Product Description
This new and innovative text helps students develop a deeper understanding of organic chemistry. It treats the subject as a coherent whole, complete with numerous logical connections, consequences, and an underlying structure and "language." Employing an approach based on mechanism and reaction type, the book empasizes understanding ideas rather than merely memorizing facts. It shows students how to realistically draw molecules and mechanisms to reveal the fundamental chemistry.

Using a fresh, accessible writing style as well as examples from everyday life, the authors explain the basics of organic chemistry carefully and thoroughly. A special focus on mechanism, orbitals, and stereochemistry helps students gain a solid comprehension of important factors common to all reactions. The book's innovative design enhances clarity and instruction with boxes that separate summary information and other material from the main text; a variety of colors that draw attention to items such as atoms, molecules, and orbitals; and figures that are drawn in red with significant parts emphasized in black. Early chapters feature carbonyl group reactions, and later chapters systematically develop the chemistry through discussions of spectroscopy, stereochemistry, and chemical reactions.

Each chapter opens with a "Connections" box, divided into three columns:


· Building on: Details material from previous chapters that relate to the current chapter


· Arriving at: Provides a guide to the content of the chapter


· Looking forward to: Previews later chapters, which develop and expand the current material ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Excellent Text
This is one of the better organic textbooks on the market today. It gives a comprehensive approach to the basics, and also provides a more in-depth view of more advanced topics. This is the text my advanced organic chemistry text uses, and I have been very happy with it.Plus the price was great.

Great also for postgrad
I am a postgrad student in medicinal chemistry and this book helps me to clarify all these little things that you know that they are happening but you don't understand why or how. It helps me to refresh my organic chemistry knowledge while giving me the background to reach deeper knowledge. I only wish i could find it with hard cover.

the Chemical Bible
This is what any chemists, young or old, should have on its shelf and know by heart. I have never found a more complete book on organic chemistry as it covers all the basic concept of the subject and a lot more! I am a post graduate student and I couldnt have a copy to ocnsult anytime I need it!
I cant regret my purchase. Best present for graduation that i have received!!!!

Not to diminish the rest, but...
When I declare this to be the best OC textbook I've ever seen, I don't wish to diminish the great contributions made by many authors across many decades.There are numerous competent, comprehensive, and scholarly works that have served both to educate generations of organic chemists and stand as references for practicing professionals.

In my opinion this work is head-and-shoulders above anything that has preceded it.In a comparative sense, all previous OC textbooks were designed by sadists to ensure that the student would have the most confusing and unpleasant experience possible.It is a joy to study this book.The pleasant nature of the experience seems to enhance retention of the information presented.What a concept!

Best textbook out there!
Excellent textbook.Covers very systematically, and with ample regard for modern methods (something most organic textbooks lack), everything from first semester orgo to the beginning grad level.[Only major deficiency is the general uselessness of the index -- makes looking things up difficult.]But overall, a great textbook.As far as I'm aware, this is the only textbook out there that discusses more modern reactions (like the Swern and DMP oxidations, Evans auxiliary, etc.) that are commonly used in the contemporary organic lab.Also has a great introduction to organometallic reactions.Highly recommended for those considering chemistry graduate school.

Addendum to review:I have changed 4 stars to 5 stars.The authors have prepared a greatly improved index, which is posted on the OUP website. ... Read more

Product Description
CHEMISTRY & CHEMICAL REACTIVITY, 7e, combines thorough instruction with powerful multimedia tools to give you a deeper understanding of general chemistry concepts. The book has a long-standing reputation for logical organization; macro to micro orientation; a superior art program; and state-of-the art media, which is expanded in the new edition. The text clearly emphasizes the visual nature of chemistry and illustrates the close interrelationship of the macroscopic, symbolic, and particulate levels of chemistry. With clear writing, seamless technology integration, and robust homework/assessment tools, CHEMISTRY & CHEMICAL REACTIVITY, 7e, equips you with tools to empower the mastery, assignment, and assessment of chemical principles. The text's art program reveals these three levels in engaging detail--and is fully integrated with new key media components. The Web-based tutorial CengageNOW?? generates a personalized study plan to meet your specific needs and includes Go Chemistry mini video lectures and flash cards that offer the perfect quick review for students on the go. Fully customizable OWL is a Web-based homework system that maximizes study time and offers an optional e-book. With hundreds of guided simulations, animations, video clips, and more, CHEMISTRY & CHEMICAL REACTIVITY, 7e, is more completely integrated with accompanying technology than any other text on the market. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

great text
i am a chemistry grad student now and i used this book in high school. i still think it one of the best gen chem texts I have seen.

It's a text book
It's a text book.If you don't have a class that requires it why would you buy it? What's the point of a review?

Get the Older Edition!
For its content, this book is definitely too expensive.Some materials have been moved from one chapter to another and this is the difference between the 6th and 7th edition. Otherwise, the text is the same and college-level chemistry has certainly not changed from the date of the first edition of this book. Don't waste your money, just get the older edition. Studying the 7th edition instead of the 6th would not make any difference. This is a book just about basic Chemistry and not a primary scientific journal.

Good text, but missing OWL
While the textbook is good in and of itself, it does not come with the OWL subscription I wager all chem courses use. I was disappointed since the copy sold at my school did come with it.

Just something to be aware of if you plan on buying.

Perfect
Item was perfect as described and delivered super fast without having to pay for expedited shipping.Thanks so much!! ... Read more

Product Description
This course is designed to be a first-year high school chemistry course. The course covers significant figures, units, classification, the mole concept, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, acids and bases, redox reactions, solutions, atomic structure, Lewis structures, molecular geometry, the gas laws, and equilibrium. Requires the completion of algebra 1 as a prerequisite. Recommended by Our Lady of Victory Grade 11 Author: Dr. Jay Wile Grade 9 + Number of Pages: Hardcover 603 Publisher: Apologia Educational Ministries Copyright 2005 ISBN 1932012265 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

An Excellent Text for Homeschoolers and the Average Chemistry Student
Before I begin my review, I want to state my "credentials" for reviewing the Apologia Chemistry textbook.I am certified in the state of Texas in the field of secondary composite science, which includes chemistry.I have previously homeschooled my kids, so I know the needs of homeschoolers.Most relevantly, I'm in my second year of teaching chemistry using this book at a small Christian school.

Our school is a small classical Christian school and is very intensive in certain areas at the high school level, especially in the area rhetoric and writing.We could not accomplish all we wanted to in all of the other disciplines if our science classes were exceptionally challenging.We also have very limited resources to equip a science lab.For a school like ours and for homeschoolers, the Apologia text is perfect.

All of the most important concepts in chemistry are presented in the text and done so in a scientifically credible way.At the same time, the concepts are presented in a way that my students are generally able to understand for themselves (with some exceptions, such as the complicated heat equations in Chapter 2).I appreciate that the book offers several labs per chapter and that they're labs that can be done with household chemicals.Since we don't have a true chemistry lab or a budget for more expensive equipment, these labs are perfect for allowing us to do scientifically meaningful labs on a budget.

