Organic Chemistry I For Dummies

Book Description

A plain-English guide to one of the toughest science courses around
Organic chemistry is rated among the most difficult courses that students take and is frequently the cause of washout among pre-med, medical, and nursing students. This book is an easy-to-understand and fun reference to this challenging subject. It explains the principles of organic chemistry in simple terms and includes worked-out problems to help readers get up to speed on the basics.

Customer Reviews:

Chemistry.......2007-08-24

Had been a while siince i took general chemistry and so found organic a little hard. My professor suggested buying this book it was the best $19.99 that i ever spent. Too bad there was no guide for Organic 2!

There are better supplement books..........2007-08-10

Needing a supplement to my Organic Chemistry textbook I picked this up, which was more or less a waste. It simply doesn't provide enough to better understand college level Organic Chemistry, maybe High School. It read and felt like a dumbed down bad textbook, with bad attempts at humor thrown in; maybe to dull up the reading. Don't get me wrong there are helpful parts of the book... just few and far between. After my disappointment I picked up Organic Chemistry Demystified, a definite college/grad level supplement which was very good, and the quizzes helped immensly.

Truly excellent.......2007-06-28

This book is an excellent way to begin to learn Organic Chemistry. The book covers most of what you will learn in Organic Chemistry I, and ends by covering the first few topics in Organic Chemistry II.

It expounds the material in such a way that almost any body can understand it. I personally struggle quite a bit with science, and often find textbooks (and even review books) convoluted and confusing. This book however, really lays some good foundations to begin to learn Organic Chemistry. It explains the basics in a clear, concise manner. The writing style is easy and conversational, so it is possible to read the chapters fairly quickly. I find that reading this book really saves me time in the long run. I read this book first, then I read through my textbook and attend lecture. Since I have already begun to understand the basic concepts, I can focus more on details. This really cuts down the amount of time I have to spend reading and re-reading my textbook. I develop an understanding for the material more quickly and more thoroughly than by just reading the textbook and going to lecture. It also includes lots of little tips on how to solve organic chemistry problems that also save you time in the long run.

However, make no mistake, this book is NOT intended to teach you everything you need to know in Organic Chemistry. I believe it is best used as an introduction or supplement to lay the foundations for more detailed material covered in textbooks and in lectures. In other words, this book could be the skeleton, and your textbook and lecture would be the muscles, ligaments, etc. that flesh out the skeleton. That said, I have found this book to be extremely helpful. I wish that they have an Organic Chemistry II for Dummies!

Dummy Chem.......2007-05-17

I found the book extremely helpful. I used it as a supplemental review to help me study for my Organic Chemistry Final and for the Medical College Admission Test. The book covers the foundational concepts thoroughly and in an easy to read, easy to understand, format. It is no susbstitute for a real Organic Chemistry class, but it is a close second and if you read it alongside of your textbook you'll be amazed at how much easier the class becomes. After reading it, I found that I was actually able to predict the direction of many reactions, even though I had never seen that particular reaction before. I was using the authors website, [...] All in All a great buy.

Pretty good........2007-05-06

The book is helpful, but like most in the "for dummies" series, it just doesn't present ENOUGH. I'd been out of school for a few years, and was really looking for something supplemental outside of class. This book, what there is of it, does help, but there isn't nearly enough of it. In their effort to shorten it to make it seem less of a textbook, it left me feeling rushed, and lacking something; especially at test time. More examples, problems and solutions, and descriptions would have been great.

Introduction to Chemistry for Biology Students, An (8th Edition)

Average customer rating:

This book saved my life!
excellent introduction to basic chemistry
Good study guide for basic chemistry concepts

Introduction to Chemistry for Biology Students, An (8th Edition)
George I. Sackheim
Manufacturer: Benjamin Cummings
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805339701

Book Description

An Introduction to Chemistry for Biology Students, Eighth Edition is a unique workbook designed to teach readers the basic concepts of chemistry that are essential for success in the life sciences. Today's biology research places an increasing emphasis on the chemical processes that underlie critical biological functions. This workbook helps readers master all the basic facts, concepts, and terminology of chemistry they need to understand those processes. Atomic Structure, Chemical Symbols, Atoms and Molecules, Ionization, Liquid Mixtures, Diffusion and Osmosis, Nerve Cells, The Covalent Bond, Polar and Nonpolar Covalent Bonds, Functional Groups in Organic Compounds, Hydrogen Bonds, Isomers, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleotides, Enzymes, Biologic Oxidation, Photosynthesis, Oxygen-Carbon Dioxide Transport in the Blood. For college instructors and students, or anyone interested in issues relating to chemistry.

