Customer Reviews

Chemistry Builder for Admission and Standardized Tests (Test Preps)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i used this book to review for the GRE chemistry exam and I was blown away by the book's thorough review of all relevent information. This book would be useful for anyone who has to take a standardized test focusing on chemistry!

I have never seen a technical book with so many editing errors. It is obvious that the book did not receive thorough editing prior to publication.

The book has 17 chapters and the first 5 seem pretty good. Then, the errors start to appear. The following questions have either: 1) incorrect answers, 2) no correct answers listed, 3) improper syntax in the question, making it impossible to obtain the answer as written, 4) a question missing text, 5) a question missing necessary information to complete the problem, 6) missing text to even identify what the problem is, 7) improperly balanced equations (wherein the balancing is not part of the problem), 8) incorrectly listed values, such as reduction potential, 9) two of the same correct answer, or 10) the worked solution is in error by incorrectly stating a theory:
Solids diagnostic test, #9.
Solution chemistry diagnostic test, #3.
Equilibrium diagnostic test, #7.
Equilibrium review, drill 5, #1.
Acid base equilibria diagnostic test, #40.
Acid base equilibria diagnostic test, #38.
Acid base equilibria, drill 7, #2.
Thermodynamics diagnostic test, #38.
Thermodynamics review, drill 4, #1.
Thermodynamics II diagnostic test, #12.
Thermodynamics II , drill 3, #2.
Electrochemistry diagnostic test, #1.
Electrochemistry diagnostic test, #18.
Electrochemistry review, drill 1, #2.
Electrochemistry review, drill 2, #3.
Electrochemistry review, drill 5, #1.
Atomic theory diagnostic test, #21.
Atomic theory review, drill 2, #3.
Quantum chemistry diagnostic test, #18.
Organic chemistry review, drill 2, #1.
Organic chemistry review, drill 3, #1.

Page 507 is missing figures.
Page 585 is missing a formula.

I do not intend to claim these are the only errors in the book. I noted errors as I read the book, and merely typed them here as I thumbed back through it.

The book's approach seems strategically sound. It does provide a good, quick refresher of chemistry theory, which is exactly what I bought it for. It doesn't have a lot of detail. But, I don't believe that is the intent of the book. For more detail, get a textbook.

There were a few cases where problems covering a concept were presented, then the concept was presented later in the text. This "cart before the horse" was sometimes frustrating. But, the reader will be rewarded if he keeps reading.

I generally like REA's products. This one has good potential, but REA should edit it before re-printing.

For those who have the book, the list of errors should help working through the text. However, as I stated, I'm not claiming the list to be all inclusive.