It's true, as some reviewers have noted, that the book is somewhat simplified, compared to certain other high school chemistry texts.There's no comparison between the Apologia Chemistry text and a text that might be used to teach AP Chemistry.But not everyone who takes chemistry needs to take AP chemistry, which has a reputation for being the most difficult AP test (all of which are already difficult!)The correct comparison to make is whether or not this text meets the need of homeschoolers and average high school chemistry students.In this case, the book is well-suited for the purpose for which it was created.

Great College Preparation
Great College Preparation

Apologia is a very rigorous college prep series.I don't usually recommend specific curriculum, because I know it's all about "fit" more than a textbook.When it comes to science, though, I had such success with the curriculum we used, that I really do recommend it - even to my clients that are not Christian.

I know for a fact that Apologia is great college preparation because my son Kevin is an electrical engineering major in college.He still refers to his Apologia Physics book now and then.He used Apologia Chemistry during college, to review for a class he was taking.He has reviewed his physics book frequently.It's been one of my "best buys" for curriculum, because they have literally used them for 5 years. Kevin has a fabulous GPA in engineering, and I believe it is in part because he was so well prepared with Apologia Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

If you want to make Apologia even MORE rigorous, it is possible.You can go through a book in a semester instead of a year, and make it an AP course if you want, but it's not necessary at all, just an option.I have heard of some "college prep" AP classes that actually take a child 5 hours a day to complete.That would be so frustrating to spend 5 hours a day on one class!One mother was letting core subjects in reading, writing and math slide, just so her child could get an AP Chemistry credit.That's a lot of work for not a lot of benefit.It's easier to keep your subjects at the level of your children when they do it at home with a homeschool curriculum.

Apologia is a self-teaching homeschool curriculum, so kids can learn it on their own, and moms don't have to know what they are doing in order to be successful.That's a big deal, because I didn't have a clue about physics, and barely was able to keep up with the chemistry.

Yes, absolutely Apologia is college prep.It's not perfect, because no curriculum is perfect.All textbooks have typos- ALL of them - and I'm sure someone could find a flaw in these books like you can find a flaw in every book.Still it's great preparation, and I recommend it even for my clients that aren't Christian.

Blessings,
Lee Binz, The HomeScholar

The best chemistry book for homeschoolers!
I don't think I could have done "homeschool chemistry" without this book! It was very simple and easy to understand; I didn't even need to have my dad explain things to me! The experiments were simple, with mostly household materials (you may have to purchase a few items), and they were very fun! I also respected that this author pointed out our Master Designer in the lessons!
I got a 29 on my ACT in science after taking this and Abeka Biology, and then I went on to take advanced biology at a Christian School my Senior year. I went to a 4 year college to study nursing, which has a lot of science classes! With a such a great chemistry foundation, I was able to get a 4.0 in Anatomy and in a chemistry class (it was 5 credits, with organic, general and biologic focuses).
I highly recommend this book!!!

Want to learn chemistry? Burn this book in an attempt to study the chemical reactions of combustion.
Dear chemistry student/parent,

Having completed this course myself as a homeschooler, I can honestly say this book is horrendous. No doubt, wikipedia trumps this book in all aspects, except for the cartoon illustrations at the end of each module, which makes the book suitable for an elementary school student. If you want to learn more about an electron, for example, read the wikipedia article and you will learn about it in great detail, instead of Wile's "a thing that orbits the nucleus". If you take Chemistry with Wile's book, try the SAT subject test and you will immediately see what I'm talking about. You won't even understand the question stem with this text. If you want a good chemistry text, try Nivaldo Tro's Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, which is the best out there. Heck, if you want something better than wile's try Barron's "Master the SAT Chemistry Subject Test". Too bad Amazon does not have a negative star. Good luck, fellow homeschooler. Do not take chemistry with his text. It is not worth your Wile.

Daniel

Excellent chemistry text
For the past 4 years, I have taught homeschool chemistry classes in my home using this text, as well as Biology and Physics with Wile's curriculum.Wile's texts are so truly readable, making the concepts very understandable.In reading his texts, even I as a teacher have had some "aha" moments, as he has connected some things for me that had not been clear before.If you want your student to truly understand the concepts in addition to being able to work problems, get this text.I do enjoy adding extras to my class, including more high-powered labs, to make an honors class, but this course (as is) is certainly sufficient for a college-bound student.I have taught out of several different texts over the years, and this one is by far my favorite.Most texts are so unreadable that I never assigned reading, using the text only as a source of problems, but with Wile's texts, my students read from cover to cover. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Professors: please don't get this book for your class!
It amazes me that a book in its 6th edition would still have so many errors.In chapter 2 alone I found 5 errors.As a student, it makes me wonder how many more errors there are that I am just accepting as fact.It provides sparse case studies, but the answers are not given in the book, and many of the answers are not given online either to the students, and are only available for professors to see.Perhaps wait for the 7th edition to come out, and hope that they iron out the mistakes they made in this one.

Med Chem Text
I haven't actually used this book yet (so far the professor has given us excellent notes), but it is full of information that I'll probably use when I need to review everything. Very comprehensive for reviewing a specific topic, but a bit boring to just read.

It's the recommended book for my program.
What can I say, this book is great. A terrific resource for the study of Medicinal Chemistry. It's what the faculty recommend using for my Medicinal Chemistry program, and it is often referenced by professors.

AWESOMEEE!
this book came much earlier than expected, within like 2 days!
awesome quality & great service.
highly recommended, would buy from again anyday.

Good product, poor handling
The book itself was a required text for one of my college courses and it fulfills it's purpose adequately. My only problem was with the condition that it arrived in.I paid for a brand new product and it arrived with a huge gouge in the front cover and binding as a result of poor handling by Amazon.It was obviously not a result of shipping as the packaging it came in was not damaged at all.It was damaged by Amazon prior to shipping it out. With such poor merchandise treatment, I will definately rethink using Amazon as a future supplier. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Modern Chemistry
Prompt Delivery, Excellent book condition inside, a little wear and tear of hard cover.No missing pages, no marks inside.

unacceptable
i purchased a NEW book and received a USED book with writing highlighting and notes written in the book. This is really quite unacceptable

Extremely Detailed, Great Examples, Ideal for Honors Chem I
Like Modern Biology, also a Holt book, this is a heavy-hitting textbook and is often used in the honors level high school courses, where a larger amount of material is covered in a standard school year. However, this book can be used by anyone looking for a solid introduction to chemistry and is highly recommended as a supplemental resource for anyone taking Chem I (regular or honors), Chem II, or even an introductory chemistry class at the college level. (It may not cover the scope of information at the college level, but is good for reviewing basic concepts and explaining the nooks and crannies of chemistry that may have been forgotten since high school).

The first thing anyone notices about this book is the detail the authors use. This accounts for the book's large size and length of sections, but the explanations are worth it. The book is written in clear language without the verbose writing many textbook authors feel necessary to include. The examples included are relevant to the lives of most students (such as automobile emissions) and the sidebars from those in the field are both interesting and relevant to the discussions in the text.

Beyond the words are the problems, which are explained in great detail. A knowledge of mathematical concepts is required (Algebra I is a minimum for most chemistry courses), but even those who hate or struggle with math should be able to figure the problems out from the examples in the book. There are practice problems included as well.

