Error in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 1

17 Oct

Posted by: sean in: Chemistry Notes & Tips

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Dear GCE ‘O’ Level (as well as IP) students using Marshall Cavendish Chemistry Textbook as reference text,

Please note that there is a printing error in the chemistry textbook (third impression 2008) that many of you did not realised (just like many of my students, until recently).

The error in print is on Page 271 under the Chapter of “Electrolysis” in Chemistry Matters for Pure Chemistry syllabus.

In the Key Ideas which acts like sub-section summary, it states that “OH- ions will be discharged as oxygen gas. However, if a solution is concentrated in halide ions, the halogen gas will be produced.” – At The Cathode! This is certainly not true as we know that The Cathode in an electrolytic cell is always negative charged and Cations (+ve ions) are attracted towards it and will be selectively discharged.

At the anode which is positively charged, Anions (-ve ions) will be attracted to it and be selectively discharged. As such, the information that “H+ ions will be discharged…..” is also incorrect in the Key Ideas.

(Click on image to have a clearer view)

In view that many of you rely alot on the Key Ideas for summarising the chapter, please take note of this glitch when you are revising for your GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry Examinations.

Hope this information helps.

PS: If you know of anymore errors in print in this textbook (or other chemistry textbook), feel free to share your information here. Readers (mostly students and educators) will be grateful to you.

PPS: We would certainly love to here from you on this!

Updates on 17th Oct: There is another error in the book on Organic Chemistry. Click here to find out!

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19 Responses

Mash
19|Oct|2009 1

page 277. mistake?

Last piece of text:

The elctrode from which electrons flow out of is the negative electrode.

Loss of electrons -> Oxidation – Anode -> POSITIVE electrode?

Reply
JM Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
i dont have this textbook, but your concept is correct..
so it should be wrong..

actually i realised quite a number of mistakes from this textbook also
hope new editions will be better ^^

Reply
KR Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
omg.. so all the diagrams in the ‘Simple Cells’ section are wrong? All the mor reactive metals sld b postive electrodes?

Reply
sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:04 am
Hi KR,

In Simple Cells, we do not really assign Positive and Negative signs to the electrodes.

The strategy we use is different from those in Electrolytic Cells.

Hope this helps.

sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:22 am
The assistant editor of publisher Marshall Cavendish are taking down all our information to him.

They will make the necessary corrections in their next edition of Chemistry Matters.

Reply
sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:37 am
Hi Mash,

There is nothing wrong with this one.

Students are confused with this as they thought the assignment of negative/positive electrodes is the same as electrolytic cells.

In fact, the assignment is different between Simple Cells VS Electrolytic Cells.

In simple cell, you do not see words like “ANODE” and “CATHODE” in the textbook if you realised.

Hope this helps. Let me know your thoughts on it.

Reply
Rakshana
20|Oct|2009 2

Oh…yeah…never realised it

Reply
sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:22 am
=)

All the best!

Reply
Rakshana Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Thx!

Reply
SimpleChemConcepts | More Error in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 2
21|Oct|2009 3

[...] the error on Electrolysis Topic that we have posted earlier, there is another error spotted in Organic Chemistry. It is shown on page 393 under “Test [...]
Joseph
21|Oct|2009 4

but i think this textbook is better last year one,as the last year textbook did not really give an clear explaination of the topics

Reply
sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:06 am
I can’t agree more with you. It is quite a good textbook, although information is pretty overwhelming for some students.

Generally, it is a good textbook!

Reply
KR
21|Oct|2009 5

At page 393, Fig. 22.3, theres a typo.
The bottommost carbon atom of the main chain sld b a hydrogen atom.

Reply
sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:05 am
Hi KR,

Thanks for the information. We have blog about it and has also informed the Assistant Editor of Marshall Cavendish of this error.

Cheers,
Sean =)

Reply
Polprav
22|Oct|2009 6

Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?

Reply
natalie
22|Oct|2009 7

thanks for the info!(:

Reply
sean Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 12:03 am
Most welcome! All the best to your chemistry exams!

Reply
SimpleChemConcepts | More Errors in Marshall Cavendish GCE ‘O’ Level “Chemistry Matters” Textbook – Part 3
24|Oct|2009 8

[...] Error on Page 271 – under Electrolysis [...]
tiara
24|Oct|2009 9

is this book even credible? how are students going to study properly if there are errors in the textbook? we would end up studying the wrong things!

Reply