Customer Reviews:

This book saved my life!.......2000-09-15

My biology professor recommended this book to help us refresh our knowledge of the chemistry needed throughout the course. It is well written and covers all necessary information. It has a student friendly format which helps you retain the information as you work your way through the book. If I hadn't had this book, I would have been more than a little confused. Happy reading!

excellent introduction to basic chemistry.......1999-02-03

This book saved me in my college-level intro bio class. I hadn't had chemistry, but decided to take the class anyway. This gave me the basics that I needed to support what I learned in my text and class, and it provided excellent review material at the end of the semester. I found that the systematic approach to building concepts very easy to understand, and the question/answer format made the material easy to remember. I would recommend this book to any student who is taking a biology class that is heavily rooted in bio-chem who does not have a strong chemistry background.

Good study guide for basic chemistry concepts.......1997-06-06

This book of 207 pages is compact and well organized. It provides a very basic overview of chemistry concepts. It covers general concepts of Inorganic, Organic, and Biochemistry. Basically this book is set up like a work book that the student goes through. Answers are given right by the questions so there is no flipping back and forth. It does a fairly good job of also incorporating general biology concepts. It contains reference illustrations such as the periodic table and the electron transport chain plus numerous others. I would reccomend this book to biology teachers at the high school level who desire to teach more chemistry in biology or who are teaching a combinded chem/bio class

SAT Subject Tests: Chemistry 2005-2006 (Kaplan Sat Subject Test. Chemistry)

Average customer rating:

Utterly confusing (and I still got an 800)
Okay..not great
good review book
Ok, but not spectacular
A GREAT book for anyone

SAT Subject Tests: Chemistry 2005-2006 (Kaplan Sat Subject Test. Chemistry)
Kaplan
Manufacturer: Kaplan Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743265319
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Customer Reviews:

Utterly confusing (and I still got an 800).......2006-10-11

This book presents topics in a wierd order or something, because I couldn't understand it. So I gave up on it and only used it for it's practice tests which were easy.

Okay..not great.......2006-07-05

Kaplan is notoriously famous for its mistakes, and here they are again. However, Kaplan does a fair job on summarizing the information concisely. It even has some shortcuts in doing some of the calculations. However, there are many mistakes on the practice tests. After initial comparing of your answers to the books, your heart skips a couple of beats to find that you missed many problems (my experience), but not so! If you actually look at the answer explanations, when the correct answer is C, it would say some other answer although the explanation would clearly lead to that answer C. In a way it may discourage some students knowing that Kaplans is easier than the real test. I recommend this book for some extra tips a dilligent student may need, but not for its practice tests

good review book.......2006-03-21

There are enough information to review the things you have already knew or the things you do not learn yet.

Ok, but not spectacular.......2006-01-18

The notes are short and concise and contain everything you need to know (and perhaps a little extra stuff) for the test. However in my opinion the practice tests were not really like the real thing. There is a lack of questions on laboratory and descriptive chemistry, of which quite a lot of questions come out in the real test. Use this with a chemistry textbook to get best results.

A GREAT book for anyone.......2005-12-18

Even though I'm just up to the second chapter of the Chemistry Review, I'm already enjoying this book very much. I would highly recommend it to anyone (and I doubt you will regret it) to prep for the SAT II Chemistry. It is thorough and concise (as long as you have been paying attention in class, the review is excellent), with no extra useless information (as I found last year when I read Barrons Biology book). Here's from my past experience: Kaplan for biology, chemistry, physics, Barrons for SAT, AP Statistics.

Problem-Solving Workbook w/Solutions to accompany General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts

Average customer rating:

clear and accessible

Problem-Solving Workbook w/Solutions to accompany General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts
Brandon J. Cruickshank , and Raymond Chang
Manufacturer: Mcgraw-Hill College
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0072905204

Book Description

Chang's Essential Chemistry allows you to focus on all the basic topics in a one-year general chemistry course. With the clear writing and strong pedagogy Raymond Chang is known for, Essential Chemistry enables you to cover all the basics-from start to finish-in your one-year course. Plus, the text provides strong pedagogical features your students need and the teaching support you want.

Customer Reviews:

clear and accessible.......2000-08-01

Chang's text was my choice for my General Chemistry course this year. It includes very basic material, which is very helpful for heterogeneous courses or courses where students have limited background in math or chemistry.

There are some odd mistakes in the text, but they are primarily when Chang editorializes and do not involve important facts or concepts. For instance, Chang states that water in the ocean has the same chemical structure as water on the ice caps of Mars.

Book Description

The Study Guide For Calculated Industries Master Pro Calculator is a must-have study guide to accompany the Calculated Industries Master Pro Calculator. This study guide conveys the fundamentals of the most complete builder's calculator on the market.

Quantum Chemistry Workbook: Basic Concepts and Procedures in the Theory of the Electronic Structure of Matter

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Quantum Chemistry Workbook: Basic Concepts and Procedures in the Theory of the Electronic Structure of Matter
Jean-Louis Calais
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

A comprehensive, practical examination of the basic principles and inner mechanics of matter . . .