The book is well-organized and progresses in a logical manner. It definitely covers all the bases--additional materials won't be needed to cover a complete Chemistry I course.

If you're looking for a book to tutor middle school students in chemistry basics, this book is clear enough so long as only developmentally-appropriate concepts are used. I have used the first chapters of this book with sixth graders (before heavy calculation becomes a requirement) and feel this would be a good resource to use with gifted middle schoolers who want to explore the great science that is chemistry. Of course, as mentioned earlier, this book can be used by post-high school students as well provided the course doesn't go beyond what is covered in this text.

This book is highly recommended and truly stands out among high school chemistry texts.

Textbook
Great condition with just minor highlighting.Shipped the book to me in just a few days.

Haven't received the book yet!
I ordered this book on August 20, 2009.It is now September 22, 2009 and I haven't received it yet, so as far as the book--I can't review it, but concerning the services that promised delivery by September 14--I would give it a big 0 because my book hasn't been delivered yet and it's now seven days over the estimated delivery date! ... Read more

Product Description

Boost Your grades with Organic Chemistry Quick-Study Guide. FREE Chemical bonds, Molecular Geometry, and Periodic Table chapters in the trial version.

Customer Reviews (2)

Organic
Organic Chemistry Study Guide: Organic compounds, formulas, isomers, Nomenclature, Reactions kinetics and mechanisms, Spectroscopy & more. FREE Chemical ... Table chapters in demo (Mobi Study Guides)

Over the years, I have seen a great many Organic Chemistry study guides and none were as thorough and easy to understand as Mobi's. It isn't too introductory or too complex so it teaches you all that you need and also will serve as a reference later on. It has appropriate graphics. The text is clear, on the point, and very understandable. Overall, I would definitely recommend this ebook. It is much better than any other Organic Chemistry ebooks I've ever read. Any criticisms I have of this text are very minor, and it makes the subject both interesting and genuinely enjoyable.

Excellent Study Guide
Organic Chemistry Quick-Study Guide. FREE Chemical Bonds, Molecular Geometry, and Periodic Table chapters in the trial version.

This is one of the best Organic Chemistry ebooks out there. The text is clear, on the point and very understandable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Definitely worth it
I had a D in ORGO 1, a C in orgo 2, and I got an 85 on the national test thanks to this book. Buy it.

Exactly what I needed
This book was exactly what I needed to prepare for the ACS exam in Organic Chemistry.

ACS
item delivered in good amount of time. Highly suggest this book for all students taking organic chemistry. It really helps with the final.

This book is a good review, at best..
I recently took the acs organic national final (fall 09). I used this book only to prepare for my exam, due to the time constraints of my other finals. Just for your info I am a good organic student, making an A in organic 1 and having an A in organic 2 before the final at a very highly honored Chemistry institute (Marshall University). With that said this book isn't really worth the money unless your scenario fits mine, not enough time and don't know what else to look at. I had to make above a 35/70 for an A and I barely did that. The book is a general overview of the concepts on the test but the test itself is very complex. There was many things on the test I hadn't ever seen before (reactions and reagents). I wish you all good luck and in my opinion the book isn't worth it unless you have no other reliable options.

ACS Organic Review Manual
Manual is excellent for preparing you for the ACS part of your organic final. However, the "like new" item that I received was hardly that. The material can be quickly reviewed and there are a few end of section questions to reinforce the material and it shouldn't detract from your normal textbook studies so you can do both if you're not too pressed for time. I definitely recommend you getting this manual just be careful on who you get it from. ... Read more

Product Description

Since its original appearance in 1977, Advanced Organic Chemistry has maintained its place as the premier textbook in the field, offering broad coverage of the structure, reactivity and synthesis of organic compounds. As in the earlier editions, the text contains extensive references to both the primary and review literature and provides examples of data and reactions that illustrate and document the generalizations. While the text assumes completion of an introductory course in organic chemistry, it reviews the fundamental concepts for each topic that is discussed.

The two-part fifth edition has been substantially revised and reorganized for greater clarity. Among the changes: Updated material reflecting advances in the field since 2001’s Fourth Edition, especially in computational chemistry; A companion Web site provides digital models for study of structure, reaction and selectivity; Solutions to the exercises provided to instructors online.

The material in Part A is organized on the basis of fundamental structural topics such as structure, stereochemistry, conformation and aromaticity and basic mechanistic types, including nucleophilic substitution, addition reactions, carbonyl chemistry, aromatic substitution and free radical reactions. Together with Part B: Reaction and Synthesis, the two volumes are intended to provide the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate student in chemistry with a sufficient foundation to comprehend and use the research literature in organic chemistry.

Customer Reviews (18)

good
this product nice to purchase and shipping time is well managed
i m happy to buy this

Poorly written text.
Carey and Sundberg Adv. Organic Chemistry is not a very effective book for learning Organic chemistry; explanations are often convoluted, poorly explained, and done in an unnecessarily roundabout fashion. Rather than present a basic concept and support it with various examples, the authors tend to simply present examples and expect the reader to understand different concepts by looking at examples, without properly explaining them. The authors also manage to divide the book into unmanageably large chapters, sections and subsections, yet still only managing to barely explain the concepts. Moreover, the problems at the end of each chapter frequently contain errors, and are often outdated. (Recently I encountered a problem which required the identification of the structure of a compound using, in part, NMR data. However, the paper referenced was from the 1960's, when NMR was not nearly as precise (i.e. peaks on a substituted aromatic ring would not be distinguishable). Ansyln and Dougherty is a preferable text.

Great reference on latest theories
This book is an excellent reference on the latest developments in the theory and practice of synthetic and physical organic chemistry.As someone who did their graduate work more than 40 years ago, I found it to be a very good source of material for refreshing my knowledge of the subject.

Good stuff, no solutions manual
Currently using this book for a graduate class in organic chemistry, and I've got to say, it's very good.It's a little dense, but I plan to use it for reference after this class anyway.There is, unfortunately, no solutions manual available for student purchase, but the professor was kind enough to get the solutions manual and copy it for everyone (this is why I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars).A very nice little addition in this revision: computational chemistry has been integrated into the text, and DFT, MD, etc. calculations are not explained, but mentioned with suggested uses.

Most Advanced Organic Chemistry used book
This book is the course book which is suggested by most of the Organic professors as an advanced organic chemistry book. This book also teaches you the basics of basis of organic chemistry. ... Read more

Product Description
If you want top grades and excellent understanding of physical chemistry, this powerful study tool is the best tutor you can have! It takes you step-by-step through the subject and gives you accompanying related problems with fully worked solutions. You also get hundreds of additional problems to solve on your own, working at your own speed. This superb Outline clearly presents every aspect of physical chemistry. Famous for their clarity, wealth of illustrations and examples, and lack of dreary minutie, SchaumOs Outlines have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. Compatible with any textbook, this Outline is also perfect for self-study. For better grades in courses covering physical chemistryNyou canOt do better than this SchaumOs Outline! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Very limited use
I found this book is too technical to be useful. I want to like it, but to be honest, I can't say it has ever helped me understand a topic I was having trouble with. It is all math, math, and more math. That may be what physical chemistry is all about, but the problem is the math does not do a better job of teaching you than textbook math does. If you need more help than your textbook provides, this doesn't have it. The short paragraphs that introduce you to concepts use the most technical words they possibly can, so I feel like I am reading a math book or my own Atkins' texbook. If you need help with physical chemistry and do not have a strong math background, this is not the book for you, even if it is cheap.

schaum's physical chem review
I have found the book to be fairly helpful. This book covers a lot of things not covered in class and I feel it depends on the course and who and how they are teaching it will be a factor in whether the book is helpful.

review of schaum book about physical chemistry
I bought this book because I had a deficiency in physical chemistry owing to a bad teacher at my undergraduate study i chemistry.This book although cheap is garbage and is not useful at all.so do not buy it.If you are outside the USA don't buy books published in america because mostly they are for commercial purpose and not intended to teach you.

