Book Description

The Fifth Edition of Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference contains Safety Profiles, synonyms, physical properties, standards, and recommendations of government agencies for approximately 5,000 chemicals deemed both important and potentially hazardous by the international scientific community. Substances were chosen on the basis of meeting a variety of criteria, including:

• Having an OSHA standard
• Having an ACGIH TLV
• Listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer Groups

• Listed on the NTP Ninth Report on Carcinogens
• Having a German Research Society’s Mak or Bat listing
• Having especially dangerous toxic, reactive, or fire properties

Book Description

Designed to supplement and complement any standard biochemistry text or lecture notes, this book helps provide a balanced picture of modern biochemistry by use of elementary mathematics in understanding properties and behavior of biological molecules. It provides a balanced picture of modern biochemistry by using elementary mathematics to explore the properties and behavior of biological molecules. The text discusses such topics as:

Book Description

A revised edition of a classic text Polymers are macromolecules built up by linking large numbers of smaller molecules. Due to their diverse physical properties, polymers have become central to a number of important industries, including plastics, rubber, adhesives, fiber, and paint industries. Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, Third Edition is the definitive reference for polymer researchers. Emphasizing interrelationships between molecular structure and the morphology and mechanical behavior of polymers, the Third Edition incorporates new findings in processing and characterizing polymers. Many new worked examples and study problems have been added. The new material includes:

• New chapters devoted to polymer surfaces and polymer blends
• Discussions on solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance methods, self-assembled polymers, scaling law basics, polymer processing, hyperbranched dendrimers, and the kinetics of polymerization
• Current research interests, such as polyolefins, thermoset plastics, pyroelectric and piezoelectric polymers, supercritical fluids, biomedical applications, film formation, and natural polymers Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, Third Edition continues to be the ideal resource for students and professional chemists, chemical engineers, materials scientists, and polymer scientists.

Reviews (2)

so-so
Like any other text. To pricy if you ask me.

Best beginners book in market!!
Sperling's book stands out as the most useful polymer science text, compiling essential elements of varied physical properties and behaviour. The third edition has up to date material on all aspects of polymer physics including chapters on polymer surfaces and interfaces as well as on multicomponent polymer systems and liquid crystalline polymers. In my opinion, as a beginners guide, the book is definitely outscores over all other texts in market including Billmeyer, Painter Coleman, Rodriquez, etc. The book also contains a good description of various polymer characterization techniques.

The material covered is adequate to provide basic information about each field in polymer physics, and the textbook has enough material to be useful for two or three courses. The author presents a lot of tables in the book, that succintly summarize important points related to that topic. Coupled with Strobl's book, which has slightly advanced description of polymer physics, and Doi's Introduction to polymer physics, which has mathematically intensive description of statistical mechanics of polymers, you have three texts to teach you essentially everything there is to know in Polymer Physics!! (Perhaps you can add a text for Polymer Rheology, say by Larson!) ... Read more

Book Description

Presents an overview of applications, a critical evaluation of current techniques for sampling and for obtaining spectra, and an extensive guide to the literature, both spectra and papers. Covers everything from how to prepare almost any kind of sample and how to optimize the controls on an infrared spectrometer, to identifying and measuring pollutants at the parts per million level. Stresses all fundamental concepts and limitations; includes examples of difficulties and pitfalls throughout. Emphasizes development of technique and careful manipulation of samples and spectrometers. Highlights quantitative analysis with examples. Also reviews factors affecting group frequencies. ... Read more

Book Description

Understanding Molecular Simulation: From Algorithms to Applications explains the physics behind the "recipes" of molecular simulation for materials science. Computer simulators are continuously confronted with questions concerning the choice of a particular technique for a given application. A wide variety of tools exist, so the choice of technique requires a good understanding of the basic principles. More importantly, such understanding may greatly improve the efficiency of a simulation program. The implementation of simulation methods is illustrated in pseudocodes and their practical use in the case studies used in the text.

Since the first edition only five years ago, the simulation world has changed significantly -- current techniques have matured and new ones have appeared.This new edition deals with these new developments; in particular, there are sections on:

ú Transition path sampling and diffusive barrier crossing to simulaterare events
ú Dissipative particle dynamic as a course-grained simulation technique
ú Novel schemes to compute the long-ranged forces
ú Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian dynamics in the context constant-temperature and constant-pressure molecular dynamics simulations
ú Multiple-time step algorithms as an alternative for constraints
ú Defects in solids
ú The pruned-enriched Rosenbluth sampling, recoil-growth, and concerted rotations for complex molecules
ú Parallel tempering for glassy Hamiltonians

Examples are included that highlight current applications and the codes of case studies are available on the World Wide Web. Several new examples have been added since the first edition to illustrate recent applications. Questions are included in this new edition. No prior knowledge of computer simulation is assumed. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Perfect for New Grad Students
This book is how I bootstrapped my way into being a molecular simulationist. Anyone who can program in some language can get started writing simple routines for the basic MD and MC simulations.

