book reviews Editor: W. F. KIEFFER College of Woorter Woorter, Ohio
Cation and Anion Chemistry
James H . Kvueger, Oregon Strute University. Bogden & Quigley, Inc., Puhlishers, Tarrytown-on-Hudson, New 196 pp. Figs. and York, 1971. i r tables. 28 X 21.5 cm. $5.50, softbound.
+
This flexible lahoratory text represents another effortto survey the chemistry of a numher of common cations and anions while involving students with real chemical systems. As the title indicates, particular emphasis is placed on the chemistry of ionic systems in aqueous solution while using experiments which involve the analvsis and identification of selected ions. Akhough analytical aspects are not stressed, several unknowns are included since the author recognizes the fact that students enjoy the challenge and continui t y of nwrking wnh unknown mixture. Titi4 reviewc~(1811 find little ro rriticise l its rmrcnrt nnd objecin this man ~ arinre tives are quire similar to those of our own text published five years ago [see J. CHEM.EDUC.,43, 507 (1966)], except that fewer ions are studied (16 cations and 11 anions instead of 25 cations and 20 anions). Chapters 1 through 4 provide the general principles of the nature of ions in water, equilibria involving acid and bases, precipitation reactions, oxidatian-reduction reactions, writing and balancing equations, and pertinent equilibrium calculations. Chapters 5 and 6 are devoted to 8. fsirly complete and modern coverage of the chemistry of the coordination compounds of transition metal cations. Topics included are nomenclature and structure of complex ions, the nature of hondine between lieands and metal ions. the end of each chapter. Part I1 (Chapters 7 through 11) covers cation chemistry and procedures. The section is prefaced with a guide to experimental work which gives information to the student in regard to equipment, safety, reagents, and experimental techniques. Preceding the actual lahoratory procedures is a hrief section describing the chemical properties and reactions of the ions involved. The procedure pages include
space for the recording of experimental observations and pages for reporting the results of the analysis of the unknowns and for writing gquations for the reactions involved. Problems also are found at the end of each of these Chapters. Anion chemistry and procedures are treated in a. similar manner in two chapters of Part 111. The find of the fourteen chapters gives instructions for the testing of salts and mixtures of salts. Tables of the usual equilibrium constants are given in the Appendix. The instructor will find useful information regarding recommended equipment and supply items, reagents required, and instructions for the preparation of Group Known Solutions. The manual is concluded with an index. A numher of options are available to the instructor who wishes to adopt this lahoratory textbook for use in the general chemistry program. I t is self-contained and can he used done or as a supplement to the lecture textbook. Either anion or cation chemistry can be studied first, and the number of unknowns can he adjusted to fit the number of Laboratory periods available. The text is written in s. clear and concise manner and the experimental procedures appear to have been subjected to thorough testing by many classes of students. I t is recommended that general chemistry professom not using a laboratory text which is part of a "package" [see J. CHEM. Eonc., 47, A442 (1970) and J. CHEM. Eonc. 48, A675 (1971)l give this one serious consideration. ALBERTINE KROHN University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio 45606 Thermodynamics: Principles and Applications
Frank C . Andrews, University of California, S m t s Cruz, Calif. Wiley-Inter288 science, New York, 1971. xii pp. Figs. and tables. 23.5 X 15.5 em. $9.95.
+
In the preface to this unusual hook, Profe~nor Andrews suecests with some rvrpidntiorr rhsr rhr wiling uf yet ariothcr tcx~hookit! r1.r IIIW of cln~.;iral thcrn~o~~~~
~
Reviewed in this Issue James H . Knceger, Cation and Anion Chemistry Frank C. Andtews, Thermodynamics: Principles and Applications Douglas A . Skoog and Donald M . West, Principles of Instrumentill Analysis John A . Day and Fredel.ic F. Fost, Dimensions of the Environmental Crisis New Volumes in Continuing Series
. ..A361 .. .A361 .. .A362
dynamics could be regarded as an set of arrogance. Quite the contrary. Instead of reshuffliag, restating, resymbolizing, and generally expanding in unnecessary verbal detail all that which has reposed for many years in Guggenheim's classic work (the usual gambit for writers of "new" textbooks of thermodynamics), Professor Andrews puts forth a little book which involves a truly new departure for a work intended for the moderately sophisticated student in chemistry and physics. The idea is that the principles of thermodynamics are introduced as a Part I, with none of the bothersome numerical prohlems thrown in which usually only help to convince the junior or senior to feel that he is taking freshman chemistry, all over again. Nor are there to he found the wearisome theorems of what one author has called the "ethereal" school of themadynamics. In particular, the Carnot oycle is given only brief mention, almost only in passing, a practice which has been fallowed in both undergraduate and gmduate courses in physical chemistry by this reviewer for some years. Straightforwa~dlyand usefully, the basic ideas of the laws governing the preregrinations of energy and the eccentricities of entropy are put forward and discussed. This is done with an eye to being understood by the reader-an enterprise far more admirable than a. heavy attempt to overwhelm him with the eleganee of the classical structure. Part I1 of the book is devoted to a p plications. These are carefully chosen, well executed, and appropriately provocative of further study. I t is indeed in the area of elucidation of problems that Professor Andrews does his best job. I t gives one the impression that he knows, somehow, what will bother the student about a particular problem, and proceeds therefore to clarify it beforehand, The examples are for the most part fresh, and this reviewer at least had no yawning sense of ddjd i u upon reading through the second section. Scientifically, the hook is contemporary; that is, it is written for the chemist who will h i prscticing h k profession in the popular "decade of the seventies" and even after. One could guess that a text in this area hy Professor Andrews would h v e had this flavor, following any experience with his 1963 effort in "Equilibrium Statistical Mechanios." A reviewer cannot, however, in these days when, as it has been said, "the ratio of computation to concept is very high," refrain from remarking that even Professor Andrews has apparently confused the mles of dp and the integral of dq in defining an adiabatic transformation. Sometimes a particular choice of symbolism can confuse this issue. Operationally, the adiabatic condition is dq = 0. In summary: Although the publication date was late for adoption thi year, the hook should receive highly favorable consideration for use in the chemical thermodynamios quarter (or section) of physical chemistry courses in coming academic years.
. ..A362 .. .A362
FRANKR. MEEKS Unioersily of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 45281 Volume 49,
Number 6, June 1972
/
A361