Great Supplemental/Review Material
For as cheap as it is, this is a great value.It reviews every concept in physical chemistry very well.Obviously it won't replace your textbook, but it will at least cover subjects that maybe your textbook omits.The outline was last updated in 1989, but, honestly, physical chemistry has not changed in at least the last twenty or thirty years.Conceptually, all of physical chemistry has remained the same, so I would not say that this book is obsolete.

No good, stick to your textbook!
The examples are from a different planet! The text is very general in the important concepts and too detailed in the obscure stuff; this is definintley not intended for someone new to PCHEM. Stick to you textbook, like Atkins, which probably has better explanations and problems. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed for the two-semester general chemistry course, Chang’s best-selling textbook continues to take a traditional approach and is often considered a student and teacher favorite. The book features a straightforward, clear writing style and proven problem-solving strategies. It continues the tradition of providing a firm foundation in chemical concepts and principles while presenting a broad range of topics in a clear, concise manner.

The new edition of Chemistry continues to strike a balance between theory and application by incorporating real examples and helping students visualize the three-dimensional atomic and molecular structures that are the basis of chemical activity. An integral part of the text is to develop students' problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

A hallmark of the 10th anniversary edition is the integration of many tools designed to inspire both students and instructors. The textbook is a foundation for the unparalleled, effective technology that is integrated throughout. The multimedia package for the new edition stretches students beyond the confines of the traditional textbook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Chang- Chemistry
Product was delivered on time and in good condition.It was very helpful for College Chemistry.

Excelent
The book was delivered really fast, seller was fast at replying to my emails. Book was in great condition. 100% satisfied.

Good stuff!
I have found this book to be extremely helpful. Ok, so I'm only through Chapter 4, so I'm giving my opinion based on limited experience, of course. but since I haven't studied much Chemistry in the past I was definitely starting fresh in college. This book has thus far provided very helpful definitions, pictures, tables and fully worked out examples. Many students complain that calculations seem easy when the teacher does them on the board. Unfortunately for me, that's just not the case. With very poor instruction coming from my professor, I find myself relying heavily on the textbook for direction. And what do you know? I read through the chapters and solve all the plentiful examples on my own...and ta-dah! I actually learn what I need to!

This text makes a great self-study tool and enables you to grasp concepts and calculations thoroughly. You'll even love finding answers to even numbered problems at the back of the book. Also, the companion website for the textbook is great. It provides lots of colorful animations that really help drive the point home. From my encounters with Chemistry by Chang so far, I would highly recommend it! : )

Chemistry 10th edition
The book was in great condition as well as it reached in timely fashion.
the estimated time delivery listed was guranteed and was a great product!!

Great book
Great price and the exact book my son needed for class!!Over half the price of the college bookstore. Thanks!! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Atkins is getting better. Still not the best.
People either like Atkins' Physical Chemistry or loathe it. I like his book. The problems at the end of each section are excellent. I like how justifications for fundamental concepts are provided. One of the better modifications of the book was moving the relevant mathematical reviews to the end of the chapters where they apply. I believe this was in the 8th edition (I don't remember), but in the back there is also a section about where the relevant equations come from. The publisher also made sure to use better binding this time around. The binding is very tight compared to the 8th edition.

I still feel that too many of the theoretical problems are critical concepts and should not have to be proved by the student. I do understand having them prove some, but those should mostly be proved by the author or instructor. Proof at this level should be trivial results that are obvious extensions of fundamental concepts. Outside of that, Atkins is one of the better junior level physical chemistry books. If you need something more advanced, McQuarrie is a much better text for an advanced physical chemistry class.

Horrible Book
Unfortunately, amazon will not allow anyone to post a negative review of this horrible book.Book does not explain concepts, just gives proofs of derivative equations without actually exaplaining the concepts the formulas represent.The problems/exerices are made purposufully impossible to sell the expensive solutions manual.You see the right answer for part a and try part b, but since there are no answers, you have no idea if you have a correct answer.Made even more difficult by the multitude of typos and answers that are just wrong, off by a power of 100 or refer to a chart where a furmula exists.The authors clearly do not speak English as a primary language, are borderline illiterate, explain nothing well, and cannot proofread their book for errors.All make a very difficult subject harder if not impossible to master.No onder no young people want to go into science. ... Read more

Product Description
CHEMISTRY outlines chemistry basics using a thoughtful approach built on problem solving. The book speaks directly to the reader about how to approach and solve chemical problems?to learn to think like a chemist?so that they can apply the process of problem-solving to all aspects of their lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Horrible purchase!
When I recieved this textbook it had pages falling out, pages missing, worst purchase ever made on amazon for a book that said it looked like new!!!!!

Chemistry
Thought there was a CD that cme with the book and no CD came with it.Shippping time was great.

Chemistry Book
I was so happy with the book. I received it in very good condition....looks very clean and new and the price was so affordable.

Zumdahl, the consumate teacher!
As usual, Steven Zumdahl has written a superb textbook for college chemistry.The seller of this item described the condition of the item very accurately, hence there was double reason to be pleased with the purchase.
Thank you.

Excellent Service
The book purchased was used. We found it in perfect condition and the delivery was very prompt. ... Read more

Product Description
Selected Solutions Manual (0-13-615116-7) This manualfor students contains complete, step-by-step solutions to selectedodd-numbered end-of-chapter problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fast Fast Super Fast!
SUPER FAST! Ordered Tuesday afternoon received folowing Monday, and I did not even purchase expedited delivery. EXTREMELY SATISFIED WITH DELIVERY AND THE CONDITION OF THE USED BOOK! STRONGLY RECOMMEND SELLER!

Not entirely what I expected
The problems are worked out in a way I can now understand them. Does not only give you the way to answer the question (so you can copy it to your homework) but also explains it for better understanding so you actually learn how to do the work. My only complaint is when I bought the book I thought it was the complete solutions manual, then when I looked back after purchasing I realized it is not.

So before buying make sure you know what you are buying. This is the odd numbered problems only, no even numbered problems are given in this manual.

Chemistry: A Molecular Approach Solutions Manual Review
The solutions manual has been most helpful this semester in my Chemistry class.I only wish that I had bought it earlier in the semester instead of the middle.The manual shows step by step answers for each odd numbered problem at the end of the chapters.

Good seller
This seller sent the item in an orderly manner.Item was received on time.