I do Monte Carlo simulations at Princeton, and found this book to be the most helpful available for getting my research started. It is my most common reference, and is used extensively in writing background information for various research documents.

However, after you have written your first few codes, you will pass the level of this book and need to move on. I use it less now than I did my first year.

Every student in my group (Panagiotopoulos) has this book I think. And like me, they started with it, but moved on.

A nice disappointment
The title of the book is overly ambitious and falls short on its promises. The book is a good introduction to Molecular Mechanics (MM), Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) methods, with detailed descriptions of the methods used and FORTRAN (pseudo)code, covering from the basics to some middle-level and some advanced algorithms.
But it does NOT cover all the fields of Molecular Modelling, just the three mentioned (MM, MD and MC), there's no coverage of quantum mechanics methods, nor QSAR or other technologies. And, while it described the algorithms, I can't think of it going all the way through up to building applications. For this, Rapaport's makes a better job, and for a general intro to Molecular Modelling, Grant & Richards' Computational Chemistry is more comprehensive (albeit at a more superficial level). Nor does it provide much detail on the methods used in modelling biological macromolecules, an increasing application field for the methods discussed in the book.
All in all, this book fails to satisfy its cover title, it won't introduce to the whole field (just the areas of MM, MD and MC) nor does it go up to application level. But it IS a REAL GOOD introduction to the subjects covered and their basic algorithms,
with sample code, detailed descriptions and plenty of references to specialized articles, texts and resources.

An excellent introduction
This book is an excellent introduction to the field of molecular dynamics simulation. It is easy to follow for a scientist entering the field and at the same time contains overview of most critical topics in MD simulation. The book's major goal is to describe how to simulate liquids, however it also mentions briefly the methods for gas and liquid simulations. List of references for further readings is very useful and complete.

A great book for begginers.
This book covers many interesting topics in molecular simulation, both Monte Carlo and M.D. It focuses on understanding the main ideas rather than giving long codes. It's a good place to start, but it also covers some ideas not found in many other books. When I try to extend my molecular dynamics program I always check what Frenkel and Smit have to say about it. ... Read more

Book Description

A kitchen is no different from most science laboratories and cookery may properly be regarded as an experimental science. Food preparation and cookery involve many processes that are well described by the physical sciences. Understanding the chemistry and physics of cooking should lead to improvements in performance in the kitchen. For those of us who wish to know why certain recipes work and perhaps more importantly why others fail, appreciating the underlying physical processes will inevitably help in unraveling the mysteries of the "art" of good cooking. Dr. Peter Barham has long been involved in popularizing science in Great Britain where he has lectured and been on radio and television shows on the science of food. In 1999, he won the IOP Prize for Promoting the Public Awareness of Physics.

FROM THE REVIEWS:

"This year, at last, we have a book which shows how a practical understanding of physics and chemistry can improve culinary performance . . .[Barham] first explains, in a lucid non-textbooky way, the principles behind taste, flavour and the main methods of food preparation, and then gives fool-proof basic recipes for dishes from roast leg of lab to chocolate soufflé." -FINANCIAL TIMES WEEKEND

"This book is full of interesting and relevant facts that clarify the techniques of cooking that lead to the texture, taste and aroma of good cuisine. As a physicist the author introduces the importance of models in preparing food, and their modification as a result of testing (tasting)." -THE PHYSICIST

"Focuses quite specifically on the physics and food chemistry of practical domestic cooking in terms of real recipes. Industrial food technologists and process engineers will not find design equations or process flowsheets. Instead they, and those with more immediate home cooking interests, will find a clear, fascinating, informative and serviceable description of the scientific phenomena occurring during domestic cooking, and how to exploit an understanding thereof to achieve results consistently, adapt recipes confidently and adeptly rescue catastrophes. Each chapter starts with an overview of the scientific issues relevant to that food group, e.g. toughness of meat, thickening of sauces, collapse of sponge cakes and soufflés. This is followed by actual recipes, with the purpose behind each ingredient and technique explained, and each recipe followed by a table describing some common problems, causes and solutions. Each chapter then ends with suggested experiments to illustrate some of the scientific principles exploited in the chapter." -FOOD & DRINK NEWSLETTER

"Will be stimulating for amateur cooks with an interest in following recipes and understanding how they work. They will find anecdotes and, sprinkled throughout the book, scientific points of information...The book is a pleasant read and is an invitation to become better acquainted with the science of cooking." -NATURE

"You do not have to be a chemist or a physicist to cook a meal, any more than you need a qualification in engineering to drive a car; but in both cases a little technical knowledge can help when things go wrong. That is the reasoning behind this odd volume that combines an explanation of the scientific principles of cooking with a down-to-earth guide to kitchen utensils, ... some experiments to try at home, and a random collection of around 40 recipes." -THE ECONOMIST

"A physicist at Bristol University, Barham combines a love of science with a passion for cooking (and food) into this small and enjoyable book...Even if you prefer not to turn your kitchen into a laboratory, you will find this book worthwhile." -SCIENCE ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great stuff for the science-minded cook
Fascinating exploration into the physics of cooking, written in an engaging and detailed style. Probably better for the scientist who cooks than for the cook who's into science, since the language is sometimes a little dense for the layperson. Worth working through, though.

