BOOK
REVIEWS
Why Do Chemical Reactions Occur?
J . A~thur Campbell, Hamey Mudd College, Claremont, California. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1965. viii 117 pp. Figa. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. Clothbound, $1.50; paperbound, $1.50.
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I n this monograph Dr. Campbell gives an excellent presentlttion of kinetics and chemical equilibrium. One of the strong features is his development of the concept of entropy both in a qualitative and semiquantitative manner. He avoids the heat engine approach in the subject, which the chemistry student often faik to grasp. Instead, he clarifies the concept by considering the randomness of molecular edlisions. The energetics of bond strength is developed from a discussion of rotational and vibrational spectra. Toward the end of the book are outlined the criteria. which aid one in predicting separately the effect of entropy and enthalpy in a chemical process. The book is unique in that i t allows the student to gain a n early mastery of using both of these concepts to estimate the magnitude and sign of the free energy function. A number of additional concepts are developed and used throughout the manograph. These include the MaxwellBoltzmmn predictions for distribution of moleculm velor.ities, activation energies, catalysis, and the effect of temperature on rate and equilibrium. Dr. Campbell has the facility to intertwine these subjects along with kinetics, entropy, snd enthalpy
into the logical discussion throughout. 1,) the early part of the hook be convincingly breaks down the distinction of physieel and chemical change and substitutes n discussion of strong and week interatomic bonds. The "Bhe Bottle Exneriment" THIS
students 'the opportunity to this experiment prior to their purchase or perusal of the monograph. Reference to the experiment is made throughout the book. The amount of chemical information which can be obtained from the experiment is amazing. This treatment is an excellent illustration of the use of the experimental approach in science. A series of challenging questions is included a t the end of each chapter. The majority of these questions are of a discussion type. I t is particularly helpful to the student to read hoth the hink and the detailed answers to the questions which are given a t the end of the hook. This reviewer has found the monograph useful as one of the texts in an NSF sponsored snmmer institute for high school teachers of Advanced Placement ehemistry. Any high sebaol or college teacher of chemistry who wishes to sharpen his presentation of kinetics and entropy will benefit, by this clear qualitative presentntion.
Garth L. Lee and Harris 0. Van Orden, General Chemistry: Inorganic snd Organic .
R m l d Rieh, ~ e r i o d j eCorrelations Vladimtr BaGant, el al., Organmilicon Compounds. Volnme 1 and Volume 2. Parts 1 and 2 E. H . E. Pietseh and the Gmelin Institute, editors, Gmelins Handburh der Anorganischen Chemie. S. Auflage, System, Number 16, Phosphor. Teil C, Die Verbindungen des Phosphors Frank Bescia. John Arents, Herbert Meislieh and Amos Turk, Fundamentals of Chemistry: A Modern Introduction Wallace S . Brey, Jr., Physical Methods far Determining Molecular Geometry Maz E. Rafelsa. Jr.. and S!eohen B. Binklev, Basic Biochemistry Volumes 1 and 2 A l t a ~ e i s i e r~, h c h e m i s t r yof the Amino A&. William C . Reynolds, Thermodynamics E. H. E. Pietsch and the Gmelin Institute, editors, Gmelins Handhuch der Anorganischen Chemie. 8. AuEsge, System Pr'ummer 57, Nickel, Teil B, Liefernng 1, Die Legierungen des Nickels Anthay Slanden, executive editor, Encylopedia of Chemical Technology. Volume 6, Complexing Agents to Dextrose and Starch Syrups Richard H. Kroek and Merrill L. Ebner. Ceramics. Plastics, and MetaL? J. Gillis, Leo Hendrik Baekeland Kurt Mislm, Introduction to Stereochemistry George T. Rado and Harry Suhl, editors, Magnetism. Volume 2A Volumes in Continuing Series
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Journal of Chemical Education
EUGENE C. JEKEL Hope College Holland, Michigan
General Chemistry: Organic
-Reviewed in This Issue J . Avthur Campbell, Why Do Chemical Reactions Occur?
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Study) course as well as a supplement in a firseyear college course in chemistry. This excellent treatment of subject matter is nseful in givina the students a aualitative unders6ndi;g before proceeding to a. more mathematical approach. Becauseof its necessary brevity the book leaves the student with the desire to delve more deeply into the study of themodynamics and kinetics.
Inorganic and
Garth L. Lee and Harris 0 . Van Orden, hoth of Utah State University, Logan. 2nd ed. W. B. Saunders Co., Phila679 pp. Figs. and delphia, 1965. ix tables. 16 X 24 cm. $8.
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The subtitle of this second edition reveda the important position given to organic chemistry. Approximately onethird of the book is devoted to organic including a chapter on biochenlistry not found in the first edition. The authors point out in the preface that the revision involves correction, modernization, and addition. The sddition includes two new chapters other t,han the one on hiochemistrj-, Colloids and The Nucleus and Chemistry. llodernization involves inclusion of a section on xenon compounds, a treatment of sigma and pi bonding, and the introduction of modern atomic orbital notation. .4s in the earlier edition the style is clear and explanatory material adequate. Type problems are abundant-there are no less than 11 sample problems worked out in Chapter 10, The blalecular Theory. The excellent illustrations by Larry Elsner which appeared in the first edition have been supplemented by many new illustrations prepared by Richard E. Bird. I t is the opinion of this reviewer that the test would be more than adequate in the first year course as given in most colleges. It would probably not meet the needs of select groups such as advanced placement students. The text is truly "general" chemistry and not a text book of elementary physical chemistry as are some of the newer texts. I n one such text, recently examined by this reviewer, the wards fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine did not appear in the index although there was a thorough treatment of the Carnot cycle. Conversely the word "thermodynamics" does not appear in the index of Lee and Van Orden, nor do the words "entropy" or "free energy." The organic portion would be quite satisfactory for a. third-quarter freshman course such as is often required far agriculture, home economics, and nursing students. Here the three dimensional views of organic molecules are excellent. The treatment of optical isomerism is clear and concise. Chapter 20 on Multiple Carbon to Carbon Bonds gives a rather