Moving from pure principles to real applications, the Quantum Chemistry Workbook is a step-by-step study guide to the inner workings of nature's fundamental systems: free atoms, small molecules, polymers, and crystals. Beginning with a short, clear summary of the basics of quantum mechanics, the Workbook offers a chapter-by-chapter exposition in a highly interactive exercise and question format that allows readers to work through the main concepts discussed. Not simply a conventional workbook, the Quantum Chemistry Workbook encourages discovery and original reflection, allowing users, through its rigorous give and take, to discover the intriguing connections hidden within the science. The Workbook includes:

A comparative overview of how basic concepts and principles actually work in free atoms, small molecules, polymers, and crystals
A practical look at the approximation level of a one-electron type
A complete examination of momentum space, with numerous conceptual illustrations
Atomic units used throughout

Book Description

The third edition of General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts continues the tradition of presenting only the material that is essential for a one-year general chemistry course. As before, the text includes all the core topics that are necessary for a solid foundation in general chemistry without sacrificing depth, clarity, or rigor. The third edition features new Spartan molecular models, animations correlated to the text, the addition of molecular orbital theory and more. General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts is 200 to 300 pages shorter than traditional two-semester textbooks and is much less expensive. Dr. Chang's concise-but-thorough approach will appeal to efficiency-minded instructors and will please value-conscious students.

Customer Reviews:

Terrible........2007-06-13

On the back of this book:

"The tools that accompany General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts are designed to help you succeed in your general chemistry course. Please visit your bookstore to order these helpful supplements..."

Following this little note are no less than 6 highly recommended websites, workbooks, and OTHER textbooks to use just to understand this one textbook. I think a clearer message would read "Please purchase these materials, and set this book back on the shelf, thanks."

This book is so poorly organized that it makes my head spin. As mentioned by another reviewer, the tools for effectively learning material appear in chapters AFTER said material. This book features page-long discourses on the wonders of quantum physics and how amazing chemistry is, and information that hurtles so far above our heads that it knocks birds out of the sky.
These walls of text have various sample problems interspersed throughout, but I can say that 3 sample problems are not enough to explain the 117 "practice" word problems that follow each chapter. (I counted)

I am glad that our teacher never touched this textbook throughout the semester, but we were required to read it on our own and no one understood it. The class after assigned reading homework, we needed an hour to an hour and a half long lecture on what a few sections in the book meant, put down simple understandable terms.

This book makes seemingly simple concepts way too complicated by throwing in information that only works to confuse the reader.
The only useful items are the tables that appear in the appendix listing heats of formation, standard enthalpies, etc., which have an unusual amount of organization compared to the rest of the book.

If your goal is to learn chemistry, then stay away from this textbook.

Horrible book, that is my personal view.......2003-11-24

This is the book that was assigned to my general chemistry class. Personally I think this is one of the most horrible books ever written, not just chemistry but on any subject. Even though the book says "General Chemistry" there is NO general overview of chemistry whatsoever in the chapters. The only thing that even comes close is the one page "A Note to the Student" thing that says chemistry is percieved as difficult. If the subject is difficult then it is the authors job to make it as simple as possible, which he clearly doesn't. Every chapter I have read gets way too detailed right off the bat. The equations that are given rarely have an explanation of where they came from; they take on a view of, "Here is the equation, now memorize it." They don't try to explain the relationship of the specific subject of chemistry on hand. Also, I think the chapters are out of order. I think some chapters should come before others. Lastly, the book has WAY too much information to be called a general chemistry book. I have been swamped with more information from chemistry than all of my other classes combined. I AM NOT EXAGERATING! Less than half way through the book they try to teach quantum mechanics/physics. It is just a poorly planned book for the coarse. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK!!!

Another Amazing Chang Text.......2003-10-15

This text serves its purpose perfectly. It is very well-written and succint. Prof. Chang realizes that there is more to chemistry than solving problems...he does a fantastic job of presenting the essential concepts and then solving many sample problems. There's no way that a chemistry book can show an example of every type of problem; that expectation is unreasonable. This text seeks to teach students chemistry with the examples falling into place.

Another case of "too much for too little"........2003-09-07

This is a difficult book. Not as difficult as my Phys book, but difficult nonetheless. Perhaps that is the way with chemistry, but it was Chang's job to write a book that could be understood and comprehended. He failed. I resigned myself early in the semester to draw the depth of my chem knowledge from a supplements ("Chemistry", by McMurry and Fay and "Schaum's 3000 solved problems in chemistry"). This trully reminded me of physics in a way I had never before expected of a chemistry class - finding answers to problems out of thin air. The material is overly light and does NOTHING to sort through the jibber jabber in a clear and comprehensive way. Note to Mr. Chang: Sometimes it is not enough to be witty and write well; Sometimes students actually want to learn how to DO THE PROBLEMS YOU THEN ASSIGN TO US AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER! This book is written for people who have another book (or person) to fall back on for a REAL explanation. Raymond (if I may call you that), you should come down to the trenches and see the devastation in your book's wake.

Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Revised Edition

Average customer rating:

Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Revised Edition
Thomas Kubic , and Nicholas Petraco
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0849321328

Book Description

A laboratory companion to the Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques textbook, Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Revised Edition provides many basic, hands-on experiments that can be completed with inexpensive and accessible instrumentation, making this an ideal workbook for non-science majors. The experiments cover all the typical trace evidence tests including body fluid, soil, glass, fiber, ink, and hair. This revised edition provides numerous new experiments in odontology, anthropology, archeology, chemistry, and trace evidence. It also includes several new chemistry experiments at a slightly higher level to appeal to classes emphasizing chemistry. Experiments involving impression evidence, such as fingerprints, bite marks, footwear, and firearms, as well as forensic archeology, forensic anthropology, the use of digital and traditional photography, and basic microscopy are also featured. All of the experiments incorporate hands-on elements to facilitate the learning process. Students must apply the scientific method of reasoning, deduction, and problem solving in order to successfully complete the experiments covered and attain a solid understanding of fundamental forensic science.

Chemistry: Principles and Reactions (Study Guide & Workbook)

Average customer rating:

Absolutely terrible
So-so
A nice read
Good text book
Absolute Filth

Chemistry: Principles and Reactions (Study Guide & Workbook)
Cecile N. Hurley
Manufacturer: Saunders College Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0534408818

Book Description

This new edition of CHEMISTRY: PRINCIPLES AND REACTIONS continues to provide students with the "core" material essential to understanding the principles of general chemistry. Appropriate for either a one- or two-semester course, CHEMISTRY: PRINCIPLES AND REACTIONS, Fourth Edition is three hundred pages shorter than most general chemistry texts and lives up to its long-standing reputation as THE student-oriented text.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely terrible.......2004-04-27

Although this book may be useful as a reference, it is a disaster if you are new to chemistry and don't have a professor, who could explain some topics from this book.
In order to understand the book's problems you have to buy separately a solution manual.

So-so.......2002-08-27

A bit too complicated for a General Chemistry text, yet it still fails to touch on certain important aspects (steric numbers, among others). The practice problems at the end of each chapter are highly abstract, but may be viewed as somewhat useful when compared to the extremely wordy and complicated study guide. College students studying Chemistry for the first time, especially older non-traditional students, will find the authors' approach to several concepts to be unnecessarily complex. This text is far more useful when accompanied by a study guide such as Houk's Chemistry: Concepts and Problems, A Self-Teaching Guide. The text's study guide is fairly useless unless the instructor pulls tests from the publisher's web suite.

A nice read.......2002-01-18

I used this book for AP chem. I know one of the reviewers claims that it doesn't prepare you for the test. I think though, that it covers all the information you'll need to get a five on the AP, as I used this book, and I got a five. Perhaps, the practice problems aren't exactly AP chem test type problems. Therefore, to study for the actual test, go find a practice AP chem book like Barrons. They give you myriad practice problems. This book though, explains chemistry, not just how to do problems. Some people think that its over simplified. I think that its just written well and doesn't over complicate matters. Everything you need to know for a first year non calculus based chemistry course is in this book...and its accessible. The language is clear and concise. The sample problems are very useful because they cover basic problem solving techniques. I also enjoyed the little notes in the margins, they're kinda funny (this refers to the third edition). Anyway, if you want a general chem book that is not too complicated but still covers alot of material, this one's for you!

Good text book.......2001-07-08

I am a UCONN student, where Prof. Masterton and Prof. Hurley are my chemistry teachers. I have to say that this book is very well written, and interesting to read. It explains the priciple in clear and easy to understand fassion, not wordy, not repetitive. The exercises are step by step, and get to the point. The author often makes connection between chemistry and our everyday life. For example, he will expain that sea water is a bit slipery because it's slightly basic. There are some comments that this book is too simple, and not at college level. Well, I'm taking general chemistry course here, with this textbook, and this course is one of the hardest course at UCONN. We judge a book by it's content, not by it's thickness or how pretty the title page is. There are not too many organic stuff here, but most people who is major in chemistry related fields go on to take Organic Chemistry, at here this is the way it is here. This book is supposed to be General introduction to chemistry. And you can certainly get a lot out of it.

Absolute Filth.......2001-02-05

Absolute filth!! I am a student in AP Chemistry and this was the title for our text, until we used the masterpiece written by Steven Zumdahl. This does not prepare one well for any chemistry class, is poorly written, not up to par with our technology today, is written in a very unorganized and in a tengential manner, and, well...absolute filth!

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