One caveat: the author is British, and recipes, measurements, and terms are geared for the British/European cook. This means you'll find a complete explanation of sausage rolls and nothing about popcorn. Just FYI.

Interesting, but contains a mistake
The author does a good job describing the scientific (especially biochemical) basis behind cooking. However, he makes a fundamental mistake regarding thermodynamics when he states that metals tend to have higher heat capacities than water, and therefore take longer to heat up in an oven at a fixed temperature. This is wrong for two major reasons: a) metals tend to have lower heat capacities than water, not higher, and b) metals have extraordinarily high thermal conductivities, speeding their heating rates up dramatically. Anybody can verify that a piece of metal will heat up much more quickly than an equal mass of water in an oven at a fixed temperature. Perhaps it shouldn't, but mistakes like this one make me suspicious of the validity of the rest of the work.

Great, but everything is metric!
I know we in the US are behind in catching up to the metric system, but certainly our sheer population and market size dictate that an edition edited for our us should be released. Other than this, the book is excellent as an introduction to the subject of food science. I will argue though, that science is never a substitute for the masters. Cooking can be viewed as a science (like here), or an art (as in the great chefs collections).

chemistry 101
Don't buy this book if you're looking for a cookbook. The recipes listed in this book are bare bones basic, with no flare. I felt like I was back in chemistry 101 while reading this book, and could only read a little at a time in order to digest all that was presented. Barham gives an excellent description and portrayal of fats, sugars, starches, gluten, proteins, etc., but doesn't flesh out his recipes at all. Each item in his recipes is there for a purpose, and he explains each of their purposes. But I felt that after the basics were presented, he could have added some extra ingredients to jazz up the dishes a little. This could have shown what the 'unnecessary' ingredients do to enhance a dish and how they alter the chemical composition.
After reading his book though, I feel as though I truly understand the processes going on in my kitchen, and somehow, it has taken away the 'art' of cooking. I can't just go play in my kitchen now - I feel like I'm doing a chemistry experiment:)
The book is presented in the metric system, along with British terms that make it hard to follow every now and then.
I would really recommend this book to upper high school students as well as college freshman for the practical chemistry application.

Gets right to the science with little digression
I recently purchased "On Food and Cooking", hoping to find a good, comprehensive book on food science. While there was a lot of good detail in that book, much of the detail was buried among less interesting historical digressions, and the space taken up by those digressions seemed to be depriving me of some details I really did care about.

In contrast, "The Science of Cooking" makes no pretense of being encyclopedic in its coverage of food science. Instead, the focus is directly on the chemical and physical processes at work in the kitchen. As such, it succeeds admirably, and much of the information that seemed "missing" from "On Food and Cooking" here seems simply absent because it is outside the scope of the work.

While the introductory material gets a little condescending at times (I mean, who actually needs to be told what an atom is?), and some of the sidebars get overly technical for most people (do you really care about differential equations?), such sections are easily ignored. The few really queasy technical discussions are even set in a different background color to let you know they may not be for the faint-of-heart (and the rest of those colored sidebars are quite readable and interesting on their own).

Be aware that the author is a scientist, not a chef. This book is tightly focused on chemical and physical effects of ingredients. Things like flavor and food safety are not part of the discussion, beyond a few passing mentions. Most notably, the author repeatedly demonstrates a lack of understanding of the effects of salt on flavor, and talks of things like clarifying cold stocks with raw egg whites without a discussion of slmonella (which is admittedly perceived as less of a problem in the author's native Britain).

The book is organized like a textbook, with sidebars, tables, and even little experiments at the end of each chapter. There are useful conversion tables, and charts on various topics. It is easy to skip over what you find uninteresting and to skip directly to the information you need when using the book for reference.

The information here is valuable, concise, and well-presented. You'll find yourself understanding things like the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats (and why you should care as a cook), how foams form (and why they collapse), why and how cooking affects flavor and texture, etc.

I was able to read through this book very quickly and easily, while learning (and even retaining) more information than I normally would from a non-fiction book of this sort. This book is definitely an excellent overview of the processes involved in cooking, and indeed, probably contains as much information as most of us are ever likely to use on the subject.