Tro soulution manual
This book goes over the problems step by step. The only difference is that some problems are worked out diff from the book. I should have gotten this book in the beginning of the semester, I might have started off with a better grade. ... Read more

Product Description
John McMurry's international best-seller is widely and consistently praised as the most clearly written book on the market. Why? In John McMurry's words: "I have been asked hundreds of times over the past ten years why I wrote this book. I wrote this book because I love writing. I get great pleasure and satisfaction from taking a complicated subject, turning it around until I see it clearly from a new angle, and then explaining it in simple words. I write to explain chemistry to students the way I wish it had been explained to me years ago." Through his lucid writing and ability to show the beauty and logic of organic chemistry, McMurry makes learning enjoyable for students. The highest compliment that can be given to a chemistry book applies to McMurry: It works! Mainstream in level, McMurry's coverage is concise yet doesn't omit any key topics. McMurry blends the traditional functional-group approach with a mechanistic approach. The primary approach, by functional group, begins with the simple and progresses to the more complex so that readers who are not yet versed in the subtleties of mechanisms are first exposed to the "what" of chemistry before beginning to grapple with the "why." Within this primary organization, the author places a heavy emphasis on explaining the fundamental mechanistic similarities.In this edition, McMurry retains his standard-setting features (including his innovative vertical format for explaining reaction mechanisms) while revising his text line-by-line to include hundreds of small but important improvements. For example, the Sixth Edition includes new examples, additional steps in existing examples, new problems, new phrases to clarify the exposition, and a vibrant new art program. In addition, new icons in the text lead students to a variety of new online resources. McMurry's text is in use at hundreds of colleges and universities around the world, from North America, to the United Kingdom and the Pacific Rim. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

perfect
This was an excellent service which supplied my daughter with her text book for college

Orgonic Chem Text w Info Trac Printed Access
Book is in great shape (as was listed) and arrived in a timely manner (as listed) but without the Info Trac Card (not as listed). Not sure why it was not sent. Thanks

bad business
ordered the advertised version and received a the international version then was hassled when the concern was addressed...should have received some sort of notice that there was a change and not be charged for one version when the other version was significantly less...but unfortunately i was burned without a choice because i needed for a class and didnt have time to waste on an "exchange/refund" process...

A Great deal for only 3 dollars
I was pleased with the book took about a week and half to come. But the book was only 3 dollars so how could I complain

Very Impressed
Was very impressed by the service and the condition of the book. It came fast and the price was great. Keep it up!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Mirroring the growth and direction of science for a century, the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, now in its 91st edition, continues to be the most accessed and respected scientific reference in the world, used by students and Nobel Laureates. Available in its traditional print format, the Handbook is also available as an innovative interactive product on CD-ROM and online. This year’s edition adds many new tables and major revisions ...

For the electronic version of the Handbook, go to theCRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CD-ROM 2010

NEW AND UPDATED TABLES FOR THIS EDITION

Section 6: Fluid Properties
-- New tables on thermophysical properties of selected fluids at saturation and on the dependence of liquid density on temperature and pressure
-- Major updates for tables on the density of water and properties of ice and D₂O
-- Major update and expansion of the table on critical constants of organic compounds
Section 8: Analytical Chemistry
-- Major updates for tables on the ionization constants of water and heavy water
Section 9: Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy
-- Updates for tables on atomic radii of the elements, bond dissociation energies, and spectroscopic constants of diatomic molecules
Section 10: Atomic, Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy
-- Major update for the table on atomic transition probabilities (added new elements) and updates for tables on electron affinities and atomic and molecular polarizabilities
Section 12: Properties of Solids
-- New table on electron stopping powers of elements
Section 13: Polymer Properties
-- New tables on abbreviations in polymer science and on physical properties of polymers

The benchmark of scientific reference since the days of Einstein, Eddington, and Planck, no book is held to a higher standard than the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Perpetually vetted for misspellings, miscalculations, misperceptions, and misnomers, it is republished every year, so no mistake needs to be long abided, no enhancement long awaited.

The job of editing the Handbook requires not only one who is relentless, driven to perpetually push the level of accuracy one more decimal point, but also one who is humble enough and smart enough to understand that the Handbook, like science itself, is a living, changing thing, and that it is both a record of achievement and a foundation for further improvement of that record. Until this year, the Handbook has been guided through 90 editions by just four editors. The last, David Lide, guided the book through 20 editions. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Lide guided the Handbook into the electronic age, overseeing the creation and the continual improvement of interactive web and CD versions that have now become staples in every research library of note.

It takes a scientist to edit the only scientific handbook that can be rightfully called The Handbook

Introducing Mickey Haynes
For 20 years, we have seen the name of Dr. Lide embossed on the cover of the Handbook as editor-in-chief. Now a new name is embossed in silver: William M. Haynes. Dr. Mickey Haynes brings with him the most absolute qualification: a career devoted to finding and capturing the best data. Most notably, Dr. Haynes worked more than three decades for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His last three years at NIST were as Chief of the Physical and Chemical Properties Division and currently he is a scientist emeritus with NIST. During his tenure, he was involved in major projects on the properties of natural gas, cryogenic fluids, air, alternative refrigerants, and ammonia/water systems. He was responsible for the development of apparatus for measurements of both transport and thermodynamic properties of fluids and models to represent the data.

Dr. Haynes is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Thermophysics and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. With his background, Dr. Haynes’ influence will be especially significant in the fluids property data, which he has already expanded for the 91st edition. But it hardly stops there, for like Dr. Lide and the editors before him, Dr. Haynes is already proving himself relentless with his efforts to make all the data more reliable and more stable.

This June, we unveil the 91st edition of the Handbook. And with this landmark edition, we celebrate the changing of the guard, an historic past, and a future yet to be written.

Profile of Dr. Haynes
Mickey Haynes joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 1970 as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate after completing his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Virginia. During this associateship, he carried out an experimental program on the viscosity of cryogenic fluids. In 1972 he became a permanent staff member and was involved in research on measurements and correlations of the thermophysical properties of fluids and fluid mixtures of scientific and industrial interest. He was involved in major projects on the properties of natural gas, cryogenic fluids, air, alternative refrigerants, and ammonia/water systems. Mickey was responsible for the development of state-of-the-art apparatus for measurements of both transport and thermodynamic properties of fluids (e.g., magnetic suspension densimeters and torsional crystal viscometers). The apparatus were used for fluid thermophysical property measurements at low and high temperatures and at extreme pressures; and for the development of empirical and theoretical models for the prediction of fluid properties.

In 1985, Mickey became Group Leader of the Properties of Fluids Group in the Thermophysics Division and served in that capacity for ten years. In 1989 he assumed the position of Deputy Chief of the Thermophysics Division, which was reorganized and became the Physical and Chemical Properties Division in 1996. While remaining in the Deputy Chief position, Mickey became the Assistant Director for Boulder of the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL) in 1994. He stayed in these positions until becoming the Chief of the Physical and Chemical Properties Division in 1999. Mickey remained in this position until he retired from the NIST in January 2003.

