Customer Reviews

Conceptual Chemistry: Understanding Our World of Atoms and Molecules, Second Edition

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

 

 

I just really feel that this book explained the basics of chemistry in a very relavent and interesting way. It is more conceptual than mathematical so it reads easier. Sure, some parts I had to read over to clarify because Chemistry is not a subject that comes naturally to most. But I am actually enjoying reading this text book for my college class. Im not sure many students would say that! I even find myself telling my boyfriend some interesting facts I learn along the way.

The sad fact is that anyone looking to buy this book is just being obliged to buy it by a school. Having peered into its murky pages, I have to report that it an appalling collection of padding designed to destroy the subject rather than to inform anyone about anything. Here is one small example...on page 92, there is a picture of a mother and baby. The caption reads 'As close as Tracy and Ian are in this photograph, none of their atoms meet. The closeness between us is in our hearts.' This psycho-babble is about 1/6th of the way through the book. And then on page 598, in the obligatory global warming section, there is a graph which shows CO2 increases lagging temperature changes, yet the text discusses the fact that human produced CO2 is the cause of temperature increases.

Oh well - the last thing anyone buying this book will find in it is information about chemistry.

But, buying this book isn't the fault of the students that need to suffer its absurdities - but it is the fault of the schools and school boards that are too vapid to know that this is simply a heavy dollop of expensive waffle. The school boards, schools, teachers, authors, and publisher should be ashamed of themselves.

I got the book in time for my class,access kit and lab manual was included, couldn't get a better deal.

Not in a good shape at all, not worth the money to buy such a overused book.