Why 4 stars and not 5, you ask? There are some important omissions that bothered me. The most glaring examples are that there's no discussion of osmotic pressure, or the role of pH in various processes, topics that "On Food and Cooking" covered admirably. The section on cooking utensils and appliances is largely a waste of space, in part because the author is British and doesn't have access to many of the alternatives that have become common in serious American kitchens. Be warned, the book is very British in its use of language. You will need to know that "hob" is a British English for "stove", for example. Also, all of the recipes use metric weights and volumes, so should you actually wish to follow them (not something I'd particularly recommend), you'll need an accurate metric food scale and measuring cups. ... Read more

Book Description

For more than a quarter century, Cotton and Wilkinson's Advanced Inorganic Chemistry has been the source that students and professional chemists have turned to for the background needed to understand current research literature in inorganic chemistry and aspects of organometallic chemistry. Like its predecessors, this updated Sixth Edition is organized around the periodic table of elements and provides a systematic treatment of the chemistry of all chemical elements and their compounds. It incorporates important recent developments with an emphasis on advances in the interpretation of structure, bonding, and reactivity.

From the reviews of the Fifth Edition:
* "The first place to go when seeking general information about the chemistry of a particular element, especially when up-to-date, authoritative information is desired." -Journal of the American Chemical Society.
* "Every student with a serious interest in inorganic chemistry should have [this book]." -Journal of Chemical Education.
* "A mine of information . . . an invaluable guide." -Nature.
* "The standard by which all other inorganic chemistry books are judged."-Nouveau Journal de Chimie.
* "A masterly overview of the chemistry of the elements."-The Times of London Higher Education Supplement.
* "A bonanza of information on important results and developments which could otherwise easily be overlooked in the general deluge of publications." -Angewandte Chemie. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

NICE TEXT FOR UNDERGRAD INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
With this edition of "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry", Albert Cotton and his co-authors have proved that they kept track of all the recent developments in the field.
This text provides clear and balanced coverage, as it applies to Inorganic Chemistry. Every branch of the course was browsed, and with generous details too. In addition to the general principles and laws, there are updated information on: Atomic Structures of elements, Chemical Bondings and related associations; as well as Chemical Equilibria and Enthalpy.
Together with its insight in Nuclear Chemistry, the details this book provided on inorganic elements and compounds is worthy of praise. It is a fine textbook, which anyone who has the basic knowledge of elementary chemistry should be glad to read.

Disappointing
The 5th edition of this book had been compulsory reading during my undergraduate inorganic chemistry courses: it was the inorganic chemistry bible. This edition fails to reach the high standard of its predecessor. In fact, it isn't even a good advanced inorganic chemistry text. Much of the really useful stuff that forms the basis of an understanding of inorganic chemistry has been omitted in favour of niche topics. The book would be better called 'Advances in Inorganic Chemistry' or 'Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry'.

Not as good as expected
This was one of the best book for inorganic chemistry, but this edition is very different from the previous ones. Many useful chapters have been done away with; they have been replaced with chapters rather poor, especially those about catalysis.
I advise the fifth edition, which is much better, even if it's quite old: the updates of new edition don't offset its flaws.

This is an excellent book
I have read this book with great interest. I think this book is marvellous in describing the features of three dimentional inorganic molecules.

A real advance in inorganic chemistry!
The first editions of this book made a real revolution in inorganic chemistry. The approach in this book has not realy changed during the years but I still think it is a must-have book. It is easy to read with a lot of data, structures and tables. In my oppinion it should be combined with Greenwood's "Chemistry of the elements" and Douglas' et al. "Concepts and models of inorganic chemistry". ... Read more

Book Description

Cell immobilisation biotechnology is a multidisciplinary area, shown to have an important impact on many scientific subdisciplines, including biomedicine, pharmacology, cosmetics, food and agricultural sciences, beverage production, industrial and municipal waste treatment, analytical applications, and biologics production. The two volumes on Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology are the result of the editors' intention to collate the extensive and widespread information on fundamental aspects and applications of immobilisation/encapsulation biotechnology into a comprehensive reference work and to provide an overview of the most recent results and developments in this domain.Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology Biotechnology is divided into two volumes. The first volume is dedicated to fundamental aspects of cell immobilisation while the second volume deals with the diverse applications of this technology.The first volume, Fundamentals of Cell Immobilisation Biotechnology, comprises 26 chapters arranged into four parts:

• ... Read more

Book Description

Describes the procedures for collection of samples, sample preparation, and analysis of CWC-related chemicals. It deals with analytical procedures that can be followed in well-equipped off-site laboratories (designated laboratories), as well as the on-site analytical procedures that the OPCW inspectors use in sample collection and preliminary analysis of the samples in field conditions.

• A one-of-a-kind, highly topical handbook for every expert in the chemical weapons field
• Outlines the methods for analysing chemical weapons both on and off site
• Authored by international experts in the field from top laboratories in both government and academic institutions

Book Description

This Third Edition of Glassman's classic text clearly defines the role of chemistry, physics, and fluid mechanics as applied to the complex topic of combustion. Glassman's insightful introductory text emphasizes underlying physical and chemical principles, and encompasses engine technology, fire safety, materials synthesis, detonation phenomena, hydrocarbon fuel oxidation mechanisms, and environmental considerations. Combustion has been rewritten to integrate the text, figures, and appendixes, detailing available combustion codes, making it not only an excellent introductory text but also an important reference source for professionals in the field.