Mickey served on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data, Review of Scientific Instruments, and Cryogenics. At the request of the ASME Heat Transfer Division Committee on Thermophysical Properties, he was Chair and Organizer of the 13th and 14th Symposia on Thermophysical Properties in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Mickey has been previously active on ASTM Committee D03 on Gaseous Fuels (Chair of the ASTM Subcommitte D03.08 on Thermophysical Properties) and the ASME K-7 Committee on Thermophysical Properties. He has recently served on the International Advisory Committees of the 16th and 17th European Conferences on Thermophysical Properties, the 6th and 7th Asian Thermophysical Properties Conferences, and the 17th IUPAC Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics. Mickey was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1999 and has received several Department of Commerce (DOC)/NIST awards.

Since his retirement from the NIST in 2003, Mickey has remained active in several areas. Currently, he is a Scientist Emeritus in CSTL. He has been the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Thermophysics since 1997. Mickey was the President of the Executive Board responsible for organization of THERMO International, a joint conference comprised of the 16th Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, the 19th IUPAC Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics, and the 61st Calorimetry Conference held in Boulder in August, 2006. He has been a member of the ASME K-7 Committee on Thermophysical Properties since 1992 and is currently serving on the Touloukian Award Committee. Since 1998, Mickey has been a permanent member of the International Organizing Committee of the European Conference on Thermophysical Properties; he has also served on the International Advisory Committee of the Asian Thermophysical Properties Conference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great reference book
Great as a reference book for a lot of different areas of science and even some math.

Classic
This is an item you would not expect any big surprise, in contrary, you expect information to evolve and develop smoothly as years pass by. The huge handbook fulfils almost any expectation you might have in the field of physical and/or chemical data. Long-year friend of mine. ... Read more

Product Description
Half a million years ago our ancestors learned to make fire from scratch. They crafted intricate tools from stone and brewed mind-altering elixirs from honey. Their descendants transformed clay into pottery, wool into clothing, and ashes into cleansers. In ceramic crucibles they turned rock into metal, metal into colored glazes, and glazes into glass. Buildings of brick and mortar enshrined books of parchment and paper. Kings and queens demanded ever more colorful clothing and accessories in order to out-class clod-hoppers and call-girls. Kingdoms rose and fell by the power of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. And the demands of everyday folk for glass and paper and soap stimulated the first round of chemical industrialization. From sulfuric acid to sodium carbonate. From aniline dyes to analgesic drugs. From blasting powder to fertilizers and plastics. In a phrase, “from Caveman to Chemist.”

Caveman Chemistry is an experiential exploration of chemical technology from the campfires of the stone age to the plastic soft-drink bottle. An experiential exploration? Not only will you learn about these technologies, you will learn to recreate them. Instructions are given for making bronze from metal ores; glass from sand, ashes, and limestone; paper from grass or straw; soap from fat; alcohol from honey; photographs from egg whites; chlorine from salt water and celluloid from cotton.

Your guides on this journey are the four alchemical elements; Fire, Earth, Air and Water. These archetypical characters deliver first-hand accounts of the births of their respective technologies. The spirit of Fire, for example, was born in the first creature to cultivate the flame. This spirit passed from one person to another, from one generation to another, from one millennium to another, arriving at last in the pages of this book. The spirit of Earth taught folks to make tools of stone, the spirit of Air imparted knowledge of units and the spirit of Water began with the invention of “spirits.” Having traveled the world from age to age, who can say where they will find their next home? Perhaps they will find one in you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

How to make chemistry compelling
I must say, I got sucked into this book like a novel.Granted, I like information about the history of technology anyway, but this presented it in a fun and wacky format - and frankly fun and wacky is nice for a change.The dialogue of the memes gets entertaining, particularly towards the end when they start arguing with each other and with their own author.

I read it during a busy time in my life and haven't completed any of the projects yet (though I have started making my glass arrowhead from a beer bottle).I do plan to at least finish the arrowhead, spin some twine out of my malamute's undercoat and dye it blue, and brew some mead at home.I wonder how my homemade mead will taste with a dash of orange peel and cloves...I may also get around to making fire and paper.

I don't have easy access to a kiln, so smelting my own copper and making glass may not happen unless I can find a used one cheap on craigslist.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants a better appreciation of the chemical industry that props up our lifestyle ... and just how far it goes back. If we tried to live without chemical processes, as a few ill-informed people propose these days, we wouldn't lose just our plastics and lithium-ion iPhone batteries. We'd also lose our soap and paper and glass and bricks and mortar and beer.We would never have even entered the bronze age, and would be barely beyond hunting and gathering.

Great Book and Great for the Classroom
Being at a college that has a course taught using this book is great. The book is an interesting way to get people hooked into science. Me being an humanities not math or science major, I never understood either math nor science, until I read this book for the class. Reading the chapters and doing the projects is a fun and interactive method of getting the other majors some basic knowledge and interest in the field that will hopefully grow. Most of all though being able to take the class with the author is another. In my four years at college, that B+ I got from Dr. Dunn is the hardest and yet most satisfying grade I have ever earned.

wacky and totally wonderful book
Only suitable for those with wacky personalities.I've never had so much fun with chemistry.This book was recommended by members of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild - of course, there's only one chapter on soap, but I really appreciated Dunn's perspective on the topic.

Chemistry teacher's review of Caveman Chemistry
The author is crazy, but I still love this book.
Very cool experiments and a novel way of looking at chemistry.
Has some great ideas that could be used as an elective class or alternative ways to teach units in regular chemistry classes

Inspiration
Kevin Dunn has accomplished a rare feat in science book publishing: He has written a science book that is almost a page-turner. I always wanted to try to start a fire with a bow drill. He has written a procedure that makes me want to get my hands dirty just to see if it works. The complexity of the science matches the way humans learned to use the materials we found on the path to civilization. The book is as interesting and accurate as a text of the history of science. I remember being amazed that so many of the elements were already named before the modern era. The book mentions stone age, copper age, and iron age technologies and turning points and necessary knowlege for the change to occur. I enjoyed the first reading greatly.
... Read more

Product Description

There’s no easier, faster, or more practical way to learn the really tough subjects

Organic Chemistry Demystified follows the organization of standard organic chemistry courses and can also be used as a study guide for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and DAT (Dental Admissions Testing) exams. This self-teaching guide comes complete with key points, background information, quizzes at the end of each chapter, and even a final exam. Simple enough for beginners but challenging enough for advanced students, this is a lively and entertaining brush-up, introductory text, or classroom supplement.

Customer Reviews (8)

Has Depth and Breadth
I chose this over the DUMMIES organic guide because I find the DUMMIES series formats visually unappealing, which makes a lot of difference in whether I actually want to sit down and read the book.

There was a great deal of information in the book, most of which was explained fairly well, but unlike one of the other reviewers, I wish that the author HAD spent more time on more basic concepts. I know a little about organic, though, so for me, it wasn't that big of a deal.

I found the treatment of topics pretty thorough, and I would generally recommend the book, but I wouldn't recommend it by itself. Having something else along with it would be more helpful. Of course, isn't that the case for most textbook-like books? One source just isn't enough if you really want a complete grasp of the material.

