Chemistry: The Study of Matter and Its Changes [Hardcover]

James E. Brady (Author), Joel W. Russell (Author), John R. Holum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0471184764 | ISBN-13: 978-0471184768 | Edition: 3

The images on the cover call attention to the relationship between macro observations and the intimate structure of chemical substances and the changes, both chemical and physical, that they undergo. Fireworks: One of the ingredients is phosphorus, a molecular form of which is believed to consist of linked tetrahedra of phosphorus atoms. The chemical reaction of phosphorus with oxygen is partly responsible for the spectacular show of light. Carbon: The element is found in several forms, including the familiar diamond and another, recently discovered, sooty substance that consists of soccer-ball shaped molecules, often referred to as "buckeyballs." Diamond is not the most stable form of carbon and is created from other forms of carbon at high temperatures and pressures deep within the earth. Acetylene torch: Cutting steel is possible because of the intense heat generated by the chemical reaction of acetylene with oxygen, a reaction between molecules of C_2H_2 and O_2 to give CO_2 and H_2O. Hot air balloon: The air that helps it rise is heated by the combustion of molecules of propane, each composed of three carbon and eight hydrogen atoms. Stormy weather: The evaporation of water serves to store energy provided by the sun. Subsequent condensation of the water vapor releases this energy and is the basis of all the weather systems on our planet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I feel it would make an excellent addition to any chemistry department's coffee table text."(Education in Chemistry, September 2001)

From the Publisher

Offers accurate, lucid and interesting explanations of basic concepts and facts of chemistry while helping students develop skills in analytical thinking and problem solving. Students are taught, in a variety of ways, to think of skills as tools that can be used to solve complex problems. Several aids are included to help focus and inspire student interest--frequent reference to common chemicals in commercial products, numerous photographs of reactions, in-chapter practice exercises following worked examples. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1208 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (January 19, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471184764
• ISBN-13: 978-0471184768
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this text does stand out from the pack..., March 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Chemistry: Matter and Its Changes (Textbook Binding)

...in a number of ways. The chapter on stoichiometry is the first one I flip to when I'm evaluating a new text. This book does a better job of providing a conceptual foundation for the mole concept than any other book I've seen. It shows the rationale behind the concept by working a few simple problems with and without moles. The problem setups emphasize strategic thinking by asking students to identify the 'critical link' that connects given information with the problem's goal. The "Is the answer reasonable" checks given with each problem are more detailed and more helpful than in other texts; they help students develop a sense for what is and isn't reasonable in the answer, using alternative back-of-the-envelope solutions that often provide additional insight into the nature of the problem.

The chapter on atomic structure is the only one I've seen that uses the central idea of quantum mechanics (wave-particle duality) as its central theme. It elegantly uses the de Broglie relation to tie wave and particle behaviors together, in the process naturally explaining where quantum numbers come from and why changes in electron confinement in a reaction can lead to color changes.

The thermodynamics chapter is also quite innovative, discarding the idea of entropy as a measure of disorder and instead stressing its connection with the number of ways a state can be realized. A simple model of heat flow from a hot object to a cold object makes the connection between probability and process spontaneity clear.

The approach for explaining and predicting molecular shapes is much better than that used in other texts, where students end up memorizing a large table of molecular shapes. This text starts by showing how electron domains arrange themselves the central atom, and then visualizes how the molecular geometry changes as bonding domains are replaced with nonbonding domains, one at a time. Students see the underlying idea without getting lost in a mass of detail and special cases.

I also like the "Thinking it through" problems at the end of each chapter, that emphasize critical and strategic thinking rather than simply getting a numerical answer. Ebbing and Chang don't have this feature. The "Test of facts and concepts" are cumulative tests that students can use to synthesize material from several chapters; I haven't seen another text with this feature, either.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for the autodidact, August 4, 2009

By 

Christopher T. Dahle (Del Norte, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chemistry: Matter and Its Changes (Textbook Binding)

More than 25 years ago I took general chemistry in college and then never had a need to use the skills and knowledge...until recently. Now having made a bet with a colleague that I could pass an Organic Chemistry course on the first attempt, I don't intend to lose. I determined that I needed to tune up my general knowledge of chemistry. I checked out several college level texts from local libraries, but found them either arcane and opaque, woefully outdated, or far too superficial. Then I found an earlier addition of [i]Chemistry: Matter and Its Changes[/i] and found it straightforward and remarkably clear and readable. So I took the risk and bought this edition.

I've had this text in my hands for two weeks now and am well into the third chapter. I try to work through 8-10 pages daily and then work through 10 or 15 of the problems in the back of the chapter. Brady and Senese write well and bring a high degree of clarity to the subject of chemistry, and while I am starting to recall, with surprising detail the Chemistry I learned in 1984, I am also learning much that I either missed or misunderstood back in college.

Of course having only read the first three chapters, and not being a professional chemist, I cannot be certain that I am learning all that a chemist needs to know, but having obtained degrees and a doctorate in other fields, I do feel that I know the difference between a well written text and a poor one and I have every confidence that by the time I work through [i]Chemistry: Matter and It's Changes[/i] I will have sufficient knowleged to meet the "instructor approval" pre-requisite and take and pass Organic Chem.

I'll check back in 6 months and let you know!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ...made when I was born..., October 14, 2004

By 

Redseadragons (....? ....? ....?) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemistry: The Study of Matter and Its Changes (Hardcover)

Amazon says almost nothing about this book, so here are a few facts about it:

23 chapters

1107 pages

"Level

Students are not assumed to have a previous course on chemistry and mastery only of basic algebra is expected. ... We belive that the level is right for the mainstream general college chemistry course." -- Chemistry (the study of matter and it's Changes ) by James E. Brady and John R. Holum