Key Features
* Explains complex combustion phenomena with physical insight rather than extensive mathematics
* Clarifies postulates in the text using extensive computational results in figures
* Lists modern combustion programs indicating usage and availability
* Relates combustion concepts to practical applications ... Read more

Reviews (1)

nice deal
this is the right book for combustion with in depth subject. go for it! ... Read more

Book Description

Represents the largest collection of polymer NMR spectra available

This unique source of information provides a fingerprint of individual polymers, so the microstructure or fine structure of the polymer can be readily identified. Appropriate NMR analysis conditions (solvent(s), temperature, pulse angle, etc.) are specified for each polymer sample. All the resonances, often obtained at different frequencies, are interpreted with remarks concerning the homopolymer or copolymer skeletons.

• Contains over 530 1H and 13C NMR spectra of soluble and swollen gelled 13C polymers
• Includes new NMR polymer spectra, together with those previously published
• Comprehensive bibliography
• Spectra are grouped into families for ready-searching
• CD-ROM is fully searchable and user-friendly
• 5th Edition of popular reference work

  ... Read more

Book Description

This alternate edition is a paperback book designed for professors who want to cover organic and biochemistry, or only the last 15 chapters of the main text, CHEMISTRY FOR TODAY: GENERAL, ORGANIC, AND BIOCHEMISTRY, Fourth Edition. The ancillaries and web site that accompany the main text are also available for this briefer edition. ... Read more

Book Description

This book describes the operation of a particular technique for the production of compound semiconductor materials. It describes how the technique works, how it can be used for the growth of particular materials and structures, and the application of these materials for specific devices. It contains not only a fundamental description of the operation of the technique but also contains lists of data useful for the everyday operation of OMVPE reactors. It also offers specific recipes that can be used to produce a wide range of specific materials, structures, and devices.

Key Features
* Updated with new emphasis on the semiconducting nitride materials-GaN and its alloys with In and Al
* Emphasizes the newly understood aspects of surface processes
* Contains a new chapter, as well as several new sections in chapters on thermodynamics and kinetics ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Definitely a masterpiece
I'm surprised by the online reviews for this book so far and it seems to me they are written by people who do not fully understand (or appreciate) the kinetic, thermodynamic, thermal issues, mass transport, fluid dynamic or reactor design aspects of OMVPE. Whether you're starting out or have been in the field for a while, this book is a must have. Stringfellow is one of the few people who understands the finer aspects of OMVPE. His qualitative and quantitative treatment of concepts is lucid, accurate and comprehensive. The older edition was getting out of date. The newer one adds information generated in the recent past. I would suggest browsing through the book and rating it yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Not a particularly useful text
If you are unfamiliar with the field of OMVPE this text would serve as a good introduction. It does indeed cover the fundamentals of the OMVPE process. However, that is about all it covers. For those in industry or academia who are already acquainted with OMVPE, this book adds very little to your knowledge or understanding. The theoretical and mathematical treatment of the various issues listed is practically nonexistent. The sections that actually contain formulae are few and far between. Again, this is great if you are just starting to learn; this is rather disappointing if you are looking for an in-depth treatment of OMVPE. The one saving grace is that there are extensive lists of references that you can track down to find the details that are left out of the book itself. That's a lot of money for just a reference list though.

Stringfellow is the authority on OMVPE. Great Book.
This is a great book if you want to know the science of OMVPE. Stringfellow is considered by many people to be the authority on this subject. You can't go wrong with this book. It's referenced in nearly every OMVPE journal article I have read.

Buy This Book If You're Using Someone Else's Money!!
This has come to be used as a text or reference in the field of compound semiconductor epitaxy only because of the absence of anything better! This is a cursory introduction to a very broad field by a man whose own experiences have little relevance or bearing on the state of the art. A fair attempt is made at covering the basics of the subject and a good number of relevant publications are cited. Unfortunately the book has all the charm and utility of the author which cannot be quantatively evaluated without the use of negative numbers! I have found a good use for this book in my laboratory though, as one of my workbenches had a short leg under which this fit nicely! ... Read more

