS) on numerical examples consisting of nuleaving only nitrogen to he determined via. merical substitutions into the preceding the topic of the same name. The ten sealed tube decomposition. papers a r e research-oriented with some equations and carried out in great detail. Only carbon-hydrogen ltnalysis requires background in the nature of specific deI n the section on instrumentation there highly specialized equipment in this new is no mention or introductory develop taik from the literature. Each paper technique. The hydrogen analysis a p wvers a single %re&; e.g., Chapter 4 ment of ion optics. The section on chemparently was the real stumbling block in by F. Basolo coven Substitution Reactions ical physics of ionization phenomena conestablishment of the whole scheme of tains both very elementary (and inof Square Planar Complexes. For those submicro organic analysis. The carhonreaders who are seriously interested in complete) verbal definitions of molecule hydrogen method which har been d e mechanisms, the book will he of some ions, and a section starting with an (undeveloped involves catalytic decomposition interest. A revier* which dismssee the rived) secular determinant based on an in an oxygen stream, trapping of the water bwk in aresearch context may be found in approximate farm of molec~ilar orbital and carbon dioxide at -80" and -196", Inmgunic Chemistry (5, 702 [1966]). theory. removal of excess oxygen and manometric The usefulness of this hook in a teachIn summary, this book can serve as a measurement of the water and carbon ing context seems quite limited, and it meful guide to the literature on the many dioxide. appears worthwhile to review for Tars aspects of mass spectrometry to which it The excellent method descriptions, the JOURNAL the applicability of this book alludes. However, it cannot be recommeans of overcoming interferencer, and as a text. Admittedly, however, this book mended as a text. the techniques for difficultly analyzahle wasnot designed as a text. HENRY ROSENSTOCE moieties would make this book of conThere is no general introduction to ~VationalBureau of Standards siderable v a h ~ eto any andytiesl chemist inorganic reaction mechanisms therein, whether engaged in submicro, micro or Washington, D.C. and the individual papers assume a macro organic analysis. familiarity with the topic. Much of the No utilization has been made in this book is taken up with the presentation of text of the promising vapor chromstoindividual points of view on unsettled graphic techniqnes for mioroandysis. issues. The ten main papers are uneven Submicro Methods of Organic Analysis Undoubtedly, this is under consideration in style, quality and clarity; by and large, for future extensions of this excellent work. they seem to be hastily written. The Ronald Belcher, University of Birmingopen-floor discussion sections are rambling ham, Great Britain. AmericanElsevier ROBERTH. CUNDIFF and inconclusive as would be expected ... Co., Inc., New York, 1966. Publishing R. J . Reynolds Tobacco Co. fmm a meeting of this type. A number of vnl 173 pp. Figs. and tabler. W i n s h S a l e m , North Carolina errors, both scientific and typographical, 15.5 X 23 em. $10. were noted. Also, there are many stateThis is a superb contribution by one of ments which lack the firm,factual foundathe most eminent and distinguished tion appropriate for a text. Some improfessors and practitioners in the field of portant subjects such as outer-sphere analytical chemistry. electron-transfer reaetionn, ligand field Professor Belcher in this monograph has stabilization effects, and free radical redelineated a field of analysis that offers actions are not included. Introduction to Quantitative comparable ramifications to that opened I believe that the chemistry teacher Ultramicroanalysis by Pregl in his pioneering work in organic who wishes to give his students something microanalysis. He and his ca-workers outside of the ~resentlv-limitednumber of I . M . Koraman, Gorkiy State Univerover a period of the past 15 years have textbooks on &organic mechanisms would sity, U.S.S.R. Translated by Scripta developed techniques for accurate analysis find it more profit,able to pick sound reTeehnica, Inc. Academic Press, Inc., using sample weights in a 3W50 pg range. search papers and reviews from the liters, 234 pp. Figs. New York, 1965. ix are even more remarkThe achievements ture rather than to use this book as a text. 23.5 em. $9.50. and tables. 16 able when one considers that the average JOHN0. EDWARDS weight of a grain of sugar is 200 pg, and B r w n University they are dealing with samples nizes o n e Prm'denee, Rhocle Island eighth to onefourth of t h i ~ amount.

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Journal of Chemical Education

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