Abstract

Survey of Progress in Chemistry, Volume 5 is a collection of papers that provides the transmission of instructive material and information from the real chemical world to the classroom teacher or instructor. One paper reviews the HSAB principle (hard and soft acid bases) and notes that it can be regarded as an experimental principle to describe various chemical phenomena in both qualitative and quantitative terms. The principle can be applied in correlating and storing large amounts of data and in predicting results. Another paper shows that an experiment concerning eliminations induced either by halide ions in dipolar aprotic solvents or by mercaptide ions in alcohols can be essentially normal E2 reactions. The microwave spectrum can also be used in identifying compounds and in quantitative analysis. Another paper discusses the physical and chemical consequences of electron hydration and its many possible uses such as in the treatment of cancer and food preservation. One paper examines the fluorescence processes which occur in a liquid scintillator, including the uses of liquid scintillation in determining the solubility of gases or the production of isotopes.
This collection is suitable for professors in chemistry, students who are taking advanced courses in chemistry, and other groups of chemists who are interested to know what is happening beyond their specialized work and research.