Book Description

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the AP Chemistry Exam is very different from getting straight A’s in school.We don’t try to teach you everything there is to know about chemistry–only what you’ll need to score higher on the exam. There’s a big difference.In Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam, we’ll teach you how to think like the test makers and
-Score higher by reviewing key chemistry concepts
-Earn more points by familiarizing yourself with the format of the test
-Safeguard yourself against traps that can lower your score
-Perfect your skills with review questions in each chapter
This book includes 2 full-length practice AP Chemistry tests. All of our practice questions are like the ones you’ll see on the actual exam, and we fully explain every answer. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Best Review for any AP Test!!
This book is the best study aid I've ever used before. I actually used the 02-03 edition, but the book has remained essentially unchanged for the past few years. I didn't have an AP Chem class, only Chem 3, which did only so much to prepare me for the test. Instead I read through this book 2-3 times (which actually didn't take that long after I read it the first time) and did a few practice free reponse tests. I devoted all my studying time to this test (and not to my English Lit or US History, both of which I got 4's on), and doing this got me a solid 5 on the AP Chem. There were maybe 2-3 questions on the entire test I didn't know. Overall, this book covers almost every aspect that the test can test you on, with the exception of something that has to do w/ absorbity (which is new to the test, and I chose not to do that free response problem), and some lab questions, which you must learn on your own in a real lab situation. If you are taking the AP Chem test, buy this book or rent it from your local library (like me). It will be well worth it!

Helped me get a 5!
I took AP Chemistry last year and yesterday I just got my scores. I got a 5 in chemistry! I was shocked because I had a horrible chemistry teacher who told us nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, and labs wouldn't be on the test which is why he didn't cover it! This book (the 02-03 edition) helped me significantly because of all its practice questions and nicely explained explainations. It makes chemistry seem so easy and if you memorize everything in that book (and know labs), you will ace the AP test. There were only 4 questions out of 75 on the AP test that I didn't know! Another excellent book was the CliffNotes book for those of you who are like me and had a chemistry teacher who did not do any of the labs. That book gives a lot of details on the labs so you will get all the lab questions right even if you've never done a lab. But one important thing to remember is you can not cram with APs. I started studying 3 months with this book before the test and I took a lot of real practice tests.

great book
this was an awesome book. If you read it in conjunction with the lectures and prepare yourself decently this book will help you get a 5. It did for me.

Excellent Preparation Guide
This book is an excellent preparation guide for the AP chemistry exam, it includes hundreds of practice AP questions similar to the national exam itself. It is a quick read if you are preparing late for the exam and has a very organized and user friendly format dividing the sections in to the main concepts covered by the AP exam and offerring excellent preparation questions in those areas. The difficulty level of the questions however is open to discussion as some questions in the book are slightly less difficult or complex as the questions asked on the actual national exam, however the majority are equivalent in difficulty to the exam. As for the free response section of the exam, this book provides excellent sample essay questions very similar to the exam in its intricacies and meticulous detailing of the questions forcing one to think deeply in to an answer. The book however does not provide answers that explain the answer to the question in great depth however with the information provided by the answer, one who is knowledged in chemistry can conclude what a proper AP exam answer would read. A main dividing factor between the free response section of exams in this book and of the real exam is that the real exam's "equilibrium problem" has many more parts to complete than that of the samples. The samples provide only 4 or 5 parts to the mathematical problems, whereas on the exam you can expect to find problems with 7 to 8 parts, and some of the types of questions encountered in the 4 extra parts are never discussed in this book. The exam takes the mathematical questions to a higher level than this book and requires one to analyze further the situation of a problem and provide further calculations to demonstrate understanding, this princeton review book does not discuss this. However, all together this book has great value and i highly reccomend it for any brave enough to challenge the AP chemistry exam, it is an essential material for its practice questions and was a cornerstone for me to score my 5 on the AP chemistry national exam. My advice to those aspiring AP chemistry exammers is to buy as many books with practice exams as you can and take as many full length exams as possible, they are the most helpful tool that you can find, and the princeton review offers this exceptionally.

decent review
This book deserves credit for being concise, but comes up short on the coverage of some areas, such as descriptive chemistry. In addition, it has some material that is no longer on the AP test, such as root mean square speed of a gas molecule. Nevertheless, this review is about as good as it gets for any test prep company. Buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Get a better grade in General Chemistry
Even though General Chemistry may be challenging at times; with hard work and the right study tools, you can still get the grade you want. With David Klein's General Chemistry as a Second Language, you'll be able to better understand fundamental principles of chemistry, solve problems, and focus on what you need to know to succeed.
Here's how you can get a better grade in General Chemistry:
Understand the basic concepts
General Chemistry as a Second Language focuses on selected topics in General Chemistry to give you a solid foundation. By understanding these principles, you'll have a coherent framework that will help you better understand your course.
Study more efficiently and effectively
General Chemistry as a Second Language provides time-saving study tips and problem-solving strategies that will help you succeed in the course.
Improve your problem-solving skills
General Chemistry as a Second Language will help you develop the skills you need to solve a variety of problem types--even unfamiliar ones! ... Read more

Reviews (60)

