reviews General Chemistry, Fourth Edition

Kenneth W. Whmen. Kenneth D. Gailey, and Raymond E. Davs S a ~ n a e r s College Pub sh ng Company: Orlando. FL. 1992. X X X I ~ + 11 19 58 pp Flgs. ano tables. 20.8 A 26 cm.

Like the third edition [Zingaro, R. A. J. Chem. Edue. l989,66, A451, the organization and topics covered in the fourth edition are typical of general chemistry texts. Among the more noticeable fea- tures of this book are numerous solved problems and end-of-chap- ter exercises; 16 very interesting "Chemistry in Use" essays on current topics of interest; nine enrichment sections intended to ehallenee more inauirine and hardworkine students: and numer- ~ ~

~ -~ ~ ~ ~.~ - - ous emss rrfrwners thmughnut the text. These features eontnb ute to the pedaguk"ral quality of this book. The three new e s s ~ y s on metal clusters, fullerenes, and thr gwenhouseeffrct should stir the interest of students and teachen. C m s references as well as some end-of-chapter exercises are used effectively to point out re- lationships among topics. These references and introductory com- ments make it relatively convenient for instructors to rearrange topics to fit their needs. Thus, this textbook is a goad compromise if several instructors cannot come to a consensus decision on an- other less versatile hmk.

Revisions made in Chapter 16"Kinetics" have improved the presentation hy placing more emphasis on the experimental and practical aspects of kinetics.

The last two chapten in the text, which cover organicehemistry, have been revised extensively. A factual account of nomenclature, isomers, functional groups, reactions, molecular geometries, and some relevant applications to polymer and biological chemistry are covered in 81 pages. Familiarity with the topics covered in these two chapters will d v e the student a very strons foundation - . to build on.

The number of typographical errors and wrong answers that can cause students some diff~cultv is tvoicsl of most texts. - ,.

Students and mstructors in general chemistry murses will find this an excellent textbook. it is well-written, covers n broad rangc of toplcr, rs up-to-date, and topm can be studied in deveral differ- ent sequences. Students who need to review only selected sections may do so with relatively little need to skim earlier sections.

Masanobu Yamauchi Eastern Micnigan Jnivers ty

Yps anti, MI 48197

Basic Nature Andrew Smn. Basil Blackwell: Cambridge, MA, 1991. Figs. and tables. viii + 192 pp. 1 4 . 7 ~ 22.6 cm.519.95.

Science writer Andrew Scott possesses an uncommon knack for emlainine science to a oanular audience. He describes his latest - . . hmk as -a minimalist's survey of the foundat~ons of science. . . mrended to umvey the essence of the scientific view of nature in ns fcw pages a s possible " It describes rhc fundnmentnl fncrs, mn- cepts, and theories that farm the basis for our scientific view of nature.

Scott begins his wideranging view of nature with the founda- rions of physics, continues with the principles of chemistry, and concludes w ~ t h the hioehemirnl and biological forces underlying plant, anlmal, and human Me. His cansideranon ofthe fundamm- tal physical phenomena, such as spacetime, mass. forces, mavitv, - . and energy reveals that the ~ o & ~ l e x universe can be compre- hended from a knowledge of these relatively few basic principles. He then exolains the basic oarticles of which evervthiue is com- nosed. sGevs the sameti&s bizarre oicture of the sibatomic . , world nravided hv auantum mechanics. and shows whv ohvnieists . ~, ~.~ ~~

~~ ~ ~~,~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~, , ~ ~ ~ , ~~~~~~~

are rncreasmgly canfident of thew int~rpreratmn nfthe "hlg hang that created uur unwerse. He next revralr thee~aenreufchemrcal change hy dealmg with atoms, moleculcs, ions, entropy, reactions, and equilibrium. Scott then considers simple and complex living organisms, how natural selection advances evolution, and how events within our hrain create our mind and memory. In the six- teenth and fmal chapter, 'Wysteries," he summarizes some of the most important unsolved scientific problems--the origin and fate of the universe, the origin of life, and the nature of consciousness. A 13-page glossary of scientific terms, a two-page hihliography of further readings, and a four-page (two columns per page) index comolement the text.

The brood wupe nnd brevity of description of this lwely "distil- lation of the esirntinl foundarions of theor). and discovery which underpin our understnnding of nature" should make it particu- larly useful not only to nonscientists interested in science hut also to high school, college, and university students.

George 8. Kauffman California State University, Fresno

Fresno. CA 93740

Reviewed in This Issue Reviewet

Kenneth W. Whinen, Kenneth D. Gailey, and Raymond E. Davis, General Chemistry, Fourth Edition

Andrew Scoff, Basic Nature Titles of Interest

Masanobu Yamauchi A207

George B. Kauffman A207 A207

Volume 69 Number 7 July 1992 A207