One trillionth long scale or one billionth short scale?- micromicron, stigma, or bicron?
The arrogance of academia slams one into mystery within the very first paragraph. Why? Well for example, page 2 para 1:"... 1 A equals 1x10-10 m, or pm where 1 pm equals 1x10-12 m."

What? Forget the shorthand for picometre as used in particle physics? It used to be called a micromicron or stigma or bicron but that's okay to have a bit of mystery in the very first paragraph to dampen the student's enthusiasm isn't it?...coupled with the frustration of NO GLOSSARY of terms to assuage ones doubts in order to continue with some degree of certainty.

I bought this book to review my civil engineering education in wastewater treatment. I had received high marks in Organic Chemistry and loved the subject. Now I found myself scrambling through my old textbooks which I thought I would not have to do since buying this "demystification guide" ...but with NO GLOSSARY with which to reconfirm prior studies, and the author's arrogant presumption that the reader would just have to consult google or wikipedia for straight data, I give this work one pico-star for presumptuous teaching attitude.

Seems somewhat shallow
For its volume, it seems that in many instances the author spends way too much time explaining simple concepts. I still would not want to downplay the value of this book as it might be a good resource for those with basic understanding of chemistry. After all this is the intent of the Demystified series to lay down scientific subjects as simple as possible. For those who are preparing for the MCAT and already have a tangible grasp of the subject, prepare to experience exactly this: the time spent on the book may be felt as spent inefficiently.

Best Bet
I couldn't figure out which organic chem book was best from the Amazon reviews, so I ventured out to my local Borders bookstore and compared about 6 or 8 of them."Demystified" was the clear winner thanks to clarity and depth of explanation, chapter tests, a brief review of inorganic, and an engaging style of writing."Organic for Dummies" was my second choice (seemed insightful) but none of the others held up when checked side-by-side.For instance I checked out 'esters' in all books, and got a short paragraph in every one except Demystified, which managed to devote a few pages to an actual explanation. I even paid full retail for it - still a great deal for this book. (sorry Amazon)

Very good supplement
Started with another common book as a supplement to my course that simply wasn't cutting it. I picked up this book and it is a very good course supplement! A good breakdown to simply better understand what a standard textbook and the prof is trying to get accross, this book is exactly what you need to make it all make sense. The quizzes are extremely helpful too! ... Read more

Product Description
Graduate-level text explains modern in-depth approaches to the calculation of the electronic structure and properties of molecules. Hartree-Fock approximation, electron pair approximation, much more. Largely self-contained, only prerequisite is solid course in physical chemistry. Over 150 exercises. 1989 edition.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

szabo
I have received my product as the senders said before (exactly on the same date) and this is very important for me.

a must in computationa/theoretical chemistry
There is no cheaper introductory course to fundamentals of quantum chemistry. Should be in every (physical-)chemistry library.

good book!
Perhaps is the best book of physics I ever studied. If you want to understand what Hartree_Fock and beyond theories are, this is the right place to see. The exercises are well thought out and are integral part of the book: if you want to study with good results, you must solve them, for this, the authors provide all the information you need. Morever, the price, now, is really catchy.

A good book
This book is wonderful for people (like me) who had no clear idea about equations behind Hartree Fock or CCSD methods. The book is well detailed and illustrated by simple (rather simple) examples. I did the major part of exercices and I did not find a lot of mistakes: some differencies in numerical calculations sometimes. However, the problem is that some exercises are long enough to solve and this tends to stop the reader during his reading. A second point is that the Hartree Fock method is fully explained but other methods and in particular those developped in the last chapters are less detailed. Obviously this is an introduction to quantum chemistry but ... Anyway I think this book deserves its 4 stars and even more (4.5 stars). Although this book is a little old now (10 year old) it remains one of the best introduction to modern quantum chemistry and provides the reader with a general picture of problems that arise in this chemical physics field of research. This book also provides the reader with a number of references to enable further readings which is noticeable.

The Best Book about Hartree-Fock Theory
This is so far the best book written about Hartree-Fock Theory. It provides all the mathematical background of vectors, matrices and operators, necessary for the development of the theory. Then it presents the theory in a very satifactory (detailed) way. If you want to learn the Hartree-Fock theory, to the level that allows you to understand what the standard computational quantum chemical packages do, then you shoud read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
As the first modern physical chemistry textbook to cover quantum mechanics before thermodynamics and kinetics, this book provides a contemporary approach to the study of physical chemistry. By beginning with quantum chemistry, students will learn the fundamental principles upon which all modern physical chemistry is built. The text includes a special set of "MathChapters" to review and summarize the mathematical tools required to master the material Thermodynamics is simultaneously taught from a bulk and microscopic viewpoint that enables the student to understand how bulk properties of materials are related to the properties of individual constituent molecules. This new text includes a variety of modern research topics in physical chemistry as well as hundreds of worked problems and examples. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

A Confusing Text........
I used this book for two quarters of undergraduate physical chemistry course, and I have to say that this book is one of the most confusing pchem text out there. First of all, the book is very heavy on mathematical derivations, which is a great way to introduce the subject, but the author merely skips WAY TOO MANY IMPORTANT STEPS THAT HINDER THE STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING and almost always say "By definition, the result is...., and we know that", which make the learning process pretty frustrating. Thus, none of my chemistry professors do follow the approach of the book too exactly, and one of them even make his own notes instead of teaching from this book. In addition, this book also brings in numerical approximation which is unnecessarily long and difficult to tie in with the analytical derivations in many of the chapters. The numerical analysis should be reserved in individual chapters instead of mixing in with thetheoretical aspects.

For the example problems, I think they are WAY TOO EASY compared to those of the end of the end of the chapter problems if you take a look into the solution manual. This approach does not teach students how to tackle harder questions, but just put them into difficult situations when they try to do the problems themselves.

One great part about this book is its comprehensiveness with 31 chapters,which triumphs over many other ones in the details provided and considerable depth. The math chapters in between chapters also serve as helful tools to refresh topics that students might have forgotten.

The best and most complete textbook for a very important subject
[NOTE: This is a revised version of an earlier review titled, "Not undergraduate-friendly; buy the solutions manual." My opinion of this text has changed considerably over the years since I was first exposed to it (and to physical chemistry itself), and I feel I was not fair with my first, rather critical, review. At the time, I gave the text 3 stars, something I frankly thought was being charitable.]

I first studied physical chemistry in college nearly four years ago, and at the time, I must confess that I absolutely hated this book. I think my primary source of frustration was really with my foreign professor, who had very poor English skills--and, I suspect, poor teaching skills, in any language. Having been spoiled the year before by a truly outstanding organic chemistry professor and an equally outstanding textbook (Wade's, which I highly recommend for undergraduates), I was not accustomed to using a textbook as my primary source of information. Physical chemistry, then, was something of a rude awakening for me. I certainly didn't appreciate the change in professors, but probably more so, I totally missed the fundamental importance of physical chemistry to the broader discipline. My impression of the subject, at first brush, was of a useless exercise in complexity, something condescending PhD's conjured up to torture undergraduates with. In hindsight, this attitude kept me from appreciating the beauty of the subject, and fostered an intense loathing for this colossal, 1400-page red monstrosity. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that my previous review was little more than another tirade by a frustrated student blaming his professor and his textbook for all of his problems. At the end of the year, I sold my text back to the bookstore for whatever pittance they offered me.