You could find a better physical chemistry text elsewhere
Out of curiosity, I have read some of the reviews on this book and the first thing that came to my attention was how a couple reviewers mentioned that they believe that those who give bad reviews simply had a hard time with the subject matter. I, however, must disagree. When I took two semesters of physical chemistry last year I had absolutely no trouble with the subject matter. I had seen most of it in my previous physics classes, and I found the math and derivations rather simple (I'm a math major and a physics major). Yet, I still believe that this is by far not the best science text I have ever read. I believe that this text (as with most chemistry books that I have read) could be far more concise. My biggest problem, was the lack of SIMPLE explanation. What I mean by that statement, is that in many instances there is little to no explanation of what the variables in each equation represent, and when the meaning of each variable is explained, the book is so long winded, that by the time one reaches the equation, they've forgotten what they were told the variables did represent.How can anyone understand an explanation when they're not told what values are being spoke of? For those who already know the subject matter, this little fact can be easily overlooked, but for those trying to learn physical chemistry nothing could be worse. Also, this book seems to lack mathematical rigor. Many equations are derived using a lot of hand waving. Why even bother? If the author is not going to offer a completely rigorous derivation, then he should just give a simple English explanation. On, the good side, I think that the book is well organized and has enough illustrations to guide the student through the basic theory, and concepts.

Not for AMATEUR
Professor Atkins wrote an excelent text about Physical Chemistry, covering the areas of this subjetc being extremely rigorous in the concepts and in the math explanations. In this book you will find Thermodynamics (First and Second Laws), Kinetic Chemistry, Kinetic-Molecular Theory of Gases, Equilibrium, Solids, Liquids, Solutions, Kinetic of Complex Reactions, Molecular Simetry, Molecular Struture, Electrochemical Systems, Quantum Mechanics (a very important subject that every student should know), Spectroscopy and many other things. I am really disappointed to define this book with 20, or 30 words. It's a really complex book, and it is for someone who wants to travel in the exciting world of Chemistry, to study and learn the truth about this science. You won't learn Physics or Chemistry without knowing, before, Derivatives, Integrals (Calculus), Linear Algebra. Phisycal Chemistry has an appendix (with bibliography) to cover this subjects in order to become clear the text. If you are an amateur, do not buy this book. I think that amateurs shouldn't send their comments to here: "Oh, it's difficult to read and understand..." ---> You should study before to read a book written by a member of the Division of Physical Chemistry of IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), instead of sending insignificant comments to here. I am fighting with this book, and if you buy it, you'll too.

Not a very good book
Mathematicians would favor this book. The text is dense and dry. The material is presented in the most boring manner possible. Atkins prefers to explain himself with equations rather than words. The subject matter is not thoroughly explored. No concepts are placed into the "big picture." At best, this book could serve as a decent reference for a chemist or physicist already familiar with the topics and therefore only in need of review. Learning physical chemistry for the first time using this book is a serious chore. I honestly believe that physical chemistry can be a fun, exciting, and challenging subject that is worth learning. This book fails to deliver the material in a manner that does anything but annoy and frustrate. This problem is only compounded by the fact that there are numerous mathematical errors present both in the text and in the solutions of selected problems. If you are stuck using this book because it was required for a class, I suggest you find supplementary material that elaborates better on the many areas in which this book is lacking.

An Honest Opinion...
After reading all the other reviews on this book, one might notice the large gap in opinion on this text. And I think that is justified...For those who really enjoy P-Chem and pour alot of energy and time into the course, this book should be fine; but for those of us who are not particularly fascinated with the inner thermodynamic or kinetic workings of the molecules we've come to love, this book isn't necessarily as explanatory as it could be. Also, the professor one has makes a BIG difference in this course. If one has a professor who uses this book as simply a reference to his/her teaching/lecturing then the book makes a great reference material. But for those professors who are new (like mine) and expect undergraduate CHEM majors to leave their course understanding every single facet of the P-Chem cosmos, using this book as their Bible and lecturing straight from it, then this book is not so great (pretty bad, in fact). However, I must say, the text varies in readability and depth of explanation. Some parts give sufficient explanation and other portions leave students feeling confused at least. That's why I give this book a 3 star rating. I think other books may be more beneficial.

The Gold Standard of Physical Chemistry Texts
Those who have rated this text poorly must do so not becuase of the quality of the text, but because of their appernt dislike of the subject. If you need to learn and understand central concepts of physical chemistry, you need look no farther then Atkins.
Atkin's text is the gold standard of the field, lovingly writen and orginized, text books (in any subject) simply dont get much better than this.
Disliking Physical Chemistry is one thing, but blamming this book is nonsence. ... Read more

Book Description

For high school and college students who must meet at least one chemistry requirement, this book offers a non-intimidating, easy-to-understand companion to their textbooks. Following a standard math-based chemistry curriculum, it covers:

€ Elements
€ The Periodic Table
€ Ionic and Covalent Compounds
€ Chemical Reactions
€ Acids and Bases
€ Electrochemistry, Organic and Nuclear Chemistry, Stoichiometry, and Thermodynamics ... Read more

Reviews (4)

FINALLY a great Chemistry book!
I'm on my knees thanking God for this book every night. I recently needed to brush up on my Chemistry. (I had Chem I in college.) I tried two other books before this one and they both sucked. The first one was Barron's Chemistry the Easy Way. HA! It was extremely confusing and poorly edited (wrong answers in the chapter tests). The second one was Chemistry Demystified and while it was much easier to follow, it also was poorly edited (lots of typos, mistakes, etc.)

