Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity (with General ChemistryNOW CD-ROM) [Hardcover]

John C. Kotz (Author), Paul M. Treichel (Author), Gabriela C. Weaver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2005 | ISBN-10: 053499766X | ISBN-13: 978-0534997663 | Edition: 6

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL REACTIVITY has been revised to help students get to a higher level of understanding of General Chemistry-concepts. This revision includes General ChemistryNow, a new CD-ROM and web-based learning system that focuses on goals, connections, and complete integration with the text.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John C. Kotz is an emeritus State University of New York Distinguished Teaching Professor at the College at Oneonta. Educated at Washington and Lee University, as well as Cornell University, he held National Institutes of Health postdoctoral appointments at the University of Manchester Institute for Science and Technology in England and at Indiana University. Professor Kotz has coauthored three textbooks in several editions—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, CHEMISTRY & CHEMICAL REACTIVITY, and THE CHEMICAL WORLD —along with the INTERACTIVE GENERAL CHEMISTRY CD-ROM. He also has published research on inorganic chemistry and electrochemistry. He was a Fulbright Lecturer and Research Scholar in Portugal in 1979 and a visiting professor there in 1992, as well as a visiting professor at the Institute for Chemical Education (University of Wisconsin, 1991–1992) and at Auckland University in New Zealand (1999). He also was an invited speaker at a meeting of the South African Chemical Society and at the biennial conference for secondary school chemistry teachers in New Zealand. In addition, a recent tenure as a mentor of the U.S. Chemistry Olympiad Team, Professor Kotz has received numerous honors, including a State University of New York Chancellor's Award (1979), a National Catalyst Award for Excellence in Teaching (1992), the Estee Lecturership in Chemical Education at the University of South Dakota (1998), the Visiting Scientist Award from the Western Connecticut Section of the American Chemical Society (1999), and the first annual Distinguished Education Award from the Binghamton (New York) Section of the American Chemical Society (2001).

Paul M. Treichel received a B.S. degree at the University of Wisconsin in 1958 and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1962. After a year of postdoctoral study in London, he assumed a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is Helfaer Professor of Chemistry and a former department chair (1986-1995). He has held visiting faculty positions in South Africa (1975) and Japan (1995). Dr. Treichel teaches courses in general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and scientific ethics. His research in organometallic and metal cluster chemistry and in mass spectrometry, aided by 75 graduate and undergraduate students— has led to more than 170 papers in scientific journals.

Gabriela C. Weaver received her B.S. in 1989 from the California Institute of Technology and her Ph.D. in 1994 from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She served as Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado at Denver from 1994 to 2001 and as Associate Professor at Purdue University since 2001. She has been an invited speaker at over 35 national and international meetings, including the 2001 Gordon Conference on Chemical Education Research and the DVD Summit in Dublin, Ireland. She is currently Director of the Center for Authentic Science Practice in Education at Purdue University. Her work in instructional technology development and on active learning has led to numerous publications in addition to her publications on surface physical chemistry.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1328 pages
• Publisher: Brooks Cole; 6 edition (January 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 053499766X
• ISBN-13: 978-0534997663
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.8 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kotz is one of the best, September 29, 2005

By 

A. Shankar "blue ego" (NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity (with General ChemistryNOW CD-ROM) (Hardcover)

I own three general chemistry textbooks, and have studied from dozens.

Out of the 13 (incl Zumdahl, Atkins, Cheng to name a few), I feel Kotz and Silberberg are the two best undergraduate level textbooks and reference books. Both are similar in their content, however their writing styles, organization and emphasis on topics differ significantly. As such, they have their own (and yet very different) niches which they cater for.

Kotz gives an thorough review of most fields of chemistry, focussing mainly on wet-chemistry (aqueous reactions) and therefore superb for prepratory studies in analytical chemistry. Kotz also gives a thorough review of elementary mathematical principles is heavily used in chemistry, and is probably the most lucid in this field (stoichiometry and algebraic modelling...regression and such).

Furthermore Kotz gives simplified, lucid explanations of chemical phenomena, backing it up with maths. I have not seen one formula here which isnt well accounted for. Kotz goes to severe lengths in explaining what each formula is representing with respect to variable relationships.

The CD is a more concise overview of the basic principles covered within the book, it comes with excellant animations, with respect to both form and function. Unlike most "interactive CDs" this is a purely artistic rendition of "teaching chemistry through your computer". Kotz focusses mainly on giving students key problem solving skills and tries to stay away from what, normally is regarded "superfluous information".

Both Silberberg and Kotz are two of the finest chemistry textbooks which give good grounding in basic principles, as well as their practical applications.

This is excellant for individuals going into radiochemistry, analytical chemistry and also physical chemistry. The basics are all here and well presented. This, is on similar lines to Zumdahl however the authorship and organization is far superior to it.

Kotz makes it a point to give a lot of information in as few words as possible, the concentration of information is great, however still coherent and understandable at the "I am new to chemistry" level.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!!! Chemistry Made Easy!!!, September 11, 2005

By 

Pre-Med Student (East Rutherford, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity (with General ChemistryNOW CD-ROM) (Hardcover)

This is the most comprehensive lecture book published. Considering this is a college level text, it is very easy to understand - easy enough for high school students. The authors ease their way, not jump around, into every topic. Also, all examples (including mathematical expressions and equations) are explained in easy, step-by-step format.

This text includes one of the most interactive, if not the best, CD-Rom I've ever worked with. All topics are high-lighted per each section per chapter - and with plenty of videos, a deeper understanding of all materials covered is achieved.

Along with the CD-Rom, an on-line access code is included. Homework, pre-tests and post-tests navigate and help you in your weakest areas. The biggest high-light of the on-line access is you can reach a Live tutor from the comfort of your own home - an ensured success!

This text also comes in a split-volume version. I highly recommend purchasing this version (helps keep the backpack a little lighter).

Last, but not least, I also recommend purchasing the Survival Guide corresponding to the text. It eases any confusion - if any.

Overall, this is a spectacular book, which simplifies Chemistry and also makes it fun - ensuring success within your studies.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 6th Edition = 7th Edition, September 10, 2010

By 

Luke Kirchner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity- Text Only (Hardcover)

First of all the person I bought this from was awesome. They got it to me in 3 days.

Next, it was as good of condition as you could get for it being used. As for the book itself, I would recommend it over the 7th edition because it is way cheaper. And they basically have all of the same content. There is only a few differences in ordering of things. Besides that why would you pay more?