Some time later, I developed the truly disgusting habit of reading textbooks for fun in the summer. Astrophysics, meteorology, botany, you name it. My last year in college, I was able to fit a number of graduate courses into my schedule. One of them was a course on mechanisms, and an optional text listed in the syllabus was Anslyn and Dougherty's "Modern Physical Organic Chemistry." Having by now bought so many other textbooks on a whim, I bought this text and began to read it in my free time. As I mention in my review of that text, I was so utterly hooked after the first chapter that it quickly became (and remains) one of my favorite texts on my entire bookshelf. The authors' modern perspective and lucid writing were so refreshing, so diametrically opposed to my previous experiences in physical chemistry that I could not help but re-evaluate my opinion of Simon and McQuarrie's text. After I graduated, I got around to buying another copy, and this summer, I re-read the better part of it. I cannot tell you how much my opinion of physical chemistry, and this text in particular, have changed ever since.

Quantum mechanics is a difficult subject, to be sure, but I think much of the rigmarole about it has less to do with the inherent difficulty of the subject and more to do with the difficulty of re-calibrating your "chemical intuition" around a quantum framework. I have often debated whether teaching what might be termed "non-quantum" chemistry to high school and first-year college students--only to turn everything upside down when these students finally do take a physical chemistry course--really is the right approach. After all, more than any other field under the "chemistry" umbrella, it is physical chemistry that has answered the most of my questions: Why are there four quantum numbers, or any, for that matter? Why do we ignore the 4s orbital when we count 3d electrons in transition metal complexes? Why on Earth do two hydrogen atoms want to come together to form a chemical bond at all? Questions like these would never have arisen in my head if I had simply approached chemistry from a physical perspective, right from the start.

To that end, McQuarrie and Simon really did an outstanding job with "Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach." My advice to first-timers is to be patient. There is a remarkable amount of mathematics (and pages--217 of them) you must get through before the Schrödinger equation can be solved even for the hydrogen atom, the simplest chemical system. But if you have been diligent and patient with the material leading up to it, I promise you will be floored by the beauty of the answers, of the way so much falls out of so simple a premise. In particular, the chapters on spectroscopy that follow are among the most satisfying to read, in any text, on any subject.

Now that I have read this and other physical chemistry texts multiple times through, I can say with confidence that McQuarrie and Simon's is, by far, the best and most thorough treatment of quantum mechanics for undergraduates. If you have difficulty with this text, I assure you, you'll have more with other texts. As another reviewer has noted, literally everything you need to understand physical chemistry is in this textbook--all the mathematics, a historical background, a treatment of classical wave mechanics, and so forth. Of course, for any particular discussion, there is no reason to believe that McQuarrie and Simon's is the best or the easiest to understand. No textbook is perfect. But for one catch-all physical chemistry textbook, this is by far the best one out there.

I still stand by one caveat from my first review, namely, that the problems at the end of the chapters are unnecessarily difficult, and frankly, not particularly useful or rewarding. If this text is required by your professor and the problems are assigned as homework, do yourself a huge favor and purchase the solutions manual. You will not be successful without it.

I also do not believe that the statistical mechanics approach taken by McQuarrie and Simon in the second half of this text is the best way to introduce thermodynamics to students. By no means is their treatment impenetrable, and of course it is the more fundamental approach, but at least in my view, the subject is simply better appreciated without reference to molecules at all. Any of a number of outstanding thermo texts exist for this very purpose.

Terrible Physical Chemistry Book
I had the unfortunate experience of having to use this book.It's poorly formatted which leaves the reader at a disadvantage before even trying to study from it.Equations are derived for pages, however, the actual easily usable form of the equation is never hightlighted or boxed to direct your attention to the most important equation.The chapters on quantum chemistry and laughable. Poor job handling theories and background to various ideas.Bad diagrams (black and white), poor unit notation, and terrible sentence structure.I feel like I'm reading something from the Enlightenment era where every sentence is three times longer than necessary.Don't buy this book unless you have no other options.

Amazing
This book is totally awesome! we are currently using Atkins, which does not even compare to this book. This book has all the right information presented in a very clear manner. If your math is weak, there are sections to review and explain what you might not know. I have read this book for my class so far and have gotten better grades immediately. Physical chemistry is not an easy subject to understand, but with this book, its get a whole lot easier, and funner!

Pchem
It's great. It's quite in depth, though you have to accept some parts of the math if you don't already know differential equations.
It's understandable even to me, and the last chem course I took was just AP, but it's also very challenging and in depth. Highly recommend. ... Read more

Product Description
The Tenth Edition of Organic Chemistry continues Solomons/Fryhle’s tradition of excellence in teaching and preparing students for success in the organic classroom and beyond. In the Tenth Edition, virtually every aspect of the teaching and learning solution has been revisited and redesigned to assist students in comprehending the fundamentals of organic chemistry. The authors’ thoroughly explain and illustrate each new idea when it is first introduced and then reinforce the new idea or concept by having students work related problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Boring science text and even worse online version from WileyPLUS
If you must get this text because it is required - I recommend you get an old version and buy the most inexpensive copy. It is a horrible resource with outdated stuffy examples. I guess it's just a typical science text book. The WileyPLUS online supplement is so bad! That's what prompted me to write the review. You can't even do something as basic as search the text- even a PDF format will allow you to do that. It is basically like reading a grouping of screen shots that make up the online text. It is so budget I can't believe Wiley dare's charge for it. No matter what, DON'T pay the extra cash to get the WileyPLUS online edition it is a rip off and dreadful user experience.

No Wiley Plus
Don't waste your time with this book on Amazon if your class requires Wiley Plus. You will spend an additional 100 dollars buying the online access, which brings the total for this book to almost $260.

Great Text
This is the most comprehensive textbook on Organic Chemistry on the Market. It uses terminology that is suitable for its audience, assuming that those who would take organic chemistry have are at least partially intelligent. The book has excellent content and serves as a great tool for the aspiring chemist, or even the "I am just taking this to get my Med Degree" people. If you need "Wiley Plus" then you should do some research on who you buy from, as some books do not come with it.

WARNING
This version of the text does not include the online supplement to the text (WileyPlus), as does other versions that can be purchased at university bookstores. I purchased the textbook in order to get a head start with my course work in organic chemistry over the summer. The price of the text with WileyPlus at my university bookstore is $5 less then the version Amazon sells without WileyPlus. I was very discouraged when I received my copy of the text from Amazon and found this to be the case. I contacted the publisher (Wiley), explained my situation, and I asked if they would help me. They said, "no" because, as their technology team leader put it, "I could generate a code for you, but I won't because giving out free codes isn't part of our business model." So much for corporate responsibility and helping students succeed academically. I think Wiley just wanted me to pay the outrageous $80 fee for a WileyPlus subscription in addition to the $160 I had already spent on their textbook. In the end I had to ship the book back to Amazon and order another copy of the book through the university bookstore. This was a waist of time that could have been better spent studying organic chemistry with my new textbook. My recommendation is that you should be careful about who you buy this textbook from; make sure your getting the most for your money. ... Read more