After buying two really crappy books, I was ready to pull my hair out. But that's when I found The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chemistry.

While I did have a Chemistry class in college, I struggled through most of it. And I am really bad at math. So words like factor-label conversion and significant figures sent me into a complete panic. But the way Mr. Guch writes is so easy to follow and so non-threatening! Not to mention funny! He tells you exactly what you need to know and exactly how to do the calculations you need to do.

I cannot tell you how much I absolutely love this book. I am THISCLOSE to randomly spreading these books around anywhere struggling chemistry students live. If you or your child is having trouble with Chemistry, PLEASE get this book. You will not be sorry.

Buy the book!
This book was more helpful than the TA's, professor, and textbook. I love this book and I am glad that I bought it. I now know what I am doing.

Thanks for helping my daughter
I bought this book for my daughter Tiffany who has just started chemistry in highschool. At first getting her to do her homework was like pulling teeth, but since purchasing this book her chemistry home work is a breeze. Great explanations, and easy to follow. I would definitly reccomend this book!

Helped me Ace my exam
Thank you for this book! I was struggling in chemistry until I picked up this book. It was fun and easy to follow. ... Read more

Book Description

The Chemist’s Companion A Handbook of Practical Data, Techniques, and References Arnold J. Gordon and Richard A. Ford Contents Properties of Molecular Systems Properties of Solvents and Common Liquids • Azeotropic Data • Empirical Boiling Point-Pressure Relationships • Properties of Selected Gases • Properties of Representative Fused Salt Systems • Structure and Properties of Naturally Occurring α-Amino Acids • Properties and Applications of Liquid Crystals • Prototropic Tautomerism • Acids and Bases • Properties of Atoms and Bonds Properties of the Elements • Table of Isotopes • Selected Bond Lengths • Effective van der Waals Radii • Bond Angles and Hybridization • Selected Bond Strengths • Force Constants • Torsion and Inversion Barriers • Bond and Group Dipole Moments • Aromaticity • Kinetics and Energetics Activation Parameters and Kinetics of Selected Reactions • Linear Free Energy Relationships • Conformational Free Energy Values • Free Energy-Composition Chart • Spectroscopy The Electromagnetic Spectrum • Solvents and Other Media for Spectral Measurements • Optical Materials for Spectroscopy and Photochemistry • Vibration Spectra • Electronic Absorption and Emission Spectra: Uv and Vis • Optical Activity and Optical Rotation • Mass Spectrometry • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy • Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectroscopy • Bibliography of Spectral Data Compilations • Photochemistry Electronic Energy State Diagram • Excited State Energy Transfer: Sensitizers and Quenchers • Photochemistry Light Sources and Equipment • Chemical Actinometry: Quantum Yield • Suppliers • References • Chromatography Fundamental Types of Chromatography and Basic Definitions • Adsorption Chromatography • Paper Chromatography • Column and Thin Layer Partition Chromatography • Ion-Exchange Chromatography • Gel Filtration and Gel Permeation Chromatography • Automated Liquid Chromatography • Electrophoresis • Vapor Phase Chromatography • Chromatography Supply Directory • References • Experimental Techniques Properties of Laboratory Materials • Standard Glassware Cleaning Solutions • Purification of Common Solvents • Detection of Peroxides and Their Removal • Chemical Methods for Deoxygenating Gases and Liquids • Simple Chemical Methods for Detecting Specific Gases • Simple Preparations of Some Dry Gases • Common Solvents for Crystallization • Solvents for Extraction of Aqueous Solutions • Drying Agents • Solvents and Baths for Heating and Cooling • Molecular Weight Determination • Mathematical and Numerical Information Approved International Units System and General Constants • Useful Conversion Factors • Wavelength-Wavenumber Conversion Table • Multiples of Element and Group Weights • Molecular Symmetry: Definitions and Common Systems • Character Tables for Common Symmetry Groups • Computer Programs • Statistical Treatment of Data • Miscellaneous Important Chemistry Reference Sources: A Bibliography • Atomic and Molecular Models • Addresses of Publishers that Deal With Chemistry • Combustion Microanalysis and Other Custom Analytical Services • Hazards of Common Chemicals • Suppliers Index Subject Index ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a great resource for a laboratory scientist
"The Chemist Companion" is a must for the laboratory scientist. It is an invaluable resource for everyday questions like recipes for solvent mixtures, cooling baths, cleaning baths, etc. The index is straightforward and easy to use. Much of the information is in easy-to-read tables. Information is referenced and clearly written. A valuable resource! ... Read more